Tack theft is a major problem in West Sussex

Nicola Whittaker of NFU Mutual said: "I sympathise with Amy's situation. As a large rural insurer we are seeing an increase in the theft of horse tack, particularly from big yards where thieves can be assured of a large haul. What is even more worrying is that it would appear that most of this tack ends up being sold for a fraction of its value at car boot sales, markets and also on ebay.

"We recently had a case of a lady who had a 1,000 dressage saddle stolen, which was later bought at a car boot sale in a neighbouring county for just 50. Fortunately, because the saddle was stamped under a police identification scheme (and the person who bought it was honest) the saddle was recovered.

Tack theft is a major problem in Sussex area, with thieves targeting livery and competition yards."

Only last weekend, 30,000 was stolen from a livery yard in Petworth, the majority of which was uninsured. In another incident, five separate yards were targeted in one night in the Pulborough/Storrington area.

For full story see Sussex Horse World, West Sussex Gazette May 26