After the recent news of horses being slaughtered for meat in South Florida, horse owners are understandably jittery around here.  The most recent local news on horses isn’t helping matters.  I saw this article on Fox News in Tampa from last Thursday and it made my stomach turn.  As horse owners, we generally put a lot of trust in human decency out of necessity.  Horses need turnout, the threat of barn fires prevents us from locking our barns up tight.  By their very nature, horses require more freedom and independence than dogs or cats, and it’s nearly impossible to provide them with the best possible life while eliminating the possibility of theft.  Throughout my involvement with horses, there have been moments of fear:  a rash of drive-by shootings into farms along rural roads, thefts of horses at horse shows.  However, none of these events have hit quite so close to home as the story of the horses being stolen in Tampa.  The current state of the economy and the desperation that many people are feeling regarding finances has inspired some less savory endeavors.  In addition, living in horse country is a double edged sword.  People have easy access to trailers, and horses traveling around are a common sight in Florida.  In the situation in Tampa, the neighbors saw and even interacted with the thieves, but thought nothing of it because horses come and go so frequently around these parts.  It is heartbreaking to hear stories like these – I couldn’t imagine getting a call from Emma that Tiny had disappeared.  And to be left wondering if she’d been sent to slaughter would be almost more than I could bear.  So how should horse owners minimize the risk of theft of their horses and property?

• Install security lights/motion lights around barn and entry way. 
• Lock tack room and trailer hitch.
• Microchip or freeze brand horse.
• Keep any accessory gates to property padlocked at all times.
• Don’t leave a halter on when your horse is turned out.
• If possible, keep horse in pasture that is easily visible from the house or barn.
• Use sturdy fencing that is not easily cut or removed.
• Keep current photos of your horse in an easily located file.  Photograph any identifying markings and be sure to have photographs from both seasons if your horse changes color with his winter coat.
• Communicate with your neighbors and be sure that anyone noticing suspicious activity reports it immediately.
• Install security cameras.
• Consider hiring security at prestigious horse shows, if your horse is well known or a highly prized competitor.

Sturdy, well maintained fencing will help keep thieves out. Image courtesy of CmdrGravy, Flickr.

If your horse is stolen despite your best efforts to protect him, act quickly.  File a police report and preserve any evidence, such as cut fences.  Make fliers and distribute them to any tack shop, farrier, veterinarian, sale barn, or auction that you can find in a large radius from the scene ofImag the theft.  Visit as many barns and auctions as you can.  Post information online at Netposse – this is a great resource for missing and stolen horses and trailers.  Get the news media involved.  The more people that become familiar with your story and your horse’s image, the more people will be looking for him.  And most of all, don’t give up.  There have been instances where a horse was found after a year or more of going missing.