HELP!!! Strange & Scary

ExpressPrincess

ExpressPrincess

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I keep my mare with 4 other mares at a friend’s house. The yard owners mare and mine are turned out 24/7 together and the three other mares (all non-ridden) who belong to another girl and are kept around the back of a barn. The field my mare is in is very open and visible from the road and railway line but next to yard owners house and property is very isolated towards the end of an over 2 mile dead end road. On Thursday evening when I went up to check the girls there were tracks in the field a large “perfect” circle and our very long grass was looking very bashed and trodden down I assumed (stupidly) that the yard owner had been lunging which was very odd to do it in the field but when I spoke to her at the weekend she had not done anything like that especially in the field. We went out and looked and there was defiantly a circle on the left rein. Yard owner went out yesterday and horses had dried sweat all over them there are two sets of circles one on each rein and they interlink the ground it pitted and it looks like possibly someone has been leading as well, I rode my mare on Saturday evening and she was very sluggish and kept wanting to stop which is out of character! It’s all tying up to some rather scary conclusions, we think no 1 on the list is that someone/a group are riding them when we are not there!!! I think it will be my mare they are using as yard owners mare is a 16.3hh Hanoverian who is difficult to catch let alone anything else! There is no tack on site only head collars and a few brushes – what to do? I want to stop them coming back but I really want to catch them in the act! My mare has an old injury and if they are hammering her in the way it looks like they have been are it could be fatal for her! let alone anything else they might be doing! Yard owner is going to call the police tonight to ask for a patrol in the hours we are off the yard but im not sure they will help, I’m going to start going up about 10pm and before 7am as well. ??????????
 
Something simalar happened to me a few years ago, A neighbour of the land where I kept my pony at the time rang me to say there were kids riding her, I dashed to the field and caugt them in the act. Police called but didnt do anything except warn the kids and parents. I dont know how you can catch them except by keeping watch 24?7
 
I think I'd be asking to move fields or even bring in overnight. Certainly remove the headcollars from the field and giving the horses backs a good dose of coat shine to make them slippery might help, presumably they are being ridden bareback.

Thinking about it more a good spray of purple spray or similar that will come off and stain anybodys backside who tries to ride might help, so long as you use an old saddlecloth when you tack up. ;)

I found a teenage boy sat on my mare when she had an injured tendon, I went ballisitc and all he could do was be affronted because I shouted at him. I was ready to be commited for murder at that point. :mad:
 
Whoever it is has been back today i think they might have been disturbed as middle field gate was open, our old trailer (where we keep feed, head collar and brushes) door was open and both doors to the mains electric fencing unit weather-proof case were open and it has been turned off at the fused socket switch which we never do!!! We have positioned some ropes in the trailer around the head collars and put up extra electric fencing in the gate ways and yard owner is putting padlocks on the gates first thing tomorrow morning and also meeting a policeman at the field. We have taken photos of the ropes/head collars so we can see when they have been tampered with and we have neighbours on all sides keeping their eyes peeled! Eak just hoping we catch them is making me feel sick that my poor horse is being thrashed around the field bareback or worse someone is lining up a theft!
 
I wouldn't be leaving the headcollars where somebody can get access to them, can you leave them in the YO's house, or take them home with you?
 
That's horrible, imagine someone having the cheek! I would be camping out in the old trailer and lying in wait for them.
The padlock won't stop them riding in the field and I don't think they are planning on stealing them or they would have done it, unless they are trying them out beforehand.
I would be putting loads of booby traps up and hopefully they will suss out they have been discovered and be scared off.
 
I would be taking headcollars and leadropes home, maybe try and set up some cheap cctv, if tlhe house is a long way from the road it must be someone loacl who knows the horses are there.
Personally i would stay up there over night with a huge burly friend and inform the police you are doing this and reasons why, so you cannot be then charge with assult when you catch the fiend (sorry person with deprived childhood that cannot afford a horse so has every right to go ride yours)
 
HingeFarm said:
I keep my mare with 4 other mares at a friend’s house. The yard owners mare and mine are turned out 24/7 together and the three other mares (all non-ridden) who belong to another girl and are kept around the back of a barn. The field my mare is in is very open and visible from the road and railway line but next to yard owners house and property is very isolated towards the end of an over 2 mile dead end road...?
Click to expand...

I take it from above there the "yard owners house" is close by? Do they not keep an eye on things? I would also suggest removing those headcollars, padlocking the gates and get yourself a nice watchdog!
 
