netposse.com - Stolen Horse International: Theft Prevention

Theft or loss can be devastating to your horse, to you and your pocketbook, but there are steps you can take to protect your horse. ...

"Are You Serious?"
Really serious...about protecting your horses?
Then get started today with the easy to use tips and resources below!

Quick Horse Theft Prevention Tips

Identify your horses - More Info
Put signs up on property, stall doors when boarding or at horse events.
When at horse events - leave a light on, feed horse at the back of the stall, inform barn neighbors to be aware of possible theft and people who will be moving your horses, put sign on door that horse and tack have permanent identification. Do not give complete information on the breeding of the horse on the stall door. This may attract thieves to pick your horse because of the breeding.
Record identification information with state and national registries.
Photograph your horse in two seasons. Keep photographs current.
Photograph your horse dirty and clean
Make a file with all important horse information inside.
Padlock gates and keep fencing in good shape.
Do not put halters and lead ropes by stall doors when you do not have a sign posted.
Keep halters off of pasture horses.
Keep barns away from road if possible.
Install security lighting around the barn.
Put no trespassing signs on pasture fences.
Put security signs on pasture fences.
Keep a barking dog or other animal that makes noise, like a peacock, donkey, geese, or guinea hen.
Change routines often.
Pay attention to service people on property.
Start a neighborhood watch.
Keep trailer out of view if possible.
Lock up tack.
Put identification info on tack - the best ID is your drivers license number preceded by the state code. Do not use the drivers license number if it s a social security number. You can also put a microchip into your saddle but this will not be recognized like your drivers license.

Did you know you can microchip and freeze brand your own horses?
Stolen Horse International started the "do it yourself" microchip idea in 2004. Our fundraising program idea has been so successful that even the microchip company changed the way they do business. You can order your freeze brand and other brand products from SHI. Please check out our low cost methods of identification. You can protect your horses and farm and at the same time help raise much needed funds for Stolen Horse International. Click here for more info

More Prevention Information
For much more in depth information on both theft prevention and recovery, check out our book "Horse Theft, Been There Done That."

Horse are reported to Stolen Horse International each week, missing while under some form of contract, verbal or written. When this happens it is not theft in most cases. It is a civil matter. Write a contract carefully.

Tracing a Thoroughbred tattoo off the track may cost $35.00. This report gives:

Horses registered name
Where he was bred,
Do a race timeline report which will tell you the tracks he was raced at and his last recorded owner.
If you have an "in" at the track they can find the trainer and his number and he can tell you, maybe, who he sold the horse too.

California Fires and need for identification: Letter from Suzi

Hi Debi,
I saw a web page that listed the horses that were still missing from the California fires.
There were so many people trying to help get the horses out and as the fires would go a
different direction they were moved several times. Unfortunately some unseasoned people
"helped" to move some and they have never been seen since. My daughter just got one that
had been through the fires and was being sold at an auction. A lady bought as many as she
could to rescue them and has been trying to find their owners. Since they weren't able to
find the owners she is letting them go as rescues. I saw the site a month or so ago and
it broke my heart knowing that some people took advantage of the situation. I know there
are people out there like that but I always try and find the good in people I guess. You
do such a wonderful job with your alerts I was sure it was your site I had seen it.
Suzi

Book - For much more in depth information on both theft prevention and recovery, check out our book "Horse Theft, Been There Done That." The book features more information than we could possibly fit into a few pages on the site.

Click here or the book below to learn more. Proceeds from the sale of the book help support SHI's efforts to help victims and awareness programs.

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