Horse has been plaited in the field

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Horlicks

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Ive got a lovely coloured youngster who lives out - he was found this morning with a very neat plait in his mane - certainly not done by me or my family. Ive seen wind plaits before and it was not one of those. Should I be worried?

There are a large number of gypsies in the our local area. Im now worried sick that he is going to be stolen????
 
I read somewhere that this is something thieves do to mark a horse they intend to return and steal. Maybe other people have more info though. I am sorry to make you worry more, but best to be aware of these things. Is he microchipped?
 
I have heard that this is a method used, if you are worried why not let your local police know there have been a number of previous threads on this. Is he microw chipped and freeze marked. If not then it might be a good idea to get this sorted asap.
Moving him to a different field which is not easily accessed is another option or to a friends short term.
Is the field over looked can you fix up camera?
Do hope for your sake this turns out to be false alarm, but if it were my horse I would take some preventative action.
 
Darremi said:
I read somewhere that this is something thieves do to mark a horse they intend to return and steal. Maybe other people have more info though. I am sorry to make you worry more, but best to be aware of these things. Is he microchipped?
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I've heard this as well. It might be urban myth ?? It was an intricate plait though, like an old fashioned corn dolly or 'dust beater rug thingy'. On the offchance it isn't I'd reinforce your padlocks on gates. Remember a heavy bike chain on the hinge side and put notices everywhere stating horses freemarked & microchipped. Just to be safe.

Hope it's just kids during half term - sometimes they don't realise what they're doing... :o
 
I'm afraid I've heard the same thing. It is a common method used for marking horses. Do everything you can to show a regular presence and security, it may even be worth alerting the police - you might not have been the only target and you might be helping to protect others. Spread the word to those in your area too. What area are you in? Hope all is well x
 
Freeze marking him would give you peace of mind, if he’s not too white, but I’d assume a horse mad little girl has been getting her fix in your field.
 
Undo the plait - hey presto, your horse isn't marked anymore ;)

But seriously, chances are it's just one of the yard kids playing about with him. Maybe ask around and keep an eye. I was always told that even if they do mark, they tend to follow with a van / whatever a few days later - only horses that are left to it for days at a time tend to be marked up long enough for anything to happen.

Still not sure if I believe it, or whether it's an old wives tale. Either way, don't worry.
 
Marking does happen and there are a few different ways of doing it, but just let your local police force know, take the plait out and pop a sign on the gate saying that random around the clock visits will be made on this site.

It's not much effort, but the sign and the taking out of the plait will mean that anyone thinking of taking your horse will not want the risk or bother.

Yes, it could be kids messing, but better safe than sorry.
 
I've heard that about the plait and being marked for stealing too.

Of course, it could just be a kid at the yard.

Why not ask if anyone has seen any different cars or vans from usual nearby?
 
It's a load of rubbish.

Yet again I'll state that one of mine is frequently plaited although he's the oldest and ugliest and obviously least valuable in the field, he's one of the few that are freezemarked, he's also very nervous of having his mane touched by anyone and is terrified of strangers and I'd doubt one could get within 10 yards.

If someone wants to steal your horse they won't alert you by marking it. They'll use a mobile phone and take a picture, get a fix on the location, take pictures of any problems to be overcome in getting it out of the field. WHat they won't do is fanny about in your field plaiting it!
 
jemima*askin said:
If someone wants to steal your horse they won't alert you by marking it. They'll use a mobile phone and take a picture, get a fix on the location, take pictures of any problems to be overcome in getting it out of the field. WHat they won't do is fanny about in your field plaiting it!
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This is very true.

But... if I found a plait in my horses mane I would still worry. :o
 
There have been loads of threads on this and the conscensious is always that it's nonsense. :) It seems there are no recorded cases of horses being marked before being stolen.

Why would thieves warn us they plan to steal our horses anyway?
 
jemima*askin said:
It's a load of rubbish.

Yet again I'll state that one of mine is frequently plaited although he's the oldest and ugliest and obviously least valuable in the field, he's one of the few that are freezemarked, he's also very nervous of having his mane touched by anyone and is terrified of strangers and I'd doubt one could get within 10 yards.

If someone wants to steal your horse they won't alert you by marking it. They'll use a mobile phone and take a picture, get a fix on the location, take pictures of any problems to be overcome in getting it out of the field. WHat they won't do is fanny about in your field plaiting it!
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I agree with all of this, but when working with a welfare centre many years ago, the camps we used to go and take horses from were never shy of telling us their methods. Almost as if they were proud of it...and many times, with recently stolen horses, the plaits would still be there. We also had knotted tails and few other markers.

Perhaps times have moved on from then, but I know from first hand experience that it has happened.
 
_GG_ said:
I agree with all of this, but when working with a welfare centre many years ago, the camps we used to go and take horses from were never shy of telling us their methods. Almost as if they were proud of it...and many times, with recently stolen horses, the plaits would still be there. We also had knotted tails and few other markers.

Perhaps times have moved on from then, but I know from first hand experience that it has happened.
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You have it in a nutshell with the bits I've bolded!

In this day and age it's far easier than it was, mobile phones aren't the only technology they use to make the job easier:D
 
FionaM12 said:
There have been loads of threads on this and the consensus is always that it's nonsense. :) It seems there are no recorded cases of horses being marked before being stolen.

Why would thieves warn us they plan to steal our horses anyway?
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Exactly.

