Paralympian supports equine crime initiative

Paralympian Nicola Tustain (pictured, above right) is backing her local Horse Watch initiative. Nicola, former world and paralympic champion, lives in North Wales and has signed up as a member. She is now encouraging other riders in the region to do the same.

North Wales Horse Watch aims to help prevent, reduce and detect equine crime.

“I thought it was a great opportunity to get involved and help reduce equine crime,” said Nicola. “I know people who have been victims of an attempt to steal a pony, so I happy to support the scheme.”

Police volunteer Helen Lacey (pictured, above left) established the first Horse Watch in north-east Wales in 2010. It now has more than 2,500 members signed up across North Wales.

“[Members] get free advice on security and any information we think is important to share among the equine community, such as suspicious activity or crime trends, or forthcoming security marking events,” she said.

Members are encouraged to register all serial numbers of equipment they hold, passport and microchip numbers and descriptions of their horses.

For details, email northwaleshorsewatch@yahoo.co.uk or horsewatch@nthwales.pnn.police.uk, or visit the North Wales Horse Watch website.

Martha Terry

H&H features editor

Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on horses and dogs. Her reporting CV includes the Paris Olympics, European championships, Aachen World Equestrian Festival and World Cup finals. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs. Now, her constant companion is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.