Security

Finding that your horse has been stolen is every horse owners worst fear.  

Below is a guide to what you can do to prevent theft and also what to do if the worst happens.

Horse Theft - Prevention.

Tack and Trailer - Prevention.

What to do if your horse is stolen

Equine Registers

For freeze mark identification, click here.

Useful web addresses:

www.horsepatrol.co.uk trying to help the fight against equestrian crime in the UK. Email:  info@horsepatrol.co.uk

www.ukhorsewatch.org.uk

www.horsesafe.com

www.stolenhorseregister.com

www.essexhorsewatch.org.uk

www.sussexhorsewatch.co.uk

www.hampshire.police.uk

www.wshorsewatch.com

Theft-Base - internet trailer database where you  can register any new or used trailer for around £17.50.  Checking a registered trailer online or by phone 01869 346949) is free.

Trailerwatch - is able to offer buyers the chance to check if their potential purchase is stolen free of charge, tel no 01206 337388

Saddle Safe - electronic tagging system specifically for the equestrian sector. 

Instructions for Uploading Freezemark and Microchip Information for your own Horses

NB. All new Ifor Williams and Rice Richardson trailers are registered with The Equipment Register (TER), tel no 01225 464599,  which was set up to combat theft. Anyone can register a trailer with TER for around £30 plus VAT and it costs the same amount to check a trailer before buying, although the price also includes subsequent new ownership registration.

Regularly test any security devices to ensure that they are in good working order.

Check your insurance policy to ensure that you are fully insured.  

Horse Theft - Prevention

Securely fenced fields.

Gates padlocked and chained both ends to avoid the gate being lifted off its hinges.

Vary the times you visit your  horse by rotating visits with other owners.

Freeze-branding. (With thick coats you may need to clip the area to show the freezemark).

Mark the horse's rugs with the freezemark.

Hoof-marking (has to re-done every six months).

Micro-chipping, you still need a freeze mark to indicate that the horse has been micro-chipped.

Keep clear photographs, both side and front views, update every summer and winter.

Ask a local crime prevention officer to evaluate your yard.

Keep guard dogs or geese.

Below are some ideas to help prevent the theft of your tack and horsebox or trailer.

TACK

Micro-chip or mark tack with your postcode (check with your local Horsewatch group for tack stamping sessions). Alternatively the equipment to stamp tack is available from around £100.  

Paint the horse's freeze mark or your postcode on rugs.

TRAILER/HORSEBOXES

Install intruder alarms.

Fit PIR lighting units which detect movement within an area and switch themselves on.

Install CCTV.

Fit an immobilising device.  Look for ABI, TUV or BSI approval, or the “Sold Secure” logo.

Keep clear photographs, both side and front views of vehicles.  

Pump the air out of the braking system - The thieves would have to make a lot of noise and this may act as a deterrent.

Paint a postcode marking on the roof of the trailer or horsebox and on tack.  

Drill your postcode into the trailer panels with a 3mm drill with the letters about 50mm high. Can repeat this in different parts of the trailer. It is easy to do  and could not be removed without a major operation.

Engrave your postcode in a corner of your trailer.

Remove the steering wheel or some other crucial part of the vehicle.

Fit a wheel clamp.

Keep a note of chassis numbers and any special markings on vehicles.

Don't store registration documents in vehicles.

Fit a tracking device on vehicles.  

Secure the chassis to a fixed point with either a duck spike or a bolt and eye set in concrete.

Equine Registers:

HorseMates! is a database that has been developed in response to the need to provide some protection for horses and ponies, and some help to horse and pony owners.

Horse and pony owners are able to document descriptive information for identification purposes, but they are also able to document behavioural information, healthcare information and any other information that a new owner should know about. If you would like your horse or pony in the main database they need to be either freeze marked or micro-chipped. If they are not uniquely identified then HorseMates! may be able to offer you very competitive rates to have them identified.

The majority of people intend to keep their horses and ponies for life. However, for some people, there are a variety of reasons why this is not always a possibility. When you sell an animal to a new owner, you cannot guarantee that they will not sell the animal on again. However, you can document the details on your horse and pony, so they are available to new owners in the future. Your horse or pony can’t say why they are behaving the way they are, but you can.

From a buyers perspective, for a small fee of £7.50 (of which £1 goes to an equine charity) you can purchase the history of a horse or pony so that you are fully aware of everything about the animal, from its age to its farrier.

HorseMates! will also allow people to track down old equine friends and to allow a contact letter to be passed to the new owner. They can then choose to reply if they wish.

As HorseMates! grows, it should become more difficult to lie about an animals age or condition. Dealers should consider adding the details of the animals they are selling into HorseMates! to give them a little more credibility. All new horses and ponies should be registered as soon as they are uniquely identified, either through freeze marking or micro-chipping.

HorseMates! is free to add your horse or pony into the database and you can add new records with updated information, as often as you like.

It only takes a few minutes, it costs nothing and it gives your horse a pony a little protection for the future should they need it.

If you care for horse or pony then you need to add them into HorseMates! now.

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