platt in mane in bockleton worcestershire

[westparc]

a friend who did not know anything about the platting linked with thieves phoned me VERY concerned if you are in the area please be aware

 

[prieot]

Are you sure its not a wind plait. My boy gets them all the time ...they look like perfect plaits. Certainly had me worried when i first saw it.

Was in Dorset some months later and read an article on it. Appears that the stories of this started in the west country and have been running for many years. Often linked with tales of gypsies or supernatural events.

P.s. This was around the last time it was publicised in HH. So I phoned the police when i first saw it ..they confirmed that they had no reports of horse theft in the Thames Valley area ..and hadn't for many months (closest was in the next county and totally unrelated).

Post a pic next time and I can confirm if the same as mine ..usually around 3/4 down the neck line.

 

[Serenity087]

Here we go again!

There are NO confirmed reports of plaits leading to thefts. Anywhere. Except LaaLaa Land.

There is no reason to get hysterical about Wind Plaits, which are a naturally occuring phenomenum (sp)

 

[nativetyponies]

Not this crap again

 

[WoopsiiD]

Unless you go to a field and your pony has 'TAKE THIS ONE' graffiti'ed on its asss I wouldn't worry.

 

[Tinseltoes]

Here we go again. Dont mention wind plaits to me,my untouchable section A had them and today I had to cut them out,as impossible to undo.
When is this STUPID tale going to stop?????

 

[westparc]

just letting people know what i have been told, there is no harm in takeing extra precautions if you dont believe in them then dont bother writing anything, some people may find it true and alarming! i fell better in mentioning something than not, than someones horse being stolen because i havent told people in the area. it probably wont come to anything but there are a lot of thefts in rurual areas because there are not many eyes around

 

[Tinypony]

Westparc, personally I appreciate the sentiment, however, surely any responsible horse owner is taking any precautions they can against theft already? The problem with this plait thing is that it's a legend, it isn't true, the police have no reported cases of a plaited horse being stolen. So each time this story resurfaces, more people get into panic attacks over simple wind plaits in their horses' manes, or even little plaits put in by children over the fence.
On another recent thread there were some very interesting stats quoted about horse theft, and while it would be wrong to belittle the problem, it isn't as common as we might be led to believe. There certainly aren't "lots" of thefts in rural areas. (Unless you can quote numbers to back that up?).

 

[Tinypony]

Here you are, to quote Karynk on another thread:

"The cold hard facts are that there has been no increase in horse theft and there is no evidence that they are or ever have been used to mark horses for theft.

These are more helpful facts to help people reduce the minuscule threat of their horse being stolen. All these have actual crime report numbers that have been reported to the police and are not gossip or hearsay.

58 and 59 horses were stolen in the UK in 2008 and 2009 respectively so you have a more than 1 in 20,000 chance of your own horse being taken.

The most popular horses stolen are coloured horses. The most popular type stolen are Cobs followed by Shetland/Miniatures. In most cases where the details are available they are taken from their field. Central counties of England have the most cases of horse theft. A larger proportion of those marked in some way are recovered than those that are not. More horses are stolen that are unmarked than those that are. More horses are stolen through the summer months. A lot of horses stolen are actually recovered. There are several instances of the theft of multiple animals from the same premises.

These are facts and are useful pointers to help owners better protect their horses particularly if they fall within these categories. They do not scare people but inform them how best to protect their precious horses without giving them sleepless nights. Horse theft is extremely rare and with a bit more vigilance will become even rarer, but this can be achieved better by information rather than fright and panic. "

 

[wipeout]

OP, perhaps if you search for other threads on this site regarding plaits you might understand why people are sick of talking about something that just isn't a threat.

Good for you for wanting to spread the word but on this occasion it is a waste of time.

The real threat comes from horse thieves who will not bother to alert you in advance that they are watching your animals, if they want them they will take them first time. If you can up your security and vigilance then surely you should be doing that as a matter of routine anyway?

