warning north yorks county

[arrogorn]

**************************WARNING******************
A large group of Irish travellers were there today in several vehicles, a silver pick up, a white transit van and a red vehicle.
An attempt to steal a pony was made but they were caught trying to get it away when the announcement was given off that the pony was missing. 'A nice Irish man kindly returned the pony to the owner' It is believed they were going to try and put it in a transit van.
They had split up into three different groups and they were taking a great interest in the coloureds. One of the groups had paid particular attention to Alabama and approached me asking about her etc... he was told that they were rumbled and where to go!!! I quickly packed up didnt stay for championships and left making sure nobody followed us home.
The police removed two groups from the field today and are investigating. It was awful and a massive worry.
PLEASE PLEASE EVERYONE BECAREFUL AND KEEP YOUR EYES OPEN THIS IS NOT A HOAX

The organisers did everything they could in an awful and stressful situation, well done for keeping everyone informed.

[haps]

that is shocking!!!
how worrying,makes you wonder what goes through some peoples mind's!
how on earth did they not expect to get caught in a place that busy

[dancer]

That's terrible but how many times do we all leave the ponies on the lorry with the ramp down & wander off to watch other classes?
It wouldn't take much to unload a pony & walk it to another vehicle without the owner knowing anything about it.

[ruby]

thanks for letting us know! Have they been detained? What sort was the coloured they were interested in - cob/ pony/ hogged/ hairy? not bothered? well done for your evasive action! Brave girl!

[arrogorn]

One group had been watching me all day, she is plaited 17hh lightweight skewbald! I told them she was double micro chipped, she wasn't for sale and that if they were going to try and steal her I knew who they were. Now I'm paranoid they know who I am and she is going to disappear.
The sec. said they had been particulary interested in the natives. The pony they tried to get away with was a little bay, think it was a mare. Anything that can fit in a transit van!!

[tammy]

This is terrible, I was supposed to go but horse not quite ready so glad I didn't
Please dont worry to much I am sure the fact that she is microchipped will put them off

[albert]

i have a traditional hairy gelding and they were asking alot of questions about him.... i also told them he was micro chipped, by what people were saying they were extemely interested in hairy stallions!
this is all very scary so please be vigilant

[stolen]

Can l ask didn't anyone even think of taking photographs of these people..so we all can see them and know what they look like. This would have certainly helped for future reference.

A attempt was made to steal a pony today and was only given back when a "Nice Irish man" kindly returned the pony...Didn't anyone else see this pony being removed if so what did they do about it...I really don't believe that this wasn't witnessed.

What did the police do Only investigating when there was evidence that they tried to remove a pony in a transit van...Seems odd to me sorry but it does, to only investigate something that is a blatant attempt at theft...and knowing of these so called people touring the show fields.

I find people just amazing and whilst l appreciate l was not in the situation what on earth are any of you doing communicating with these people in the first place. They could ask me all the questions they liked but they wouldn't get any answers whatsoever...

Think the interesting connection here is that they have the same vehicles (White taransit Van/Red Vehicle) as the supposedly other people who were Eastern European...These are Irish !!!

I do hope that the person that approched you both is in one of those groups of people that the police arrested...Bet they weren't !!! Call me cynical but ................

[Milliesmum]

Can you imagine the reaction of these 'irish travellers' if they had seen someone taking pictures of them? Or if tackled when trying to remove a pony? These people are a law unto themselves, and whilst not defending their actions in any way, it would take a very brave person indeed to confront them!

[STOLEN]

Nothing would stand between me and my ponies...It is a bit silly to think that you would be the only person in the vacinity..Safety in numbers lol !!I would confront tackle individually if l felt that my ponies were at risk and unfortunately think of the consequences afterwards. However , l know l am very sceptical about this whole thing but until someone can show some hard and fast proof I will find it hard to believe. After all, the goal posts keep moving, Type of people doing this firstly Eastern Europeans now Irish, just coincidently using the same type of vehicles and even more coincidental the same colour...I guess the registration number will be the same !!!. When the tension started to slacken off on these sites and there was proven evidence that these things were not happening...well never reported to the police, these so called gangs upped the anti and decided that they should not be approached as they were dangerous...that didn't get them any joy either, so they get it highlighted in the horse and hound magazine, and low and behold this was also generally negative to these incidents actually happening ie no reported incidents to the police were identified.

My arguement is do we all think these people are so stupid to go to show grounds and steal ponies in a vacinity where lots of people are going to be...Uhm l don't think so.

[Wondering]

I'm a cynic too, but was at the show and kept seeing a silver pick-up "touring" the horseboxes. I just assumed it was with the organisers - or young boys having a drive round, like you see at quite a few shows!

It never even entered my head that it was anything untoward, until I heard the announcements. I saw the pick up men talking to someone in a white transit as they had stopped at the back of the lorries where I was warming up, but again, no reason to believe it was anything dodgy at that stage.

Don't know the circumstances of the attempted theft, but can say for certain that there was a twin cab pick-up and transit van going round the lorries.

