Charlotte White, H&H Deputy News Editor, Horse & Hound 26 May, 2011

Competitors are warned not to leave horses unattended at shows after a cob was allegedly removed from a horsebox at Newark and Nottinghamshire County Show on 14 May.

Alison Morton, of Holmesfield, Derbys, believes an attempt was made to steal her lightweight cob Woodfield Choice from her horsebox. Luckily, the show was put into lock-down and her horse was recovered on site.

"I can't praise the organisers enough," Mrs Morton told H&H. "We left 'Rudy' on the lorry for 20 minutes while we had a look around. But when Josie [Roney, who rides for Mrs Morton] went back to the box, he had gone."

A lady in an adjacent horsebox said the cob had been grazing loose at the bottom of the ramp, in a halter and rope, with a man standing nearby, then a second man had led him away.

Show manager Sally Hughes said: "We take security very seriously at the showground — no one is allowed into the different areas without the correct pass."

This news story was first published in the current issue of Horse & Hound (26 May, 2011)