My trailer was stolen - how to protect my horses.

So, my horse trailer disappeared today. I'm out of town, but I just got the call a little while ago. Filing a police report, buying locks for everything that didn't already have locks, changing the existing locks, and taking pictures of my horses and all my tack.

I know who took my trailer, and I'm not worried about getting it back - the woman who lives in the mobile home on the property my barn is on was scheduled to move out today, and it's a long story - I'm just worried about my precious horses and my exspenive tack in the mean time.

I'm worried about my horses disappearing in the middle of the night. I can't be in town right now, but I've got friends/family taking care of everything they can down there for me.

Does anyone have any suggestions on how to further protect my horses?

I am in the process of
---takingpictures of brands, distinguishing markings, and pictures from all angles of them
---makingcopies of their papers
---giving pictures and copies of their papers to the police
---putting new locks on my barn doors, paddock gates, property gates, tack room, and barn office

So what else? Can I get the horses microchipped?

YOu can have your horses microchipped.

I'm sorry your trailer was taken. Did that woman take it to move her stuff?

We had some folks buy a trailer from one of our boarders. They gave her a downpayment in cash, and then drove off with the trailer. She never got the rest of the money. It was stupid on her part to let them take the trailer without full payment. Live and learn.

I will be getting all five microchipped then, as soon as possible.

As for her moving her stuff - she has her own stock trailer which she kept onmy property. She had a horse out there at one point, but she was not paying board, so I had her move him. She has been arguing over which water trough is hers, despite my showing her a receipt for mine, and she keeps trying to claim tack that is definitely mine.

She threatened to take "anything that she knew was hers, no matter what I said" when she moved out. I'm about 99% sure she took it - she's the only one with keys to the gate, and none of my locks were cut.

Stupid of me to give her keys, but she was living there...

LeahKathleen, so sorry to hear about your situation. Don't have anything to add to help you out, just wanted to offer support.

I am so sorry to hear what had happened!

NO ONE has the right to invade someone's life like that, how disgusting! I believe that what goes around will come around, they will get their just reward for what they did - but in the meantime you have to suffer through worry, concern, financially and emotionally.

My heart goes out to you - I wish I could help you out.

I wolud definately be getting a secure place to put your tack, with a lock on it.

Wow, that sucks. Do the police have any leads on getting it back? Microchips are a good idea because brands can be altered. Unless you know the chip is there, it is perfectly safe. I don't know how they do it with other horses but I was told when I bought my first Mustang that he was microchipped and if he disappeared for more than 72 hours, I could call and they would GPS him. Not sure if that is true but it is a nice thought. Good luck and I hope you get your trailer back and don't "lose" anything else.

Oh jeeze, Leah! That's horrible.
If you go with microchips, I suggest Avid. Their chips can be read by both types of scanners. I've never heard anything about GPS though.

That is horrible. I hate people who steal from hard-earning people. The only advice I can give is look on craigslist every day and make sure your horse trailer doesn't pop up for sale.

you did file a police report I hope?

Thanks for all the support everyone - I really appreciate it, as well as tips on microchips.

And yeah, a police report has been filed, we're still waiting around trying to locate the woman, and I'm still not back in town.

Blah. So frustrating.