horses being stolen from south wales area...

[Ted's mum]

been to my friends today in ABERGAVENNY, in south wales...have been informed that horses are being stolen - 5 so far from fields around by my friends stud (none of my friends thank god) thieves are marking the field gates with blue string/rope or whatever then going back at later time to steal horse....please be vigilant.!!!

 

[aduffield]

I was working on a yard just outside Crickhowell on yesterday and the yard owner's friend had lost a welsh cob mare taken from the field. others also taken from Abergavenney and Hay on wye. Thieves seem very active there at the moment.

 

[Cedars]

Why why WHY would thieves mark where they're going to steal from? And if they're stupid enough to do so, just move your horse....!

 

[Enfys]

Why why WHY would thieves mark where they're going to steal from? Maybe, it is different people doing the actual taking, the string (bit obvious though, you'd think they'd do something a little more subtle) is perhaps just a marker left by the 'spotter'

And if they're stupid enough to do so, just move your horse....! What if the 'marker' is left after you have checked your horse? If they are checking out horses they are possibly watching you too

........

 

[aduffield]

It is quite common practise for travellers etc to mark gateways and fencing with pieces of string or plastic bags on fencing. They are also known to put markings in the road outside of gateways to show others where to go. These markings tend to be quite subtle and are not meant to be noticed by joe public, but are meant for others. There was a spate of thefts in the Telford area and the theives were marking fences and gates by stray pieces of plastic that looked like they had just blown on by accident, but were deliberately placed at specific intervals. Don't be confusing this type of marking with those put on horses. This type can be very sophisticated and has in the past included ultra violet paint and imitating the marks the council put on the road when they are doing repairs or surveys.

 

[Cedars]

The one time we thought our horses were being watched, we were very lucky in that we lived on site. Obviously, some people dont. However, a friend of mine had a strange man hanging around taking photos, and she slept in a car in her horses field. For three nights straight. I just don't see why people risk it!

And so how is this "marking" not seen as stupid, but when someone mentions fairy plaits you all leap on them?

 

[Cuffey]

Nothing on Gwent police web site
Nothing on Stolen Horse Register

Need Crime Number etc please Ted'smum

 

[aduffield]

Personnally I don't leap on people who take about plaits in manes because there is so much hysteria over it. I have now seen 8 examples of plaits that are def man made at least 3 have been on very difficult horses either very dif to catch or down right nasty. If these had been done by witches or children the culprits would probably be injured or dead. a friend of mine had her 14.2 5year old cob plaited in the field. she lives down a dead end with no footpaths and no other public access and she came back from work to find he had been plaited in her absence. Her horse is exactly the type to go young coloured which would fetch good money. Plaits are not only put in to mark an animal for actual thieving they are also used to see how well you look after your horses and how observant you are and if you visit every day. The simple fact that some- one has had unrestricted access to your horse wityhout your knowledge should be sufficient to allert most people but so many poo poo it I find it bizarre.

 

[Cedars]

Proof, please, aduffield, that horses have been stolen after plaiting. One example will do, thanks.

 

[aduffield]

I didn't say they had been stolen I said I had seen 8 egs of this being done. There is no way of knowing if horses have been plaited and then stolen because they are missing so how can you tell they weren't before they went. All I know is in some areas the police are taking this seriously and not just as hoaxs, for example in fife , where the police got the issue highlighted on the bbc news don't think they'd be doing that for the hell of it. I Galashiels they had a case of plaiting and the local police staked the yard out using the horse as bait in the hope the thieves would return for it.

 

[Cedars]

Because you're saying that you know 8 people who have had horses plaited and not one of them have been stolen. So obviously these people knew! And if their horses WERE stolen then they'd tell the police that they'd been plaited wouldnt they! Obviously there might be the odd person who didnt get there in time.

So, in Galashiels, did the thieves come back? I'm betting not and some little kid was sat at home thinking "***** look at all the trouble I caused plaiting that pretty pony".

What I'm saying is that its all bull***** until someone can prove otherwise! Clearly it is a bit worrying that people can get that close to your horses but realistically none have been stolen yet!

 

[Puzzled]

Crickhowell is in Powys not Gwent so I would imagine that is why the mare didn't come up on their website. She was a bay cob mare, used for breeding I believe. Some other horses were stolen from Merthyr over the same weekend (possible link maybe?)

 

[Cuffey]

Crickhowell is in Powys not Gwent so I would imagine that is why the mare didn't come up on their website. She was a bay cob mare, used for breeding I believe. Some other horses were stolen from Merthyr over the same weekend (possible link maybe?)

My message was for more info from Ted'smum who mentioned Abergavenny

Nothing on Gwent Police site either

You have no idea how much bother I get into with Horsewatch personnel circulating stolen info without Crime numbers or hard evidence that Crimes have been reported

 

[bounce]

What I can't understand is why none of these stolen horses are appearing on the stolen horse register or any 'out of their mind with worry' owner who has had their horses recently stolen is not posting on here or any other forum with crime references.

