NORTH BEND, Neb. (AP) — An eastern Nebraska man has reported that someone sheared 15 inches of hair off the tails of his colt and one of his ponies.

Bruce Tompkins, of North Bend, filed a report Sunday with the Dodge County Sheriff’s Office. Tompkins says a horse’s tail is its only defense against flies.

Since making the report he’s learned that horse hair can be worth up to $400 a pound. Tompkins said that, among other things, the hair can be used for charms, hat bands, violin bows and hair extensions for show horses.

The Nebraska Humane Society has reported a similar theft in northeast Nebraska.