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By Carey Reeder | Managing Editor

Peggy and Joel Riley, along with their horses Joy and Mila, are steadily getting back to normal life following a shooting on March 7 that wounded both horses. The aftermath was that both horses are expected to make full recoveries, and an outpouring of community support for the couple and their horses.

The couple, along with their three dogs, were out feeding their 11 horses at StarDutch Equine-Western Dressage on County Road 350 off County Road 37 near Billingsley when shots rang out at around 5 p.m. A man, later identified as Steven Robertson, 28 of Clanton, was driving a dark colored truck down County Road 350 towards County Road 37 when he unloaded a 9mm handgun into the field.

“I think he was shooting at the horses, but there is also no way he did not see us,” Peggy Riley said. “He did not really care who he was shooting at or hitting.”

Peggy ran after the truck and was able to get a good description of the truck and Robertson, but when she returned she found Joy on the ground.

“He had no regard for human life or animals,” Joel Riley said. “Life in general, he was (careless).”

Mila, an Arabian horse, suffered a gunshot wound to the leg that went through clean. After pain meds and antibiotics, Mila has already begun getting back to her normal routine and is expected to recover quickly.

Joy, a Paint horse, was shot in the upper back and has a fracture in her withers. The slug is still inside her, and a possible surgery to remove the bullet could be needed in the future. The idea is to let the bone heal before the decision on removing the bullet or not is made. The Rileys are working with two vets who have been seeing the horses routinely since the shooting, and both are leaning towards the possibility of leaving the bullet inside Joy if things heal well, but not ruling out surgery to remove it either.

The Rileys gave a description of the vehicle and Robertson to the Chilton County Sheriff’s Office, and deputies located the vehicle and him within 24 hours of the shooting with help from the Clanton Police Department.

“All they had was a description of the car and what we saw of him, and (the CCSO) had him 24 hours later,” Joel Riley said. “They were not playing. I had no real experiences with them since I have been here, but they really did a great job.”

Officers arrested Robertson on charges of two counts of killing or disabled livestock, two counts of reckless endangerment and appearing in public under the influence. Robertson is being held in the Chilton County Jail under a $12,000 bond. Peggy Riley said she appreciates the charges towards Robertson being specific to livestock as opposed to just animal cruelty charges.

The outpouring of community support for Joy and Mila was eye opening. The Rileys received thousands of shares, comments, messages and calls from community members offering their support, thoughts and prayers for them after the shooting.

“It gives you a different outlook on the world,” Joel Riley said. “This gives you hope.”

The Rileys moved to the area three years ago from Elmore County and bought the property where StarDutch Equine-Western Dressage sits at the corner of County Road 37 and County Road 350 near Billingsley. While the shooting left them shaken, the aftermath has been welcoming.

“Coming from a different county we did not feel at home yet, but this has made us feel more welcome with people coming together,” Peggy Riley said.

Peggy and Joel have started getting back to their daily routines around the dressage, and they are confident the justice system will give them justice, and get justice for Joy and Mila.