Rider reunited with stolen trailer thanks to social media
A rider found her stolen trailer within 20 hours of it being taken thanks to an appeal on social media.
Bolton-based Davinia Johnson’s HB511 Ifor Williams trailer worth around £5,000 was taken from her parent’s farm at approximately 3pm on 7 March.
Two vehicles came onto the farm in Westhoughton while her mum was on the yard mucking out.
By the time she came out of the stables, the thieves were driving off with the trailer.
Her mum immediately called the police and Davinia set up an appeal to trace the trailer on Facebook.
“I kept updating the police with information of sightings of the trailer,” Davinia told H&H.
“The post had over 800 shares and lots of people rung me saying they had seen it. I spent all Monday night on Facebook.
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“The next day my cousin rang to say a woman had got in touch to say she had seen a trailer and was pretty sure it was ours as she had recognised the stickers.”
Davinia’s dad drove to the location, half an hour from their home, and saw the stolen trailer parked on a drive.
He informed police who returned the trailer to the Johnson’s farm.
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“I just shows social media can work — police said that’s just the thing you should do,” added Davinia, who enjoys showing with her Exmoor pony King (pictured, above).
She urged other trailer and horsebox owners to make their vehicles as identifiable as useful, so that they stand out.
Davinia’s own trailer had a number of unique stickers, which helped the public differentiate it from other trailers.
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.