protecting my gypsy cob from theft

Shysmum

Shysmum

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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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It's worrying, I have a Welsh D Gelding, light Chesnut with 4 white socks and blaze, lots of feathering, chunky boy with flaxen mane and tail - a little while ago was out hacking him and a van stopped on a little country lane and turned off engine to allow us to pass. I thanked them and their window was open and as I passed he said (obviously a gypo) 'Is that a mare?' and I simply replied no a gelding without stopping.
 
Our last little coloured cob had sweet itch, so was in a sweet itch hoody all summer - which completely masked the fact that he was a lovely coloured... I'd stick him in that and in your new field...
 
How worrying, we had a report of an unidentified person around our yard recently, thankfully we managed to track the person down and they were legit. But it was worrying not knowing, I've now booked my neds in to be freeze marked (they are already microchipped) but hoping that freeze branding is visual and a deterent.
 
Freezemark in a visable place (visable even when the saddle is on), the shoulder is ideal if he has a black patch there.

Plaited manes and stolen horses is an urban myth.
 
If you get the Rambo sweet itch hoodie it covers them entirely, fits quite long and ears enclosed (well just pop out of the top), they are off white in colour and you cant see through them unlike other fly rugs.
 
Izzwizz said:
If you get the Rambo sweet itch hoodie it covers them entirely, fits quite long and ears enclosed (well just pop out of the top), they are off white in colour and you cant see through them unlike other fly rugs.
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Then write/paint his freezemark number on the fly rug.
 
How worrying and it sounds as if you are taking sensible precautions. If me though I would organise freezemark and have some postcode hoof branders. Nothing can stop people, all you can do it make it more troublesome.

Also, there was a previous post on here for some battery operated nighttime cameras .... marketed to capture wild animals activity but might be worth considering as you might then have identity pictures of other 'nightlife' if the worst happened? The person in question posted a picture of someone poking around near their horses. I think they are often advertised in the farming press.

Horrible though, I feel for you.
 
Or a Boett rug? I've seen a few of them quite cheap on preloved/ local tack sites... failing that is there somebody you could stable him with for a few weeks (until the interest in him dies down?) He is lovely, btw :)
 
off to check out ebay..... and will check out freeze branding tomorrow. I'm so sorry to sound so wimpy, but having worked in animal welfare, I know that if they want something, they will get it. If they possibly can.

A few months ago, a friend had a fab trailer stolen from by her house - the buggars bypassed the padlocks by digging the fence posts out. And that was on a main, busy road. She now has a sleeping policeman in front of her new one, and a wheel clamp.
 
I would be worried too but lucky he is a gelding, I think get him freezemarked if he isn't already. Rest assured your local community are likely to be very happy to keep an eye out and record anything suspicious, so might be a good idea to have a chat with any locals :-)
 
All of the photos of the 'plaits,' posted by worried owners that I have seen are - without exception - windtangles.

If you were going to steal a horse, would you warn the owner by plaiting it's mane the night before?
 
Must say I agree with Faracat all the plaits I've seen have been wind tunnels, so I wouldn't worry about that, especially in a horse with a lot of mane!
I used to get a lot of attention for my cob when I lived near a traveller's camp years ago. They would all compliment him and ask questions about him but when I had him freezemarked (very obvious spot on his shoulder) the interest seemed to die down. I'd suggest you do this asap and make sure you get it done in an obvious place.

Completely understand how you feel and think you've taken every possible precaution so far.
 
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)
 
I had a gypsy cob MARE, who was asked lots of times if she was for sale from 'travellers' they never bothered me, nor really worried me, they just like to buy things, if not have a bloody good go at it.
She was forever looking like a dreadlocked reggae star, it was the wind.
Try not to worry too much, its the strangers who dont ask that I would worry about, they dont want geldings, and TBH not often want stallions{they usually have one teathered up}
There is nothng wrong with being careful, and nothng wrong with worrying about your horses welfare.
 
thank you all so much, means a lot to me. I am going to check out freezebranding via the vet tomorrow morning, and am checking out rugs too.

