Not sure about whether I would have thought to call the sherrif... Maybe just because of their size and value a person may call the police if one showed up. I'd certainly know to call them now ;~D
Yeah, lots of good info here this morning.
Another thing I think I'd do, now that I think back, is not give a description of the horse when I reported it. Then have the person trying to claim it describe the horse to me before I just handed it over. I can't imagine anybody trying to claim an animal that wasn't theirs, but stranger things have happened, as you discovered.
I think some people may hesitate to call the police to report losing one because then they would be responsible for any damages, such as if someone hit it on the road..??
Becky