Message from Alyson Govier

A neighbour has found plaits in her horses manes in the Brompton Ralph / Elworthy area.

Please be alert as I am sure you have heard that this may be a signal that thieves are targetting your horses.  These are big Irish Draught types.  The plaits are big circular plaits that are not initially obvious as they are well disguised by the mane.

I have heard of this happening in West Buckland and the horse being stolen the next night.

This is a bit close for comfort!  Please report anything suspicious to the police.

See the message below for further information on horse thefts.

Message from the BHS:  Stolen horse

"On Monday (2 Nov) night my friend’s horse was stolen from a field in the Guildford area. The people who took her sawed through a wooden post and rail fence to get out and this happened between 3pm and 6pm in the afternoon.

The police were informed and so were the microchip company who circulated her details to all the ferry ports etc. As you can imagine the owner was completely distraught.

Late Tuesday (3 Nov) afternoon she received a phone call from the police to say her horse had been found in Hollyhead, Wales. She was tied to a railing at the ferry port and the ferry to Ireland had gone without her. 

Several things have come to light in this story:
1. A week ago her horse had a small plait in its mane when she went to get her in from the field. She describes it as very small, almost like a tangle. She disregarded it as kids messing about (her horses are out in a field with others). However, this is how people mark horses to be stolen later. Ie. One person marks them, another then comes later and knows which one to take.

2. The ferry port at Hollyhead do not check horses passports or microchips. This horse was travelling without a passport.

3. The police believe the reason this horse was left behind was because she was microchipped. Although the UK is lax about passport and microchip checking, it is apparently more common for horses to be scanned on entering Ireland. The people who take them will scan them and dump them if they find a microchip. This horse also had a large obvious scar so this may have been a contributing factor.

The police told her that horses being dumped at a ferry terminal is not uncommon and they usually turn out to be stolen. They have had horses left in a lorry on the actually ferry!
This story has a happy ending for H and E, but it makes you wonder how many other stolen horses were on that ferry to Ireland.

1. If you find your horse with a small plait in its mane or tail please do not ignore it. I thought it was common knowledge that people knew about this, but several people I've spoken to since were not aware of it.

2. If your horse isn’t microchipped please consider doing it. The owner of this horse describes her as ‘nothing flashy, just a normal 14.2 bay mare’ so please don’t think it couldn’t happen to you.
Please spare a happy thought today for H and E who should be having a (probably very emotional) reunion in Hollyhead later on today.

Once again, can I ask you to please look at your own security arrangements.  Some horses are kept in remote locations which does not necesarily mean that they are harder to find but can also mean that they are easier to steal as there may be no one around to report any suspicious activity.  Regardless of where you keep your horse, please check them on a regular basis and the Police suggest that if you can check your horses at different times this might also help. 
 
Please make sure your horse has some form of identification.  Freezebranding is a clearly visible mark and deterent.  If your horse is not freezemarked or microchipped, please don't wait until next week, next month, next year - get it done now. 
 
Take photographs of your horse.  At least one from each side, front and back.  If your horse was stolen these could be useful to post on websites etc.
 
If you did not have the key to the gate on your field, how easy would it be for you to get your horse out of the field?  If your gate is padlocked could it be taken off at the hinges?  There are gate hinges on the market which can be fitted to make this much harder.  Having proper hinges and padlocks fitted to your gates will not necessarily stop the most determined thief but it will make it harder and more importantly more time consuming for them which in turn leads to a greater risk of them being spotted.  If you could get your horse out quickly, then so could a thief.
 
Freezebranding, new gate hinges, padlocks, chains all cost money but this would be a small and worthwhile investment compared to the cost you would experience, both financially and emotionally if YOUR horse was stolen.

....................................................................................................................

Welcome to the website of the West Somerset and Exmoor Bridleways Association.

Our aims are to improve access to new and existing bridleways and other rights of way and to promote an awareness of the bridleways amongst members. Please see our Constitution under the Committee button for further details.

If you ride in West Somerset and Exmoor and would like to be involved in the Association we are looking for more area representatives, please see the Area Representative button under Who to Contact.

Happy Viewing....

Leg up for equestrian tourism in Devon

Pilot schemes to boost Devon 's economy by tapping into the potentially highly lucrative equestrian tourism market are being set up by the County Council.

The idea is to create recreational horse riding networks of full and half day circular routes to assist the growth and development of associated rural businesses including horse-friendly B&Bs, camping barns and riding schools.

The schemes are to be trialled in three of the county's most scenic areas - Ruby Country, the Blackdown Hills and the area around Tavistock and Bere Ferrers.

These areas have been selected to link the network of bridleways, restricted byways, unsurfaced county roads and rural off-road cycle routes which could become multi-user routes. Local landowners, parish councils and horse riders will be involved in identifying routes that provide safe off-road links.

The County Council plans to use £250,000 of the money it received from the sale of Exeter International Airport to fund the project. It is hoped a network of trails can be set up by 2012.

The pilot schemes are being promoted by the chairman of the Public Rights of Way Committee County Councillor Joe Tucker who says that equestrian tourism already generates more than £30million to Devon 's economy.

"Devon has the natural resources needed to develop a thriving recreational horse riding network, and this will enable us to promote Devon as the premier county for equestrian tourism."