 

[SusannaF]

One police theory is that the plaits are done by some pagans – "knot magick" is one way of casting spells where you plait or knot cord. Spell is nothing to do with horse or owner, though. Horse manes are just extra magic. The horses aren't harmed.

 

[Tinseltoes]

OP, perhaps if you search for other threads on this site regarding plaits you might understand why people are sick of talking about something that just isn't a threat.

Good for you for wanting to spread the word but on this occasion it is a waste of time.

The real threat comes from horse thieves who will not bother to alert you in advance that they are watching your animals, if they want them they will take them first time. If you can up your security and vigilance then surely you should be doing that as a matter of routine anyway?

Here you are, to quote Karynk on another thread:

"The cold hard facts are that there has been no increase in horse theft and there is no evidence that they are or ever have been used to mark horses for theft.

These are more helpful facts to help people reduce the minuscule threat of their horse being stolen. All these have actual crime report numbers that have been reported to the police and are not gossip or hearsay.

58 and 59 horses were stolen in the UK in 2008 and 2009 respectively so you have a more than 1 in 20,000 chance of your own horse being taken.

The most popular horses stolen are coloured horses. The most popular type stolen are Cobs followed by Shetland/Miniatures. In most cases where the details are available they are taken from their field. Central counties of England have the most cases of horse theft. A larger proportion of those marked in some way are recovered than those that are not. More horses are stolen that are unmarked than those that are. More horses are stolen through the summer months. A lot of horses stolen are actually recovered. There are several instances of the theft of multiple animals from the same premises.

These are facts and are useful pointers to help owners better protect their horses particularly if they fall within these categories. They do not scare people but inform them how best to protect their precious horses without giving them sleepless nights. Horse theft is extremely rare and with a bit more vigilance will become even rarer, but this can be achieved better by information rather than fright and panic. "

Common sense would tell you a horse thief doesnt mark horses for you be forewarned.These thieves will come,lcatch the animals and load then take off.
I am glad to read the above information. Thanks for putting that here,very interesting.

 

[Miss L Toe]

It is a bit daft to assume that horses need to be plaited. If the potential thieves, whether from Poland or Pocklington are looking for Gypsy types, all they need to do is to select the coloured ones. Anyone buying from dubious sources should be aware that they will lose their new best friend and their cash and expenses if the original owner finds them.
If buying from a dealer who operates legitimately, then they would presumable get their money back, though usually they will be offered a replacement.
Travellers have set up camp next to our yard and have been seen in the fields with the horses, so we have put padlocks on gates and gate hinges, but they could cut the fence..........
I think that cameras should be used and notices posted nearby.
Every year horses are stolen from remote locations, it is an easy theft and it is difficult to trace these thefts, so all horse owners should be on the lookout for unusual activity.

 

[Serenity087]

As a thought.

If I told you a car thief was putting post it notes on cars saying "this one", you'd think I was nuts.

So why is this horse plait thing still going?

There's no point increasing vigilance against the wind, because it draws your attention to the wrong place. If your horse isn't freezemarked, microchipped, or both, then you're an idiot (and yes, as it happens, mine is neither... going to change that when she moves!! But she also has a huge spot on her face that says "steal me, and you'll never be able to hide me!!!")

Seriously. Threads about padlocks, freezemarking days, security cameras, all good. Threads about wind plaits, really not good at all.

 

[Cedars]

Yesterday, my yearling came over to me at 11.02 with a long flowing mane and gave me a cuddle. At 11.45, I went back to see her, and she had a plait in her mane. Very intricate, a bugger to get out.

PANNIICCC! Or not?

NOT - because I was in the field with her that whole time, poo picking. She rolled, and then rubbed her neck against a tree. Unless the thieves were invisible, I think that these plaits are caused by natural causes!!!!!!

 

[Kat]

Which Platt??? Gail, Sarah Lou or David??????

