What to do? Bizarre and dangerous happenings at our barn.

[Sillymoose]

Sorry it’s long.

I board at a very open and public barn in a small community. Barn is situated directly off of a busy road with numerous housing developments within easy walking distance. Visitors frequent the barn. Most follow the posted signs and just look at the horses, however, in my 8 years at the barn we have had occasional incidences of stuff being taken or horses getting loose. Never any harm done fortunately and could never prove for certain that someone was tampering with things.

So now its summer break and the kids are out in force apparently. Monday I came down for the afternoon feed and noticed that my mare was loose. Luckily she was grazing close by and I assumed that I had just not locked her paddock back all the way. Nope, when I went to put her back in I noticed that the latch on the chain was gone. Completely gone, as was the latch on my geldings paddock. Luckily his chain had wrapped around the nail and he didn’t get out. That would have been a disaster.

Well I got a really disturbing email this morning. One of the boarders had been riding her horse last night when a group of kids jumped out of the woods and started throwing rocks at her and her horse. The horse spooked and the rider fell dislocating her jaw in the process (I think the horse managed to step on her :eek:). I’m not sure on all of the details at this point but the rider got her horse back and put her out in the pasture while she went to the ER. When she came back her horse was gone. She looked everywhere and finally called the police and found the horse in one of the neighborhoods close by and was safely caught.

Another horse last night was turned out in one of the pasture and the owners had a hay net stolen.

So now I’m freaking out. We’ve had things happen before but this was straight up assault. The police have been contacted and apparently one of these neighborhoods has had an outbreak of so pretty bad crimes and it looks like its started filtering down to us.

I am going to buy some locks to just lock my horses in until things quiet down. I don’t like to have them locked in but they live in large paddocks so fire isn’t an issue and I’ll get combo locks in case of a true emergency. I’m going to order a scouting camera to keep surveillance and hopefully catch the perps. Hopefully the police will increase they’re presence as they have in the past.

Can anyone else think of what else I can do to keep my horses safe? I am very concerned at this point. And obviously I will not be going down to the barn alone. This is just so scary.

[Voldemare]

Can you talk with the boarders about chipping in for a temporary security guard? At least for the summer until the little hooligans are back in school or have hopefully been apprehended. You can buy security cameras pretty inexpensively at places like Costco.
I would be extremely concerned about the possibility of horses being injured or poisoned. A clear, no-nonsense security response is definitely warranted.
I am so sad to hear this. Appalling.

[JCS]

That is really scary! Not OK at all! My first question is, what are the BO and/or BM going to do to protect their facility, horses, and boarders? That’s great that you bought locks, but shouldn’t it be the BO’s responsibility to try to secure the whole property somehow? Guard dogs? Fencing the perimeter? Honestly at this level of disturbance it might not be a bad idea to hire some sort of night watchman in addition to asking the police to do drive-bys.

[SAcres]

Personally, this stuff freaks me out too much. I would move my horses, no matter how much I like it there. That may not be a good option for your situation…but that is the only way I would feel that my horses are safe.

Other than that…keep halters with ID tags on your horses at all times. Use leather or breakaway. Locks on the paddocks are a good idea too, as you already mentioned, get combo locks in case someone else needs to take one of your horses out.
Anything of value that you own should be locked away or taken home. Everything else should be clearly labeled with labels as huge as you can make them, and if you can lock that stuff away too, you should do it. Maybe put signs on your paddock gates, “caution, horses bite” or “aggressive horses” that might deter any stupid teens. I would also put up no trespassing signs, and those “smile, you’re on camera” signs.

May be overkill but I’d rather be safe than sorry.

What has the BO done so far? I would be getting some big dogs if I didn’t have them already, a gate, and have the police involved…

[_Liz]

Move.

In your case, these are not isolated incidents and there is no sign things are going to be better tomorrow, next week, or even next month.

