Should I be worried?

[Maizy]

This morning I was later than usual on checking my horses, I had an exam today and was trying to get in some last min cramming...mid morning I thought I'd check the horses and have some good luck cuddles before I set off for the 2 hour drive to uni.

Only both my horses had gone - there live out 24/7 and the panic set in. The field is down a private lane, on a private estate. I just don't know if they managed to open the gate themselves and wedge it open or if someone was trying to steal my horses?

On Tuesday morning, I checked them first thing to find my boy the wrong side of the fence. I opened the gate and he trotted back in.

The fencing is a bit brittle and varies from old wooden post and rail to barbed wire and posts. I just can't work it out. Is someone messing around or is this just a coincident.

Thankfully both horses have been found - over 2 miles away after crossing a major trunk road.

Obviously my main concern is their safety, so I have got a new padlock and chain so at least no one can just open the gate. But if 'they' want the horses it's hardly going to stop them. Oh and one is a coloured.

Any advise/ sense of perspective most welcome.

Just off to go and check on them again....but i'll be back online soon.

thanks.

 

[4leggedfurries]

Move them, sounds a bit dodgy to me...

 

[Maizy]

I should also mention that I live in a cottage on the estate....moving them is not really an immediate option.

 

[Bay_Beasty]

Gosh poor you, how did your exam go after all of that. I took my finals last year, what a mess I was in going through them (weighed about 2 stone less than I weigh now and v v v sleep deprived). If I had had a stress like that I think I would of had a heart attack. Walk fences tonight, see if any holes and yes defo padlock your gate Are you horses chipped or marked? coloured horses are often targets, though as they are not kept on an obvious road it could be tom foolery or the horses jumping out.

 

[MagicMelon]

Id absolutely move them if I were you. Even if its just kids playing pranks - its dangerous. Failing that, camp out with a fiend one night and see who's doing it!

 

[Maizy]

Both horses are chipped, the old boy is also freezmarked. I didn't make the exam

by the time I found them and calmed down - there wasn't enough time to get to the exam which was 2 hrs drive away. I'll have to see if I can do a resit in the summer.

I've still not got them back - awaiting help this evening from a friend - once we have begged a trailer as don't fancy leading them for 2 miles- one's retired and the other unbroken.

 

[alison_oliver]

I'd invest in some electric fencing to make sure its not that that is letting you down, and perhaps check regularly through the night over weekend just for peace of mind. If someone had wanted to steal them its unlikely one horse would be out 2 nights running and then them both be out and be found 2 miles away. Sounds more like escapism or kids. Padlock will stop the kids. But i'd be careful all the same. Sorry to hear about the exam

Fingers crossed for you to resit and do well

 

[sidesaddlelady1]

Get your vet to micro-chip them. Freeze marking is good too but freeze marks can be and have been altered so the micro-chip is the back up. Auctions and the police can scan horses for the m/chip. Auctions and sales yards should do this as a matter of course when a horse is brought in for sale.

And the sensible thing would be to sort out the fencing. If you rent the field and your contract does not specify that you are responsible for the fencing the land owner has a legal duty of care to make sure that the field is secure.

Your insurers may be picky about paying out if youu horses are stolen or lost or injured after escaping if your fancing is substandard.

 

[sidesaddlelady1]

Sorry, missed the bit about them being chipped until after I'd posted.

 

[Donkeymad]

Having had two of mine stolen very recently, I know how exactly tou felt when you found they were missing.
Apart from the new padlock and chain - get the fence sorted, horses can easily get out of any small or weak areas.
Secondly, get the second Freezemarked, it is actually very rare they are tampered with, and we 100% believe it was the reason we found ours.
Microchipping is a sensible backup, but sadly, scanning simply is NOT done anywhere near as often as it should be.

 

[Lou23]

I would also padlock and chain on the hinge side of the gate as quite often you lift the gate off its pins or the fixings cab be undone.

Hope you get them back to thier field soon.

 

[Maizy]

Thanks for all your advice. I now have both horses home and back in the field. On reflection and after reading your posts I think it's a case of escape artists. I think they might have rubbed the gate open? As they are being so bothered by the flies? I have some electric fencing already just need to get permission to put it up. I have invested in a padlock and chain.

I also have two horses very happy to back and safely in their field. I shall be watching them like hawks. I've also managed to eat now too and food is good, especially with my glass of wine...oh and did I mention I was also bit on the bum today by a dog...so another lesson learnt - when entering a farm stay in car and beep the horn!

I am so pleased both the horses and I have survived the day.