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Post by Casper on Jan 1, 2007 16:31:09 GMT 1
A warning for anyone in Northants to beware - the thieving robbing "people" are out and about again. Our yard got done over last night BUT as we all now take our tack home following the theft of the trailer earlier this year they left empty handed. They were clearly looking for saddles as they threw rugs etc all round the tack room to see if any saddles underneath them. No rugs were taken - and although ours are marked not everyone's is.
The worst thing was that they had to come through Bobby's stable to get to the tack room. However they then shut the tack room door and also when they closed his top bolt again also clipped it shut. Thank goodness...
Have moved the dustbin with the sugarbeet in outside to a different place just in case though, doesn't bear thinking about.
Just relieved that they didn't hurt Bobby in any way - and that the bar stewards didn't get anything.
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Post by Susan on Jan 1, 2007 17:02:05 GMT 1
Oh NO Casper... the B*******!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not sure if this idea might be useful to help you feel more secure. At J's she has that cable alarm set up on her outside gates to her home and the parking. She had it installed when she had a visitor one day nosing around making out he was told she had a lorry for sale ( yes we know it was rubbish and he was obviously on a recce visit) Give her a shout as I think one fitted to your large entry gate would be useful. Although I bet you are going to say they didnt come through the gates. Not sure if the alarm on the stable doors if set off might cause more upset to the horses occupying the stables then it cured.
Also not sure if this idea also might be helpful, have you had the local crime prevention officer out to see if they can offer any further advice? You may well have done so already after the loss of your trailer not that long ago.Sorry if I am telling you how to suck eggs not my intention.
Well done you for taking the tack home now as well. Thank God they did lock up all afterwards! Shame the horses can speak and give you info on the would be thieves! but at least thank god as well Bobby and Clover were left none the worse of this nasty episode.
Hugs to you as I know this would have made you feel very angry and also worried so much. xxxSusan
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Post by lindaandrascal on Jan 1, 2007 17:03:42 GMT 1
Oh no, thank goodness your horse is Ok, im not in your area (midlands) but they seem to go around the country so i dont suppose it will be long. Weve often had the rugs scattered around the yard i think they get brassed off because we dont leave anything else there now. Ive not finnished replacing the last lot the took two years ago yet, all ours have synthetic tack at the moment.
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Post by Casper on Jan 1, 2007 17:07:56 GMT 1
Aw Susan thank you so much for your lovely post. We don't have electricity at our yard, just a generator so difficult to rig much in terms of "hard" security. But have taken all precautions we can - visit at different times, nearby houses keep an eye out, rugs marked, saddles taken home etc etc.
And no, they didn't come through the massive gates this time, must have climbed over two or three other padlocked ones to get in through the back. Police not bothered to come out, even though there was a footprint in the tack room...
I am angry, you are quite right but more than that just feel utterly utterly relieved that they didn't hurt my boy. And also as the feeds are stored in that room that they closed the door behind them so that he couldn't eat dried sugarbeet... Think I am currently in shock though TBH, this was my worst fear after the trailer was stolen in August 06 - that somebody would break into that room whilst Bobby was in. But as I said before thankfully he was unhurt and appeared calm and quite unfazed this morning bless him.
Cloverbelle was fine, tucked away in her stable bless her. xx
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Post by Casper on Jan 1, 2007 17:09:45 GMT 1
LindaandRascal they are just utter swines aren't they? They can have whatever possessions they want if push comes to shove, but please god don't ever let them touch the horses...
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Anna*
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Post by Anna* on Jan 1, 2007 18:30:36 GMT 1
What a horrible start to the New Year. Poor you. xx
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Post by jill on Jan 1, 2007 18:37:06 GMT 1
Oh no, you must have been really worried about Bobby. How about a big noisy dog in a dog run? The noise often scares them off because they don't know who is within earshot.
