[Hardfeather]

I missed it, but there was a report on radio Scotland this morning re the above.

Does anyone have any information?

[egglady]

no but we have horses too, so i'm eager to hear the news.  it is possible to listen to it on the radio equivalent of i-player i wonder?

[Wizard]

Have you Googled BBC Radio Scotland News? Oh dear!

[egglady]

i found this if it's of any help:
http://www.fife.police.uk/Default.aspx?page=4415

[Daisy]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/8644044.stm
the same as AengusOg found

I think a lot of people have been mistaking the wind made twists/plaits for these marking plaits though, but it's still a worry. I get suspicious if I see a car I don't know parked next to the field, esp if it then drives off as I appear.

[CameronS]

I had heard that aswell, only from a friend working at Edenside stables.

have a niggeling idea about a black vehicle being used,

[Roxy]

We had this story round here, of horses with plaits, to mark the ones they wanted to steal, and suspicious vehicles seen here, there and everywhere........most of my ponies have plaits, and this is caused by them grooming each other.  I am not saying its untrue, but, I have not heard of any of the horses with the plaits actually having been stolen.

[jameslindsay]

Our friend the animal welfare officer for Fife confirmed that this is happening and that the manes are being plaited or trimmed as a sign.

[Roxy]

The thieves will be very confused then if they come in my fields, and look for the one with plaits ......they all have the plait and are all black, and look exactly the same.  Mine are microchipped as a foal, as this is done via the breed society.  It will not deter thieves though, as you cannot see it like a brand mark.

[daniellestocks]

I think its been happening alot all over the country, i often read the stolen etc, section of the horse and hound forum, also i think they have just been plaiting and none stolen 
danielle

[littlelisa]

we have had this a lot in hampshire. dont think anyone really knows whats going on!!

[Hardfeather]

I don't know anything about plaits in the marking of horses to be stolen, but I do know the difference between a plait and windtugs.

It's only a matter of weeks till Appleby fair. There are horses stolen every year at this time, and some of them will be sold at Appleby. Others may be destined for Ireland, perhaps to be sold at Ballinasloe later in the year.

It's coloured cobs I keep, so I am particularly careful about their security. Anyone trying to steal mine would have to pass my house to get to them, and the way the neighbours are fenced would make it extremely difficult to take them out any other way. However, I never say 'never'.

I've had travellers in my field (where I kept horses years ago) taking photos of my youngsters and, when challenged, they just walked away. I don't know what that was all about to this day. Several weeks later the tails were cut from three of my four horses. The police weren't interested. I moved my horses immediately. Within a week there were other horses in the vacated field.

Four are inside at the moment, for the first time in ten years, due to that awful storm of a few weeks ago. That worries me too. Although they are right next to the farm house of my landlord, they are all in one place and could be stolen easier, I think, than if they were out. My young colt is still out during the day and stabled next to the house at night.

It's grass sickness weather at the moment here, and I'm worried about putting them back out because of that too. I've already heard of two GS deaths near here in the past week.

Does anyone want to buy some horses?

[Hardfeather]

Thanks for the links, daisy and egglady.

It's laughable that they say that it's not only 'expensive thoroughbreds' which are at risk. Tbs are probably the least likey to be stolen. Many native breeds and cobs are worth much more money than the finer breeds.

Typical BBC going off half cocked and getting the basic facts wrong.

[beany]

Please take this seriously when have you ever known the police to get involved in any thing horsey. I have contacts in the police and most rural based police forces are taking the plaits as serious. As for them being wind plaits I have seen 4 of these plaits that have been cut from horses and they are def man made. They tend to be plaited down for about 3 - 4 inches and then extra hair pulled out and wound round the bottom of the plait to keep them in. Its gypsy spring fair time now so they are all moving around the country picking up things as they go. 3 horses were stolen in lanark last year just before Appleby. They stole a fell mare from Cumbria which has only just been found after 10 months in Kent. As for the arguement that no horses with plaits in have been taken how do you know that once they are gone, they could have been plaited and no one noticed. These people are very good at what they do and the thing to remember is if some one can get access to your horses for whatever reason without being detected then your security is not good enough and you need to do something about it!!!!

[Daisy]

Beany, thanks for the description of the plaits, it's good to know what to look for 

I've seen on other forums pics that people think are these "marking plaits" but are obviously wind plaits, that is why I mentioned it.