Police scheme to help combat horse saddle theft

Officers have been testing stamp kits to mark saddles with unique codes

A police force is starting a scheme to help combat the theft of horse tack - mostly saddles for riding - which can be worth thousands of pounds.

Wiltshire Police, which covers a huge rural area, has been training officers to use tack stamping kits for Operation Gallop, which will launch on 28 April.

The kits see an individual code put onto each saddle which can be registered with a national online database and help identify it if it is ever stolen.

Jo McDonald owns Rein & Shine, a horse riding school in Wiltshire, and said tack thefts nearby were "prolific".

The metal stamp imprints permanently into the leather

Tack - bridles, saddles and other equipment for riding - is not cheap. The cost generally starts in the hundreds of pounds, even when bought second-hand, but can easily run into the thousands.

It is also not easy to replace because each horse would usually have its own individual saddle, which has to be either made to its shape or checked to ensure it fits.

"If our tack is stolen, that horse cannot be used, he cannot do his job, he cannot be exercised," Ms McDonald explained.

"In some cases, horses need to be exercised for health.

"It's a business failure if a place loses it's tack."

Rein & Shine is one of the stables where police have tested out the new scheme.

So far, the centre has avoided what Ms McDonald described as "prolific tack thefts" in the area - but it also has CCTV, locked double gates and an alarm system to alert police of an intruder.

Ms McDonald explained many cannot afford such high levels of security, and said many of the centre's coaches have had their personal tack stolen at smaller yards.

"A person will try to replace that tack so people will be targeted again and again," she added.

It can cost thousands to buy a saddle new

While there are synthetic options for saddles, many are still made from leather.

PC Mark Evans said the stamps use metal individual letters to mark the saddle at its base.

"It leaves a permanent imprint which can't be removed," he added.

Wiltshire Police said it had been "inundated" with requests for tack stamping since posting about it on social media.

PC Mark Evans called it "extremely positive" and said they wanted to hear from more people.

"It's good for us to meet people at the stables. A lot live in rural areas - it's good to speak to people about concerns around safety and welfare," he added.

Anyone can check the online registry, which means those buying a saddle second-hand with a stamp can see if it has been stolen.

"If anything should happen, we can at least get it identified" said Ms McDonald.