Ex has stolen my horse

[Handerson653]

Hi during a recent break up my ex has stolen my horse. He has no interest and I know that the horse isn’t in good condition. I have asked him to return him. I knew where he was but I couldn’t access him. I called animal welfare and my ex has moved the horse thankfully now to a field. I have spent the past few days looking for the horse and I have now found him. Does anyone know where I stand regards just removing the horse from the field! He is on grass livery and the gate is padlocked. Tia

 

[meleeka]

Do you own the horse? If so just go and get it. It’s theft of property and as such you should report it to the police.

 

[Handerson653]

Yes I own the horse - I’m afraid that as twisted as the law gets if I cut the padlock they might do me for breaking and entering? There is another horse in the field

 

[ycbm]

If you own him you can take him. You will be committing criminal damage by breaking open the gate if it can't be lifted off its hinges, but it's a minor offence and unlikely to be prosecuted if you apologise if you are reported.

Sounds like you are well rid of the ex!

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

If the horse is yours and the passport is in your name just go and take the horse back - you could ask the police to escort you at the livery yard by telling them you suspect there might be some trouble when you go to retireve your lawful property. But do have all proof of purchase and passport on hand to back up your claim.

 

[HashRouge]

I'd be straight there with a pair of bolt cutters!

 

[bonny]

If you own him you can take him. You will be committing criminal damage by breaking open the gate if it can't be lifted off its hinges, but it's a minor offence and unlikely to be prosecuted if you apologise if you are reported.

Sounds like you are well rid of the ex!

You do need to be mindful of the other horse in the field !

 

[Equi]

Police will say it’s a civil matter. Do you know who the land owner is?

 

[PSD]

I’m guessing he won’t be sitting guarding the horse 24/7 so you could speak to the landowner (if you know who they are) and explain the situation. Be careful cutting locks off if there’s other horses out, you don’t want to cause any extra trouble.

If you do go, don’t go alone. But I’d be going up there now with transport to move the horse somewhere safe. I’d definitely report it though so the police have a record

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

Police will say it’s a civil matter. Do you know who the land owner is?

they are obliged to attend equi if OP feels she will be in a dangerous situation attempting to retrieve her horse. They will not offer any assistance to physical remove the horse but they will attend to ensure that there is not any violence or laws broken. Well unless laws have changed drastically in recent years, I stand to be corrected.

 

[TPO]

Can you report the theft? That makes it criminal and not civil?

I'd advise phoning the police (101) and/or a solicitor

 

[ycbm]

You do need to be mindful of the other horse in the field !

just tie the gate back in place.

 

[Equi]

they are obliged to attend equi if OP feels she will be in a dangerous situation attempting to retrieve her horse. They will not offer any assistance to physical remove the horse but they will attend to ensure that there is not any violence or laws broken. Well unless laws have changed drastically in recent years, I stand to be corrected.

This is true however I think they would need evidence that it will turn hostile.

 

[cobgoblin]

How good is the padlock? Can you pick it and snap it locked again?

 

[Handerson653]

How good is the padlock? Can you pick it and snap it locked again?

I’m considering this x

 

[Handerson653]

Police will say it’s a civil matter. Do you know who the land owner is?

Yes I do but I’m afraid that she will tell my ex

 

[Leo Walker]

You can quite often lift a gate off the hinges, or remove a fence panel. If you don't damage anything then there's nothing to get you in trouble.

 

[Handerson653]

If the horse is yours and the passport is in your name just go and take the horse back - you could ask the police to escort you at the livery yard by telling them you suspect there might be some trouble when you go to retireve your lawful property. But do have all proof of purchase and passport on hand to back up your claim.

It’s a private field....not a livery yard. Other horse belongs to the field owner

 

[HappyHollyDays]

Cut the padlock off the gate and replace with an identical one to ensure remaining horse is safe. It will also confuse the hell out of the landowner and your ex as to how you managed to teleport the horse out of the field without a key.

 

[EllenJay]

speak to the BHS legal helpline - get legal advice before you do anything

 

[TPO]

Why didnt you call the police when he stole the horse initially?

He has stolen your property so surely it's a criminal matter?

 

[Handerson653]

Cut the padlock off the gate and replace with an identical one to ensure remaining horse is safe. It will also confuse the hell out of the landowner and your ex as to how you managed to teleport the horse out of the field without a key.

This was my first thought...tho if I replace it they couldn’t open it as it’s a coded lock. I was gonna go buy a new lock and leave it beside gate in packaging. Ultimately my aim is not to cause any criminal damage but to get my horse outta there.

 

[Handerson653]

Why didnt you call the police when he stole the horse initially?

He has stolen your property so surely it's a criminal matter?

Its a long and complicated story......

 

[TPO]

Its a long and complicated story......

Why dont you contact them now?

Report the horse stolen and ask them to accompany you as you retrieve him.

Then if have some sh't hot security set up wherever you are taking him to stop the ex taking him again.

 

[ycbm]

Yes I own the horse - I’m afraid that as twisted as the law gets if I cut the padlock they might do me for breaking and entering? There is another horse in the field

Breaking and entering is for property, not for a field. It would be criminal damage to cut the padlock. If they report it, you'll probably be asked to apologise and at absolute worst case given a caution, which is not a criminal record. If you leave a replacement, it's unlikely anything will happen. Put a combination lock back on and text them the combination. You have to tell them that you have the horse anyway, otherwise they may report it as stolen.

If the horse was mine and I knew where it was, it would be back in my care by now.

 

[Handerson653]

Why dont you contact them now?

Report the horse stolen and ask them to accompany you as you retrieve him.

Then if have some sh't hot security set up wherever you are taking him to stop the ex taking him again.

I actually wrote my ex a letter 2 days ago telling him that he had 48hrs to return the horse or I was getting the police. I advised welfare as he had been in a back garden. So my ex had moved him quite far away.....I found him yesterday and the police will be my next step once the 48hrs is up.

 

[AmyMay]

I actually wrote my ex a letter 2 days ago telling him that he had 48hrs to return the horse or I was getting the police. I advised welfare as he had been in a back garden. So my ex had moved him quite far away.....I found him yesterday and the police will be my next step once the 48hrs is up.

Just go and get him.

 

[ycbm]

I don't think the police are going to be interested, as this is a break up situation and it seems to me a genuine civil dispute over care of the horse.

I don't understand why you don't just go and fetch him if you can prove he is yours.

.

 

[Handerson653]

I don't think the police are going to be interested, as this is a break up situation and it seems to me a genuine civil dispute over care of the horse.

I don't understand why you don't just go and fetch him if you can prove he is yours.

.

I think I might just do that.....I’m just a bit of a worry wart that police will do me for criminal damage.....

 

[ycbm]

I don't know how much more reassurance you want. If a rapist gets seven years and a shoplifter a caution, do you think the police are going to be interested in a cut and replaced padlock? Have you checked if the gate can be lifted off its hinges? There would be no crime at all if it can. Take photos of the gate before and after. Take a beefy man with you.

.