VIDALIA — Two alleged thieves took a joyride from outside Vidalia to south Ferriday late Monday night or early Tuesday morning — on miniature horses.

The search for the missing horses began Tuesday morning.

At the start of the day at the Miss-Lou Veterinary Hospital, it was discovered that two of the three miniature ponies housed in the arena behind the business were missing, veterinary technician Hillary Good said.

“We kind of let them roam around back there and our first thought was maybe they opened a fence and crossed the levee,” Good said.

It was soon observed, however, that a saddle had been dragged into the arena area and horse bridles were also missing. Footprints were discovered in the lot.

“(The thieves) rode them all the way to Ferriday,” Good said. “They stole some of our bridles and I guess rode them bareback.”

After contacting local law enforcement offices, Good said the victims started putting the word out about the horses.

The Concordia Parish Sheriff’s Office later received a tip about the possible location of the horses, and they were discovered Tuesday staked in an area behind Ferriday Junior High School, according to a news release from the CPSO.

The ponies, which belonged to veterinarian Dr. Debbie Gullory, were in good condition when they were returned, Good said.

“They were a little hungry, but that is about it,” she said.

The horses have since been moved to another location, Good said.

According to the CPSO news release, an arrest is pending in the matter.

Anyone found guilty of theft of livestock can be sentenced to up to 10 years prison, fined as much as $5,000, or both.