 

[MHOL]

All plaits done by nature alone, NO reports through Horse watch in the Worcestershire area reported at all. If people are worried how come no one ever takes a photo of the offending plait?? And never report it? apart from an internet forum

 

[Debz87]

I would like to say thanks westparc, i also posted a similar post last week, but i feel as if we are wasting our time on here trying to warn people as most people think its all made up and that every single plait is caused by the wind.
That's some peoples opinions, and to be honest the way people are not bothering to take any notice and put it down to natural causes the more likely to me that thieves would use this method of marking thinking that people don't believe that there is anything in it anymore.
I personally will remain cautious, what other people do or don't do is up to them, i personally appreciate the warning of potential thefts.

 

[*hic*]

I would like to say thanks westparc, i also posted a similar post last week, but i feel as if we are wasting our time on here trying to warn people as most people think its all made up and that every single plait is caused by the wind.
That's some peoples opinions, and to be honest the way people are not bothering to take any notice and put it down to natural causes the more likely to me that thieves would use this method of marking thinking that people don't believe that there is anything in it anymore.
I personally will remain cautious, what other people do or don't do is up to them, i personally appreciate the warning of potential thefts.

Debz, you still haven't answered my question about WHY thieves would choose to mark only the obviously least valuable pony in my field, which happens to be freezemarked, when some of the others aren't and HOW they managed to get close enough to him to do it when he is so uncatchable that we have to take all the others out of the field and then approach him in exactly the right way using his own headcollar or you can't get hold of him.

Might the fact that he has a long mane and the others are pulled not possibly suggest to you that it's natural causes?

 

[christi]

Im very glad i reported it to my local horsewatch and got it logged with the police, when it happened to my horse , both were fantastic and very helpful .

 

[Debz87]

Im not saying that wind tangles/plaits don't exist!
Im not saying that thieves are responsible for untouchable horses etc having these marks and as I have said before the plaits aren't meant to look obvious in a 'steal this one' way!
I should imagine it would be the intention of the thief to make them look natural if and when the horses are possibily marked for stealing, from the genuine cases where police have been notified that I know of the plaits have been underneath the mane so would not be obvious, the plaits were reported and break ins to the yard where recorded by the police on 2 occassions but the horses had been removed before the second break in which was also when the large tyre tracks (possibily horsebox) were noted.
I am not thick, i realise horses naturally get tangles in long manes and tails but it only takes a strange looking plait/tangle to be overlooked once for it to be too many times.
we also use mane and tail conditioner spray and keep the manes tangle free, it is very rare that the horses i was worried about have wind plaits, I have only seen it once before on them in the 11 months I have cared for them and on both occassions the horses both had them at the same time, bit coincidental for me to ignore.
And yes you may point out next that the horses haven't been taken, which is true.
perhaps this is down to the tangles being indeed caused by the wind/rubbing/whatever or because I alerted everyone including the guy who owns the land to be extra vigilant and the other grooms that look after the horses, aswell as taking the plaits out and adding more mane and tail conditioner.
perhaps as it has been mentioned that people do this to see how often the horses are checked? I don't know.
I would rather be safe than sorry.

 

[Zebedee]

Read the quote from KarynK. Not ONE horse reported stolen after these 'plaits' appeared.

Christi - every call you make to the police is logged & given a reference number. It doesn't mean they are necessarily concerned, although as a professional body they will certainly make a real effort to reassure any concerns a caller may have.

 

[WoopsiiD]

I've been straight to the horses mouth! I had mentioned all this in passing to a friend who works with the travelling community. She had a conversation with a traveller whose response was a fit of hysterical laughter. He says that all 'gorgers' believe this and it is a source of great humour.
He then went on to say that *if* he was going to steal a horse (and he is not) why would he waste his ruddy time plaiting the bugga. It would be out of the field and on the box all on the same night.
He also said that very few horses are actually stolen by travellers-they are not good enough quality!!!!

 

[christi]

Read the quote from KarynK. Not ONE horse reported stolen after these 'plaits' appeared.

