That was my first thought; that someone was looking to steal your tack. That explains when they came on your property, and why they came the back way. Horses are very sensitive to people’s energy. Might have been someone that the horses felt was a predator. Just a thought.
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Yeah I have a couple cameras more prone to that out of the five I run. Oddly it will be more likely to miss my Dad, even leading a horse, than anyone. He’s secretly a ninja 
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I have four Arlo cameras, two facing the front of my house and driveway. I don’t think it’s likely that two cameras missed motion, and that’s if they only knocked on the door and didn’t walk to my horses that route. They would have had to of crossed the path of three cameras to get to my horses if they came through the front. Not only that, I mentioned in other comments that I was able to follow additional tracks between my hay barn and paddock fencing that runs to the wood line…
I’ve not had an issues with any of my cameras and I’ve got both wifi run cameras on my property as well as cellular cameras in my horses shelter. The cellular are what I’m putting more of facing my gates, if power/wifi goes out - not a problem, since they don’t run off of internet.
I have three cams covering my driveway. My farm sitter was routinely missed leaving by all three cams. Yes, it can absolutely happen.
@TheJenners it’s so weird how some people are more prone to being missed, isn’t it?! 
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I mean yeah of course it’s possible that at that moment my cameras somehow went down and all three missed all the motion around my house, but then why do I have foot prints leading to my wood line between my hay barn and fencing?
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Yes! Does it just miss her on foot or also in a car? And it really is only one of my cameras, but since it’s one I dropped and cracked the front (landed right ON a rock, the luck), it goes in the barn instead of outside. I also just dropped a different one and somehow bent the charging port so I can’t plug it any longer. Getting frustrated 
I keep thinking I might just hardwire in some in the barn and leave the Arlos as my property/house cameras anyway, that way I can have stall cams too.
I was addressing your concern that whoever was on your property didn’t come up to the house to enquire. It’s entirely possible that someone did come to the door, and your cameras missed it. Yes, I’ve had multiple cameras miss action–multiple times. I agree it’s frustrating.
Maybe they are invisible, like I am. I am one of those people who can wave my hands, jump up and down, and do cartwheels, and the darn sensor faucet will still not turn on.
I have not tested my invisibility on anyone’s house camera system, but it is very dependable with sensor operated faucets.
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This is honestly what I am leaning most towards, especially since they came back after I again left. What are the odds that a recent trailer nearby had all their tack stolen? I think since they came through an odd area of the property my horse isn’t used to, and I agree they can sense the energy of people, I think it just completely razzed her. Unfortunately for them, all my saddles, bridles, anything worth stealing are all in my house until the weather stays consistently warm. They probably weren’t interested in stealing grain and pitch forks.
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My place is setup with the barn in the back, so once you drive in and park, you walk the other way to go to the barn. I’ll catch her walking around, but those are different cameras.
I’ve got the three covering the drive. They point at different things, but the views overlap pretty widely. They’re on solar panels, so no battery issues. Outside of the ninja sitter (
) I’ve also missed some delivery trucks and occasionally when we drive in & out. Dunno why!
More thoughts. A quiet trespasser would not leave horses freaked for 24 hours. I think you need to go out and see what’s in the bush behind your property. Take dogs, a friend, and a big walking stick.
There could be a bear or cougar or even coyotes newly living there. Could also be some homeless folks setting up camp and you definitely want that gone. Or there could be a dead animal or person in there. Definitely not still reactuve to an intruder a day later
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It’s not thick woods, I can see straight through to the next property and new house. It’s not dense but if someone were to try and sneak up it supplies enough coverage for someone to lay low. It’s actually wetlands within the woods, which is why there is a lot of grasses growing in it, so definitely not ideal for homeless. I’ve never seen a homeless person anywhere relatively close to us actually. We also don’t have bear or cougar where I live. Coyote and fox yes, occasional bobcat, it’s not uncommon to see them.
