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Bedfordshire Police Horsewatch

This page is being developed in conjunction with Bedfordshire Police and will contain information on horse-related crime.

If you wish to be sent text messages regarding thefts of missing freezemarked horses, contact Farmkey and ask to be added to their LOC8 system: Heather Roberts, Farmkey Team Leader 0870 870 7107 or info@farmkey.co.uk

Remember, all of your tack and equipment, including rugs, should be marked clearly and indelibly, with your postcode, or you won't see it again even if it is recovered.  If anyone has tips for doing this, please share them; we've been told that plastic filler with added colourant works very well.

From the BBC:
Horse owners are urged to chip their tack under another scheme to tackle equine-related crime.

GOOD NEWS ......

FOUND - Rusty from Cambridge Farm, Birchmorton, Malvern 6 year old cob chestnut gelding (flaxen mane and tail, white blaze with flesh mark on nostril) 14.2hh

FOUND - Redhouse Ziona 15hh chestnut mare - returned to owners, Saturday 22nd January
This recovered tack and saddles is held at Bognor Regis Police Station -  anyone recognise it ?
call 0845 60 70 999 Extension 80373
Remaining Items of Unidentified Tack
1 set of  black Tedman driving harness, marked with small squares of blue tape.
1 x Head  collar blinkers (blue tape) (Possibly linked to above  item)
1 x Dark  brown bridle and Mylers bit.
1 x Black  bridle marked Tack Right
1 x Dark  brown Stuben bridle.
1 x Bridle  with plastic bit.
1 x  Multi-lead rein.
1 x Bridle  and H-shaped silver bit.
1 x Black  and silver KB bridle.
Remaining Items of Unidentified Saddles
1 x Small  black Eclipse saddle.
1 x Black  Pessoa saddle.
1 x 16" black saddle, dark brown leathers and stirrups, and Cottage Craft black  girth.
1 x Brown  saddle with flexible seat points.
1 x Black  saddle, marked ˜Supplied by Michael Longland.
1 x Wintec  2000 black saddle with C Air marking.
1 x Black  Rhinegold saddle and leathers, with damage to inside left flap and blue  Numnah.
1 x Small  brown saddle.
1 x Dark  brown saddle with small spot of blue paint underneath.
1 x Black  Eclipse synthetic saddle and stirrups.  Heritage make with leather straps.
1 x Black  Wintec children's safety pony saddle cover, No. 147799 and stirrups.
1 x Black  Wintec saddle on which are grey horsehairs.
1 x Brown  leather GK Keiffer saddle and stirrups,  serial 5987, on which are black horsehairs.
1 x New  brown Wintec saddle and Velcro thigh pads.

 

SOME MORE GOOD NEWS ......

FOUND - 30/07/07 - GOOD NEWS - Mr Brock has been FOUND and reunited with his owner

 FOUND - Dark bay mare, Welsh Cob Section D Molly from Burgess Hill Sussex On 29th November 2004 More on Molly ...  Her owners wish to thank everyone for their help.

FOUND - Lollipop - freeze mark OY4A was found just before Christmas

FOUND - Chocolate filly miniature pony (no details) near Newport, South Wales

FOUND - Farmkey report a 14.2hh skewbald cob mare has been found 3 miles from home; it had strayed.  Aged 6 years, Freezemark 9F6D, believed stolen on Monday 22nd November from Orsett, Essex.

FOUND - Filly and colt, 7 month old miniature Shetlands stolen from East Keswick, Leeds in the early hours of Monday 1st November More on Peaches and Romeo

FOUND - Jaz Piebald 13.2hh cob mare stolen from Worcestershire 8th/9th October  More on Jaz ...

FOUND - Kelly Dark bay mare 15hh  freeze-marked 16R3  in Wakefield, Yorks

Farmkey have informed Sussex Horsewatch (www.sussexhorsewatch.co.uk) of the following good news:

  • Please note we have found freezemark number 16R3 (Kelly, Dark bay mare 15hh ) in Wakefield, Yorks

FOUND - The two horses that were stolen from Bridge of Allen,
Perthshire overnight 12
th/13th August, 2004 - FOUND

AND .....

The two horses stolen from Ireland were returned to their field, suddenly, following massive press coverage. Apparently there is very little horse theft in Ireland, other than from/by dealers and travellers, who don't publicise their losses.  It is possible that these were taken in error, and the resulting attention made them too hot to handle.

Currently, as the passport law has not yet come into force in Wales, it is believed that stolen equines are being taken there to sell and new sales are cropping up all over the Principality. Therefore we can deduce that passports will eventually lead to a drop in theft. 

