Help! Vandalism? Just escape artist horses?

The spigot is only a foot and a half off the ground and the horses being let out are 17.3 hands, 16.2 hands, and 11 hands so no behind scratching could have turned that on.

As for the sapling, there were tire tracks in the grass that were placed directly over the tree, so someone did that on purpose.

We just can't figure out who is doing this. We know most of the neighbors, and the neighbor directly next to us is a Church youth group camp so I highly, highly doubt it was them. This is so frustrating.

Thank you all for your replies and suggestions!

I'd set up cameras and alarms.

Subbing. I support hidden cameras, stealth and personal caution if you stay over.

Hmm.. Hope you find the culprit. A little odd why someone would just let out someones horses though. Its not like they are stealing things, but I guess they could just be trying to annoy you or the BO.

That's what we are thinking. Or that they are doing little things now and then eventually they are going to do something extreme, which is what we are trying to prevent.

We just can't quite figure out why 3 horses who are all calm and laid back suddenly started getting out. And its always the same of the three stalls that are being opened. And the horse(s) would have to lean against the door of the stall to reach their neck far enough down to reach the lock, which would put a lot of tension on the door and would make it almost impossible for them to grab the lock, slide it open all while their weight is leaning against it. It just doesn't add up.

I hope you figure this out & let us know now that you've aroused our curiousity. Also, Youth-Group-Camp sends a warning to me-I would wander over there & inquire if they have heard any strange noises at night or seen anything out of the ordinary. Is there any way to follow the tracks of the vehicle that ran over the sapling?

Well the camp lets us use their property because they only use it in June/Early July, and its empty except the old man who looks to be in his 70s that cuts the grass when it needs to be done, so its hit or miss to catch the people there. And there isn't really a way to track the vehicle tracks because it looks as if they drove off the gravel road down into the grass over the tree, made a U-turn back onto the gravel drive and left

Cameras would be best.....if you just hide, it's boring for you and the horses won't do anything if they are the culprets.
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People do stupid things these days. We had a person who snuck into ones barn and gave all the horse antifreeze killed two of the 4 horses. Dumb stuff like that happens when teens get bored. Come to find out it was the daughters Xboyfriend who did it.
Does the barn owner have a Xboarder that was pissed when leaving? Someone who has a grudge against him?
Motion lights a cam in the barn and entrance is good idea. I like the game cameras as they need no lights to get shots of the culprit. So they don't know they are having their picture taken.
If you do camp out...just a word of caution ok. People caught red handed doing something illegal can and do turn violent. Its actually not a good idea to come face to face with them unless you have a weapon. And if you do have a weapon a license to have one. Laws are stupid as well.
If it is your horses getting out by being smart atleast the cameras will show you how they are getting out, and it can be fixed.
DO NOT LOCK STALLS or BARN DOORS whos to say if it is a person/persons doing it they don't take a step further when they find the padlockls in place. I would rather a horse get loose then a barn set on fire and horses locked in.
I hope you find out what exactly is going on.
Be safe.

TRR

PS oh and Geese make great guard pets when put in a barn at night they get very teritorial. Nasty buggers lol. Especially the GREY TALOUSE lol

We can't seem to think of anyone who is mad or angry at us. I'm the newest boarder and the other two have been there for a few years now and there haven't been any more in between us that left out of anger. The BO is still friends with the boarder that left. Barn owner is also a very respected man in the community. We wouldn't ever lock our main barn door just because of the fire hazard.