Christi - every call you make to the police is logged & given a reference number. It doesn't mean they are necessarily concerned, although as a professional body they will certainly make a real effort to reassure any concerns a caller may have.

Oh Zebedee i am aware of this , thank you for that !!!!

here is a pic of how remote rural my home is , not the sort of place you would expect that to happen , the police were very interested when they saw the plait in my horses mane and also the ink that she had been splattered with as the ink was not evident until 24 hours after her mane was plaited ! i cant rememeber what the police called the ink now !
i was always very sceptical of these stupid stories untill it happened to my horse who i keep at home,she is a coloured traditional cob so just the type that seems to be stolen.
not a nice thing to happen , and i think its better to be safe than sorry and be aware.

 

[Cedars]

Right, so, Christi, a thief firstly FOUND where you lived, then drove all the way out there, found your horse, plaited your horse, drove home. Came back the next day (all that driving out to yours...), splattered ink on the driveway, drove away again. And then DIDNT come back to steal your horse!?

You're a joke...!

 

[KarynK]

Read the quote from KarynK. Not ONE horse reported stolen after these 'plaits' appeared.

.

Am just updating my records to do some analysis but can say so far in 2010 horse thefts by strangers are running at a 21 compared to around 50 for the same period in 2008 and 2009. So horse thefts have FALLEN BY AROUND 40% at the same time as this recurring subject spreading fear of horse theft.

Those popular in 2008/9 for theft were Coloured's mostly cobs and Shetland/minis, who by their very nature have long manes and usually live out so even if an owner can say that their horse had a tangle prior to being taken or on return this would be expected and not an integral part of the theft.

Personally I think it FAR more likely that your hay and feed will be the target this winter than your horse! Someone here suggested cutting a string on hay bales to prevent theft, so maybe this should be done now.

What does concern me is the number of horses stolen on loan, so please if your loan your horse to ANYONE even your family, make sure you use a signed agreement and keep in regular contact if you do not want an unhappy outcome!!

 

[christi]

Right, so, Christi, a thief firstly FOUND where you lived, then drove all the way out there, found your horse, plaited your horse, drove home. Came back the next day (all that driving out to yours...), splattered ink on the driveway, drove away again. And then DIDNT come back to steal your horse!?

You're a joke...!

we do have roads here that go by .
no the ink was splattered on my horse when she had been plaited
and im glad no one did take my horse
this did happen in june this year

Thank You for your input ! your reply is very much welcomed . although im not a Joke, and its hardly a wonder that folk feel unable to discuss this sort of thing when its responded to in the way you have .and i did state that i have always rubbished previous stories of this sort , but hey ho i will never mock anyone as its not in my nature.

 

[Zebedee]

Christi - what a beautiful place to live (& ride).

 

[christi]

Am just updating my records to do some analysis but can say so far in 2010 horse thefts by strangers are running at a 21 compared to around 50 for the same period in 2008 and 2009. So horse thefts have FALLEN BY AROUND 40% at the same time as this recurring subject spreading fear of horse theft.

Those popular in 2008/9 for theft were Coloured's mostly cobs and Shetland/minis, who by their very nature have long manes and usually live out so even if an owner can say that their horse had a tangle prior to being taken or on return this would be expected and not an integral part of the theft.

Personally I think it FAR more likely that your hay and feed will be the target this winter than your horse! Someone here suggested cutting a string on hay bales to prevent theft, so maybe this should be done now.

What does concern me is the number of horses stolen on loan, so please if your loan your horse to ANYONE even your family, make sure you use a signed agreement and keep in regular contact if you do not want an unhappy outcome!!

yes i do also feel it will be hay and feed and anything else that will be targeted ! but i have yet to come up with a way if cutting the strings on my 200 bales without the whole lot falling out the barn ! lol

 

[christi]

Christi - what a beautiful place to live (& ride).

Thank you Zebedee , its wonderful place to live being a horse owner i have 18,000 acres of it to roam about on ! although the winters are hellish , nice for hubby and i being stuck in by snow at the stove though lol