Keep your horses from being stolen, your pastures safe

[ducks4you]

I was reading this post on BYC:
Stolen Horse--- Media, Lawyers, Humane Society Won't Help
This reminded me of the crazy stuff that's been happening in the last few years. Recently, we've all read about unwanted horses being dumped in strangers pastures. A few years back, it was horses being stolen, slaughtered and the meat sent to France (and other countries) to supplement a lack of beef due to Mad Cow's disease in GB. So...what to do? I have some suggestions, if you haven't already done these things:
--Coggins paperwork every year.
You Vet has to examine your horse, and will record markings for identification.
--Health Papers
We have to have them 30 days current to travel and not have our horses impounded.
Brands or Freeze Tattoos
Many breeds already do this for identification. TB's have their tattoes on the underside of the upper lip.
Subcutaneous I.D.
If I owned a really expensive breeding animal, I think that the cost would be worth it.
Lock & chain the gates you don't use often
I only have 5 acres, in a long rectangle, but I have locks on the west gate and east gate of my north pasture, and the south gate of my south pasture. It's not a lot of trouble to open when I need to exit or enter with my horse of my truck.
Security second chains for gates
Speaking of gates, make extra chains for your gates. I have taken extra heavy-duty dog chain and linked it together with a spring hook so I can hook it over the wooden fencepost with one hand and keep my "escape artists" in. It's easier to handle when you're leading

Anybody got more?

 

[ksalvagno]

I would think dogs running around the property would keep some people away. We have 6 dogs and when they are all out and barking, it is a bit overwhelming.

Make sure you have pictures of your animals from all angles and put that in a folder with any registrations or other stuff on your animal. Even have the vet sign the back of the pictures to make it more official.

Don't have any signage out front that you are a farm. Our animals can't be seen from the road.

 

[Beekissed]

Wildlife cams at gates to monitor nighttime activity, with solar charged motion sensor lights attached?

Heard horse meat was going for $40 per lb. on the black market and they have had 20 horses stripped of their meat down in FL. Sort of like a horse chop shop ring.

 

[ducks4you]

Heard horse meat was going for $40 per lb. on the black market and they have had 20 horses stripped of their meat down in FL. Sort of like a horse chop shop ring.

How sad!
I didn't realize it was STILL a problem. I like the suggestion about the Wildlife cam's.

Keep the ideas coming! They might prevent the theft of someone's livestock...OR 4-footed Best Friend!

 

[michickenwrangler]

A ranch I used to work at had every gate double latched with two different types of latches, one usually being a chain wrapped several times around the post. It was a bit of a pain but it kept curious animals from escaping and could also delay someone trying to steal a horse or cow just enough to call the police or set the dogs on them.

Motion sensor or mercury lights near gates would also help deter thieves.

 

[Echos_dad]

I've got a sign on my drive reading:

"If you can read this, you're in range!"

 

[SweetDreams]

So....

What do you do when the thieves steal the gate?

Yeah, they took the suckers right off the hinges....



At least the pasture wasn't occupied at the time.

But now our homeowners insurance lets us add the livestock at fair market value in case of theft, drowning, or....fire. We just have to keep pictures and a log (Which I do) to prove they were ours, and now are gone.....


Any other good ideas?

 

[ohiofarmgirl]

whoot!

do you have the one that says:

We Don't Call 911

;-)

 

[lupinfarm]

Since we have no outdoor lights or pole lights, theives would kill themselves just trying to get to the gate at night LOL only to find it's guarded on one side by hotwire rated for the thick woolly coats of sheep (and thus stronger) and that the gate is infact locked. HA-HA-HA

 

[ducks4you]

Since we have no outdoor lights or pole lights, theives would kill themselves just trying to get to the gate at night LOL only to find it's guarded on one side by hotwire rated for the thick woolly coats of sheep (and thus stronger) and that the gate is infact locked. HA-HA-HA

THIS is the best one, yet!!