[warning]

i too was at this show yesterday and know arrogan well and know that in her offical capacity, although not on duty at the time. she did all the checks and reported the vehicles and registrations to the police that we covering the event , i also know at least 2 other competitors who took photos and reported this to the police on sight, needless to say the lads wernt over happy when they were photographed and did give alot of verbal abuse,

[arrogorn]

If you are suggesting I am lying about such an incident then I suggest you tell me who you are! I was there and was approached several times by an irish man, I DID NOT engage in conversation with him apart from telling him My horse was not for sale and was microchipped and suggested he left the field.
I did not witness the incident however did see the owner of this pony who was absolutly up a height, I also spoke to the sec at length who was past herself trying to 'do the right thing'
The police were involved however I do not know the outcome as it was not my pony.
I think and am aware of the inherant dangers of confronting the travelling fraternity (not branding all the same) and the people involved choose to contact the police!
I was simply coming on here to inform people of the days events, lets just hope this doesn't happen to you or at a show you are at as it really wasnt a nice feeling.

[update]

2 things-

update:
the pony was that bay shetland mare that everyone had thought had broken loose, i was 2nd on the showfield till 4th from last on show field so heard and saw most things,
there are alot of rumors going around so just be careful (this does not mean that anything that people have posted isn't true- unfortualtely it is) people will make up stuff to carry on a conversation
the people soon cleared off after the police arrived, which was soon after they were called as the were thankfully near by policing the event.

the pony is in its owners hands and nothing else was reported to be stolen. The men were thought to have been on their way back from appleby, though this hasn't been confimed.

thanks to the secretary and organisers for reacting quickly and appropriately aswell as keeping the majority of competitors calm.

and the other thing which some of you aren't going to like unfortunately:

WHAT IDIOT WOULD LEAVE A PONY TIED TO A WAGON OR TRAILER BY ITSELF FOR MORE THAN A MINUTE TO GO OFF WHERE THE PONY WAS NO LONGER IN YOUR SIGHT.

if any of you do this, this is dangerous, not if your pony gets stolen but it is so easy for them to get spooked and do something silly and out of nature. even the safest and sanest of horses/ponies are at risk of seriously injuring themselves or others.

you learn this lesson in pony club when you are very young and i would like to see it put into practice more often


for the people who do things CORRECTLY, i'm sorry, but there are a few people out there that need to hear this.

[ruby]

I am very guilty of leaving my ponies tied to the trailer at a local show (never County etc) but CERTAINLY won't do it again. Thanks for the timely reminder, it is all too easy when you have been 'doing horses' for so long to get complacent, we all need to swallow our pride and accept this telling off. I am!

[Giddie]

ARRAGON Whilst l am not the person who wrote the above, that has obviously annoyed you, l do somehow agree with some of the sentiment of what STOLEN has said. I have personally been saying for weeks that we need photographic evidence of these people, so given you know of two people that took photographs can we see them. This will help keep ourselves protected and safe and most importantly be able to nip a possibly crisis situation in the bud by getting these people caught in the act...so to speak. I like stolen also find this strange that the nationality has suddenly changed but the vehicle use is the same. Please don't think l am calling you a liar but you can surely see it from the onlookers point of view how silly this all sounds. How many other people would go to a crowded horse show to risk stealing a horse, when they can go to the local market and pick them up for less then a hundred pounds, or even better steal them from a field when nobody is around !!! after all we all know that the travelling fraternity aren't fussed about quality, as long as it looks right then it's ok.

Your interaction with this man (minimal as it was, l found interesting) however l am going tonip pick a bit here so sorry for that but you qoute....

I was there and was approached several times by an irish man, I DID NOT engage in conversation with him apart from telling him My horse was not for sale and was microchipped and suggested he left the field. If no conversation took place surely this is a very paranoid thing to do, he may well have been an innocent person who you are telling to leave the field and really who are you to be telling people what they should do and shouldn't do...Just a thought as it is intresting how these things spiral out of control.

Finally if all these things are going on and obviously as we all know there is a danger element to it ie due to the people generally involved Travellers etc...why hasn't there been a news item pre warning people of the dangers and risk these people pose. (Differant incident) Also just a matter of three weeks ago many so called horses had been stolen if this was the case then it would have definitely made news headlines especially when someone was held at knife point as reported on one of these horsey sites..........Uhm police knew nothing about it...................

Still I will remain on my guard at horse shows but that is the way l am. I have never ever in 40 + years left a horse tied up to the lorry or a horse in the lorry whilst l go off and jolly. I can say that in all honesty.

[opportunists]

In defence of arrogorn. I was present at this show. Most of you who are questioning her warning were not. I witnessed what was going on.

No one said these travellers or their vehicles were the same as the vehicles reported in the 'photographing' warnings.

IMO they are not linked. IMO they were opportunists camping near to the show probably on their return from Appleby. There were 2 guys in a white van - I and the authorities have their irish number plates (repeat IMO opportunists) They circled the horsebox area constantly, until the Show organisers(who were fantastic) removed them permenantly.

The other prospective thiefs were on foot - having walked into the show ground (camping nearby). They are the ones who clipped a pony onto a lead rope, but were stopped. The show organisers and the vigilance of us showing people prevented a crime happening.

