[daddymatty82]

Well i joined horse watch on facebook a few weeks ago due to getting into the animals again after a short break. But basicly the new thing is so i heard few months back when i got my pony was.  there was a gang going about  involving 2 groups. Group 1 would be a couple of people walking find a horse they want and plait its mane with 1 plait/or a plait of some sort. Now the 2nd group would come by and see which ones had a plat and nick them seams a feasible way of doing it. the pcso who runs the group said he been to a national meeting and said so far none have been stolen with these plaits in. How true do you thing this is as these plaits are getting closer and noticed that 1 comment was a mile up the road so am getting ready for more security measures  i will keep a hockey stick in the car and keep an eye out for strange happenings. But have any of you people heard about these things or is there any new tricks to watch for?

[jinglejoys]

Freeze Marked horses are more likely to be found this story has been going round for about three years.Sometimes the manes can be tangled to look like plaits but It's worth keeping an eye out

[daddymatty82]

i think this story has like you say been around for so long that people have seen it about online or where ever. then alot of people are just doing it just for the hell of it  next time i get my girls feet trimmed im getting them branded  as my dad had a brand of his initials for our ponies yrs ago. as i got same initials il be using it also lol harder to cut off the hoof than it is to skin graff a horse as i saw 1 that had its freeze brand cut out  at a dealers yard a few years back police found the owner and it was stolen 3 yrs previous

[jinglejoys]

Hoof brands grow out

[daddymatty82]

lol not if you shoe your horses regulary as when it has grown out it will get redone but i see your point a yr down the line noting visable anywhere

[jinglejoys]

Yeah that's what I'm worried about,the sort of people that steal horses can horde them up hidden away in large groups(shades of James Gray!) till the brand grows out or is filed down

[daddymatty82]

just popped on the page and saw this comment what you all think?

 I have seen many notices about plaits in manes. I too have also had it happen to my cob. Although i too think you need to be cautious, and of course remove and report, but it is thought by local police in wiltshire it is part of a pagen ritual. Stay vigilant!

[waterhouse]

We freezemarked and microchipped all ours, put signs everywhere, chain the gates and don't leave the lead ropes where they're easy to find.  If they really want them they'll get them but there's no point in making it easy for the thieving b***ards. 

[faith0504]

another thing that happens is they will put things on your fences or gates to mark a particular field, i.e, bits of string, carrier bags, rope, anything that can be either seen or touch in the dark, i had my big mare plaited one day, i took it out and reported it and took photos, then went on a para trip for days and nights keeping an eye on her and her mate. they never came back.
It is scary

[Dundonald hens]

Put signs up saying rifle range do not enter then if anyone dose just shoot them and say you thought it was a rabbit !!