Police plea for tack to be postcoded after wave of thefts
Thames Valley Police is imploring horse owners to postcode their tack after £25,000 worth was stolen in the Thames Valley area in past weeks.
Helen Evans, Thames Valley Horsewatch coordinator said: “It is such a simple thing to do. I’m surprised at how complacent people are.
“Just how many times do we need to tell them to get their kit marked? I’m amazed insurance companies keep paying up for unmarked stolen goods that will never find its way back to the original owner.
“It’s incredibly frustrating for the police, who, when investigating equine crime, find stolen goods but are unable to trace the legal owners.”
Ms Evans said Thames Valley Police suspects the robberies are being carried out by the same group of people.
She said: “They know what they are doing. They force entry and then usually just take the best tack. They use people’s wheelbarrows to cart it away. We always say put your wheelbarrows out of sight, it only helps thieves.”
More than 45 saddles have been stolen in the wave of robberies over the past few weeks. Only one was postcoded.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
Ms Evans added: “People always say the police aren’t doing enough but if goods are retrieved, which they often are, the majority have to be destroyed as they have no ownership marks.”
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
