Livestock and horse protection

Please consider the crime prevention advice below to protect your livestock and horses.

Protect your livestock

Grazing animals can be targeted by thieves. A vehicle would need to be involved in such a crime - there are ways that you can combat this:

• Keep hedges, fences and gates in good repair to assist security and visibility.
• Be vigilant, make regular checks and encourage your neighbours to report the presence of strange vehicles.
• If livestock is stolen, it is important that you can give police an accurate description.
• Ear tags and horn brands can help to identify livestock. Freeze branding, hot branding or tattooing your postcode can also be carried out.

Protect your horses

Criminals who target horses are not usually opportunist – they know what they are looking for and will come prepared.

Horse saddles and tack have been targeted over the past few years as the demand for this equipment has increased. Tack rooms and stables are not built with security in mind, and many owners do not like to use locks due to the risk of fire.

• Mark tack, saddles and accessories so that they are identifiable, and also less attractive to the thief.
• Tack, saddles and accessories should be locked in the farmhouse and not left in or around the stables.
• Use freeze marking or hoof branding to make horses and ponies identifiable. A recent development is using a microchip implant placed under the animal’s skin which can be read by a receiver.
• For future reference, take photographs of your animal and expensive equipment.
• Consider joining Thames Valley Horse Watch, a police initiative to tackle equine crime. It aims to raise awareness of equine crime and improve communication and security among horse owners and riders. You do not have to own a horse to become involved.