The last horse stolen according the stolen horse register was in august from Fife.

If I had a horse stolen then I would be spending every minute of the day posting on forums, links on websites, news papers etc, and definitely recording it with both the police and the stolen horse register.

Surely if 5 horses have just been stolen in Wales then this would be on equestrian news somewhere.

As for those that think marking the horse with a plait is the sign of a thief about to strike. Try pulling your horses mane or hogging - that puts them right off. Strangely they only seem to like a long or unkept mane.

 

[Cedars]

HAHA Bounce. Loved the last comment.

And yes, you're right if mine were nicked the whole world would know about it without fail!

xxxx

 

[*hic*]

Personnally I don't leap on people who take about plaits in manes because there is so much hysteria over it. I have now seen 8 examples of plaits that are def man made at least 3 have been on very difficult horses either very dif to catch or down right nasty. If these had been done by witches or children the culprits would probably be injured or dead. a friend of mine had her 14.2 5year old cob plaited in the field. she lives down a dead end with no footpaths and no other public access and she came back from work to find he had been plaited in her absence. Her horse is exactly the type to go young coloured which would fetch good money. Plaits are not only put in to mark an animal for actual thieving they are also used to see how well you look after your horses and how observant you are and if you visit every day. The simple fact that some- one has had unrestricted access to your horse wityhout your knowledge should be sufficient to allert most people but so many poo poo it I find it bizarre.

Wow you seem very confused - firstly you say you've seen 3 very difficult or downright nasty horses plaited and that the culprits would probably be dead or injured trying to do it. Then you say you find it bizarre that people poo poo the idea that it's real people doing it? So which is it wind or potential thieves?

As I've said dozens of times, the pony of mine that is regularly plaited or "Marked" is seriously uncatchable, he's also elderly, small, freezemarked and in a field with several others who all look far more valuable than him and who mostly aren't freezemarked. He has just missed out on having his feet trimmed this time round after over 30 man hours has been spent trying to catch him - he's THAT difficult to catch. People he doesn't know doing the plaits? Yeah right.

 

[Ted's mum]

dont know any crime numbers...just repeating what I have heard from a friend who lives in that area. x

 

[Zebedee]

dont know any crime numbers...just repeating what I have heard from a friend who lives in that area. x

Unsubstantiated gossip then?

 

[Tinseltoes]

Hmmmm will keep my eyes and ears open. I think they prefer to steal from remote areas????? Very scary.

 

[aregona]

well, gossip or not, thanks for the warning, im only about 45 mins from there so will keep my eyes open. Thank you

 

[MHOL]

Nothing from Horse Watch, or from the police or from worried owner, no crime number, nothing, nothing on Stolen Horse Register or NED Online, don't you think someone would of been notified, not even on Facebook!!!!

If you are worried get your horse freezemarked, make sure all gates are locked, stagger times when you go to the field so you are not predictable.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Nothing from Horse Watch, or from the police or from worried owner, no crime number, nothing, nothing on Stolen Horse Register or NED Online, don't you think someone would of been notified, not even on Facebook!!!!

If you are worried get your horse freezemarked, make sure all gates are locked, stagger times when you go to the field so you are not predictable.

Good points. I think its gossip again.

 

[applecart14]

thieves are marking the field gates with blue string/rope or whatever then going back at later time to steal horse....please be vigilant.!!!

Yawn ZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz

Haven't we been here before with plaits?

Wake me up when its all over...............

or alternatively, FREEZEMARK, FREEZEMARK, FREEZEMARK!!!!!!!!

 

[Tinseltoes]

Well said Apple. Surely if horses were being stolen someone would know about it and obviously its gossip again,making everyone paranoid.

 

[aduffield]

Absolutely not gossip. Welsh cob mare taken off of road out of crickhowell towards Llanfihangel Crucorney. I was on the yard last week where 2 mares have been moved to from the field where other mare was taken from. Was back there again yesterday as had nice welsh cob for sale ( not the nicked one!!) and they said no sign of mare since she was taken.

 

[Cedars]

Whats the crime number please? Oh, I remember, you never have one...

 

[aduffield]

If this was just gossip why is the yard owner now playing host to 2 extra horses and has had her 3 horses chipped and marked just to be on the safe side!!!.

 

[Cedars]

Right so you dont have a crime number.

 

[aduffield]

I hope ted's mum who started this thread feels really appreciated for letting peoplke know thieves are operating in an area only to have some one come along and shoot them down for posting info. I added my post to help people realise this is genuine and not a hoax. I don't have a crime number because it's not the sort of thing you ask someone for. I just hope you never have to be in the position of posting info for others without a crime number, or god forbid posting a theft of your own. People like to know what is going on in an area and if there is no effective horsewatch forums are the next best thing. Neither Ted's mum or I are new posters, so know the rules!!!

 

[Cedars]

But thats just the point! The owner ISNT posting about their own thread! You're posting about it! The owner is nowhere to be seen!!!!!