I agree, it's the ones that don't ask that are the most worrying, but also these guys were probably scouts who pass on the info on what they find where. It's so rewarding that he has turned out so fab, as he was a scruffy unhandled 2 year old when I got him, and I appreciate the thought that he would have made a good stallion, (and if he was would be worth a fortune, lol) but he's just so important to me, as our horses are to all of us. x
 
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!
 
no offence intended, I can assure you, but I know who I have spoken to, and I know their ways regarding animals better than I would like to. From a professional perspective.

I know many travellers who are good men, I also know others that are not, the same in any society.

And yes, if ANY stranger came up , asked about my horse and left saying "I want that horse" I would still bloody worry. Yes I would.

If this does be seen to be a contraversial post, I will ask for it to be removed. I am simply in a situation I have asked for help with.

edit - asked TFC to alter title to "protecting him from theft"
 
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littlelegs said:
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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This is SUCH a clever idea!! Both the "wound" and lying about his age to people who enquire. If someone really shows an interest you could take it a step further and mention all his various "medical issues"..?
You could cover his feathers in purple spray (or something similar) too?
Ditto the fly rug (boetts are FAB for hiding colour, and really do cover up a lot of the horse - especially if you get the mask too) and freezemark idea, with the freezemark painted on top of any rugs "hiding" your boy. Can't remember if anyone's said it, but it's probably best to get the freezemark done on the shoulder because then it's visible all the time, and can't be hidden by the saddle.
It sounds like you're doing all the right things and its great that your YO is being so helpful and letting you move to a safer field - sounds like he's in a secure place. Its a horrible feeling to be worried about your horse x
 
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Try not to worry too much, If he's a nice cob, he'll get lots of attention. My lad attracts a lot of attention and offers from the travelling community, dealers and riding school owners. He is photographed by strangers on occasion, but I tend to see it as people just enjoying seeing a horse they like.

I always get grazing that is not visible from roads, visit at varying times, ensure livery has a YO living on site and horse is freezemarked and chipped.

A friend when approached by strangers admiring her horse in the paddock replied 'Yeah, he is lovely but he's knackered with arthritis'. The horse was actually in full health.
 
I have a hairy cob also whom I show and we have hundreds of travellers round near us. They always pull over in their vans to compliment him! Try not to worry, if they openly say they want it they often expect you to then reply "what would you give me for it"! Remember, everything for sale for the right price!
 
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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OP dont worry about political incorrectness sounds you have pretty much guessed what type of person they are espcially if you are on the Appleby route. Type of your horse is one they would go for + other descriptions/accents etc etc. If you can also get CCTV for night time do it. Just make sure everyone around them does keep a small pen and paper to write registration model(evenif they get part of it). But I would freezemark its not expensive etc so worth doing. I have never hoof branded but good idea & did consider it.

I have a cob and have been stopped on road asking if he was for sale by yes guess who Gypsys. Most horse buyers dont stop and ask if horses in a field are for sale(ie if they are looking for riding horse etc). Trouble is if this lot get hold of your horse they will go underground to hide it away. Good luck.
 
My horse was a gypsy cob, frequently commented on by passers by, he was stolen 6 years ago on the 1st of june this year. I think you need to get your lad freezemarked, at least then he would be easier to find should the worst happen. As others have said, you can do somethings to deter theft, but if he were stolen his microchip wont help you find him.
My biggest regret is thinking my gelding was safe because of his microchip - yes if found I can prove he is mine, but finding him is the problem. Oh and saying he is old,arthritic, sweetitch - I did that when asked about him, clearly it didnt work - so a FM on the shoulder or his side is the next best thing.
Interestingly a lot of horses do go missing leading up to Appleby and other large fairs, so every precaution taken is not wasted imo.
 
thanks again - I actually slept last night now I have a plan. I am going to get him freeze marked on his shoulder - I have had this worry ever since I've had him (and my last piebald cob), so it will be a lifetime thing. The microchip is all very well but how the hell are you going to find him to scan him in the first place ?

There is a sad post on here atm about someone's stolen gypsy cob which they are still looking for, and I really feel for them.

Urgh, the things we go through - thanks everyone .......here's another pic, my two best boys (hubs learning to walk on the lad), with Shy playing up for the pic xx

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