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[RC] re: best dog to guard horses - A. PerezPersonally if I were really concerned about this, I would not rely on a dog as a solution. A barking dog may deter thieves, but then again may not. By all means get a dog, but also use additional safe-guards: 1. Do not leave horses with halters on, and don't leave halters/lead ropes on stalls gates or other obvious place where thieves can find them. Keep tack and feed rooms locked so halters, leads, and grain to bait horses with cannot be used by thieves. 2. Have a motion-detector yard light so when anyone pulls into driveway or barn-yard, a light will kick on letting you know someone is there. An audible alarm can also be set up for this too. If you do not want to lock the barn, have detectors there as well. If your farm has many roads/paths/trails leading into it, gate and lock these so that access is limited to your main driveway(s) so all comings-and-goings can be observed. 3. If horses are in a big field with a wire fence, it is very easy to cut the wire in a far corner of the field and lead horses out unbeknownst to you (or your dogs). If at all possible, keep horses locked at night, either in a stall or in area with solid fence (not wire) and a locked gate. Ideally this should be nearby your house so you can see /hear what's going on there. Thieves usually will not take the time needed to disemble a board or pipe fence, especially if it is in plain site, where they can cut a wire fence in seconds. 4. Get some professional-looking signs made saying something along the lines of 'Property protected by alarm system' (or better yet, actually install an alarm system AND put up the signs!. Standard alarm systems that go off if a window or door is opened can also be adapted to go off if a gate is opened). If you really want to impress people, get some old security camers and mount them near barn, gates etc. Even if they don't work, the bad guys won't know that, and may be deterred. ________________________________________________ Get your own "800" number Voicemail, fax, email, and a lot more http://www.ureach.com/reg/tag =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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