Wiltshire Police are warning horse owners to take extra care following a recent increase in horse-related incidents.
 
Over the past two months horses have had head collars and
rugs removed and placed on other horses, head collars cut off,
horses being let into different fields, and manes being plaited, sometimes intertwined with a stick. The last known incident, took place on 29th October, when two horses in a received 8-inch cuts, half an inch wide, along the length
of their face.

 PC Dawn Barham, of Chippenham police station, said: "Obviously we do
 not want to create fear amongst the equine fraternity, but we do want
 horse owners and those who look after the animals to be aware of
 recent events so that they can better protect their animals. The
 incident at Box was particularly serious, and would certainly have
 caused the horses alot of pain and distress. Not all of the recent
 incidents involve violence to this degree, but nevertheless they cause
 unnecessary confusion and anxiety to the horses. We are committed to
 reducing their occurrence.”
 
 Police are offering the following advice to horse owners, to help to
 reduce the chances of their animal becoming the next victim:
 
• Remove the head collar from your horse wherever possible; this will make it more difficult for them to be caught
• Check on the welfare of your horse at least twice a day, at irregular times to ensure spontaneity and a lack of routine.
• Don’t make it easy for an onlooker to work out your movements, and the times that the horses will be alone in the field or yard
• If it is overlooked by a neighbour, ask them to inform you of anybody in the field
• Place as much signage as possible around the premises, stating that cameras are fitted. Even if this is not the case, it may act as a deterrent
 
 If you have seen anybody acting suspiciously in an area where horses
 are kept, or if you have any information regarding such incidents,
 please take as much detail as possible and contact PC Dawn Barham at
 Chippenham, or Jo Tidmarsh at Westbury, on 0845 408 7000, or
 Crimestoppers, where information can be left anonymously, on 0800
 555111.