regarding horse thieves, how can we protect our horses?

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itsme123

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I know some are on yards which have a YO on site all the time, some on yards with no-one about and some kept at home.

Could we possibly arrange another mass freezemarking session? say one in each county? I'm sure people could *help* each other with lifts...


and anyone any advice for others on good measures to take out to protect our horses from being stolen?
 
We have locks on all of our gates and my horse is freezemarked. If poeple lock their gates (if poss) then it is more unlikely to get taken out? Obc they could be broken through but it helps
 
I think if you have a human presence around then it's possibly more of a deterrent but reading the post earlier maybe it's just a bigger challenge! Mine are all stabled but I'm not sure how much of a difference that will realistically make - if they're determined to get them then they will.
 
turning out without headcollars and not leaving headcollars on gates etc, putting up CCTV on yards (it doesnt have to work, a few cheap cameras are a good deterrent), have gates hung so that they can't be lifted off the hinges (and padlock and chain both sides). Electric fencing INSIDE the gate, rigged up to a personal alarm (I think Henryhorn has details of the personal alarm one), freezemarking (obv.) and painting the freezemark number or "this horse is freezemarked" on outdoor rugs.

oh, and geese
grin.gif
 
We used to padlock the stable doors in Spain as no one lived on site - whilst I understand that a lot of people will be horrified by this idea I think I may well do it over here too - chances of a fire...very slim chances of theft...very slim but hey, I think I might err on the side of caution.
 
In the event of a horse being stolen the best chance of recovery is achieved by having the horse freezemarked on it's shoulder and also having up to date photos of it from all four sides.

Stolen horses may be moved moved hundreds of miles within a few hours so it is important that in the event of theft details of the freezemarking and photos are always available.
 
Following on from Peter Natt's good advice, put a file together of photos of your horse taken from both sides, and with winter and summer coats. Include in the file a list of emergency phone numbers, police, Horsewatch groups, port authorities, auctioneers and abbatoirs.....and keep the file somewhere you'll know where it is if you need it.

Chat to any neighbours near your yard, give them your number to call if they see or hear anything suspicious.

Vary the hours that you go to the yard, don't stick to a routine that the thieves could be sure of.

Be suspicious of any unknown woman and child combination taking an interest in your horses, the thieves will use them to check out your horse and yard.

Be aware if your horse seems unusually sleepy, he could have been sedated prior to being stolen as it makes them easier to load....it DOES happen!!

If your are waiting for your horse to be freezemarked but are particularly worried in the meantime, completely purple spray one or more of your horse's legs. Yep, it's going to look very silly but it's better to have a purple legged horse than no horse at all.
 
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