Bearing this information in mind, if travelling in/near or through Wales, please keep a look out for sales, or horses in transit.  Just jot down as much information relating to vehicles/occupants (human and equine) when you can, as it could be valuable later.

   
STOLEN FOAL

Breed

Dutch Warmblood/Andalucian

Gender

Filly

Description / Comments

Chocolate brown filly, with black legs, mane and tail. She has a small white star in the middle of her forehead.  Due to her mother's colouring, she is starting to go grey around her muzzle and eyes.

Colour

Brown and black

Height

Unknown 

Age

3 days (as at 26th June, 2008)

Stolen from

Field in Murrow, Nr Wisbech, Cambridgeshire during the day on Thursday 26th June.  Reward given for safe return.
Contact Cambs Police tel no. 0845 4564564
Owners believe this foal may now have been put on to a surrogate mother so please, if you see a foal that fits this description, take a second look.  Please don't be deceived by what you see.  The owners just want to get this foal back with her frantic mother. You can call in confidence on 07765 656956. Only interested in the foal being returned, not who took her.

Date of Theft

26-06-2008

Region

Stolen Horse Register
Tel: 0870 870 7107
E-Mail: info

STOLEN PONY

Polly - 13 yr old Bay Mare Stolen from Sundon, Bedfordshire - 10/11th June, 2008

Polly was in a field with two others and the fence was cut to remove her then put back together again.  There are signs of where a horsebox was parked and the ramp let down. 

She had her off side front shoe missing as of last night, is not freezemarked or microchipped.

Any information to Dunstable police station 01582 401212
Contact Officer is Collar number 823, Litchfield
Crime reference number J26197/2008


STOLEN MINIATURE SHETLAND PONY

Cash reward of £1000 for information leading to her safe return!  Taken from her stable 17th November, 2006.
See the poster


STOLEN HORSE
Your help is needed to help trace this mare. She's red and white, 15 yr old 15hh traditional mare that was stolen on 12th June, 2007 from Hutton Sessay, Thirsk between 09:30 and 13:00. She was on a chain tether and has had pneumonia when younger and is prone to laminitis.
 
  • she has a white mane
  • black forelock and bit of white
  • she is heavily feathered and has a pink black muzzle with a pink chin
  • on her right fore she has a small black spot at chestnut and all black eyelashes
  • her nearside nostril is black, round to bottom of offside nostril and she has a pink line just below her nearside nostril
  • she has all white whiskers on her muzzle, a white face with red cheeks
  • a black fleck on her belly and all pink teats
It has not been divulged if the mare is micro-chipped or coded in any way, so I assume that she isn't marked.
 
The owner is offering a reward for the safe return of this mare. If you are able to assist, any information will be gratefully received. If you contact me, then I shall pass information to the owner.
See the three pictures: 1 2 3 
Mrs Tricia Colling
coordinator, Scarborough & District Country Watch

phone/fax: 01723 865919    mobile: 07871 237634


STOLEN HORSE

Information is required on a horse stolen from Crawcrook in Tyne & Wear Friday 15th June, 2007. He is a 10 month old colt between 11 and 12 hands high and has very bright blue eyes. His body is black with to white patches on either side of his neck he has a white half moon shape on his right hand hind quarters and four white boots from his knees down. He has a even split main which is white at the top then turns black. His forelock is black and he has a white tail with black on the end. He has a very big white blaze that is off set on his right side near his nose. His muscle has a black patch with a blue trace around it. The colt has also had stitches in his top left front quarters about 6 weeks ago so there may be some scaring or the odd stitch remaining in the site.

Please pass any information on the thieves or the whereabouts of the colt
to the police on 0845 113 5000 or to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.


RECENTLY STOLEN
The following were stolen from a yard in Blechingdon, Nr Kidlington, Bucks overnight on the 11th July, 2007.
 
