www.shropshirehorsewatch.co.uk

Sorry, I don't mean to rain on your parade but I just noticed a paragraph in there that read:

<font color="blue"> Perhaps, even more sadly, the incidences of neglect, cruelty and deliberate abuse of horses escalates as more and more people decide “it would be nice” to have a pony for the children, or to improve their ‘local status’, to “keep horses”. Without the knowledge, sufficient land and buildings, or money to do the job properly, will almost always begin and end in extreme suffering for the horses, and heartbreaking work for Horse Watch, the RSPCA and the Police.
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I have 'rescued' several horses over many years, and not once have any of them been from novice owners.
Yes, inexperienced owners can cause major problems, but so can the ones with the "knowledge, sufficient land and buildings, and money to do the job properly".

And one of the most messed up horses I have ever come across belonged to the spoilt brat of a son of a woman who was very high up in the pony club and had all the facilities that money could buy.

I was going to join up, but it really annoys me when people use this elitist attitude, so I won't be bothering.
 
well done for having the commitment to give Horsewatch a push in your local area. Can I make a couple of observations about your site?

Whilst it is important to highlight potential risks, try not to focus on these..particularly with a slightly breathless literary style. Something less personal or opinionated would appear more professional, focus on the positive; community spirit, communication networks, information from the Police, discounts on freezemarking, etc

Remember that Horsewatch is a voluntary Police supported crime prevention exercise, welfare matters are not, strictly speaking, within your remit, you won't have insurance cover, expertise or any legal backing if you intervene in these. Speaking of insurance, ensure that you have cover for all your activities, including any meetings.

Your membership form does not say that membership details will be disclosed to the Police - will they? You should be working hand in hand with community relations in the police or local council to support communications with members via telephone messages or emails. They will certainly require a data protection signature on the form and regular renewals of details to ensure their records are up to date.

If you need to fund your scheme you will need a full county committee with Chair, Secretary and Treasurer an annually checked account, and an annual meeting.

Sorry if this all sounds a bit dreary, but people will ask where their money is going and you need to be able to account properly for every penny and your actions on behalf of members.
 
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Something less personal or opinionated would appear more professional, focus on the positive; community spirit, communication networks, information from the Police, discounts on freezemarking, etc

Remember that Horsewatch is a voluntary Police supported crime prevention exercise, welfare matters are not, strictly speaking, within your remit, you won't have insurance cover, expertise or any legal backing if you intervene in these.

[/ QUOTE ]

Thank you S, you explained what I was trying to say, only far more eloquently.

I applaud the work that Horsewatch does, but to my mind, it is supposed to be about pulling together to combat equestrian crime, not to make sweeping judgements about which section of the community is more likely to abuse or neglect their horses, or to get involved in welfare cases (particularly when the writer in this case appears to be quite biased).
 
Thank you for your observations on the website, I have forwarded your comments to the member who wrote the article and these are the responses.

"Sorry, I don't mean to rain on your parade but I just noticed a paragraph in there that read:

Perhaps, even more sadly, the incidences of neglect, cruelty and deliberate abuse of horses escalates as more and more people decide “it would be nice” to have a pony for the children, or to improve their ‘local status’, to “keep horses”. Without the knowledge, sufficient land and buildings, or money to do the job properly, will almost always begin and end in extreme suffering for the horses, and heartbreaking work for Horse Watch, the RSPCA and the Police"

We are not running a media parade, there are far too many of those kicking about. We have been running a Worcestershire and Herefordshire Horse Watch in liaison with our Police Force for many years.

We, as unpaid volunteers without fat expense accounts, are providing help to Shropshire who wish to form a Branch in the same Police Force Area.

I have 'rescued' several horses over many years

Really? And not once have any of them been from novice owners. Yes, inexperienced owners can cause major problems, but so can the ones with the "knowledge, sufficient land and buildings, and money to do the job properly". Our case histories indicate very regular problems with the 'Christmas Pony' syndrome and many, many cases of the rented half acre of mud and thistles surrounded by barbed wire with half a bale of hay a week.

And one of the most messed up horses I have ever come across belonged to the spoilt brat of a son of a woman who was very high up in the pony club and had all the facilities that money could buy.

We have a 'high up' (whatever that means) Pony Club member on our Worcestershire Branch Committee as well as representatives of other National organisations and we are well aware of the so-called
'eletist experts' who also let us (who care only about horses) down in spite of all their knowledge.

I was going to join up, but it really annoys me when people use this elitist attitude, so I won't be bothering.

We are most grateful for telling us of your wise decision.
 
Thank you also for your response.

well done for having the commitment to give Horsewatch a push in your local area. Can I make a couple of observations about your site?

Whilst it is important to highlight potential risks, try not to focus on these..particularly with a slightly breathless literary style. Something less personal or opinionated would appear more professional, focus on the positive; community spirit, communication networks, information from the Police, discounts on freezemarking, etc

Remember that Horsewatch is a voluntary Police supported crime prevention exercise, welfare matters are not, strictly speaking, within your remit

In the Worcestershire Branch we provide (as other Branches do too) a 'welfare watch' brief in liaison with our Police Force and the RSPCA. Cruelty and criminal neglect are "crime" just as much as equine theft is a crime. We would not tolerate a policy of closing our eyes to any offence, no matter what political correctness might wish to dictate. We have A BHS Welfare Officer on our committee

you won't have insurance cover, expertise or any legal backing if you intervene in these

We do not "intervene" because we have access to the services of those who can.

Speaking of insurance, ensure that you have cover for all your activities, including any meetings.

We have been through this particular hoop in respect of previous branch experiences. The problems is that there is a need for Membership first to provide the funds to purchase the extortionate insurance cover premiums. Chickens before eggs sometimes.

