Keeping a horse in a field- security!?

[LollyDolly]

Ok so following on from my earlier thread about keeping horses in a field as oppose to a livery yard, one thing I have not considered is the security of my horses?
Currently my horse is kept on a large livery yard, in order to access the yard you need to drive up to the gates and open them, however the house is situated on the right of the gates and the groom's flats are situated on the left. There are people in the house and the flats 24/7 as they live there so the chance of any horses getting stolen is very low as it is almost impossible to access the horses without raising any alarm.

We have had horse theft in the area before and with my boy being an unusual colour (not wanting to sound big headed, it's just that he is rather noticeable and doesn't exactly blend in with the scenery!!) I am slightly concerned about his safety.

So what I wanted to ask is how do you people cope who's horses just live in a field with (or without!) stables/field shelter? What precautions do you take? What are your own experiences/views?

Thanks!!

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Neither Big Fuzzy nor Tiny Fuzzy blend in with the scenery either

I have large notices on the main (padlocked & hinge welded upside down to prevent lifting off) gate & also on feed shed & in main yard:

'All equines on this property are microchipped and freeze branded.
Caution: on entering this property, you are under surveillance by covert CCTV camera's '

On the internal notice it says in addition to the above:
'they are virtually worthless without their papers and are all easily traceable.
There is no saddlery left here and all small items are postcoded'

I have 'spikey' hedges, a big ditch (too big for a 15.2hh to jump in cold blood) and a high stock fence all round the perimeter.

Not had a prob..........yet (in owning this yard & fields as a family since the early 1970's)

However, none of the above will deter a serious thief, but combined they do deter the casual ones

 

[maxapple]

We have the above also - gate hinges upside down, 2 gates to get through both with big padlocks. Double fenced (2 rows of stock fencing - inner one is 6ft ) on the less secure side and prickly hedges down the other.

Notices and CCTV up.

We leave nothing at all at our yard. We have one stable which is padlocked with hay in - but no tack / rugs etc.

We sublet from people who run a business from the barn next door - and they come and go early in the morning and often very late at night which is good as there is often someone around.

That said, while we have had no issues yet, I do worry about them being on their own / people breaking in. My TB is getting older and I'd think in the near future we'll want him somewhere he can be supervised!!

 

[lachlanandmarcus]

I would do all the security you can, but look at it this way.

Assuming your chap is gelded he is a lot less likely to be stolen (generally they want mares or minis, not always but often, esp if coloured)

Now by coloured I mean patchy black and white or brown and white, which will be easy to hide and is favoured for breeding. Your horse is not like that - while being very distinctive makes you worried about theft it also makes him VERY hard to hide and pass on unnoticed.

So I wouldnt be more concerned on account of his colour given (assuming) he's a gelding.

 

[Shysmum]

a friend had her paddock broken into even though it was padlocked - they simply sawed through the fence poles and opened the gate.

 

[MadBlackLab]

To add to what people have put try and vary your timings on doing your horses (not so easy in winter I know) so if anyone is watching they cant rely on your regular timings

 

[Slightly Foxed]

I've had three break ins in 12 years when a generator has been stolen (got mains leccy now) and bits and bobs, I don't keep tack at the yard. The last break in was an attempt to steal my tractor, which failed.

I have the CCTV notices, security posts, Beware Guard Dogs Signs etc. So far, touch wood, the horses have been safe. It's actually quite rare for horses to be stolen off the yard, most of them go missing while out on loan and the like. However, I'm not complacent. If you're worried, get your horses freeze marked, it's a visible deterrent.

 

[LollyDolly]

Wow thanks for all of the replies, they are great! It's certainly given me a lot to think about!
How would I go about getting upside down gate hinges?

So I wouldnt be more concerned on account of his colour given (assuming) he's a gelding.

Yes he his a gelding, that has helped to ease the worrying a bit!

I'm not complacent. If you're worried, get your horses freeze marked, it's a visible deterrent.

My horse is perlino and has very pale hairs, would a freezemark work? Would it be visible?