Rugs stolen off mare and foal!

[pennypots]

On Monday night, when the weather was at its worst, 60mph winds and torrential rain, some scum bag excuse for humanity thought fit to steel the rugs off the backs of two mares and a foal and leave them in the rain for the night. I can't believe that someone could be so callous. When I found my foal in the morning he was very subdued and cold. Two of the rugs where brand new, only put on the night before in readyness for the dreadful weather that had been forecast. The mare, a TB has a very fine coat, but seems to have weathered the storm ok. I will be post codeing all rugs in the future as a deterant, however, I am at a loss as to how to protect from such an act. Has anyone got any ideas?

 

[Holzdweaver]

a girl i knew used to write her postcode in huge white letters on the outside of her rugs. It not only stopped people nicking them but she said if her horses ever escaped, they would know where they came from

Might not look good, but at least your horses would still have their jackets xD

 

[Holzdweaver]

and by huge, i mean the entire side of the rug on both sides.

 

[Fools Motto]

Alongside advice from previous poster, I actually tie my rugs onto my mare with shoe laces! I origianlly did it because my houdini of a mare used to undo the belly catches, the straps used to hang down, get in the mud and she'd rip them off, then panic and cause further chaos. It not only keeps straps done up but also (has to) deter potential theives from whipping them off as it takes longer to undo the things. (can be a pain in the wotsit, but actually is worth it as far as I'm concerned).

 

[becca1305]

Sit out in wait with a shotgun or find a particularly aggressive kicker to borrow . just kidding obviously . I think the other suggestions are good, but that is what Id feel like doing if it happened to mine, its sickening. Hopefully karma will get them back . I think the huge painted postcode idea is good as it will stop them being able to resale or even use in any area easily visible so reduce desirability .

 

[thatsmygirl]

I know people who brought little padlocks to keep their rugs as each time a new one went on they got pinched and they were Rambos. Never happened again

 

[Garfield1537]

I remember as a child we put a little padlock on rug otherwise they got pinched! And we wrote postcode on rug thankfully we live in an area now whereby rugs seem safer.

 

[TigerTail]

I know people who brought little padlocks to keep their rugs as each time a new one went on they got pinched and they were Rambos. Never happened again

That. I got a little padlock from an outdoors type shop, its a 3 number combo and tiny.

Also glow in the dark/reflective paint for the postcode so that if they bring torches it shows up really really well.

 

[BeckyCandy]

We had our rugs stolen off our ponies backs. One of them an oldie dropped so much weight in one night. Brand news rugs put on that morning as well. I postcode all my rugs now and when reports are going round I cable tie them Cheap and They would snap if horse got caught and panicked

 

[Luci07]

Really unpleasant for you and hope your horses are fine. Bear in mind that thieves have a nasty habit of coming back to steal the replacement items as well so I would definately follow the advice that was given.

 

[Merrymoles]

Also glow in the dark/reflective paint for the postcode so that if they bring torches it shows up really really well.[/QUOTE]

^^^
This - we do ours with massive postcodes in fluorescent paint from the DIY shop and none of them have been nicked since. You usually have to redo them after the rugs have been cleaned or re-proofed though.

There are some slimy toads out there - fancy leaving a foal naked.

 

[LittleWells]

Shocking! What is wrong with people!!! Grrr!!! The small padlocks are good (the sort you get for going on a gym locker) and if you are worried about your horse catching themselves on it, cover the main bit of it with thin sponge. You can then paint that with glo-paint so a torch light will pick it up in the paddock.

I would recommend the post coding too - you can get the water-marker pens which do not show up in normal light, only under UV. Useful for tack etc too. Would get further advice from your local police too about anything else you can do.