I don’t think whoever it was, was probably the nicest (smartest) person or most ethical, which is why I mentioned I was surprised to not find a bb, pellet or prod marks on them. Whoever it was likely intentionally razzed my horses to spook them while checking out my tack room situation. That’s my best guess. I did walk through those woods, nothing exciting I could find.
I really don’t think I’ll get the answer, I’ve just put up better precautionary measures. As frustrating as it is, cameras, no trespassing and video surveillance signs, locks and motion lighting are about the best I can do. I think once the new owners are in the build next door my mind will ease and it will eliminate the likelihood of anyone using their property to access ours.
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How is your horse today? Have you considered calling the vet and asking them if a quick once over is in order?
Such an awful thing to happen. I agree with not making your movements predictable and driving out only to return a few minutes later. What did the police say? Will they drive by and make themselves visible for awhile?
Stay safe.
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Is there anyone who can bring your Daughter home from school for awhile?
Thanks! She is back to herself today, she spent the evening and next day still staring off towards towards the front and side of her paddock, trotting and still anxious. Wasn’t very interested in eating, just too nervous. The following morning she started to really calm down and by yesterday afternoon seemed herself again, so it definitely freaked her out, whatever it was.
The officer told me he would patrol the area, saw them pass by a few times since actually. He agreed with the fact that we have a new home up next door being empty it does give easy access to the back off my property, like someone else mentioned new homes and construction will bring around a looky loo. Not a whole bunch else other than what has been mentioned with locks, extra lighting. He did mention he likes trail cams because they will record but also take stills that are time stamped. He advised me to place them near a tree on the fence line so that anyone coming from that way would be picked up without being able to knock the cam down first.
I got close to calling the vet although I don’t think they would have been able to do much. There is nothing visible. I swear, it was like someone pumped her with adrenaline! I have a vehicle that was parked at my parents while they snowbird in FL, now parked in our driveway so there is another vehicle “home” even while I leave. I don’t think whoever it was will be back honestly, especially with the extra signs up and obvious cameras. I really have a hunch that whoever came back when I left the second time, was there when I got home and ran when they saw my vehicle pull in. Why would you come back on the property a second time, sneak around and make it known that you were there? Someone said they won’t remember how you specifically latch a chain, but to leave the lock hanging and chain? I’m not sure… just trying to think like the type of idiot that would do something like this.
I hope my new neighbors move in, soon!
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I don’t think that a trespasser would remember the position of the chain.
Glad to hear the police are driving by.
The extra car is a good idea. Good to know your horse is back to normal. That must have been something very spooky, poor girl.
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Reading all of this scary story, I’m liking the drone as culprit. The drone operator could have buzzed your mare several times and then gone into the paddock to retrieve the drone.
A better version is a pack of wild dogs, that some good Samaritan chased off. Would you have seen dog prints?
Zero dog prints anywhere around my property or the next door property
Ok, that eliminates the dog theory (that’s a relief).
I could even see this as a drone operator losing control of the drone, having it go down in your pasture, and retrieving it. My horse was freaked out by a drone a month ago where I board. I was hand walking her in the morning, and here comes the front. Long story short, this was carelessness of the operator, who was doing some measurements for arena lighting. Might be worth a conversation with the construction team on the adjacent property.
I love that we have this forum to share ideas!
Thanks, all the construction is complete though, just appliance people have popped in to bring appliances and the occasional new home owners pop by. So I’m not sure if it was a drone it came from there.
I’m in a rural area so it would be pretty odd chance to have a drone drop. Plus, thinking about it, the timing doesn’t add up. I left to get my daughter and came home to freaked out horses, but foot prints were not there yet. I stayed home for two hours during that time frame to make sure she didn’t hurt herself and then I left again around 6pm and arrived home at 830, during that time frame I was gone was when the foot prints appeared and my gates were messed with. So if a drone freaked out my horses while I was gone between 3 & 4pm, why would someone come back between 6 & 8:30.
Anyways, anyways, we could sit here all day and wonder. Lots of precautions went up, we’ll never know what happened I guess.
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