Horse owners in Florida have awoken to terror in their pastures the past few years, with the rise in horse theft and deaths. Most unlucky owners walk out to discover their horses have been killed and butchered in their pastures, once thought to be safe havens. The national publicity this has garnered has given rise to awareness in security for our horses, in the hopes that this can be prevented where ever possible.
Some steps that seem to work in keeping horses safe are security systems consisting of monitors and cameras. These have been effective in both deterring and apprehending equine criminals. Proper lighting and lock systems is also a great deterrent.
But what about those owners who keep horses in pasture situations? Those horses are the most likely targets, and keeping them safe has become quite an issue for most. In order to stave off an attempt at theft, owners are getting creative. Many are making patrols around the pasture at night, just to make sure no one is out where they don't need to be.
In addition to unscheduled, unpredictable patrols, many are making smaller containment areas, closer to their homes. These smaller paddocks are often under lights, near windows where the owner can look out and see the animals. This is also a place where a baby monitor can come in handy, as proximity will allow for quick action should you hear something that sounds wrong.
Video monitoring of close paddocks is also an option. There are quite a few user-friendly systems available today, that will allow for constant surveillance of your horse. Fed directly into your home, you can install a monitor by your bed if you so wish, to make things a bit easier. Many times this is used by breeding farms, to watch their brood mares during foaling season. Video is a wonderful tool, and very affordable.
Men and women that decide to patrol their pastures should make sure they are well prepared for any sort of trouble they might run into. Always remember to bring two flashlights, a cell phone, and even a firearm or can of pepper spray for protection. Never confront a criminal before calling your local authorities.
Multi-tools come in many different brands and varieties and can be great patrol companions. You can purchase these from many online and brick and mortar stores. Make sure to always have one of these handy little tools when patrolling.
When patrolling you should also make sure you have some rope to use. This can be used for subduing both runaway horses and horse thieves. Use the multi-tool to cut the rope into smaller pieces when necessary.
More Information:
Read more about making your horse safe with
equine health strategies that work. You can make your horse healthy by protecting against things like the flu, equine strangles, horse fever, and even
copd
Categories
