old wives tales - plaits in horses mane - seems the police are spreading the rumour??

[cob&onion]

Hmmmmm.........

Just seen this on a local police facebook page in our nearby village (south shropshire)



Beware all horse owners! There are thieves operating in the local area who identify a horse by putting a small plait in the horses's mane and then tagging the farm or stable gate to identify the property. At night, horse thieves than know where to stop and, after feeling for the plait without the need for lights that might disturb owners or those living around the field, they steal the animal. Make sure you pass this onto anyone who owns horses and, as ever, please don't hesitate to contact the police if you have any information.


I thought it was just an old wives tale, but now the police seemed to have joined in.
Why would these so called horse thieves be wanting to steal horses in the current market?? i doubt they could sell them on!!??!!?
And what about the hogged cobs?!

 

[stormox]

if they get it for free and sell for even low money its profit! and in the current climate people will do anything to get money. dont assume your horse wont be stolen just coz theres a recession on!

 

[keelz85]

Im up in aberdeenshire and apparently thats happening up here to! I had heard of it before down south but wasnt sure how much truth was in it. a friend of mine told me today, apparently the police had been to someone she news' door warning them about it. scary stuff if its true!!...........as for hogged cobs.....maybe we should all hog lol that'd confuse them!!

 

[cob&onion]

if they get it for free and sell for even low money its profit! and in the current climate people will do anything to get money. dont assume your horse wont be stolen just coz theres a recession on!

Am talking more about the old gypsy plait in the mane story..........

I would like to know where the police have got this information from.

 

[Natch]

What the post actually made by the poloce?

That's all we need, the police getting every horse owner hysterical because of wind plaits

 

[glenruby]

I have always been scathing of these stories but recently I went to see a pony with the police after the third report of a pony owned by the same lady having a plait. Before seeing it I fobbed it off as a wind knot but when I saw one it is basically a fishtail type plait held together by small strands of hair knotted around the ends. Quite rough plaits but definitely placed by human hand. Conclusion is that the pagan feasts are coming up now and these are known pagan traditions so no harm intended.the reason for the police interest is that these ponies are on private land technically within the garden so worry over safety of house/property. These plaits are not marking for stealing though.

 

[cob&onion]

What the post actually made by the poloce?

That's all we need, the police getting every horse owner hysterical because of wind plaits

Yep - on there facebook page........

http://www.facebook.com/cleobury.localpolicing?fref=ts

 

[loisb501]

We had the police at our yard the other month. They were asking us to join horse watch and advising us to have our tack marked. Also if you gave them your email then any suspicious activity or thefts are emailed out to everyone (who joined) in the local/surrounding areas.

 

[lhotse]

My mare had two plaits in her mane on monday, very twisted round and elaborate. Funnily enough, they weren't there when I put her in her stable. One minute she had a straight mane, half an hour later she had two plaits. Funnily enough, I didn't leave the yard and was always in sight of her stable!! Amazing what can happen to a wet mane with a bit of head tossing and a rub on the haynet!! As for my shetland, he went out this morning with a nice posh mane and has just come in with dreadlocks!