1x Keiffer dressage saddle
3x Albion Ultima dressage saddles black
1x Albion Legend K2 jumping saddle
1x Albion Legend K2 GP saddle
1x Albion Legend K2 dressage saddle reg no 22329
2x Stubben dressage saddles
1x Stubben brown saddle
1x Stubben old saddle
2x Stubben GP saddles
2x Ideal Jessica dressage saddles
1x Barnsley XC saddle marked 720VSS SPSC
Stirrups for above marked E5327
4x Pessoa jumping saddles
1x Wintec 500 with Caire 17" brown with new leather girth straps
1xThorowgood dressage saddle black
!x Thorowgood black saddle
1x Passier Grand Gilbert dressage saddle black
1x Amiga GP
1x Anky dressage saddle
1X Butete jumping saddle
2x Henry Rivel jumping saddles
1x Stepping Stones GP saddle
1x Sylde hand made 14" show saddle black
1x Olympic dressage saddle
1x Bates jumping saddle
1x English Polo saddle
1x flat seat show saddle
8x various sj, gp, and dressage saddles
 
40 bridles including;
1x Samuel Sharp Heritage bridle with flash nose band
1x Stubben bridle black
1x Stubben brown
2x Albion black
1x Argentinian gag
1x Keiffer bridle with breast plate
1x black bridle with breast plate and Market Harborough
Korsteel eggbut french link snaffle 5.5"
Saddle cover black with green horses heads print
lungeing bridle with eggbut snaffle with chewed throat latch and blue lead rope
Plus various other bits and pieces.
Approx value £40,000
 
This is  a large amount of quality tack, and with only two saddles marked, it is going to be hard to locate them. However, I know you will all keep your eyes peeled, especially should the more unusual ones come to your notice!
Any yard owners reading this may consider holding details of clients' tack, if only to produce an accurate description immediately for Police circulation, and to encourage owners to get all tack post coded.
 
Any yard wishing to hold a tack marking session in the Thames Valley, please contact Neighbourhood Watch Office Amersham tel. 01494 736642 for information, or their nearest police station.
 
Any iformation on the above crime, please quote CRN JD 9759156/07 to Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505
Helen Evans Thames Valley Horse Watch

 


STOLEN HORSES ......

Savvy - 13 year old 15.2/16hh dapple grey gelding - stolen from Kellingley, Nr Selby, North Yorkshire around 23rd April, 2005

Pickles - 8 year old New Forest 13.2hh grey roan gelding - placed with a dealer to be sold on behalf of the owner; the pony was sold and the dealer has absconded.

Gem on 11th March, 2005 from Carmarthenshire.  11 year old 16.2hh chestnut TBX mare.

Phoenix on 11th March, 2005 from Carmarthenshire.  9 year old 16.3hh grey Hunter mare.

Rusty on 28th February, 2005 from Cambridge Farm, Birchmorton, Malvern 6 year old cob chestnut gelding (flaxen mane and tail, white blaze with flesh mark on nostril) 14.2hh 

Hazel on 17th February, 2005 from Keston, Kent 10yr old bay mare 13.2hh.

Humbug on 11th February, 2005 from Spalding, Lincolnshire. 13 yr old piebald Shetland gelding, 38".

Lucky on 4th February, 2005 from Rochester Road, Ayelsford, Kent. Crime Ref: CZ 1480-05
5 months old 24" miniature Shetland pony. 
She is chestnut with a tiny white star. She was taken from her mother inside her stable, and has recently recovered from a serious illness.

Freezemark number 6C2P Cassie is missing on loan from the Worcestershire area. She is a heavy weight bay mare 9yrs old 17.1hh in foal , all details are on the stolen horse register.

Bay Irish Sports Horse 16hh gelding from Ruthin, North Wales between 4th and 6th January, 2005

Dark bay TB mare 16.2hh from near Tiverton, Devon 19th/20th October, 2004 More on Polly ...

RDA bay gelding 14hh cob and two piebald mares: 15.2hh 6 years old and 14hh 10 years old
RDA bay gelding, Porgy, is a specifically trained cob to accommodate all types of disabled riders

Brown & white Shetland 9hh gelding freeze-marked 0Y4A, Huddersfield, Yorks. Oct 2004

Dark bay mare 15hh and Mid bay TB 15.2hh gelding (FOUND) from Hartlebury, Worcester 8th/9th October, 2004; Kelly, freeze-marked 16R3 FOUND in Wakefield, Yorks

Piebald 13.2hh cob mare from Worcestershire 8th/9th October 2004 FOUND

Piebald 14hh gelding from Kidlington, Oxfordshire 7th October 2004 

Piebald 14.2hh gelding from near Oxford 5th/6th October, 2004

Thoroughbred 16.1hh gelding from Winterbourne, Whitchurch, Dorset 2nd/3rd September, 2004

Piebald mare from South Wales 30th/31st August, 2004

Palomino and white skewbald stallion, from Romney Marsh overnight 21st/22nd August, 2004

Two horses stolen in Worcestershire, overnight 13th/14th August, 2004

Coloured cob stolen, from Outskirts of Stroud, Gloucestershire, 14th/15th August, 2004

 
STOLEN TRAILER ......