Once again I must repeat, I think they were opportunists, not involved with other reports.

I worked closely with the show security, they have my photos, I will not post them on here as it will cause the types of responses that are circulating about so called hysteria, they are not the gang of eastern european photographers - just opportunists that thankfully were prevented from taking someones beloved pony.

Oh and by the way, the silver pickup was one of the show organisers trying to keep an eye on them.

[Giddie]

Opportunist, if this was oppotunistic takers then don't you think it is strange they they just happened to have as described by Arrogan in her initial text, a White transit van and a Red Vehicle, the same type/colour as those used by those so called Eastern Europeans, not forgetting that these are Irish...................

I am really suprised that you will not put up the photo's so as to help others if having to face this horrendous ordeal..after all those so called people were in the wrong. I believe that if this is genuine, being horsey people and all having the same interest, then we are all in this together and we should do as much to help one another as possible, and certainly go to the very pinnicle if it helps prevent our beloved animals getting stolen. Surely the not knowing ie not posting photographic evidence is going to cause more hysteria than that of having some hard fast evidence. I would much rather know who these people are, then being paranoid about everyone who shows an interest in my beloved ponies.....However l guess as you work closely with security you are probably tied by laws of confidentiality !!!!!!!!!!!!

Looking at certain other texts on these sites it seems everyone is happy to name and shame competitors and judges for wrong doing and yet we are not happy to do this when people are supposedly trying to steal our ponies...There seems something wrong in our systems if that is the case.

[opportunist]

Giddie, Of course its a co-incidence regarding the vehicles being white vans, and not strange, how many white vans are there on the road!!!!! I did not see the red vehicle, and as I said the silver pick-up belonged to the show. The white van with the two irish travellers in had irish number plates, not as the white van sighted and number plates recorded in the eastern european photographers.

I do not appreciate your sarcastic comments and quote: "However l guess as you work closely with security you are probably tied by laws of confidentiality !!!!!!!!!!!!"

As a crime was not committed by these two guys how can I put their faces on national web sights. I am just thankful that through our and the shows vigilance that a crime may have been prevented.

To prevent others, I quote: 'facing this horrendous ordeal" - be vigilant and aware of what is going around you at shows. Lock your lorries. Take precautions. Irish travellers in Irish vehicles acting very suspiciously do stand out you know - we cannot go around accusing every irish person in a van. The fact that these guys drove around and around many many times slowly amongst the horseboxes was extremely suspicious. They will probably all be on their way back to Eire soon!

The ones who tried to take the pony were as I said, on foot, (and not seen with the guys in the van), they had clipped their lead rein onto a small skewbald pony but were stopped.

And with regard to naming and shaming - how can I - I don't know their names.

Just be aware of what's going on around you.

[Giddie]

With all due respect l am not going to even answer the above post ...But what l will say is that NO l was not being sarcastic, remember assuming is a very dangerous thing. I accept that everyone has their own opinion on this...probably best left there as without evidence nothing can be done but l will say that l think it it horrendous to think someone has the evidence and refuses to share this for the safety of the horsey faternity. I totally agree that we cannot go around accusing everyone in white vans Arrogan hope you are reading this...

[opportunist]

Giddie - with all due respect, by putting on another post you have made an answer!

The relevant authorities i.e. the Police have the photos and number plates.

[arrogorn]

GIDDIE,Yes I am reading this!
Considering I came on this site to post a warning about an incident which happened and it was not part of my imagination, I left the show field in a chewed up state not knowing if I was going to be followed home, or the reality of the fact that my beloved and cherished animals could have been stolen and reminded me of how vulnerable they actual are left out grazing in a secure field. It made me sick to my stomach to think this happened on an open show field and with so many people around.
Yes people might think I am paranoid and maybe I am however the thought of some low life thug of a thief taking one of my precious animals would devestate me and my family and I will do everything I can to prevent my own animals, property and that of others to be protected.
I did not accuse every white transit van driver of been a potential horse thieft but what I do know is a white transit van is a popular vehicle amoungst the irisg travelling folk. (normally with double glazing, block paving or gardening services wrote on it)
At no point did I say I had photographs but I do know people that do. In this country the law states innocent until proven guilty and laws would be breached if someone was to post a picture of a suspect on here. Think of the reprisals from their community if they saw their uncle, aunt, brother, father etc on a web site accusing them! That is not our job all we can do is work together with the information we have and try and prevent such incident happening.
I really hope nobody has to witness or experience incidents like this and with the vigilant and excellent work from the organisers/competitors hopefully they will not try this again.

[colouredshowhorses]

omg i am horrified by all i have just read. I was showing my coloured colt at the north yorks show on sunday. My horsebox was parked at the end of a row at the top of the field and i kept seeing a transit going up and down with 2 men in but didnt think anything of it. One man that looked like he could of done with a good bath asked me whether my colt was entire or not at the side of the ring and i said yes, he had previosuly stopped at the horsebox to ask about him, i hope it wasnt that man. I am very worried about these horse thefts, although it was in the local paper that no actual confirmed thefts have happened in north yorkshire. I didnt see any police or hear any announcments on sunday thought. what is the world coming to.