Conference noted::equitation

    
    
    Apparently this is not a new phenomenon. Cases have been reported all
    over Europe and the US (San Diego) over many years, it seems to happen
    in waves. 
    
    It has gone very quiet at the moment, possibly a news block to stop
    copy-cat incidents, or better still no new attacks. Hope so.
    
    

    In the past few months there has been several senseless attacks on 
    horses in the UK, it now seems to be spreading.  The first attacks 
    occurred down South, but last week end a horse was attacked in Bold, 
    and its getting to close for comfort.  I have now been keeping my horse 
    in at night just to be on the safe side.  It worries me that the sort 
    of attacks that have been done seem to have been done by someone that 
    has knowledge of horses.  A total stranger would not have been able to 
    inflict these injuries without some know how of horses.  
    
    What really annoys me is that there are people out there who are sick 
    enough to do something like this, and it is spreading.
    
    
    Lynda

    This is terrible.... do the authorities have any idea at all about why
    these acts are being committed against horses - obviously the person(s) 
    is deranged.
    
       
    Pat

    The police at the moment do not know of any motives, and as the attacks 
    are taking place at random, it is definately "copy cat".  So it is 
    making it more or less impossible to trace.
    
    For the people who are querying my first note, Bold is located in 
    Cheshire near Warrington. (UK)
    
    Lynda

Lynda

	I live in a Tiny village near Andover in Hampshire ,

	All the people in our village that have horses tend to 
	
	check on the others too...  My two horses are well out the way

	from roads and houses.... so it worries me that no-one would see 

	if they were attacked ?... The police do drive up this road on 

	occasions ..( its a private road) .... but has anyone come up 

	with a HORSE WATCH  scheme ????..... 

Racheal

There is a Hampshire Horse Watch set up, I'm one of the co-ordinators.  I 
dont know where the Border is though Racheal, if you want more details on it 
I can supply you with a name and phone number.

Jayne

    We do have a sort of Horsewatch group, which was set up about two 
    months ago.  But so far it has only seemed to consider horses being 
    stolen, by introducing freeze marking, and hoof branding.  And as you 
    can't expect someone to sit on a round the clock watch, it doesn't 
    offer much comfort.  However there is a security man who owns a horse 
    on the yard that comes to check the place for loose horses etc. at 
    about 3 o clock in the morning.
    
    Lynda

Lynda,

	The only worry is, I have both my horses freeze-marked but I have 

	been told that some slaughter house's will accept horses with out 

	the registration certificate ....which as I explained my 2 are on a 

	quite private road .........

	What is involved in the "hoof branding" ????

Racheal

    Hoof branding is when a unique number is burnt into the horses hoof, 
    good idea, but my horses hooves spend most of their time covered in 
    mud.  And they have to be re-done every time they are shod, as the 
    number is filed off as there foot is trimmed.
    
    Lynda
    

Racheal,

You are looking at spending a couple of hundred pounds on the hoof 
brander, which your blacksmith will have to apply.

It may be true about slaughter houses taking horses whichout the relevant 
certificates, but at least having a freeze branded horse, which has been 
branded by a certified Co, all slaughter houses, sales and ports are 
informed immediately of a stolen animal.  

At least a freeze branded horse is more of a deterant to horse theives as 
selling on is more of a problem than a unmarked horse..

Jayne 

    I know there is a very brief topic on horse attacke in the UK but I'm
    not sure how often fellow noters read old topics.  So if it's okay, I
    would like to re-introduce it.
    
    In the past week there have been four attacks on horses within a radius
    of approx 20 miles of Reading, and I thought I should bring this to
    everyone's attention to ensure we are all vigilant and report anything
    suspicious to the police.  It is very easy to become quite lax about
    these things after a while when it all dies down.
    
    I'll give you the details I have been told, from friends and by the
    police.
    
    A horse was attacked at Cookham Common (near Maidenhead) last weekend,
    the police think it was an attack with a stanley knife or similar
    object.
    
    Last weekend a horse in Purley (Sulham/Reading Purley) had it's throat
    slashed, luckily it survived.
    
    Two days ago a horse in Thatcham was attacked with something sharp, as
    well as being cut by barbed wire.
    
    And finally, a horse 1/2 mile from where I keep my mare at Pincents
    Lane (behind Savacentre Junction 12, M4) was found with cuts.  About 30
    foot of barbed wire had been cut from the perimeter fence and was
    strewn accross the field.  The horse was cut by this and the vet also
    thinks it was slashed by another sharp instrument, a knife or something
    similar.
    
    Obviously I am worried sick at the moment as it has come a little too
    close to home, you think this kind of thing happens elsewhere and not
    in your own back yard (not that I would wish it on anyone!)  So I am
    just asking everyone to please, please be on your guard and if you
    notice anything out of the ordinary, however trivial it may seem,
    inform you local police.  They are very hot on this now and ARE
    concerned.
    
    If anybody else has heard any more about these attacks, please keep us
    all informed.
    
    Liz