Your membership form does not say that membership details will be disclosed to the Police - will they? You should be working hand in hand with community relations in the police or local council to support communications with members via telephone messages or emails. They will certainly require a data protection signature on the form and regular renewals of details to ensure their records are up to date.

We do so in the well established Worcestershire Branch.

If you need to fund your scheme you will need a full county committee with Chair, Secretary and Treasurer an annually checked account, and an annual meeting.

As we already have in the Worcestershire Branch.

Sorry if this all sounds a bit dreary, but people will ask where their money is going and you need to be able to account properly for every penny and your actions on behalf of members.

As we already do do in the Worcestershire Branch.
 
Speaking on my behalf, I never meant to offend anyone, I am the Branch Secretary of Worcestershire Horsewatch. A lady called Lynn got in touch with me regarding her stolen horse, I wanted to highlight her case as it was one year since her beloved Toby was stolen. There is a rise in equestrian crime across the whole country. I do this voluntary, I don't get paid a penny, I set up the website and run it out of my own pocket. i was a victim of equestrian crime years ago and joined the Worcestershire committee, and I could see a real need for a group in Shropshire.

It really uspets me that people have to have a "go" at something that I wanted to help people and horses with. I hope that one day if I ever needed help there would be people prepared to put their neck on the line for me. After all we are not dealing with petty thieves and shop lifters are we? These people are hardened criminals that will stop at nothing to get what they want.

We have complete Police backing and other regional Horsewatch schemes, Thames Valley, Hampshire etc., and Clive Blakemore of Staffordshire.
 
i have to say that i don't think putting the fear of god into people about the fact that their horses might already be marked to be stolen is the best idea. Most people care dearly for their horses and would go to the ends of the earth to protect them...I think people need a bit of credit and help to protect their horses not be frightened their horse/s will be stolen and that there is nothing they can do about it
 
I agree, people do care dearly for their horses and would do anything to protect them but I am sad to say most people don't join Horsewatch until they are a victim. Alot of horse owners don't even know about Horsewatch or what we do. Worcestershire Horsewatch are attending local shows throughout the summer to tell horse owners, I am amazed how few people know about it.

I recently did a radio interview for a DJ in Shropshire who had her youngsters stolen and thankfully recovered, they pulled up her gate posts to get the horses out, horses are not randomly stolen, thieves will work out the security, times owners visit. Try this link for information about equestrian crime.

http://www.ukhorsewatch.org.uk/Info.html
 
Oh dear, comments and critique don't appear to be overly welcomed...
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Ho hum, best of luck.
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sorry, i didn't mean to be negative, i am having a very trying day. it is a very good idea and i wish you every success although i do think the wording needs softening.
 
No Not at all Dubble, but why the slating and the comment that you won't be bothering when all we are trying to do is help? Who would you call in the first instance, the police. They would come out, take the details and give you a crime reference number. Then what? Wait? Look for your horse? Where would you start? Horsewatch have eyes and ears every where. Details are put on the internet in minutes sometimes, I could go on and on but I won't bore you all.
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Sorry I just wanted to raise awareness of Shropshire Horsewatch
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Horeantics, I am more than a little confused now, you posted a link to shropshire horse watch, and then responded mainly with references to worcestershire. I imagined from your original post that you were involved with shropshire horsewatch and trying to start a new area with a website, didn't intend to suggest you don't know what you are doing but the OP was very confusing. You will know that a website is only a tiny part of any scheme, and usually comes long way behind public meetings, PR stands at feed merchants and horse shows and visits to yards which is honestly your best way of recruiting members
 
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No Not at all Dubble, but why the slating and the comment that you won't be bothering when all we are trying to do is help? Who would you call in the first instance, the police. They would come out, take the details and give you a crime reference number. Then what? Wait? Look for your horse? Where would you start? Horsewatch have eyes and ears every where. Details are put on the internet in minutes sometimes, I could go on and on but I won't bore you all.
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Sorry I just wanted to raise awareness of Shropshire Horsewatch
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I have not slated horsewatch as an organisation, I think it does a wonderful job.

I merely pointed out that the writer seemed to have an elitist attitude, and it put me off joining that particular branch. I'll stick with Staffordshire methinks.
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Anyway, I'll say no more on the subject. I SINCERELY hope that it does take off.
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I am from Worcestershire Horsewatch as is the member who wrote the article which was posted on another website and on the Shropshire Horsewatch website.

I only started Shropshire to help a lady who had her horse stolen last year and wanted a similar scheme in the area. There wasn't one, so I took it on with the view to passing it on to interested people. I have asked if anyone would like to be on the committee then when we have enough interested people, myself and another colleague and the Police Offices supporting us will attend a meeting and help them on their way.

If another group is set up it will help ALL Horsewatch schemes. I had an email last night from North Wales and they have asked for help setting up their own Horsewatch. It all helps, if we are spread across the whole country then we can help trace more horses, trailers, tack etc.,
 
I'm in north wales and am interested in joining that one but haven't heard back.

I think its wonderful work and i check everyday the stolen horse register and other forums for any info in case i might come across something.

I am very aware as i've had trouble in the past with travellers taking a liking to my lad. And its a very uneasy feeling!! I welcome anyone that would help in any aspect whether neglect,cruelty or stolen
 
Hi, you will need to download and print the membership form and send it off to the address shown, if you supply an email address you will receive national updates of equestrian crime, at the moment Shropshire has 5 members! Not enough to make a committee and certainly not enough to really get going well. We need more members then the police in your area will assist us and you will start receiving warnings from your area. Thankyou for your support.
 
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