Mane plaiting Cheltenham

[Tiggy1]

An incident where a black and white had a plait found in it's mane occured last night.
Said cob was checked previous night 7pm and was found to have a single plait in it's mane by 8am this morning.
We have informed horsewatch and cob is freezemarked and microchipped

 

[hepzibah]

hi, god, now i'm really worrying! when you ( and others)say plait in mane is it a long plait, or just a little bit at the bottom. reason i ask , a couple weeks back, my mare had a plait in hers which was started halfway down mane, which i undid, but it did leave me wondering whether some kid had been in; i hadn't heard about any of this before, so now i'm worrying! and can someone tell me what is meant by knotting the mane, as is mentioned in another post? thanks.

 

[Chestnutmare]

usually the plait is one part of the mane, and all of it downwards, I've not seen a knot in the manes before so couldn't help with that.

Just makes you sick doesn't it that the calous people out there could target our loved horses....

 

[Tiggy1]

The plait was as you said one section and all of it downwards right down to the bottom

 

[hepzibah]

thank you for describing.

 

[HoHum]

This has also been reported this week near Warminster Wiltshire.. Does anyone have any idea of its significance?
I had sort of (niavely(sp)) assumed it was simply kids, but if occuring in more than one area...

 

[Cuffey]

It is said to be an indicator that the horse is marked for theft but hopefully in daylight the FM will be noted and nothing will happen

 

[MHOL]

HORSE owners are being urged to be vigilant following a spate of thefts across Somerset and Dorset.

Over recent weeks, several horses and ponies have been stolen and others appear to have been earmarked for theft.

Sometime between 11am on Saturday 15th August and 6.30pm on Sunday 16th August three fillies worth around £3,000 each were stolen from a field near Parrett Works between Martock and South Petherton in Somerset.



A lock and chain securing the gate was cut with a grinder and the fillies were separated from their mothers and loaded into a horse box.

Avon and Somerset Police Horse Watch co-ordinator Tess Smith said: "The owner is understandably distraught at the loss. The fillies are dependant on their mother's milk and due to their small age there is a huge concern for their safety and wellbeing."

Police describe the stolen horses as a pink roan filly with a slight wall eye, born 3rd June; a grey filly (still slight creamy colour from birth) with grey circles around eyes, born 5th June; a black/blue roan filly, born 23rd May.

Another recent incident near Blandford in Dorset involved a yearling Shetland pony being earmarked for theft.

Owners returned from a horse show to find the pony cowering in the corner of a field.

On closer inspection they discovered that its mane had been plaited.

Police believe thieves are plaiting mains during daytime visits so the "tagged" animals are easier to identify by touch when they return after dark. The plait also provides a grab handle when thieves strike.

Police are appealing for anybody with information relating any recent theft or attempted theft to get in touch.

Somerset Horse Watch can be contacted via Avon and Somerset Police on 0845 456 7000. For incidents in Dorset, contact the police on 01305 222222. Mane plaiting

 

[Tiggy1]

Ours was plaited during the night but hopefully we have taken enough preventative measures, i.e. pony freezemarked and chipped, moved to most difficult field, regular security patrols round the fields from adjacent security men and local police carrying out extra patrols too.
Fingers and toes are all crossed.

 

[missieh]

If your horse has had it's mane plaited it is highly likely that it has been noted by would-be thiefs and in that community word spreads very fast. It is an age-old calling card. I would be really, really careful - microchipping etc will hopefully make it easier to be recovered, but will not stop the theft. The best thing is to move the horse(s) asap.

 

[Chestnutmare]

the theives really dont care...I hogged my man and he wouldnt load very well either do they wouldve been stuffed and my mare is a cow to catch so wouldnt have luck with her either...makes it all very scary though!!

Please remove plaits if seen on ponies anwhere even if theyre not yours...just incase!

 

[daisycrazy]

I've just been told that Stow Fair is on this next week and single plaits in manes are known to be a marker for planned theft.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Wow thats .Very scary. You need a field that is visible from loads of houses.Like us theres only one way in and out lol and the thieves would deffinatly be seen and heard!
But Im still very aware.

 

[CarolR]

Noticed a plait in my Cobs mane last Monday thought it was kids, then yesterday it was plaited again and the cob he share's the field with had a plait as well, we have moved them nearer the farm so safer and informed the police. This happened near Chepstow Monmouthshire South Wales. My sisters friends cob had a plait as well they live nr Risca S Wales, they have also informed the police.

 

[Janette]

This is so worrying, but thankyou for sharing it with us.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Now youve got me scared. Too close for comfort.

 

[Tiggy1]

We moved our coloured away for a period of time so hopefully when they come back high risk time is over.
Very worrying.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Im really worried now as I have a coloured cob.There are two bungalows at the bottom of the field and all along the road that leads up to the farm.There are also houses looking down over part of the field. Hopegully that would put them off!
Very worrying!

 

[Tiggy1]

The main risk is over now due to Stow fair being last week. (Hopefully!!!!)

 

[Tinseltoes]

Phew thats a relief.But someone on here said their horse was plaited last night! Do these thieves go to rural places ie no houses? Or dont they care!

 

[Tinseltoes]

My little pony is not very well handled and my cob is very wary of men and if he doesnt want to be caught he wont be.The field is big and as I said at the bottom theres 2 bungalows and other houses nearby,so hopefully thats a deterrant!! Im still worried tho.

 

[Izzy1]

OMG!! My little 11.2 pony had her mane plaited a few weeks ago. I removed the plait and commented on who on earth would have done that. A week later it was plaited again. Then I found them all out in the field having run throught their fencing - big time - smashed to pieces and I wondered what could have spooked them all so much to have made them done that. I am now really worried. Going to get lights, locks, and freeze marks done asap. We are in Wiltshire.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Thats scary. Sounds like someone was trying to catch them. Id move them to a field where there are lots of houses around.Makes it harder for the thieves as they dont want to be seen or caught.
I hope your pony will be safe!

 

[Izzy1]

Thank you! There are houses at the bottom of the field and it is the farmers son. Normally they hear and see any problems and the farmer lives at the top of the field and is usually very vigilant but I expect this would happen in the dead of night. I have locks and lights but clearly need more. Have reported it to horse watch but am going to get her freezemarked. Think I might have to camp out for a few nights or invest in CCTV!! Horrible.

 

[Tinseltoes]

It is very scary I agree.Youd think these thieves would not bother with places like that.
Is it rural or are there loads of houses about?
Where mine are,theres 2 bungalows backing onto the bottom of field, lots of houses around there. Only one way in and out. lol You never know what these thieves are thinking. Doubt if theyd catch my two,but again you never know.They wont let just anyone go upto them especially in the middle of the night.Thed have to find them first.lol lol lol unlikely as its ,huge field..Someone would hear them.
I am worried .tho.