Preventing Horse Theft
The number of horses being stolen is increasing every year and a lot of the horses are never recovered. If they can't be identified they can't be returned to their owners. It is very important to take measures to ensure that your horse can be easily identified in case the unthinkable were to happen to you. While you're at it, ensure that your horse passport details are up to date, as well as checking that other documents such as your equine insurance are still valid.
One of the first things to do when thinking about horse security is to make sure that the fields where your horses are kept are secure. You want to make sure you have secure gateposts to prevent gates from being lifted out of the ground. You should also make sure gates are locked or secured with a bar so access is limited.
It is a good idea to have visible and permanent security markings put on your horse. There are a variety of ways to do this, such as having freeze marks or brands put on your horse to deter thieves. Put up signs saying your horses are security marked to deter theft. Microchipping is another way to identify your horse if it is stolen or lost.
Hoof branding is another option. Your postal code is branded onto the horse's hooves. This process is painless and has to be renewed about every 6 months. Lip tattooing is another form of branding. However, this can be painful to your horse and the tattoo fades over time.
Besides putting permanent markings on your horse you can also make sure you have plenty of photographs of your horse. They will help in recovering your horse in the event of theft. They can be used in posters and signs and also used to prove ownership when the horse is found.
An essential and mandatory item to have is a horse passport. These documents include detailed descriptions and positioning of whorls and markings. You will want to make sure any extra information is included in your horse's passport, such as freeze marks or a microchip numbers.
Your horse is a lifelong companion and you want to make sure you do everything in your power to protect them from being stolen. By having your horse microchipped and marked you will be both deterring thieves and will also make it easier to identify your horse if you are unlucky enough to have your horse stolen.
Do you have any advice for our readers on how to deter would-be horse thieves? Animal Friends Equine Insurance would love to hear what you have to say. Please post your comments below if you would like to share your story with other members of AFI's equine Community. Thank you and enjoy the blogs!
