THOUSANDS of horse lovers are joining the search for a champion show pony stolen from a Hampshire stables.

Police are investigating how Diptford Daydreamer went missing from Lower Peake Farm, Warnford, a fortnight ago.

The nine-year-old dark bay gelding, estimated to be worth up to £9,000, is feared by his trainer to be in danger on the black market.

Nearly 9,000 people have shared an online appeal from Julia Ryde-Rogers, who has coached the pony for numerous regional victories over the last seven years.

She told the Chronicle how her "heart sank" when she returned to the Meon Valley livery on July 26 to find the animal, also known as Pirate, was gone.

"It's very, very upsetting," she said. "I had him from a very young foal and he was shown to great success at county level and we had him as a ridden pony - again, he had great success. But that's not why we were taken to him.

"I can't bear to think about this. I hope nothing bad has happened."

Pirate was last seen in his field on Thursday, July 24. Ms Ryde-Rogers suspects a horse trailer, seen around that time on an adjoining narrow track, was involved. The landowner assumed Ms Ryde-Rogers had taken him herself.

Her appeal has gone viral on Facebook pages for lost pets and horses. Ms Ryde-Rogers has received 50 messages from as far as France sharing advice and possible sightings.

Pirate is microchipped, making him difficult to sell legitimately without a 'passport' held by Ms Ryde-Rogers, which includes medical records and identification.

"Any person that wanted to see the quality of him would immediately think 'this is a very, very well-bred animal'," she said. "I think people would see he's not just any average little pony."

She added: "The longer it goes on, probably the more danger he's in.

"I would just like to hear why they would want to cause us this much upset."

Hampshire Police were unable to provide further details of their investigation.