I understand not wanting to disrupt the culture and ambiance by putting locks on things. But honestly, from my POV, a camera sends an equivalent, if not worse, message.
Even if you say it’s because of wildlife and everyone buys that excuse… then how are you going to handle it when you catch a thief on camera? “Hey Susie, I noticed on my game cam that it wasn’t actually rats stealing my stuff… it’s you!” Or is the hope that just the knowledge of the camera will deter the action?
It’s true. The camera creates a situation where you have to speak up. Just speaking up is free. It just takes a plan and courage. It doesn’t have to be some huge confrontation…just talking and holding yourself accountable to stay the course.
Speaking up is easier when you have facts to back up your claim.
I agree, it does not have to be a confrontation.
Hey Susie, I noticed you have been using my hay and grain. That is not how we do things here at Happy Acres. I assume you will be replacing what you used and stop taking my stuff moving forward. If you need help setting up your hay and grain area, I am sure there are lots of us here at Happy Acres that would help you and share the things we have learned.
I don’t see any downside padlocking the trash cans with a chain. It protects the grain from raccoons as well as thieves.
I forget if the OP said how the hay was stored, but maybe putting a bright tarp over it, arranging some weights on the corners, and, as someone else said, making it at least more difficult to take hay, and more difficult to conceal that some has been removed (not putting the weights back in the same place is easy). At least it calls attention to the person taking it, when they do.
I wonder if there’s such a thing as a little device that gives a huge alarm sound when it’s moved? Tarp the hay, attach the device to a hidden corner of the tarp. You will need to remember to disarm it of course! Once of that, thief will avoid. Especially if they panic and can’t find the device to turn it off.
@FormalAlter1 Are there others that have their things going missing or just yours? Is there any type of group chat set up with all the boarders that’s an easy way to communicate? If so, I’d start there and say to the collective group (including BO) that you noticed XY&Z of yours have gone missing over XX weeks/months. Clarify what is yours and ask for the group to ask you first if they run out of supplies or whatever. If that doesn’t go well and the BO is ok with the game camera, I would go that route if things keep going missing.
I think a game camera is an interesting solution though. It isn’t running constantly, it’s not picking up audio so there isn’t really a privacy concern. It might be just the right message needed.
No better suggestions than have been given, except:
Rather than expensive Cowboy Magic to loosen burrs, try the dollar store variety of cheap, squeeze on kids hair detangler.
That’s exactly how i would do it
I’m feeling disruptive today, so vote for @Clanter blue food dye in grain and hay. The fact that there will be blue manure thus fingerprinting the culprit would seem to be a good deterrent.
Many boarders at my barn have our own bales of hay (lots of reasons). We use totes to store our loose hay. The bales that are still bound don’t seem to get messed with, but the loose ones are tempting. You can solve this with a couple of lockable totes from Home Depot. Just put the flakes in there. It’s cheap enough and takes care of the issue. Cable locks on a super cheap tote would probably work too. The cameras don’t prevent theft - you would have to confront someone with your evidence, and me, I don’t want that hassle. It’s a drag, for sure, to have to deal with this issue.
Haha, I saw that and thought perfect! Especially since we are in the bluegrass region. If anyone asked, I could just say “that’s my new shipment of bluegrass hay!” 
I really appreciate the suggestions everyone has come up with. Although some aren’t practical for my specific situation, it has given me a few ideas moving forward. I noticed my feed was messed with sometime during the day. I left a couple big “chunks” on top and smoothed out the top and someone took a scoop from the side that didn’t have the chunks. 
I’m going to do the individual baggies this weekend. Maybe I can just put the camera in the grain container…
What I actually did, in a barn that underfed horses, was bring my feed in my car and supplement his barn food.
There was a girl who went into a stall and took hay away from another horse. She said they weren’t feeding enough and her horse was actually pretty thin. Now, she was a teenager and I although it was wrong, she was actually caring and trying to do the best she could for her horse.
It was a county (poorly run) barn and pretty much no one had extra money. So bringing in extra food and watching your horse eat it was the only recourse.
I’ve been in a co-op situation for maybe 25 years and it really sucks when you have someone who isn’t cooperative! We did have to vote one person off the island because of repeated bad behavior. The barn owner (not a horse person) did support us but the process was very uncomfortable.
Do you ever have barn meetings? I think that an issue that serious needs to be brought up to the group where you can explain that you’ve noticed someone is taking your grain and hay. If everyone is aware that you have noticed the theft, it may stop them and it will cause other boarders to keep a look out for you.
It’s easier to lock up your grain. I’d probably use a utility trunk with a key:
Hay is more difficult but tying up loose bales and covering them with a tarp would make it more difficult and make any theft more intentional.
We’ve always just bought in bulk and paid our share. That works great for hay (and shavings) if you have honest people. Whenever possible, we feed the same grain, too.
You may not have purchased metal trash cans lately, but the 30gal models at TSC do not have a handle on the lid!! New lids have an edge to lift lid off, top of lid is smooth. Kind of like a flying saucer. Maybe other brands still have handles on the lids. I believe these were Behens cans.
So glad I have horses at home!!
Trash can not included.
however enough packaging is included that may overfill trash can
quickie little google search offered many sheds. Here’s one of the cheapest ones:
https://www.walmart.com/ip/YODOLLA-8-x-10-Outdoor-Storage-Shed-with-Rack-Shelves-Metal-Utility-Tool-Shed-for-Backyard-Garden-on-Clearance/2243584111?wmlspartner=wlpa&selectedSellerId=101090133&gclsrc=aw.ds&&adid=222222222272243584111_101090133_156421442539_20794190524&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=c&wl3=683218739968&wl4=pla-2260952456586&wl5=1020618&wl6=&wl7=&wl8=&wl9=pla&wl10=457332601&wl11=online&wl12=2243584111_101090133&veh=sem&gad_source=1&gclid=EAIaIQobChMIwcGBjNGUgwMVPWNHAR0p0wBuEAQYASABEgKVRfD_BwE
Seems like a leap to assume that someone can install a shed at a boarding barn. No barn I have ever been at would allow such a thing.
I have heard stories from the humans that there is something called a refrigerator alarm. Supposedly it goes off when you open the door.
I ponder and ponder if it would work on a lid for a feed can.
If nothing else the amusement factor would be worth it, just thinking of the thief and their wet pants running from the barn.
But I am just a Pony pondering thoughts while sunbathing on this wonderful day.
That’s what I was wondering about! If the thief is around during the day that would be perfect. Of course owner would need to turn it off. Could it be hidden on the underside of the lid?
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