10:09am Wednesday 24th June 2009
By Simon Carr
THIEVES are snatching stallions from their fields in Hampshire, it has been revealed.
A spate of horse thefts has hit Hedge End with at least three prime specimens being stolen, used and dumped in less than a week.
Owners believe a gang of crooks are targeting the area and netting themselves thousands of pounds by using the stallions for illegal breeding.
Disabled Julia Pearn, 29, of Bursledon, has now had two horses stolen in the dead of night. They have been dragged away, whipped, beaten and then abandoned.
She has just been reunited with fouryear- old dark bay stallion Bobby, who was stolen at the weekend and later found dumped in a nearby field.
It is thought the New Forest-cross, standing at more than 13 hands in height, was forced into a horse box.
When the owners and police arrived at the field where he had been spotted, a white stallion was also found roaming loose.
This came just days after Julia’s fiveyear- old stallion Daley was taken from her field at Manor Farm, Tanhouse Lane.
The 15-and-half-hand horse was eventually found wandering near a busy road.
Both horses were covered in cuts and bruises and are still cowering from human contact after their ordeals.
Julia, who has a heart condition, said: “I am urging other horse owners to be vigilant as I don’t want them to go through what I have.
“It is terrible that these people think they can get away with using and abusing these horses.
“They will be able to get a foal out of it and make money, it is a lucrative crime.
“For me the worse part is not knowing what has happened to them.”
She went on to say all her animals were being branded and microchipped and family members would be spending more time at the farm to make sure the horses were safe.
Thieves hacked down the fences around the field to get to her horses.
A British Horse Society spokesman said: “This kind of thing is rare but it can’t be ruled out. The better the stallion the more likely that somebody would try to use it for this purpose.
“It would be extremely traumatic for the horse to be used in this way.”
A Hampshire police spokesman said: “We want to speak to anyone who has information about the theft of the animals or anyone who has been in the area and seen people acting suspiciously.
It is vital they contact us and provide us with information.”
■ Anyone with information should contact police on 0845 045 4545.
© Copyright 2001-2012 Newsquest Media Group
http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/trade_directory/