Horse owner's appeal after theft of new rugs (From The Advertiser Series)

County Durham horse owner's appeal after theft of new rugs

9:37am Tuesday 29th January 2013 in News By Bruce Unwin, Chief Reporter (Durham)

A HORSE owner has warned about thieves who stole two protective rugs within days of them being bought.

The navy blue with red trim Shire’s Tempest rugs were taken from a horse and pony grazing in a field opposite the Black Horse pub, in Hamilton Row, in the Deerness Valley, west of Durham.

Owner Amelia Herbert, of nearby Waterhouses, said the rugs, worth up to £150, were only bought a week ago due to the cold weather.

She had planned to have them postcoded, but the theft took place before it could be done.

They were removed from her eight-year-old gypsy cob Bailey and ageing New Forest pony Cherry, overnight from midnight on Friday (January 25) up to 8.30am on Saturday (January 26).

Cherry, aged 16, is diabetic and has developed a cold since the theft.

Miss Herbert has warned other horse owners in the area to beware of the activity of thieves and urged anyone offered cheap Shires Tempest rugs to report in to police.

Should anyone know of their whereabouts they are asked to contact her on 0191-373 2387.