For those that have your own fields - what security measures do you have?

Supertrooper

Supertrooper

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Having had my friends car stolen from our field yesterday, it's obviously made us think even more about security! We're going to get CCTV put in and also get the crime prevention people round. Is there anything else we can do or what do you do?
 
You can use old army ammo boxes for your electric fence energiser/battery, can be padlocked inside.

If there are any houses within view of the field, esp retired people, enlist their help to keep an eye on the horses.

If the field is near a yard or your house, a big brown and tan dog is the most effective deterrent for petty theft and neer do wells.

Make sure the gate hinges are reversed so it cannot be lifted off.

Any storage buildings and entrances, cover by CCTV

Dont replace any stolen gear and have it in the same location, they will expect this and be back!

Postcode everything including rugs and even things where you think its a shame to mark them, its a lot more of a shame not to have them at all.

Put up freezemarking notices re your horses.

Visit at odd times of day and (accompanied) night, vary the routine, the horses will survive the surprise.
 
We have combination locks on every gate all the time and hinges reversed. I know these wont stop the most determined but it will put off oppertunists and make it look like you are on the ball. Great idea about the energiser , we lost one at the start of the year , but managed without for a while so they didnt come back for the new one. Had rugs removed once , we disturbed them so not stolen , tried padlocks on them too but too much hassel , I think the postcode thing is prob the best advice.
 
I don't leave anything at the yard that I'm not prepared to loose! I have an elderly caravan in which I put wet rugs (to save having them hanging around the house) but everything else lives at home. (apart from the horses, obviously)

All of my gates are double padlocked with those heavy duty motorbike chains that are difficult to cut, my fields are overlooked by several houses so I've introduced myself to them and left my phone number with them, the local PCSO's walk past my fields several times a day so they have my number too, and they know my car. I've also befriended quite a few people who walk past my field regularly, either along the road or along the footpath that runs alongside. I've had a couple of phone calls when they've seen a strange car or people in the field (usually friends and expected but it makes me happy that people are noticing!) and once when there was a dog trying to chase the horses ('trying' because my horses are used to my dogs and were just ignored it!)

I did make the mistake of leaving my lorry there for a couple of weeks after I bought it (inside a padlocked gate). Some lovely person pinched all the fuel out of it, which didn't actually annoy me too much as there wasn't much in it, because I was planning on draining the tank to get the silt out of the bottom - I only hope they put it in their car and it clogged up their engine! What did annoy me was, they used one of my water carriers to take it ....

I agree with lachlanandmarcus - I'm lucky in that I can vary when I go, I pop in three or four times a day most days, even if it's to let the dogs have a run (another deterrent!)

People said when I moved there that I'd have problems, but I've been there nearly two years now and I haven't (touch wood) apart from the lorry fuel.
 
Raverse hinges on all gates.

Have metal gates which have a padlock box on them to prevent the padlock being cut off or ground off.

Ensure all fencing posts are set in concrete.

Have all horses freezemarked on their shoulders. (Anyone can read a freezemark).

Mark all tack with you post code.

Have the roof of trailers and lorries postcode marked in large letters.
 
I suppose i'm lucky to have my horses behind my house so more or less see evrything.

However, i did have a brand new gate lifted off it's hinges even though it was all padlocked. This must of happened through the night.

I have now got another new gate padlocked with 6 padlocks on either side.

My electric fencing box is marked with my postcode with permanent marker.

All my tack is in my house.

XxX
 
Thankyou for all your replies, very much appreciated. It just makes me feel sick to my stomach that we now don't feel safe at the place we love to spend time at :( xx
 
I'm sorry to hear that your enjoyment (and peace of mind) has been spoiled like this.

