Horse Thieves 'tagging' to steal

I read this thread earlier and thought that Yann had probably got it right. There may be one or two genuine incidents, then the rumour mill gets into gear.

Then I went out to the yard and found a tangled complicated plait in Eggwub's mane! Most of it I could put down as a witch's plait, but the bottom was quite clearly three strands tightly plaited. Now logic tells me that it was probably one of the kids on the yard fiddling with the mane, then Eggwub rubbing it to maker it tighter. But after this thread and the earlier one about shetlands being stolen, you can imagine how I felt.

Anyway, logic and common sense have prevailed, and I am not camping out tonight. The security on the yard could not be better - YO and students living there, overlooking the ponies' paddock, and all behind locked gates and high walls.

I know we all need to be vigilant, and that horses/ponies are stolen to order. I am not complaining about warnings being given - quite the reverse. I hope that by spreading the word some thefts can be avoided. But I know that I wouldn't have thought twice about the plait before I read this thread, but now I can't help but be a bit uneasy.
 
my friends horses have been targetted several times and several other people in my area have also had horses tagged. There have also been horses stolen around Dorset after having these plaits put in their manes. Friends shetlands have been targetted lots and had their field padlock cut several times. She has had to move them all to different yards and appears to be being followed as they end up plaited and fences cut etc in each place.
1 of her shetlands is now petrified of men after being targetted 3/4 times. The local horsewatch beleive the plaits are being used as a feeler so the right horses can be found in the dark and as a grab handle on smaller ponies to more or less lift them with.
 
What can you do, other than camp out at the yard:eek:

I have someones 'dream' a skewbald Welshie X Cob and a skewbald Shetland, together in the same Yard.

I can only be vigilant, ask the Neighbours to be more vigilant, although I know they always keep a look out anyway, make sure the gate cannot be lifted with locks etc., (it then has a wall) and 'hope for the best':eek: even the Neighbours can't be there 24/7 !!! but it does make me nervous and feel rather sick about it all.
 
LokiSofi, you have stated what was written in the paper about the plait being a 'feeler'/'signal' (which is great, as we are all so afar apart... at least it all ties in) The police have identified that the plaits are not only 'handles' but 'feelers' for in the dark....I know that is sounds like 'scaremongering' .... but hey, better we are ALL on the lookout, than ANY of us being in the position that we have lost one of our own x
 
Yes unfortunately there is truth to it.

About 5 mins from me - near BCA for those local - there was a near theft last week! Not sure of all details but horses mane had a plait so worried owner camped out at yard for the night! Saw/heard (not sure - second hand info) people called police but they got away before police arrived.

However there has been a theft locally not so long ago so we are all a little concerned.
 
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