Strange man in my field!!

Roasted Chestnuts

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Well i popped over to kirstens yard this morning after feeding my two to drop off Heathers rug and some bits for K to try on Casper.

Had left mine in as I was planning to ride E but had left K in so she didnt trash the stable.

I was turning them out when Andrew the farmers son came running over to me.

He told me that there was a strange man in the bottom field with the horses the other day trying to catch Kia. Now strange + man = NO CHANCE to Kia but supposedly the 'new one' , Andrew isnt familiar with Eowyns name yet, was over and following the man as he was trying to get near K.

Now I am worried as I am out in the middle of now where and the horses were down a lane that at one end goes past the farmhouse and the other goes past an old couples at the end of the roan and past two other sets of ponies.

If the guys was wanting to steal a horse Eowyn was all for it but Andrew asked him what he was doing and he said he liked the black cob and wanted to have a look at him.

Andrew chased him off the land and told him the horses were private property and he hadnt to come on to the land without the permission and escort of the horses owner.

The guy then walked down the lane and andrew watched him and he got into a dark blue mitsubishi 4x4 but Andrew couldnt tell what exact car he just saw the badge on the front.

So I think I may have to ask Jean to get my other fields Gated as soon as poss as i think I may have to padlock them and electrify them.

Gutted tbh as its more hassel for me!!

Nikki xxxx
 
That's scary. Hope you can get as secure as possible fast. Best of luck. Would it be worth mentioning it to local police so they could keep and eye out for you (haven't lived in the UK for a bit so this maybe a daft suggestion, but they do that here for us)?
 
poor you! def lock the gate and def tell the police, they will prob be able to do a few random drive pasts at least which will be visible. also make sure they are freezemarked with the freezemark on any rugs....
 
Get your horses freezemarked on their shoulders and also microchipped so that they can be identified.

Ensure the hinges on all the field gates are reversed so that the gates can not be lifted off the hinges if it is padlocked. If they are to be padlocked have a padlock box welded on the gate so that the padlock can not be easily cut off.

Also inform your local rural community police officers of the incident.
 
Deffinetly call the police just to say to them. I have friends in the police and this is what they say to do. So at least if they are ever quiet they can just drive around the area to get the police car seen. Padlock everything even if there not frezemarked get one of the signs up that says they are. Who knows if they are or arent with rugs on
 
definitely worrying
Can you put up lights that come on when anyone enters the yard.
I think that puts thieves off and make sure you are insured for theft..
not that you want your horse stolen anyway, but atleast gives you monetary value if you were so awfully unlucky.
 
I have been given another field in full view of the farm house which I cant padlock but it is in view of nearly everywindow and the conservatory.

Farmer doesnt want me padlocking it as he has sheep and stock i it and has to be able to get in without faffing around, I ok with this as its his field and not one of mine.

He is going to roll and fertilise my summer field again as cows were in it when it was wet and they trashed it :rolleyes: and gve that a week or two then they can go int there again in full view of the farmhouse and I can padlock that one.

I have a few theroies as to why he wanted Kia but with Eowyn being the better looking animal and a mare I cant reason theft as much at this time as he was ignoring her even though she was following him.

Nikki xxx
 
I have just flagged this up with Scottish Horsewatch and will also inform D&G Police as there has been a theft at Moniaive (see Stolen section)
 
Please confirm this has been reported to Police--thank you--- as there may be a link to Dumfriesshire incident--where people were seen in fields before cobs were taken.

Farmer may allow a number type lock on field gate rather than key

Fingers crossed for you--but lets stop these people
 
Or even could you put a chain with a unlocked padlock around the gate but put the padlock on the field side again might just be enough to deter theifs! Could you also not explain to the farmer that you just want to lock it while your horses are in there for the next couple of weeks
 
Please confirm this has been reported to Police--thank you--- as there may be a link to Dumfriesshire incident--where people were seen in fields before cobs were taken.

Farmer may allow a number type lock on field gate rather than key

Fingers crossed for you--but lets stop these people

Have been in talks with farmer as its rented land and I he doesnt want to give statements or be involved he just wanted me to know he had chased a man away.

I will report it but as I said farmer wants nothing to do with it and aslong as they dont want statements I am happy to comply.

My theory is he maybe wanted to see if he was entire or to check his teeth for sign of age etc, either that or he has seen me out and bout and liked the look of him but apparently it was not a car that the farmer recognised so chances are hes not from around here.

Could have been innocent but then again could not have been and I dont want people thinking they can just go into my fields.

Nikki xxxx
 
Nikki - you need to be aware as well, that even though trespassing, if your horses had hurt this man, you would be legally liable if you had not put a warning sign up? Yes I totally agree its a ridicolous law ( honestly can't see the sense in it) but it might be worth double checking to see if it would be you OR the land owner who could be held liable. As well as the other suggestions, I would also also post notices describing the car to your neighbours etc..
 
Just to throw a spanner into the works - do you know he doesn't think he was helping, what if your horse had previously been stuck in the fence (which you hadn't seen) or perhaps had a bramble in its mane etc etc

Although its very right to be cautious, there may be a genuine reason for this person being in your field.

I have been in peoples fields before, sometimes just to stroke the horses when I was younger. Cheeky - yes, dangerous - no.

Just to help alay some fears maybe?
 
but if that was the case, surely he would have said that to the farmer rather than he wanted to get a closer look?
 
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