I don’t care if the barn is perfect in every other way, these incidents are totally unacceptable, and could easily end up with a horse or rider killed. One rider already incurred serious injury.

It may cost you more, you may have a farther drive, you may have to make some other sacrifices, but horse and rider safety must come first.

[danceronice]

[QUOTE=JCS;5689446]
That is really scary! Not OK at all! My first question is, what are the BO and/or BM going to do to protect their facility, horses, and boarders? That’s great that you bought locks, but shouldn’t it be the BO’s responsibility to try to secure the whole property somehow? Guard dogs? Fencing the perimeter? Honestly at this level of disturbance it might not be a bad idea to hire some sort of night watchman in addition to asking the police to do drive-bys.[/QUOTE]

Agreed. The boarders shouldn’t have to be covering the security aspect themselves. Honestly I think banning the general public from private property would be a very reasonable action at this point. They don’t really have any business there and a few have now put horses and their riders/handlers in danger. The rock-throwers committed assault.

[Sillymoose]

Good idea about a security person. I’ll see what others think. The problem with this place is that it is on a military post. There is no BO or BM, just members who run the place. Luckily the police have been great in the past and seem to be taking this seriously so hopefully that will help. Also the barn is very open and spread out so it’s not possible to block it off completely. Sigh, can’t wait for school to start.

[joiedevie99]

IMHO, I would only sleep with a 24/7 security guard or the horse’s living someplace else.

[AliCat518]

Trail cameras. You can get them for pretty darn cheap at places like Dicks Sporting Goods. (DO NOT type dicks.com to get to their website. Trust me).

Also, I would consider a security guard. If everyone chipped in, it might be pretty cheap. You can even ask the police dept. When I dated a cop, he would work (in uniform) at a “club” from 1am(when he got off duty) til the club closed at 5am. The PD and this place might have had an agreement…not sure. I remember he made about $40/hour, so it might be expensive though.

Shoot, if it were me, I would camp out, hidden and watching the barn/pastures. I happen to own (and am permitted to carry) a rifle and a handgun, so I would be bringing those with me. No, I wouldnt shoot a kid, but the sight of one sitting on my hip might scare them enough not to come back.

[trubandloki]

@Sillymoose;5689426

Hopefully the police will increase they’re presence as they have in the past.

Have the police been notified that there are things going on that are causing concern?

[Sillymoose]

Moving is definitely tempting. Right now there is just no way though. Barn is a co op and extremely cheap. The only way I can have 3 horses is because of this place. However, I will definitely be on the lookout for other places in case there are no other options. Maybe even just removing them temporarily until this gets under control.

Signs are a great idea. I’ll definitely get some up tonight.

I would love to just ban all visitors. I think it would be possible to block of the drives so that only members could enter but these kids seem to be walking. Most of the property is already fenced but they’ve proven that they can just climb it.

[Sillymoose]

Police have been notified. There have been some crimes happening in a neighborhood nearby so I think they are taking this seriously and seem to think it’s the same people.

Looks like I might be camping out tonight.

[trubandloki]

@Sillymoose;5689479

Most of the property is already fenced but they’ve proven that they can just climb it.

It is really hard to climb an electric fence.

@Sillymoose;5689482

Looks like I might be camping out tonight.

Does anyone have a camper? The boarders can take turns staying there.

[BuddyRoo]

Trail cameras would be a good investment. Also, you could potentially put up gates at the entrance that have multiple padlocks interconnected so that only those people who are supposed to be there can get in.

Another thought since you’re on base would be to talk to security about notifying the community en masse that this has been an issue, this is not open to the public, and explain about the accident–let people know that the place is going to be patrolled and anyone found to be causing trouble will suffer the consequences.

They could EASILY send out a base-wide email–or at least to those who live on base.

Oops, just saw your note about climbing the fence. Well hell.

[HPFarmette]

since it’s a coop barn…

Would all the boarders take turns being “security”?

