One of the horses that had its hair snipped stands at the equestrian complex in Jefferson Township.

JEFFERSON TWP — Police are on the lookout for an illicit barber.

The unknown suspect or suspects this week snipped the tails and clipped the manes of three horses at the Henderson Equestrian Complex on Bullcreek Road in Jefferson Township.

Authorities believe the vandal or thief on Wednesday sneaked into the horse pasture and cut the hair off three mares.

“The police told us there’s a demand for horse hair for jewelry, like bracelets and necklaces, and for horse tail extensions,” said Cortney Shipley, the barn manager and trainer at the horse complex.

Horse hair is apparently a coveted commodity for creating faux manes and tails for show horses.

But the uses for horse hair can run the gamut, investigators admit, like to make brushes, wigs, hat bands and even violin bows.

Police said they continue to investigate the unusual crime but they have no suspects. No one reported seeing anything suspicious at the time.

State Trooper Richard Houseman, the investigating officer, did not immediately return a telephone call Friday.

Shipley said she believes the suspect struck around lunch — between 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. — when the horses were roaming in the open field that is along the road and no one with the complex was around.

The Henderson Equestrian Complex offers “boarding, training, lessons, and various other activities throughout the year including horse shows, horse camp, and trail rides,” according to its website,

There were seven horses in the pasture mid-day Wednesday. Three had hair cut. Four were unharmed. Shipley believes she knows why.

“The four that were not bothered are timid,” she said. “The three that had their hair cut are the friendliest. They probably walked right up to whoever did this.”

The three targeted horses have different owners and different colors — black, gray and chestnut. Two of the mares are older, in their 20s. The other, a show horse, is around 14.

While horses can grow back their tails and manes to full length, Shipley said, it takes years. That’s bad news for the older horses and their owners.

Despite looking strangely shorn, the mares missing hair were uninjured.

Meanwhile, police advised the business to be on guard.

“They told us to be prepared,” Shipley said. “Whoever did this believed they got away with it so they may be back.”

The horse complex has already taken action.

“We bought security cameras (Thursday),” Shipley said.