protecting my gypsy cob from theft

When the local travellers kept asking me about my mare, I told them I got her cheap because of (made up name of some dreadful lady parts disease :-))) which meant she was no use for breeding so her breeder didnt want her :-))))) they lost interest and never asked again :-)))

Mind you, she has 2 breed inspection brands, a personalised freezemark and a microchip too. With any mare or coloured horse I think you need to recognise that they are the favoured targets, altho geldings/stallions are stolen it is a lot less. Also size of horses, minis and horses 13-16hh are favoured, minis as they can be shoved in a transit and easily hidden, the others for breeding.

OP isnt in my view doing wrong in her post tho she has asked for title to be reworded; since the people who approached her were travellers, and the issue is that the mobility of lifestyle, closed society and dealing in horses as a commodity which are intrinsic to traveller lifestyle may not make theft more likely but do mean that it is very hard for the OP to track down a horse if it is stolen by them and also being on the Appleby route does mean an increased immediate means of offloading a stolen horse quickly and lucratively.
 
I live about half an hour away from Appleby and during fair time a lot of things go missing but it's not always the gypsies doing the stealing, it is often locals/people pretending to be gypsies that feel they can get away with things easier when the gypsies are up as everything gets blamed on them.
 
FionaM12 said:
There seem to be a lot of assumptions and stereotyping going on here. If a person who wasn't a traveller said, "I want that horse!" would people panic? After all, if you were planning to steal it, you'd hardly announce it to the world!
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I agree with this, but also horses being stolen is quite rare luckily, theres little need when so many are available for a pittance. Gypsy cobs are being bred at a massive rate and can be picked up for very little at the horse fairs, travellers know this. The 'plaiting' is an urban myth, if someone wants a horse they would just take it there and then...;)
 
There's some really good ideas and I'm so sorry that this is making you feel ill.

Is there another yard you could move him to while Appleby's on that's not on a direct route? Or consider keeping him in for a bit and out of the way. I'd put some Farmkey signs up saying "the horses on this yard are freezemarked/mircochipped" Might make prospective thieves think for a minute?
I'd also put signs on gates saying "dogs running free".
All inexpensive measures and may not work but can't harm really.
 
catdragon said:
I would love to feezemark my mare - but she's white and pink skinned....what would be the alternative for her?
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They leave the brand on longer to burn the hair off so no hair grows back at all. I had a grey gelding that was nearly white when I bought him but must have been darker gray when younger as when his think winter coat came through, I found a very faint freeze mark under the saddle!
 
Lovely pics :)

I think the best way is to do it like in the old days, rustlers got hanged, those that got caught didn't do it again.
 
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could you put some freezemarks signs around also spray his name on him in the mauve spray on his saddle area .

Gets some hoof brands these last 6 months and you re doo them with your post code http://www.equibrand.co.uk/commercial/electric_brands.html



you could also charge people if they want to borrow them . or ask yard owner if they will get them for the yard .



http://equinecare-and-control.weebly.com/preventing-horse-theft.html


HORSES
Microchip its about £20 odd get a group together and negotiate a callout free vet visit!
Freeze brand get a group session (you can paint this on your rugs it’s a unique number)
Hoof Brand – though this grows out (redoo when ness)
Place warning signs on the yard gate that horses are marked/chipped
Take pictures of your horse in summer and winter coat just in case
Make sure the yard gate has a good quality chain and padlock on it.
Put up CCTV warnings and dummy or real cameras, systems are much cheaper these days.
 
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Tonibird83 said:
There's some really good ideas and I'm so sorry that this is making you feel ill.

Is there another yard you could move him to while Appleby's on that's not on a direct route? Or consider keeping him in for a bit and out of the way. I'd put some Farmkey signs up saying "the horses on this yard are freezemarked/mircochipped" Might make prospective thieves think for a minute?
I'd also put signs on gates saying "dogs running free".
All inexpensive measures and may not work but can't harm really.
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The dogs thing is a good idea - our livery yard (200 yards from travellers site) was the only one not cleared out by them (tack rugs fencing everything that could be lifted) on a regular basis. Know it was them as the postcoded rugs brazenly worn by their horses afterwards etc :-O). Ours wasnt touched as YO had 4 Rottweilers.....lovely dogs but the one thing they wouldnt mess with, big black and tan dogs. Oddly after having all our outbuildings cleared out and then them coming back for the rest as we were in the house phoning the police (!) we acquired a soppy but equally large black and tan Doberman.....no more thefts.....
 
The dog on site is pretty fierce, lol. I am booking Farmkey today, and we are going to spread the word and see if anyone else wants theirs done at the same time. he is going to have it on his shoulder, and if it affects him showing, so be it.

he is currently sporting purple feathers :eek:
 
A beautiful horse like that will attract lots of attention... Many people will envy you and also want it for themselves.

It's good that you have a fierce dog doing the guarding. Hope these advices here can keep Shy safe from harm..
 
I'd say you definately need him freezemarked. Both mine are freezemarked and microchipped (but no one can see the chip). The big deterent is the visual mark on them. Plus I have signs up saying they are chipped and freezemarked and that I am a member of farmwatch. All my locks, chains, tack, doors, trailer (although its kept seperate) are all marked with Smart Water. Just ask your local police about it.

You'll never remove the threat totally, but you can make it difficult for them by not being an easy target. Most thieves will act if there is an opportunity....and we can do a lot to reduce that. Try not to worry, I know its hard.....do what you can, it will make you feel better that you are doing something.
 
smart water look it up. Also signs about CCTV and get him freezemarked and chipped. If I was worried about my horse being stolen I wouldnt put pictures up of him, he is lovely but its very attention attracting at this worrying time.
 
