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Horse Theft

© Patricia Celley

You may think of it as a problem of the wild west, but today, more than ever, your horse is at risk of being stolen. Fifty five thousand horses are reported stolen every year. From syndicated race horses to backyard ponies and every trail and show ring in between. They are being taken from rural ranch lands, gated communities and gated and secured exhibition areas. I hope this article will help you minimize your horse's risk and give you a plan of action in case you have to deal with the horror of finding your horse's stall or pasture empty one morning.

Why is the risk so great? Because the market for horsemeat is huge -- and growing. One hundred eighty thousand horses were slaughtered in the United States in 1980. By 1990 that number soared to three hundred fifteen thousand, with an additional eighty thousand horses shipped to Canada for slaughter there. Horsemeat is used for pet food, their hooves are used for making glue, and horsemeat is consumed and even prized by people in many parts of the world. This is especially true since the outbreak of Mad Cow Disease.

What can you do? Make your horse a difficult target. Don't leave halters on your horse in the pasture or hanging on the stall door. Put chains and locks on pasture gates. Don't forget gates that are not regularly used, and chain and lock both sides of the gate if the hinges can be easily removed. If you board your horse at another stable, do not have his name, pedigree or registration number on the stall. Locking horses in their stalls is very dangerous and not practical. In the event of a fire or medical emergency someone - anyone - needs to be able to get to your horse.

If you keep your horse on your own property consider wood or pipe fencing. Wire fencing is very simple to cut and lead a horse through. Be sure you have lights around the barn and gate areas. You may want to consider having guard animals on your property -- dogs, geese, peacocks, burros, anything that will make a lot of noise if disturbed. Get to know your neighbors and watch out for each other's places. Let them know if a strange person will be handling your horses. Many thieves will scope out an area or a particular horse on foot, then use a cell phone and have the truck or trailer pull up when the coast is clear.