Stolen from Willingham, Cambridgeshire, (out of field, along byway and out via Priests Lane) one night last week (October 24th to 30th): 

It's a silver Richardson two-horse trailer, front and rear unload with the name PIP on the roof.

It was wheel clamped with a police recommended wheel-clamp, which was totally wrecked.  It even had a built in hitch lock (one you use a key in the top for) but not one that actually covers the tow ball bit. 

It has been slightly adapted inside, the head piece at the front is home made specially for her two horses, out of mesh metal.  If found/seen, please email me and I'll pass your details on to the owner. 

The trailer is not normally left in field but due to Willingham-Over road being temporarily closed for few days, and owner needing to use trailer each day, she left it in her field for just 3 days, and that was enough. Just shows how much our every moves are being watched each day, just waiting for us to make a tiny mistake...

 
STOLEN HORSEBOX ......

A two-horse IVECO Daily horse box stolen in Hampshire, on 4th/5th of August, 2004 

Registration number is L129 UPX   It is very unusual for boxes/lorries to be stolen; usually it is trailers that are taken.

There is a £500 reward for information leading to recovery.

Whoever stole this van has no legitimate documents for it.  Plus, when it was stolen, the centre partition was not in the vehicle.  Hopefully it will not be changed or altered so it may be seen some where in the country.  Spread the word.

 


STOLEN TACK, ETC. ......

 

Surrey
Recently there have been a number of tack thefts in Surrey. It is believed that the thieves have now moved south.  Overnight between 11th and 12th of October in Brooks Green, five saddles and bridles were stolen from a tack room. There was also a sighting of a suspicious vehicle with five occupants at a stables in Cowfold.  The vehicle seen was a silver Peugeot 405, registration K772 ***.  Please remember to be vigilant at all times and report any sightings of suspicious vehicles to the police by telephoning 0845 60 70 999.

 

Bedfordshire
Between 1600hrs Monday 16th August and 0800hrs Tuesday 17th August, thirteen saddles and associated items were stolen from premises in Radwell, Bedfordshire. 

The items stolen include:

Two German made 'Kiefer' saddles

Two English made 'Cliff Barnsby'  saddles

One Australian made synthetic 'Wintec' saddle

Eight standard English made leather saddles

Twelve metal bits

The saddles are marked either on the 'cantle' area (back part, underneath) or under the saddle flap.  All the items are post code marked, MK43 7HY  

Bedfordshire Police are asking all Horse Watch members to be aware of an increase in tack thefts and to be on the look out for these stolen items.  Please continue to be vigilant and report anything suspicious immediately on 01234 841212 or non urgent information to PC Martin Anstee on 01234 275175

 

North Oxfordshire
Stolen items JE/9165715/04 overnight 19th/20th August, 2004

Three Beaufort saddles 18” GP Havana medium fit, two fitted with Sprenger stirrup irons, one fitted with Stubben offset stirrup irons

One Albion dressage saddle 18” wide fit, black leather

Two  Jeffries full size bridles, brown leather with flash nosebands

One Hubertus bridle, brown

One Jeffries full size double bridle

One Stubben full size dressage bridle with flash noseband, black leather

One handmade in hand bridle with brass buckles, incorporating noseband with free ring snaffle, brass chain and leather lead

One in hand bridle, German-type with no side buckles, adjustment between horses ears full size

One French noseband, shaped and very wide over the nose

One veterinary laser for physiotherapy, battery operated, contained in black cloth shoulder bag 

Ten or more bits, all full size dressage type

One mains Lister clippers with spare blades

Assorted rugs, two summer sheets and two travel rugs

Three full leather girths, shaped and elasticated at one end, 1x dressage girth in leather

May be connected with a Daihatsu Fourtrak stolen the same night from Hook Norton N642GBW

 

Hampshire
A burglary occurred in the Basingstoke area of Hampshire between 1830 Wednesday 11th August and 0800 Thursday 12th August  and  approx 34 saddles (poor descriptions) and 21 snaffle and double bridles (very poor description) were stolen.  All items are second-hand.  Total value several thousands of pounds.

Very scant information as the aggrieved does not want publicity.  The usual warning applies: never  be complacent about your property or security.

Stating the obvious, there is some cheap tack for sale out there.  This is the first 'heavy' tack theft in this area and we are waiting to find out if neighbouring counties have had similar thefts.

 


RECENTLY STOLEN
The following were stolen from a yard in Blechingdon, Nr Kidlington, Bucks overnight on the 11th July, 2007.
 
