Horse Theft - Make Sure your Horse Is Safe

Horse theft is a growing problem in the UK and the USA. Every day, horses are reported missing or stolen, with a approximately 40,000 horse thefts taking place annually in the United States and over 10,000 horses stolen each year in the UK.

Horses also disappear following natural disasters such as hurricanes, fires, and floods and once lost horses are very difficult to recover. Many are quickly sold at auctions or to slaughterhouses. Follow these simple steps and keep your horse safe.

Passports and other documents

Keep proof-of-ownership documents in a secure place. Photos, registration papers, and health records will help identify your horse and prove ownership in the event your horse is missing. The photographs should be clear and current and show your horse from all four sides to highlight his identifying marks.

Freeze Mark or micro-chip

Have your horse permanently identified. You can have your horse permanently identified by microchip or freeze brand. If you have your horse microchipped, be sure to register the microchip with a national registry or your horse breed association.

Head collars and halters

Don't leave a halter on your horse. Head collars make it easy for thieves to catch horses. This is a safety issue, too: A halter might get caught on something and cause your horse to be trapped. Also, do not leave halters hanging near gates where thieves might enter.

Gates and Barn Doors

Lock gates and barn doors. Locked gates and barn doors often will deter a thief, but be certain that they do not create a fire hazard.

Horse Fencing

Erect good quality, sturdy fencing around your horses paddock or pasture and ensure there is no direct access through the fence from a roadway. Wire fencing is easily cut by thieves and electric tape held by plastic posts can easily be laid flat and covered by a trailer ramp.

Access

Restrict access to your property. To prevent easy access to your horse by unauthorized vehicles, block farm lanes and driveways that are in remote areas or far away from your residence.

When possible, move your horse to an area where she can be seen from your residence or the roadway. This is particularly important at night, when theft is most likely to occur.

Lighting & Alarms

Install infra-red or motion-activated yard lights to illuminate areas where you keep your horse at night. Mount the lights on barn buildings or fences so they will turn on if anyone approaches the barn or field.

Consider purchasing monitors or alarms. Video monitors and alarm systems can be wired to a room in your horse and CCTV can be recorded to help in identifying the horse thieves.

Remember

Inform your local animal control agency and police department of any suspicious activities. Be sure to write down a description of the people and vehicles involved, including the vehicle license plate number. Encourage your neighbors to watch for suspicious activity, too.

Report a horse theft or disappearance immediately to the appropriate law enforcement agency in your area.

Be sure to provide a written description and photographs of your horse to livestock auctions in your area and in surrounding towns and districts.

Always distribute flyers offering a reward, if you can, for information leading to the safe return of your horse.

Contact local media with your story. Finally, consider visiting equine slaughterhouses in your area and in neighboring areas; there have been several cases of horses being recovered at these facilities when owners have acted quickly.

The Humane Society of the United States will provide you with a list of equine slaughterhouses in the United States or contact DEFRA in the UK.