Ditto what everyone else has said about people living/using the area surrounding where your horses are, they are invaluable. Just a week ago, I had two ladies who walk their dogs past where I keep mine regularly, approach me to tell me that they had seen two people whom they didn't recognise leading two horses down a track who looked like two of mine, when they had walked past that morning they saw me in the field but no horses (mine were inside having breakfast) and they called to me to say they were a bit worried about it and were my horses okay? Now there was nothing wrong but if there had been it could have meant so much in terms of information and speed. It can also be invaluable if there was an animal ill/down. My phone number is also known.
 
agree, we had horses away from the yard in a field in the village 24/7 in summer, behind some houses. The old chap in not very good health would give me a minute by minute account of what 'Goldie' (my haflinger tho not called Goldie!) had been up to. Really helped me feel more secure, him less lonely and tho it delayed my hacks quite a bit, it was a small price to pay.
 
Geese make good guards as they kick up a stink when strangers are around, its a good idea to make friends with any neighbours. Also dont keep anything of value there if at all possible. Make sure everything security marked. Make sure horses are freeze marked etc.
 
Super Trooper, I have also suffered theft from the field I share with my friend. Electric fencing stolen, wheelbarrows, water containers, rugs, headcollars and to top it all, last week I had my two year old colt stolen. Even though he was microchipped and we had signs up (including cctv warning signs) saying horses were microchipped. But If they are determined to steal something they will do!

I too keep on good terms with the neighbours and many have my phone number, along with the owners of the adjacent fields. Remaining horses that need freezemarking are having it done next week and landowner is replacing fencing that they entered through.

P.s just a warning sign, although some may know already, theives are plaiting the targeted horses mane before stealing. This is not a large plait and someone may think it is just a small burr on the under side of the hair. Two of mine (including the one stolen) had them in, but I removed them. Over seven horses have been stolen in the Doncaster/Barnsley area in the past week.
 
Ditto reversing gate hinges. Also, make sure padlocks and chains on gates can't be bolt cropped.
My yard is a bit untidy visually- mostly as it doesn;t look too smart then hopefully thieves will think there's not much worth stealing(there isn;t). I do, though only leave cheap padlocks on the store ares, on the basis they CAN be bolt cropped,and that wil stop the stable/store doors being damaged instead.
I also have to padlock my water trough as some idjit decided it would be great fun to remove the ballcocks and let the water run:confused:
Friendly locals are great as well, bottle of wine at xmas for the nearby ones should help keep them being "nosey"!
 
Its really hellish isnt it? I have around 30 acres, mares, youngstock and 2 riding geldings. Close to house but 30 acres so not all close. What I do though is interrogate every passing walker I see (cos its odd place to walk). I also have my 'mobile horses' ie geldings who are broken and tame closest to house. Double fencing too but we all know how easy it is to cut wire (even electric) with wire cutters. I do think that my nosy (but really nice) neighbours help too. There are only 5 houses but all on different 'time zones'. Still it remains a real issue.
 
Mmmm, best thing is to hack out and stop and chat with everyone you see, especially the local gossips/busybodies, coz they're the one's that will notice if anything untoward is happening, and if they know you and your horse(s) and take an interest (they will interest themselves in your affairs anyway whether you like it or not .....;) ) its all a help.

Ditto with retired people: coz they tend to like to watch people and animals.

At my local tack shop, they've got this padlock thing which you can put on your tackroom door/gates or whatever, and if someone tampers with it it makes a noise like a banshee!!! Costs around £25 I think, am thinking of getting one.

Also, we've got "fake" cameras up; they look exactly like "real" CCTV cameras, and we've got all the notices saying there's CCTV etc, but they're not real, they're fake!!! Its just a visual deterrent really. But just a thought ......
 
Thankyou again for all your support and replies. I am just very thankful that no-one was injured in the process of them stealing it. The police have said that would only of been interested in the car but it has given us a serious wake up call!

We get on very well with both neighbours, one side is a company who are around 6am to 7pm and the others have hunters. Opposite is a livery yard down a long drive but they are always coming and going. All have been told and also I have a client who lives in the village so she has offered to drive past for me whenever she's near, bless her.

Both horses are freezemarked and only one wears rugs so will get these marked and also follow up on your other advise.

Do any off you do rural watch?
 
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