They've let them out again!!

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showaddy1

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Just a rant before I go into work.... yesterday morning at six am I had a call from the farmer I rent my little yard from... my horses were running up the high street... I was in work so had to ring my better half, to leave the kids in the house ( one is 13) and go to find them..
I left work as soon as I found out, and spent the next hour looking for them, by which time the police had been called and the girls had caused all sorts of chaos... when I eventually found them they were happily grazing on someones lawn, about a mile from the stables.
So, I drag their bums all the way back, after a night shift, only to find that some scumbag had cut my padlock!!
This is the third time someone has opened the gates, I am really not sure what to go next. The padlocks have been replaced with industrial ones, but I suppose the fences will be next. The farmer suspects its ppl walking their dogs, who cannot lift them over the style.
There is a public footpath running through the one field but they shouldnt even be near the gates....
Ah... just a moan.... thankyou for reading!!
 
If I had electric!!.. I have briefly looked at solar ones, but tbh if they are gonna keep letting them out then I am going to have to put them back on livery..
 
Can the police not help as it's wasting their time, a note on police headed paper (for you to laminate and put on the gate) saying that this is private property with loose lifestock and the police will be called to any criminal damage (which includes cutting a padlock) If you;ve got a nice friendly rural neighbourhood PC he might.
 
Perhaps its someone wanting the place for themselves? very little to be gained by anyone cutting a padlock provided the footpath has adequate access for dogs

I would stick the CCTV signs up even if there are no cameras, might make people think twice
 
Just get cctv, and electric fencing... Im inclined to agree with welsh D that it maybe someone who wants it for themselves. What have the police done to help?
 
It's one thing to cut a padlock off for the sake of access, something else altogether to leave the gate open and/or let the horses out. If the lock has been replaced and they've done it again, the culprit knows their actions are at someone else's expense. Doesn't seem there's any way at all that they arent aware of the consequences or the danger.

Personally, I'd leave a sign on the gate stating that as a result of their actions your horses were loose on the road and that police are now involved. If you wish to access the field use the stile. Should they persist they will be prosecuted.
 
I am so sorry to read what is happening, how awful for you.

Is there a time of day that this seems to be happening, that you could put a watch on. Obviously the answer is CCTV, but if you do not have electric sorcing something will be difficult.

If your animals were not in the fields, would this happen to the farmers animals?
 
I have signs , which you can get from the Police, that say Country side watch "You are being Watched" I have these all around my fields and yard. The police will give you as many as you want.

You can also put up notices saying "Those found tampering with the locks will be reported to the police and prosecuted"

You can buy locks that have an alarm attached. If you go onto eBay and put in the search padlock with an alarm. They ar about £8. They are well worth having.
 
If there is a pattern to when its being done do a stake out ... add baseball bat to your list of things to have for the night and beat them :D

ETA; to those who will shoot me down ... this is a 'joke' and not to be taken seriously blah blah blah
 
how would a dog walker be carrying something to cut an industrial strength padlock?!!! and like others have said, even then to cut to open the gate to walk through you then close it afterwoods
i agree police threats/signs may help, but three times seems determined, guessing it is the same people.
only other random idea, if it doesnt block the stye can you park something in front of it to block the gate?
 
You can buy chain and padlocks that can't be cut using anything other than industrial power tools. Years ago I had a nasty dealer threatening to steal my horse we went out and bought chain and tamperproof locks, cost a fair whack but if I remember rightly it would take something like 20 minutes to cut through with industrial power tools.
Have you reported it to the police?
 
Have you fallen out with anyone recently? It sounds more like revenge or someone has another motive like wanting the land for themselves. Would dog walkers go to all that trouble?

Think I'd be inclined to take a flask, sandwiches, torch, video camera and stake the place out for as long as it took to catch them.

I hope you sort it out, I bet you are worried sick.
 
My dad has installed a couple of this type of thing:

http://www.barriersdirect.co.uk/bik...k-standfast-collapsible-post-galvanised-p3188

He's put one on each side of the gate so it can't be opened either way without the post being unlocked and lowered for access. He got some of that concrete you mix yourself, dug a hole, poured it in and then bolted down the post. A bit costly but it sorted the problem in a couple of hours.
 
If its thought to be dog walkers then it is worth your while putting the dog flaps in the fence line. Our neighbour had fences cut and gates vandalised until she did.
 
It's awful to think that someone could put people and animals lives in danger by doing this! Nevertheless as this is a public footpath I hope the horses are fenced separately from the path. A bit of electric fencing to separate the horses from the public path is well worth it! I only say this out of my own frustration at horses in fields that meant to be part of a public bridleway close to me!! We got the fright of our life riding into the field to be greeted by thundering hooves, it was downright dangerous! This particular bridleway is now unrideable as you can't exit at the other end, :-( we've not got many bridleways left as it is! :mad: sorry but I had to vent my irritation at our local situation!
 
Sorry... In work ( now on break) the lock they broke was a cheapie one. Now expensive all singing and dancing insitu. Farmer has no animals... Sold them all after an illness. Its the farmer who thinks its the dog walkers, apparently its been happening for yrs. Ah, I don't
Know, another unwanted stress. A dog flap sounds a good idea, that way if it happens again I can rule the walkers out. I shall talk to the local pco tomorrow!!
 
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