Blankets stolen off horses’ backs

By Rebecca Fraser
BLANKETS have been stolen straight from the backs of more than seven horses in Narre Warren North leaving owners angry and their animals out in the freezing winter cold.
The spate of thefts has frustrated Narre Warren resident Jennifer Hall who has lost more than five horse rugs in the past three years, and has spent close to $1000 replacing them.
Just three weeks ago, eight brand new rugs were stolen off the backs of seven horses agisted on land at Heatherton Road, Narre Warren North.
Among the stolen loot was a $200 rug belonging to Ms Hall’s 19-year-old horse Bones. The ex-racehorse is now wearing a much thinner spring rug until another one can be purchased.
Ms Hall, a full time bottle shop attendant, said she was sick and tired of continuously paying for new rugs and this was a problem horse owners faced every winter.
The 24-year-old has even had ‘Not For Sale’ written on the outside of each of her rugs and her details such as her name, address, and phone number written on the inside.
This has failed to deter thieves and Ms Hall said many people believed the rugs were being taken interstate and sold.
The incidents have been reported to police but Ms Hall said there was not much they could do about the thefts, as they must be taking place in the middle of the night or in the early hours of the morning just before daylight.
“I tell you that it is unbelievable. I work my bum off to give my horse a good rug and then I come down and find it is stolen. It is just not fair.
“I just do not understand how people can justify doing this every year. It is because they know there is nothing we can do about it and that we will go out and buy new rugs once again that they will no doubt just come and steal again next winter.” she said.
Ms Hall contacted the News this week after reading about a Narre Warren family’s plea for the return of a horse float needed to transport their beloved pony Shadow, who was facing blindness in one eye, to the vet.
The pony, was agisted on land at the corner of Jacques and Heatherton Road, and Ms Hall said she too had previously housed her horse there, and it seemed that the thefts were hitting horse owners right across Narre Warren North.
“Every winter this happens to the whole area and I find it totally disgusting that people feel they have the right to take our rugs that we have worked so hard for.
“Now my 19-year-old horse is in spring rugs that do not stand up to winter’s harshness and heavy rains.
“I do not know how people justify doing this. It is a lot of money to fork out to keep on buying new things. When will it stop?” she said.