1x Keiffer dressage saddle
3x Albion Ultima dressage saddles black
1x Albion Legend K2 jumping saddle
1x Albion Legend K2 GP saddle
1x Albion Legend K2 dressage saddle reg no 22329
2x Stubben dressage saddles
1x Stubben brown saddle
1x Stubben old saddle
2x Stubben GP saddles
2x Ideal Jessica dressage saddles
1x Barnsley XC saddle marked 720VSS SPSC
Stirrups for above marked E5327
4x Pessoa jumping saddles
1x Wintec 500 with Caire 17" brown with new leather girth straps
1xThorowgood dressage saddle black
!x Thorowgood black saddle
1x Passier Grand Gilbert dressage saddle black
1x Amiga GP
1x Anky dressage saddle
1X Butete jumping saddle
2x Henry Rivel jumping saddles
1x Stepping Stones GP saddle
1x Sylde hand made 14" show saddle black
1x Olympic dressage saddle
1x Bates jumping saddle
1x English Polo saddle
1x flat seat show saddle
8x various sj, gp, and dressage saddles
 
40 bridles including;
1x Samuel Sharp Heritage bridle with flash nose band
1x Stubben bridle black
1x Stubben brown
2x Albion black
1x Argentinian gag
1x Keiffer bridle with breast plate
1x black bridle with breast plate and Market Harborough
Korsteel eggbut french link snaffle 5.5"
Saddle cover black with green horses heads print
lungeing bridle with eggbut snaffle with chewed throat latch and blue lead rope
Plus various other bits and pieces.
Approx value £40,000
 
This is  a large amount of quality tack, and with only two saddles marked, it is going to be hard to locate them. However, I know you will all keep your eyes peeled, especially should the more unusual ones come to your notice!
Any yard owners reading this may consider holding details of clients' tack, if only to produce an accurate description immediately for Police circulation, and to encourage owners to get all tack POST CODED.
 
Any yard wishing to hold a tack marking session in the Thames Valley, please contact Neighbourhood Watch Office Amersham tel. 01494 736642 for information, or their nearest police station.
 
Any iformation on the above crime, please quote CRN JD 9759156/07 to Thames Valley Police on 08458 505 505
Helen Evans Thames Valley Horse Watch
More on Polly

Polly was purchased at a sale, with foal at foot, by a genuine purchaser.  On going to collect, they were told by the vendor that they had in fact only bought the 4wk old foal, not the mare, despite the fact that receipt clearly showed both had been paid for!!  There would appear to have been an error made by the auctioneer when he sold both, but the buyer wanted the mare and took them both - the foal was too young to wean anyway.  There were signs that the matter would not be allowed to rest so the horses were moved to different fields in an effort to confuse the original owners.  However, despite best efforts the mare was stolen a few weeks later, but the foal & other horses were left.  So it seems clear who took the mare, but so far no-one can find her, & it's doubtful that she will turn up at a sale - and there is a possibility she might be in foal again.  The youngster is quite depressed at present but now eating so hopefully will be OK.

More on Jaz

The story, as it has reached us, is that Jaz and a freezemarked pony went at the same time and the freezemarked one sold on immediately to a nice lady who tried to re-register pony in her name.  When she found out it was stolen, she became not such a nice lady and descended on the dealer she'd bought it from like a ton of bricks and threatened him with all sorts of hassle if he did not disclose who he'd bought the horse from.  He was not best pleased, and met up with the thief at a sale, where they proceeded to have an argument which became violent.  The police were called to arrest the indignant dealer, who mightily fed up, told them the story, so they arrested t'other one, who admitted the theft.  So both horses are back home now and someone will hopefully get punished for it!

More on Peaches and Romeo

Following a TV appeal, both ponies have been FOUND.  They were "dumped" on waste ground near to where they were taken.  Both are safe and in good health.  Their owner thanks everyone for all the help given.

More on Molly - FOUND

Dark bay mare, Welsh Cob Section D Molly from Burgess Hill Sussex On 29th November 2004
Name: Molly
Colour: Dark Bay, white spot on forehead with thin strip to nose, white muzzle
Breed: Welsh Cob Section D
Sex: Mare Age: 3 years
Height: 14.2hh
Mane/Tail: Both black and full
Additional Information: Ride and drive, recently shod all round with heavier driving shoes. Not heavily feathered. Very high stepping. No photograph available
Police Contact: Sgt. Cook – Burgess Hill Crime Ref: 1526/29/11