WARNING , attemted horse theft ,NORFOLK

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maisiemoo

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:mad:A freinds horse very nearly stolen yesterday lunch time , the owners live right next to the paddock and had gone out to walk their dogs , when they returned their mare was gone, someone had tried to load her as the field is a mess with tyre tracks, thankfully the mare does'nt load and was found on our livery yard which is nearby , the mare was kept at our livery a while ago so she had made her way back .
The cheek of folks trying to steal a horse in daylight !!. the police are involved , just wanted to make everyone aware of this horrible situation .
 
Whereabouts are you in Norfolk? I am in Norfolk too and our yard manager went to the Police last week as there had been several reports of strange vans, and plaits in manes, one of which was just down the road from our yard. The Police confirmed all this and told her to be vigilant, so this is a real worry !
 
As soon as they have a crime reference number please ensure this is reported to your local Horsewatch as well so they can circulate the information. The more people who are aware the better. What a relief that they didn't actually manage to steal the horse.
 
Yes my daughter is panicking now that her pony is going to be stolen , hard to know what security measures to take , there's always someone around at our livery so hopefully they won't bother .
 
caramac said:
and plaits in manes,
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I accept the OP's very strong evidence that there are people in the area trying to steal horses. However, I don't think I'll ever believe the "they plait their manes first" stories.

I just can't see why they'd do that.

OP are your horses freezemarked? That seems to be the best deterent.
 
I always thought the 'plaits in manes' was a bit of a myth too, but the Police confirmed this to my yard manager when she went to speak to them and I was asking my vet about it last week as well when she came to the yard. I just wanted to know if she had heard of anything in our area and she confirmed it as well. So I don't know. I have heard various explanations, one of which being the horses are picked out in daylight and it makes them easier to identify them if they come back to nick them when it is dark! Who knows, but I do know that there is a lot of concern round here at the minute. Both of mine are freezemarked but it is still a worry
 
caramac said:
I always thought the 'plaits in manes' was a bit of a myth too, but the Police confirmed this to my yard manager
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No disrespect to our boys in blue but surely they're just as inclined to believe myths and gossip as the rest of us? Plus most policemen won't be clued up on horse theft crime.
 
I've never been convinced by the theory of plaiting to steal - it doesn't sound logical does it that someone would stand in the daylight risking being seen whilst they put a plait in a horse's mane and then come back later? I would imagine that they'd come with a torch in the dark anyway and easily find the one they were after. Having said that I think I would be pretty worried if I found a plait in my pony's mane if for nothing more than the fact that someone had been pestering him. Must be a very worrying time with this going on - hope they catch the people concerned soon.
 
I have no idea but plaits or no plaits if it makes everyone a bit more on their guard and vigilant then that can't be a bad thing !
 
I always pressumed it was a way of seeing if the horse is checked on i.e. are the plaits still in later. Also whether anyone challenges them whilst they do it - good test as takes a while and you aren't going to get arrested for plaiting a horse. Also gives an idea of how easy the horse is to handle.
 
ghostie said:
I always pressumed it was a way of seeing if the horse is checked on i.e. are the plaits still in later. Also whether anyone challenges them whilst they do it - good test as takes a while and you aren't going to get arrested for plaiting a horse. Also gives an idea of how easy the horse is to handle.
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Or... it may just be wind plaits, and people with over active imaginations. :)
 
Their is absolutely no evidence that any horses have ben stolen with plaits in their manes.

To ensure the recovery of your horse if it is stolen get it freezemarked in such a place that it can be seen while being ridden, ensure that it is micro-chipped and also have it's DNA recorded. Also ensure that your horse is listed on www.nedonline.co.uk

Also have photographs of your horse from the front, rear and both sides (Summer and Winter)and keep them in a safe place so that if the worst happens the pictures can be immediately circulated.
 
Just throwing ideas about, but why would someone steal a horse given the market at the moment?

I've heard even potters are turning away small equines, 15 hh plus.

I maybe wrong, but I can't see a reason to steal a horse when you could have the field gates, fencing, lorry/parts, trailers or equipment.
 
Arghhhh i'll be on the look out. I urge anyone to phone the police if they see strange vans etc and get the registration!
 
mountainview22 said:
Just throwing ideas about, but why would someone steal a horse given the market at the moment?

I've heard even potters are turning away small equines, 15 hh plus.

I maybe wrong, but I can't see a reason to steal a horse when you could have the field gates, fencing, lorry/parts, trailers or equipment.
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That's a good point. The cost of the kind of operation described by the OP would probably cost more in time and petrol than the horse is worth. Unless it's very valuable horse, in which case stealing would be tricky as it would be easily recognisable in showing/breeding circles.

I'm not doubting you OP, it's just surprising. At present horses are being dumped or given away in some cases, so you'd wonder who would steal one!?
 
I know who would steal them?

The same idiot standing in the middle of a field plating horses up I'd imagine :rolleyes:

Not a dig at OP, but you'd have to he damned stupid to steal a horse. Personally, I'd sooner expect the gate/metal/easy sellable items to disappear first.
 
I always doubted the plaiting mane thing, but I heard on the grapevine that they want good natured horses and one way of doing this is if the horse will stand still long enough to have the mane plaited without a headcollar, this is taken as a good sign that it is placid.

Makes some sense and my friend, a senior police officer, stands by the plaited mane story.
 
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