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Post by Casper on Jan 1, 2007 19:41:15 GMT 1
The bad news is that on re-checking everything tonight, they have stolen my two lovely Thermatex rugs - one navy blue "normal" one and one of the cordura covered stable ones. Because although all outdoor rugs are marked, the indoor ones weren't :-( Turns out they have also nicked two pony turnout rugs which were hanging on a rug rack in the hay barn too. General consensus (SP) is that now they have seen what is there, they are likely to come back. Sooooo very reluctantly, but for safety I am turning my two out at night now and bringing them in during the day. I wouldn't be as worried if it was not for the fact that they have to come through Bobby's stable to get to the tack room - and if they decide there is a "big haul" to be had, they could break the yard gates down, open his door and I could lose him on the roads. Just not worth the risk.
This is without a doubt the best yard we have been on in terms of people, fantastic hacking etc etc BUT having serious doubts now because of noone being on site and these incidents. Need to calm down and think rationally before making any major decision, and would be absolutely gutted to go - BUT my horses are my life and I can't have a situation where I am constantly worrying and in fear.
ETA All rugs, hi viz stuff, pessoa, travel boots, Easyboots Bares etc etc have now been removed. The others have taken their main rugs etc home too. We have also removed the generator as fairly sure they had clocked that too. Makes you sick, it really does.
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Post by Jo with Ben & Schooner on Jan 1, 2007 20:04:24 GMT 1
Oh Bea I'm so so sorry to hear this!!! If there is anything I can do please don't hesitate to let me know - if I had to some up and sit on an all night vigil with you I would sweetie - there are no words to describe these bar stewards - I wish I could help more. xxx
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Post by Casper on Jan 1, 2007 20:44:30 GMT 1
Oh Jo you are such a sweetheart, you really are. I am in tears at the moment as feel so awful chucking them out into a quagmire, it is truly awful at the moment. But they have got a bale of hay to eat if nothing else... And whilst I know nothing may ever happen again I just cannot take the risk of something truly horrific happening.
My dilemma is this: it is probable that our current YO who rents the whole yard will move her two horses down to Berks sometime this year - may be sooner, may be later, she doesn't know yet. It all depends on her finding the right place for her two horses. If that happens, then Bobby and Clover can move across into their stables - not as nice as the two we currently have BUT far far safer as no access to any tack room via the stables. But in the meantime I would prefer them to be in at night as the field is so awful. So do I stick it out, put them out at night and bring them in during the day so that they are out of the muddy conditions for part of the day and can get to lie down etc. Do I move temporarily and come back if and when the other two stables are free. Or do we just move?
If there was electricity at the yard that would make things a lot easier in terms of rigging up proper security etc. My imagination is currently racing away with me as now starting to feel unnerved about what happens if they set fire to the haybarn etc etc. So just truly don't know what to do.
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pebblesgirl
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Post by pebblesgirl on Jan 1, 2007 21:20:25 GMT 1
Oh mate you are having the worst time with the theivings pigs arent you...i remember when ben and pebs had the rugs nicked off of their backs,was more angry that someone had dared touch my horse than the fact that her rug had gone! At least Bobby and Clover are ok, but it really pees me off to think that some people think they have a right to take whatever they want. Anyway,so sorry to hear this hun,keep your chin up Ang xx
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Post by Casper on Jan 1, 2007 21:31:54 GMT 1
Aw thanks Ang, really appreciate your support. Just feeling very vulnerable with it all at the moment. Going to have a cup of hot chocolate and an early night - and hopefully will see things more clearly in the morning. xx
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Post by jen1 on Jan 1, 2007 21:34:57 GMT 1
oh why oh why are folk like that out there, they must be selling them somewhere bt where? they just seem not to get caught,, im glad bobby is ok, jen x
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Post by lindaandrascal on Jan 1, 2007 21:44:49 GMT 1
Casper im so relieved i got all our horse freeze marked, although its not fool proof i know it must be a deterrant. We get alot of unwanted visitors but im frightened to make it too difficult in case they take it out on the horses. Its just so annoying when you go out to work to keep your horses and some B****** comes and takes everything you have worked for, i was bought up to earn the things i want, why cant they!
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Post by Casper on Jan 1, 2007 21:55:44 GMT 1
We had Bobby freezemarked when we got him in 2004. Clover is microchipped but we are going to have her freezemarked as a matter of urgency now, as I feel it is a far better deterrent. Most of the time these scumbags want material possessions but you just can't risk it can you? And as you say Linda it is awful when these people think they can just take what you and I have to work hard for.
Jen1 thanks for your support x
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