Owner's alert after 'thieves mark' Telford horses

Thieves are plaiting the manes of horses in Shropshire to help them identify those they can steal when they return at night, a county equestrian centre owner has warned today.

Mike Khan, owner of Telford Equestrian Centre in Donnington, Telford, made the discovery yesterday.

He said the coloured horses, which were more valuable to thieves, had been targeted by having their manes plaited and knotted.

Mr Khan today warned other horse owners to be on their guard. He has now been forced to bring his horses in from the field due to fears they will be stolen.

He has had a total of four horses "marked" in the last week.

Mr Khan, 43, said: "Last week we found a couple of horses with their manes plaited and one with a knot put in the mane.

"The latest one was discovered yesterday. I understand that this is what thieves do to mark the horses before returning to steal them overnight - they can identify the ones to be stolen by feeling their mane."

Mr Khan said he was not aware of this marking practice until it started happening to him.

"I think they mark the horses because they only want to steal specific ones - ones which do not have distinguished marks which can be easily recognised," he added.

Mr Khan said each horse was worth about £3,500.

Chris Ammonds, spokesman for Telford police, said: "We would advise horse owners to be aware of this and to take appropriate security measures."