Safe and secure
Theft-proof your horses and your property.
Many horse owners don’t think about barn security until it’s too late. However, there are pre-emptive steps you can take to keep your belongings and your Appaloosas from ever leaving your farm without your knowledge.
Most farm owners won’t want to completely lock down their barns, but it can be wise to lock up certain areas such as your tack room or office. Padlocks are an inexpensive option, but be aware that thieves often bring bolt cutters.
Living on property fairly near your barn is probably the best security measure. Horse owners who live close to their barns say their horses whinny when anyone walks into the area—no doubt looking for their next meal—and that’s a good indication of a late-night intruder.
If your farm isn’t laid out that way, installing motion detector lights is an inexpensive option, as is keeping a dog or two. Keep in mind that sometimes dogs or other critters will set off the lights in the middle of the night, so you might want to aim them away from your bedroom. Lights are just as much to scare the crooks away as they are to make you aware of anyone’s presence.
Full-text version printed in the August 2009 issue of Appaloosa Journal.
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