plait in mane????

[kizzyb]

a friend of mine found a very neat well hidden plait in her horses mane yesterday, dont think it was kids as very neat and tied proffessionally and hidden under mane .... does this mean anything? have been told pos been eyed for stealing

[horseylady]

yes you are correct.. please tell the police and warn others around you. x

[kizzyb]

HI police have been informed and horse has been moved. Should of put this happened in the DERBY area...

[horseylady]

Well done you... let everyone know.. on here... on fb.. any ywhere else you can think of xx

[kizzyb]

Hi thank you horseylady ive put on my FB page and asked people to share it my friend going to inform the local horse watch xx

[choppytrotty]

Ooooh, this is scary.

[gillwales]

so much for passports stopping thefts!

[dieselqueen]

What is the significance of the plait?

[judyh]

To mark the horse for stealing!!!!!!!

[helle]

Has that actually ever been proven?
Seemingly lots of theses plaits are found in horses the horse thieves wouldn't dream of stealing, ie TB types for which they have little need. Some people believe it is to do with white witches as well. Would be really nice to find out which myth is right as we haven't all got the 'luxury' of being able to move our horses and this sort of thing really starts people panicking.

[Deleted]

I've been told it is something to do with 'witches' and casting spells. Don't know how true this is! Bit worrying though! Touchwood it doesn't happen to mine if it is a sign of them wanting to steal a pony!

[motown]

Where abouts in the derby area?

[xxshowponyxx]

Found this online:

Horse owners in Dorset had become perplexed when they kept finding that the manes of their animals seemed to have been twisted into plaits.

At first some thought that the wind had by chance whipped them into shapes that seemed to have been created by a human hand. Another theory was that thieves were sizing horses up and plaiting the manes of those they wished colleagues to steal at a later date.

But after consulting a warlock, police in Dorset concluded the horses were being used in witch "knot magick".

It is not clear exactly how many horses have been targeted but at least a dozen are known to have been involved.

Horse owner Harriet Laurie from Bridport, Dorset, and a member of the Shipton Riding Club, said: "When one of my horse's manes was plaited it took me some time to unpick and the wind had whipped it into a sort of dreadlock, but underneath were three strands neatly plaited. It is most bizarre.

"Whatever it is there is a lot of fear and anxiety. I know of about 12 horses that have had it done."

Dorset police said there was no evidence that the horses, some of whom were kept in fields in very remote spots, were being eyed by thieves. A spokesman said that it appeared to be a "harmless tradition".

PC Tim Poole, who has investigated the incidents, said: "We have some very good information from a warlock that this is part of a white magic ritual and is to do with knot magick."

"It would appear that for people of this belief, knot magick is used when they want to cast a spell. Some of the gods they worship have a strong connection to horses so if they have a particular request, plaiting this knot in a horse's mane lends strength to the request. This warlock said it is a benign activity, albeit maybe a bit distressing for the horse owner...........

Personally I hate the thought of anyone I dont know being that close to my horse without my knowledge, and doing anything to them, regardless of whether they have any bad intentions or not

[mcnaughty]

Sorry, but the plait thing is just folk-law - please think about it, why would anyone take the time to put a plait in a horse's mane before stealing it? It would increase their chance of being caught by x2 if they were seen. There has never been a case of a horse being stolen after a plait being put in.

[lucynlizzysmum]

I find it quite interesting that people say it is folk law, as a local policeman warned me about it!!

[mcnaughty]

Then the local policeman is talking out of his backside - ask him for proof next time you see him. There is absolutely no proof whatsoever. If you try discussing this on H&H you will get laughed at.

[lucynlizzysmum]

Sept 1, 2012 18:57:02 GMT mcnaughty said:

Then the local policeman is talking out of his backside - ask him for proof next time you see him. There is absolutely no proof whatsoever. If you try discussing this on H&H you will get laughed at.

I will pass your comments on to her (sorry should have put policewoman, not man!!), so that she is aware of them - however, like xxshowponyxx - whether or not it is for stealing or purely for white magic/black magic I would be very worried at people being in amongst my horses - and hey ho, I don't mind being the butt of someone's jokes, am used to it

[flo1]

I read somwhere (I think it was H&H, can't remember now) that the whole idea of would be thieves putting plaits in horses manes was a sort of 'urban myth' and that no Police force would take it seriously.
I asked a livery at our yard who is a police officer and she said she'd never heard of such a thing as putting plaits in horses manes, she also said that it would be a stupid thing to do as not only would it increase the chance of a stranger being caught with the animal but that it would also alert the owner.

I just wish I could find the article that I've read

[poop]

Id love to see a photo of these neat plaits, i tend to think its just a twisted bit of mane often when the ponies have been grooming each other they look like they have got a knotty plait in their manes

[minimekizzy]

I've had a few with this and its the wind my mare who's wild had wasn't a person to get in two fields of her let alone plait her mane