Just a warning for horse owners in the UK
 

I've posted this in The Big Horsie Thread but i thought i should post it here too so people know. Sorry if its in the wrong place, i wasnt sure where to post it


just a warning for those of you who have horses in kent or more specifiically in the canterbury/east kent area.

There have been a group of people taking photographs and videos of horses who then email them to people in eastern europe. People then pick which horse they like and the horse is stolen and taken to them.

They are now in the canterbury area so i thought i would warn people just incase. We are taking extra steps here to prevent any of our horses being stolen...im really scared actually.

gosh
people can be so ... twisted some times =(

Oh my God! That's horrible! =( Those poor horses and owners! =(

Wtf?
That's so sick.
Hope your horses don't get stolen or anythinggg.

Yeah it is sick and twisted and im really scared.
i live here at the stables so i will be keeping an eye, its just that the owner of the stables said that my pony will stand out...
she's a leopard spotted appaloosa and extremely friendly so yeah :S
I've bought her down near the house so i can keep an eye on her...

:(
I hope it turns out alright

Hey - I know the feeling -I've got friends who's horses have been stolen, and Im always paranoid about mine

Have you microchipped your horses? Or to be extra safe , microchip and freezemark?
Also locks on all paddock gates, and if you keep your horses at a livery yard, someone to check on them at about 10-11pm every night
Or if your horses are on your own land (Like myself)
You can go check them to put your mind at rest & also its easier to keep an eye on them if their stabled.
If their in a paddock, check all gates and fencing reguarly

I know I sound like a paranoid person but it works!!


Em
x x

If I was you I'd get an alarm installed by where your horses stable is today if possible to be extra sure that she's safe!

I've always wanted a horse, but if I did have one and I'd heard about this. I'd be extremely scared too hun.

we have 18 horses here and 6 stables, all ours are turned out into the paddocks. We are a charity so cant really afford the alarm systems and stuff but i will be going out to check there isnt anyone around, we have been sent a description of the vehicle, number plate and have been told that the people are eastern european so we kind of know what to look out for.
i just hope they are caught soon
x

Yeah me too hun! It's disgusting that this is happening to the horses in the UK.

A good way is to go down at different times. People who are wanting to steal horses often watch the routine of the yard even just by drving by at certain times and looking what's happening and things or some of them may live nearby and be able to see. If you change what times people go then they won't feel as safe about doing it.

Also, the best way to track them if they do sadly get stolen (or to prevent them being stolen) is to get a microchip inserted and a horse-shoe shaped freezemark put over the top. But any freezemark would be really good but make sure you keep up to date with paying the registration.

I don't understand how people can even contemplate stealing sevral horses never mind doing it and creating a business that revolves around it.

Thanks for the warning as though I don't own my own horse right now I know people that do and it's good to raise awareness of issues like this

We should be okay *crosses fingers*

Most of the ones at our yard, are retired, or just aren't ridden. All gates get doubled padlocked and most horses are freeze marked [except my own].

This may be real random, but I swear some where I read you can have your horses hooves marked, like freeze marking but on their hooves. Anybody ever heard of this??

Who would we need to contact to have our horses microchipped?I've been talking to mum about this for ages, hopefully we will know get it done...but to be honest I'd like to see someone try and get Ellie out the field! She'd just mow them down.

I hope everyones horses stay safe, and that your yards are all safe aswell.

[People in the Herts area, Strangles is still around. Be warned!!]

Hey - Just look up someone in the phone book - all mine are freezemarked - but I cant remember who did it *Frowns*
Think it was either someone from the vets - or the horse insurance reccomended someone for us....God knows lol

And wouldnt freezemarking their hooves be pointless as it would grow out over time? Even if it was on the coronets? Ive never heard of it myself but that doesnt mean its not around lol

Em
x x

We are doing checks at night, my landlords son has a cabin by the paddocks so he's going to check when he's awake.
I'm going to look into getting my horses chipped and possibly freeze marked, will have to save up as im uber skint now.

(and strangles isnt a big problem, antibiotics cure it and it isnt always fatal so its ok...if you know the signs and get it fairly early it can be dealt with :) )

Everyone around this area have been texting eachother allk the details of what to look out for and stuff. Its quite cool actually cos we're all pulling together x

A yard near us had strangles it's like next to a bridle path and they didn't tell anyone...it's now in it's final stages and the word has only just got out...kinda lucky I haven't been riding for like the last 2 months=/

The hoot marking thing...I thought it'd grow out aswell and it seems really weird...I can't remember where I read it though lol.

It's amazing how all the equine people pass information about because like if I tell my boss, then she'll tell her sunday worker who will spread the word and soon most people will know lol.

x

Oh man! I really hope the people who are doing this gets caught quickly.

I don't know the form, but can people just take a horse to the continent without any certification? If they can, and you're at serious risk (which it sounds as though you are), then surely security measures have to be justified despite the cost. And an Alsatian or Rotweiler hitched to a running line across the most vulnerable line of approach will make up for an awful lot of your night time loss of sleep. And it occurs to me that one of those radio child alarms set near the dog would be a good addition to have.

Mind you, free range tigers would be best of all provided you could manage the fencing and they didn't actually eat the horses!

The most disgusting assault on horses, which fortunately we don't seem to have heard too much about lately, is the slashing of them with knives - just how sick can you get ...


Tony.

PS. Do be aware that in our liberal society, where nothing seems to be seriously punished, thieves will operate totally without scruples or morals. The police and judiciary are laughed at/sneered at/ignored and at the end of the day you do, sadly, have to invest money in your own precautions. And it's not any better on the Continent; friends of mine went down to Munich to collect a new Mercedes from the factory and were warned that there were gangs operating on the nearby autobahns who would pull up alongside new cars, pointing down at, say, the rear wheel. If the proud new owner stopped, worried that something was wrong, his car would be taken at gunpoint - and would end up in Beirut, or somewhere similar, within 24 hours.
So do not skimp on security!

I remember when there were quite a few cases of that locally - I was terrified. I'm rather worried about my boy at the moment as we have a lot of travellers in the area who are going around stealing from all the farms (for the record I have nothing against travellers - just the ones that steal). My horse is a piebald cob, so pretty much exactly what they're looking for!! We had a load of fencing stolen the other week though, but thank god the horse was left...so either they're not after horses or he wouldnt go with them!!

And also, if the police have given details of what the people look like and registration numbers etc then they must be able to trace them, surely?

Jelly, I hate to disagree but I have everything against travellers. They are inveterate thieves, they arrive wherever they want and cannot be evicted, they leave the most disgusting mess for other people to clear up when they do finally depart and there seems to be no counter to them under our present wishy-washy, do-gooders laws.
A farmer friend who remonstrated with one lot who inflicted themselves upon him was met with "we know exactly where you live" - i.e. they would burn his house down if he continued to kick up a fuss ...
Traveller's behaviour, and the protection they enjoy (and take advantage of) under our misguided laws, is a disgrace. They are a disgrace ...

Tony (in moderate mode!)