This is just awful. Hope they fall off and hurt themselves! I know that sounds wicked but how could someone do something like this? Hope you catch whoever it is. Let us know how you get on.
 
Its a pity you cant put in a ringer that would kick there arse from here to hell if it was jumped on.
Back to reality....... Whats going on would really concern me to the extent id be moving my horse if it couldnt be stopped, especially if it could harm your horse to the extent it would need pts.
The police are obliged to do something as its interfering with your property, id also play up the fact its dangerous and someone could be really hurt its then been brought to there attention as a potentially serious incident/ accident waiting to happen.
 
I would be moving the horses from the field and then camping hidden in the house or trailer to try and catch whoever it was coming back. I couldnt litteraly sleep if it was happening to one of mine. Also set up CCTV so you have proof to present to the Police when you catch them. Horrable situation to be in and hope you catch them soon.
 
Worry is that if you challenge this person/people and don't get it right. They know where your horses live. See what the police say, they may advise you to keep quiet and move/hide your horses somewhere else.
 
Hi all thanks for your posts and support! Too clarify a few things. Yard owner has very large house property is an old farm and has 16 acres all down to grass and hay so can’t see it all from the house but it is all attached to the property and fenced with no public rights of way, they also have a dog that lives on site and barks when people are in the garden or yard plus a few attack chickens!
I live on the same road (a fen drove road) just a mile further down we have been in contact with all the neighbours on the road about 10 property’s all farms and farm cottages, some of which the residents are retired. A good old fashioned horseman has told me it would be impossible to ride with accuracy and in the way it looks like my mare has been ridden without a saddle and bridle so we think they might be using their own tack?!!! Which makes me even sicker as my mare has a fully fitted saddle and not long ago I spent a lot of money having a full course of Bowen therapy for her sore back!
In 2009 my mare had a ruptured suspensory ligament and was given a 50/50 chance to be workable again it’s a very long story but at the moment she is fit for purpose – we hardly jump, do road work on hacks, ride on hard ground and I have not galloped her since so she is wrapped in cotton wool! This really could ruin her!!!
Yesterday evening we have put up extra electric fence in all the gate ways we have put large motorbike chains with padlocks around the gates and put boxes behind the trailer door so people can’t get in without moving them. Police have been informed and are aware of the situation we are also joining Cambridgeshire horse watch who are going to come and access the situation.
I have had a very bad day all in all as have other life dramas as well and I’m literally sick with worry! My poor mare can be an angel and obviously is not just having them off at every opportunity otherwise they would not keep coming back hopefully they will see all the visual deterrents we have put in and it will scare them off! I have also been checking by just driving past have done an extra 3 trips today. At the end of my tether!
 
Sounds like you are doing all you can to keep the horses safe. As someone has already pointed out though you must be careful for your own safety should you actually catch someone in the act.
 
I really feel for you in this situation, I can't imagine how sickening it must feel knowing what is going on to your poor horse. I'd be out for blood if it were me!
I know it might not be a great solution, but is there anyway you can wire the electric fencing up to the gate they are getting in at? It's something that has been done at the farm my dad works on to stop people trespassing - as soon as they touch the gate to get in they get a nice painful zap. Whilst it might not stop them, it certainly slows them down and complicates the matter!

Best of luck with it, hope you catch the nasty little freeloaders!
 
How scary for you.
How dare people do that!
Can you put up signs on the gates etc saying private property, trespassers will be prosecuted?
They should see it and know you are watching them.
Could be enough to put them off.
Its likely to be kids as adults are more likely to steal horses and would have done it buy now.
 
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One (very small) positive point: it is perfectly possible to ride with accuracy without tack. I had my novice OH do it on a relatively strong TBx who wants to be (and has been) an eventer. Horse wore head collar and lead ropes for reins and have to say steering and control weren't very different to when he has saddle and bridle.

Agree about moving horses to a different, more visible if possible, field asap. Locks and private property sign on all gates so that it really is 'breaking and entering' (makes it easier for police to intervene).

Purple spray also a *genius* idea. Won't show up much in the dark... :-)

Very best of luck with catching/discouraging.

Depending on how you feel/how many there are of you/them etc, etc a really bright flash camera might be a better option than actually accosting them.

If it is just kids fooling around but not meaning serious harm then another notice explaining that horse is injured and must not be ridden could also help you. Sometimes ppl just don't think but aren't that nasty when you point something out.
 
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