Chill out, OP. It'll be nothing :)
 
He has a long mane & it's been very wet & windy, I suspect just a wind/dread lock, plus they're in the back fields now, so unless people are going up the private road he's not easily visible and from what H says the only people going up there aren't horsey.
Friend likens plaiting a horse to steal it like a burglar putting a big red X on a front door, you'd come home, see it, & say you know what I'll stay in tonight & make sure I lock the doors. Why pre-warn some-one you're going to be taking something?! Makes no sense. Plus for all that people say they've heard about plaiting, how many can then say the horse was subsequently stolen? Never come across anyone who says that it's actually happened.
Would be great if H will change the hinges on the gate/add extra padlocks anyway but I doubt there's much to worry about- plus would he load for strangers on his own in the dark? And I'm sure the people in the house would wonder what was up if they heard a commotion going on & with 2 rottweilers that they could let loose in the garden as a deterrent it just doesn't seem likely, just ask H to mention it to the tenants to keep their eye out.
Take the plait out & smother his mane in mane & tail spray if needsbe and have him freezemarked along with seeing if H will change the hinges/padlocks, none of these things are bad suggestions to do anyway, regardless as to whether people think plaiting is a fore-warning or not.
 
Noticed it's been windy lately? And that these stories always surface when it has been windy? Think about it - why would you risk being spotted marking a horse in a way that is almost impossible to see in the dark, then leave it for the owner to find THEN come back and steal it? If you were going to get it away wouldn't you do it there and then? Urban (or rather rural) myth. Check with your local police if you like - they will tell you there is no basis in fact for it.
 
I dunno, my gut feeling is that those doing the plaiting are looking for indications of whether that particular horse is regularly attended. So, if they plait and that plait is still in 2 days later, chances are that they can whip it away and out of sight without the rozzers on their tails in two seconds.

Take out the plait, purple spray the legs.
 
JillA said:
Noticed it's been windy lately? And that these stories always surface when it has been windy? Think about it - why would you risk being spotted marking a horse in a way that is almost impossible to see in the dark, then leave it for the owner to find THEN come back and steal it? If you were going to get it away wouldn't you do it there and then? Urban (or rather rural) myth. Check with your local police if you like - they will tell you there is no basis in fact for it.
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Well, the travellers that were being arrested at one rescue were quite open in telling us (they wanted it to go in their favour) that they would plait or otherwise mark the horse as it meant no need for torches when going back to collect. They would mark and check on the horse over the next 3-4 days. If plait still in place and no additional security put up on property, they knew it was safe to go back and take the horse....or horses. I do also remember him saying it was not just for the horses. They would sometimes do it if there was other property that they wanted...it was just the best way of testing the frequency of visits to the property.

Whilst I want to not believe it...there have been a few instances of this in Wiltshire lately and it has coincided with a few big break ins and theft of a hell of a lot of tack.
 
Must admit I do believe it goes on still. Most horses are stolen at night or from very remote locations and so the whole photo/phone thing doesn't really work. Plus as one poster says they can tell if anybody has unplaited it also. Its pretty obvious that it is/not a windplat.

Certainly those of us with lots of experience with travellers would be cautious here. Old traditions are valued by some and this is one of them.
 
I'd quite easily believe it still goes on too. Much easier in the dark to feel for a plait than risk someone noticing the illumination from a mobile bobbing about in a field.

If it were me, I'd make sure the local police knew about it and all nearby horsey people. I's also visit more frequently at times when I wouldn't normally, and get friends to visit too, just in case anyone was spying on what times I was there, so working out the best times to nick my boys when I wouldn't be around. I'd also post notices saying that vehicle registrations were being noted down in case of possible thefts in the area. One other thing would be to make access more awkward than it already is! If it looked like a load of hassle to take them, perhaps the potential thieves might think twice.
 
I'm fairly certain this is an urban myth.

A few years ago I had two horses stolen from their field (they were the only two in it) but fortunately we were able to recover them. They were checked twice daily and had NOT been plaited - doesn't mean I am going to fret about my other horses that don't have plaits in their mane!
 
eggs said:
I'm fairly certain this is an urban myth.

A few years ago I had two horses stolen from their field (they were the only two in it) but fortunately we were able to recover them. They were checked twice daily and had NOT been plaited - doesn't mean I am going to fret about my other horses that don't have plaits in their mane!
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Not every horse thief is a traveller!
 
Before we bought Kal we had two mares who lived out during the summer. Nell (a SecD x with a mahoosive mane and tail) was often brought in with a gorgeous running plait . . . and when I was poo picking I used to see a young girl in a field with other horses across the valley (not part of our yard) . . . I guess she just used to like hanging out with the horses, and was good at plaiting!

Nell would have been both an easy and desirable target - well-built, black Sec D/Fell cross with three white socks, lots of feather, beautiful action and really pretty head . . . living in a field accessible from multiple roads with no eyes available at night . . . she was never taken.

Hope that helps reassure.

P
 
I had the police out last year because someone had taken clippers/scissors to one of our ponies and cut chunks out of his coat, when the police arrived they asked me if I had noticed any plaits in either ponies manes because both were signs they had been told to be vigilant for as possible marking for theft.
I think most of the time the plaits are just wind plaits but it never hurts to take precautions.
 
Please.

Why spend time in a field plaiting a mane .....risking getting caught.... and then return, after having put owners on alert, to nick the horse.

If it's going to be stolen, no-one is going to advertise the fact beforehand.

I'm more worried about horses being dumped on my land than horses being stolen from it.
 
I do think that even the police could believe an urban myth if they heard it from horsey people. The police might then "warn" people informally on the basis of this, thus appearing to give some credibility to it.

Unless the police can show actual statistical evidence that it happens, I know what I'll believe. ;)
 
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