Here’s a question I wish more horse owners would think about seriously: Which items on your farm are likely to attract thieves? Your horses? Your tack? Your vehicles? Your hay? The answer, of course, is “all of the above” and more.
We’ve all heard about the “classic” scenario, where someone cuts through a pasture fence and leads the horses away. That’s dreadful enough, but it’s just one of many types of theft I hear about these days. As founder of Stolen Horse International, a nonprofit group that offers resources to help people recover horses who have been lost, stolen or gone missing for any reason, I’ve learned one universal truth: If it’s on your farm, and it can be sold for money, someone will try to steal it.
Recovering missing horses and other stolen property can be difficult, if not impossible. But for most of us the concern regarding expensive tack, vehicles and equipment pales compared to the anguish that would come from not knowing where our beloved horses are---and fearing the worst.
Far better to take some basic steps to reduce the risk that these crimes will occur. No farm can be completely theft-proof ---determined professional criminals can get past just about any barrier. But you don’t want to make it too easy for them, either. Any steps you can take to deter the opportunists may be enough to make the difference. Here are my suggestions for protecting your horses, property and gear from thieves.
5 WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR HORSE
Don’t make it easy to catch him. Leave halters off horses turned out in pastures and paddocks, and do not hang halters on the stall door or a convenient gatepost. Instead, keep them out of sight, preferably in a locked tack room.
Denne historien er fra Winter 2019-utgaven av Equus.
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Denne historien er fra Winter 2019-utgaven av Equus.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
Allerede abonnent? Logg på
PROGRESS AND STRUGGLE IN SENIOR HORSE CARE
A study from the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University confirms what many dedicated horse owners have long known: Caring for a geriatric horse with a chronic health condition can be a significant physical and emotional burden.
THREE WAYS TO PREVENT BLANKET INJURIES
Of all the things your horse could injure himself with, his blanket seems an unlikely candidate. But don’t rule it out. Blanket mishaps do happen and they can be serious. Here are three things you can do to avoid them:
PUT AN END TO BARN DRAMA
While it’s impossible to prevent all discord at the barn, conflict resolution techniques can help solve problems, restore calm and enable everyone to enjoy their horses.
The turning point
You don’t always get the horse you want, but sometimes you get the one you need.
A FOREVER HOME
How a Facebook post led to a midnight rescue and an unexpected partnership
Nice work if you can get it
A career focused on horses is not for the faint of heart but the rewards are many and can last a lifetime.
MAKE WINTER EASIER FOR YOUR OLD HORSE
The season ahead may be hard on aging horses in cold climates but with some planning and preparation you can help yours sail through until spring.
7 THINGS YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN ABOUT TETANUS
With modern vaccines and wound management practices, tetanus is almost a thing of the past. But the threat persists, so it’s wise to remember which horses are most at risk and why.
THE FIRST AMERICAN “SPORT HORSE” BREED
The very name of the American Standardbred reflects the performance requirement established at the inception of the breed. Here’s how genetics, conformation and training came together to create horses that could trot a mile in 2:30 or less, or pace it in 2:00 flat.
THE 6 WAYS HORSES LEARN
You’ll be more successful in teaching your horse new skills or maneuvers if your lessons, timing and tasks are aligned with his natural modes of acquiring information.