[kinnip]

This is some serious $hit. Having grown up on military bases, I know the MPs do not tolerate this kind of behaviour, even from the officers’ kids. Get those game cams out, and find out who’s doing this. If you have access to kids who may know these hoods, talk to them. Getting someone thrown off their horse is just the kind of thing these little scum-suckers would go around bragging about. Just because school isn’t in, doesn’t mean they aren’t communicating. I’d start asking some parents to monitor their kids’ Facebook.

[Catsdorule-sigh]

On a military base? Government property… any chance the base could see fit to have some MP’s around? Just wondering.

[Canaqua]

[QUOTE=Catsdorule-sigh;5689531]
On a military base? Government property… any chance the base could see fit to have some MP’s around? Just wondering.[/QUOTE]

Seriously! I’m not military, so I don’t know anything, but you’d THINK a military base would be one of the easiest places to secure, especially post 9/11. I can’t get with 100 yards of the AFB near my office unless I’m walked onto the base as the guest of someone stationed there who signs for, and takes responsibility form, my presence.

[MistyBlue]

Ask the MPs what they suggest first.

Then add in motion activated cameras…game cameras work well. (can film at night and activate due to motion)

I would add chains and locks to the paddocks. I order to keep it safer in case of emergency…also buy a chain cutter and use a smaller gauge chain. Small enough that you and other boarders can cut it with the chain/bolt cutter but thick enough that kids can’t break it. Let all boarders know where the cutters are stored, make sure it’s somewhere not easily visible bu easily accessible to those who know where it is.

Make some signs and laminate them, post in multiple easy-to-see places on and around the property. (on each paddock gate, on entrance in, on outside of barn, etc) Maybe something like:

"Due to recent vandalism, personal attacks and letting horses loose, we regretfully request all visitations to view the horses to cease.
We have to ban all outside entry onto this property. A loose horse is excessively dangerous to people and vehicles and a horse owner has already been hospitalized.
Please help us identify those who are putting us all in serious danger. Report any and all information so we can all be safe again and return to enjoying visitations.
Thank you. "

Large bold font. Bright colored signs. (neons, orange) Large sized signs that can’t be missed.

Involving the general public and stable neighbors in letting them know the reasons and asking them to help out may very well help you get to the bottom of this.

[RacetrackReject]

Wow, this is a timely post.

I thought I had misplaced some needles and syringes that I could have sworn I had put in my med box in the tack room in the barn, but blew it off to me most likely having placed them somewhere that would remind me to take them out to the barn, only to never be seen again.
Then, a few hours after feeding yesterday evening, my TBs were going insane in the pasture so I went out to see why. I found my QH in the neighbor’s back yard. I know there is no way he could have gotten out. I have welded pipe fencing and all gates that lead to the exterior are chained and locked.
As I was walking up to the barn to grab a halter and lead, I see the barn door standing wide open. I know it was shut and locked from the outside. I know absolutely it was, without a doubt, and my afternoon feeder help verified that yes, I had shut and locked it before we left the barn.
This is the 2nd time this has happened and I really think someone is letting this guy out. If he were getting out on his own, the other horses would have followed. The one time someone left a gate open, all of the horses escaped, but my TBs are very suspicious of people they don’t know if I am not accompanying that person, and I feel they would bolt away if someone they didn’t know tried to get them to leave their barn/pasture. The QH would go with anyone anywhere. Walk through broken glass over lava? No problem!
That’s another part that makes me think someone let him out. My barn opens up into a shop area with a hallway to restrooms and a kitchen area and in front of that are trailers, a boat, and a tractor with bush hog attached under the covered shop area. I’m not quite sure how this guy managed the squeeze himself through all of that to get out on his own.
Maybe it’s nothing, but maybe it’s my psycho neighbors. I have cameras already, but I need to get off of my butt and put the barns ones back up.

OP, I hope you guys get this solved without any further incident. Definitely get cameras and see if the post can lend someone to pass through every one in a while.