This is the exact reason I got Bodey freeze marked on the shoulder as I was also 'hassled' by travellers/ Gypsys. I wanted something that was visible when I was riding.
 
shysmum said:
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I just typed a long message and lost the lot (sigh).

In a nutshell, a friend was hassled by two young travellers, while she was putting her horse in with Shy today about whether Shy was a stallion, his age, owner, etc, rounding off when she said nothing with "I WANT THAT HORSE". :eek: She rang me, I flew down, got him in, arranged with my lovely YO to change his paddock, and so on.

This is the fifth "enquiry" in the last month, I have always politely said he is a gelding, not for sale, etc. But this incident has really scared me. Unfortunately no registration number was taken, just a van description. Hubbie went off looking for it, and spoke to a yard a few miles away with piebalds - they have found horses with plaits in their manes (which they believe are a direct indication of which horse from a herd to be stolen, I know this is contraversial, but I think there may be some truth in it). They removed the horses from the yard. We are on the Appleby thru route, so lots of travellers in the area soon.

So we are changing paddocks to a hidden one further into the yard (current one was by the lane), he is microchipped, I have extensive photos of him, tho I know they use dye and god knows what. I have spoken to his breeder (who attends Appleby with other horses), and have spread the word around. I will report it to the police and farmwatch tomorrow. The yard has cameras, a guard dog, and owners on site. Shy is stabled at night. Would it help to use sheep marker spray on his feathers ?? I simply could not de-hair him to make him less attractive. In a way I am very proud to have such a stunner, but believe me this worry is making me feel ill.

Any advice or suggestions would be so gratefully received - and has this happened to any of you ??

Thanks so much, shysmum x
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My gypsy cob is microchipped and sadly he has gone missing since 4th may 2012. Hes now on SHR as no sign of him anywhere around here, He has distinctive markings and he doesnt like being caught.So someone must of taken him (someone who knows how to catch difficult horses). Wish Id had him freezemarked.
 
Tinseltoes said:
My gypsy cob is microchipped and sadly he has gone missing since 4th may 2012. Hes now on SHR as no sign of him anywhere around here, He has distinctive markings and he doesnt like being caught.So someone must of taken him (someone who knows how to catch difficult horses). Wish Id had him freezemarked.
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Oh no, from the field?! I'm so sorry to hear that and I hope you have some luck getting him back xx

Shysmum, how much is freezmarking if you don't mind telling me?
 
((((Tinseltoes))) I am so very sorry. I am actually welling up after reading your post, my heart goes out to you. It could have happened to Shy, or my previous cob,at any time, and until I put this thread on, I had never really clicked about the necessity to freeze mark.

The freezemarking is being done by an agent for farmkey, and for the first horse it is £55, plus £25 if you want to choose your own mark/letters. There are several horses being done, and I think we are now down to £45 per horse. Crucially for me, this includes a year on their register (then £15 per year to keep it going), and I think it's something like £5k if he does get stolen. But google it - there are a lot of local companies that do it too. Believe it or not, my vet's practice could not offer any advice on this this morning. And your insurance premium may well come down too.

Another livery said to me today "I don't want to ruin .....'s looks". It came out straight off that I'd rather have my horse than win a show - and I am sooo relieved I have it all arranged now.
 
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Love your horse!

Haven't read all the replies so not sure if it's been mentioned:

- loads of signs around the boundary of the property and all entrances, e.g. 'cctv in operation', 'all horses micro-chipped'
- ensure that the gates are all locked as securely as possible
- sensor type/movement activated lights at strategic points at the yard
- would be good to have constant movement/activities at the yard during the day (by owners/liveries) as this presence would deter thiefs
 
thanks - yup all in place or being worked on - and he is in a paddock right next to the fiercest (sp?) GSD, practically in the YO's garden, lol. Security is very good at the yard - just one of those things that the paddock he was in was accessed via the lane outside. I'm sure word got round, as there has never been any problems at the yard before *sigh*. I'm always the troublemaker, lol xx
 
My horses where almost stolen about 18months ago. Fortunately my neighbour spotted some people on my yard and phoned me. Her dog barked at them, and by the time me and hubbie arrived they had gone. First thought they where trying to steal my bench, as it was by the front entrance. (realised after they had use it to try and knock out the automatic lights) Then discovered 2 of the horses (mares) had headcollars put on in while in the stables. Felt sick. Now have CCTV and each stable has a sensor, so if anyone opens them the alarm goes off, and my mobile rings. Now have peace of mind. Would recommend this system to everyone
 
littlelegs said:
Ditto the advice all ready. If you don't show, you could also use temporary hair dye in a very bright colour. Not the stuff that fades after a few washes, the 28 wash stuff. Put a few different colours in. Of you don't fancy that, when rug is off for hacking make an off putting 'wound'- bit of lipstick in a thin line & blue spray. And if anyone does show an interest, I openly answer but add in 'you'd never think it was 27 would you?' (just don't big up how well it competed last week if you do that)
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PMSL!

Hog him, they don't like that. Clip legs, make him visually unattractive as possible for a while.

I confess I wet my pants hacking as all routes lead past the biggest traveller site in the area. No, I'm not prejudiced, I teach the little darlings and they take what they want and tell me all about it. :(
 
HOG HIM, lol !! :eek: I've spent three years getting his double mane to lie on one side for one thing...and his feathers cover his hooves so nicely, so I can hold off on his barefoot trim for an extra few weeks if money's tight as no one notices ;)
 
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