"I rather doubt anyone with criminal intent would use horses even in today's rural environments."

You're assuming that the horses were theirs. A woman I used to be acquainted with went with a group of other women on a multi-day trail ride. Three men came to their camp and acted obnoxious. That didn't bother the women as much as the way they treated the horses. It wasn't until the men noticed that one of the women was wearing a holstered gun that they decided to go on their way.

A few hours later, the posse showed up, looking for three stolen horses.

Stupid people are stupid people no matter what their environment.

Sue