Horse Theft

Horse theft! How to protect your equine partner

by Debi Metcalfe  (Reprint of an article written by Metcalfe for a magazine.)

Every day, horse thieves rip off unsuspecting owners like Robert Lyn-Kee-Chow. In Robert's case, an open barn door was the first clue something might be wrong. He never dreamed the horses wouldn't be in their stalls, but Brandy and Honky Tonk, prized polo ponies, had been stolen along with his truck, trailer and tack.

That was in December of 2004, and Robert and his friend Lauren Crowe are still sending out flyers and making contacts in the hopes it will one day bring the girls home. After taking some time from work to find Brandy and Honky Tonk, they still find it hard to concentrate on life.

"Is there something else I could do?" Lauren asks. "Someone else I can call? I hate second-guessing myself like this, but I feel like the girls fell off the face of the earth. How can a truck, trailer, two horses, and all that tack disappear?

"We've investigated all sorts of people and gone on trips whenever someone called and thought they'd seen something," she continues. "We probably know every law enforcement officer in the South. We'll continue to look but are at a loss as to where to go next."

Call out

National horse theft statistics are scarce, but a study from the late 1990s estimated that approximately 40,000 horses may be stolen each year in the United States.

My family knows how Robert and Lauren feel. Fortunately, our stolen mare, Idaho, was recovered in Tennessee nearly a year after her theft. We decided to fight back with the most helpful tool we know of – education. We founded Stolen Horse International, Inc. (SHI) to assist others in recovering their horses and protect themselves against theft.

Are you at risk?

Horses are most commonly taken from barns and pastures. Still, horse shows and busy stables, where there is a great deal of traffic, can also serve as a "shopping center" for horses, tack, and trailers.

Hint

Does your horse lead and load on a trailer? If so, then he is an easy mark. Even if he's "difficult", he can become one of the missing.

Horse thieves know what they're looking for, and they have a plan. If caught, they may face a felony charge, but the penalties, anything from probation to a few years in jail, don't frighten them. They ride the roads, checking out pastures, and sometimes even take pictures for buyers who have prearranged the purchase of a specifically marked horse.

In one of our cases, an Andalusian gelding was stolen from California. Three years later, the horse was found in Connecticut, identified by the microchip implanted in its neck. After tracing back through the owners of the horse, it was discovered that he had been sold to the first buyer before he was stolen from the original owner.

Help keep your horse safe.

The following abbreviated tips from my book Horse Theft, Been There -- Done That, will help lessen your chances of being the next target. They'll make it a lot harder for thieves to get to your horse, and you'll also be prepared if it is stolen.

• Identification is vital, so ID your horses now.
• Current methods include freeze branding, freeze marking, microchips, tattoos, hot branding, hoof branding, DNA, blood typing, trichoglyphs (natural markings such as whirls or dimples), and signalment (detailed descriptions of distinctive features).
• Start an identification program yourself. Follow tips from your state identification plan if one exists.
• A picture is worth a thousand words. Keep color pictures with your records. Take photos for this season and again when the season changes. You need both sets for identification.

Hint

The first 24 to 48 hours after a theft are critical. Being organized equals efficiency.

• Maintain records and keep them handy.
• Bill of sale
• Breed registration papers
• Coggins test
• Horse identification registration papers
• Do you have any other records? Include those, too.

Keep contact numbers up to date

• Farriers and veterinarians
• Nearest auctions and slaughter facilities
• Trainers and riding/4-H clubs
• Previous owners
• Law enforcement agencies
• Animal control and rescue organizations
• State veterinarian, livestock investigator, and horse council
• Insurance carrier

Be very aware. It's better to investigate a suspicious situation than find out too late that you should have.

• Check your horses often.
• Change your daily routine so you are not predictable.
• Pay attention to your horse's patterns in the pasture and be cautious if you notice any changes.
• Post a security sign on your property stating that your horses are permanently identified.
• Start a neighborhood watch program. Educate your neighbors about horse theft.
• Be cautious of individuals with incorrect addresses or those inquiring about your horses.
• Write down the license plate numbers and descriptions of strange vehicles riding through your neighborhood. Encourage neighbors to do the same.
• Leave a Farm Watch notice with your neighbors when on vacation.
• Include vital contact information for your trip, caregivers, police, and veterinarians in case you are away.

Cause a delay. Thieves like to work quickly, so anything that causes delays in getting the horse is a deterrent.

• Remove halters from horses, and do not hang them by stall doors.
• Install spotlights with motion sensors around the barn.
• Install alarm systems in the barn and on the fence; post signs.
• Surveillance cameras can also be valuable in your barn.
• Keep fences in good repair, and use padlocks and heavy chains on your gates.
• Turn the top hinge pin on the gateposts down to prevent the gate from being removed easily.
• Post warning and no-trespassing signs.
• Keep noisy animals on your property, such as a barking dog, guinea hen, or donkey.
• Don't leave trailers parked near horses, and ensure the trailer has a lock to prevent easy hooking up

If you own a horse, you are vulnerable to theft, no matter where you live. Taking the correct precautions will help prevent you from becoming a victim.

Sidebar

Dona Irvin, whose school horse was stolen on March 10, 2007, knows firsthand how easy it is for a horse to be taken. Thieves must have known exactly what they wanted when they crept onto the Black Hawk College campus in Kewanee, Illinois, and stole Sizzle, an 18-year-old strawberry red roan quarter horse mare. Three people were seen on a surveillance video stealing the horse.

"Sizzle is the best college horse we have ever had," says Dona. "She has been an icon of our Black Hawk Equestrian program. She participates in equitation, horsemanship, trail, rail, and barrel racing. We have used her in the program for at least 13 years, and she has assisted over 500 students. There is no monetary value that can be linked to her educational value." Luckily, Sizzle has a better chance of being recovered than many because of her unusual coloring and her ID.

One of the most recognized and respected experts in the fields of horse theft recovery and prevention, as well as horse identification, Debi Metcalfe founded Stolen Horse International. She created the NetPosse network based on her personal experience as a horse theft victim. She educates others and is a writer and public speaker on the topic. Debi is also instrumental in reuniting stolen and missing horses, tack, and trailers with their owners. Read more Horse Theft, Been There—Done That, available through www.NetPosse.com.