**** warning to all horse owners ****
*******WARNING ALL HORSE OWNERS IN CAITHNESS*****
My mum found a plait in the mane of her TB gelding in the Murkle Area tonight. I have read articals on this and heard this is what horse thieves do to a horse there going to steal. The police have been called and the incident reported. The police advised the horses to be put inside and padlocked in. The plait is not obvious as they have done it under the top layer so i advise everyone to check through the manes.
When I heard these stories before I assumed the whole mane of the horse had been plaited (foolish I know) however it's NOT the whole mane. Nor was the plait OBVIOUS just by glancing at the horse. The plait was under the mane - losely done by the neck but very tight at the bottom and tied in a knot.
Please be vigilant - who knows if this is a real threat or if it's some sick minded individual who knows it will give horse owners a nasty fright.
As my friends husband says there is only one road out of the county at the moment with berriedale shut in the evenings - the police confirmed that there are evening patrols as a result of these incidents...I was told only today that a horse at Achalone had also received this treatment. Plus one in Dunnet and one in Tain which was stolen!!
The link below has a picture of a plait and my mums horse had one exact same...
http://www.forteantimes.com/features/articles/3016/straight_from_the_horses_mane.html