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Sep 19, 2023

Is your horse trailer waiting to be stolen? Here's how to keep crooks at bay

Top tips to prevent horse trailer theft: Statistics on a rising number of

Top tips to prevent horse trailer theft:

Statistics on a rising number of insurance claims made on stolen horse trailers in Britain give an insight into the measures owners should be considering to protect their horse floats and trailers.

A spokesperson for Ecclesiastical, the insurer behind SEIB Insurance Brokers horse trailer policies, said: "The rise appears to be in thefts conducted by groups who come fully prepared to cut and remove wheel clamps and hitch locks, and most appear to be at night when there is nobody around."

Data from horse trailer claims made by SEIB clients shows that 95% of stolen horse trailers were taken from a location away from their owner's home address.

Of the horse trailers insured through SEIB and Ecclesiastical that were stolen in the past year, 20% had only a hitch lock, 63% had a hitch lock and a wheel clamp, 11% had only a wheel clamp and 6% had unknown security, suggesting that locks alone do not offer comprehensive security.

Representatives from both Ecclesiastical and SEIB said they wanted to give customers the best possible chance to avoid the theft of their horse trailers. Keeping it in a secure yard and ensuring a hitch lock and wheel clamp is in place can help deter thieves.

They also noted that horse trailer security tagging or tracking devices are offered by several companies. Whilst not a deterrent in themselves, they offer an increased chance of recovery should the trailer be stolen. It is important that security tags are registered with an official database. Security tags including microdot transponder technology are available for as little as £50.

• Top tips to protect your horse gear from thieves

More costly tracking devices offer a greater level of protection with companies offering theft alerts and global real-time tracking from a phone or computer if a trailer is stolen. One trailer in the Ecclesiastical claims statistics had a tracking device fitted. Following its theft, the trailer was later recovered.

With thieves often targeting trailers parked in yards at night, or at quiet times of the day, yard security has been highlighted as a potential issue by Ecclesiastical's statistics.

Mike Bullman of Safe Security Solutions said the company advised that trailers were hidden, and ideally kept in a barn.

"If this isn't possible a trailer should at least be kept out of the way. As trailers are by nature easily moveable, blocking them in is effective – and making sure wheel and hitch locks are on. It is all about slowing the thieves down.

"Pre-warnings and pre-alerts are invaluable in preventing theft by scaring intruders away from yards, either through the activation of a security light or alarm. The sooner an intruder is detected the better – if the yard has a long driveway, it is always better to be alerted when the intruder is at the entrance at point a. It can be too late by the time they’ve made it into the yard, to points b or c, when the chances of damage to property or theft are increased."

In the event of a trailer theft, it is generally agreed that taking to social media can do no harm, and possibly even help prevent the theft of other trailers in the area. A spokesperson for Ecclesiastical added: "I’ve seen a number of the claimants tell the Loss Adjuster that they have posted on social media sites in order to raise awareness of their own particular theft. This can only help to try and recover the trailer so we would encourage this."

SEIB Schemes Technician Kathryn Purcell said that since 2019, the company had paid 97% of horse trailer theft claims. "The other 3% were horse trailers that were recovered."

» SEIB Insurance Brokers is marking its 60th anniversary this year and is offering a Cheval Liberté Touring Country two-horse trailer in a celebratory prize draw. Entries for the SEIB 60 Years Trailer Prize Draw are open until November 30.