On the night of 14th December, the Working Horse Trust at Eridge was broken into and a large amount of driving harness was stolen. We are sending this message out in the hope that someone could be offered anything that might match any of the stolen goods listed below. We are a registered charity, and most of our equipment is designed to fit draft sized horses but as most of it is driving harness, the more people in the circuit who know and can keep their eyes open the better.

As far as we can tell at the moment the stolen harness is a follows.

1 pair set webbing breast collar harness. 1 pair set webbing collar harness with Canadian Hames 5 working collars, American adjustable type 3 sets of cart harness, one of which carries a distinctive 'I' for Ivor worked into the leather. This set is also postcoded. 4 Aaron Martin webbing bridles with 6" Myler bits. 4 saddles 1 large set tan single driving harness, brand new. 4 more pairs of Canadian wooden hames with brass fittings.

At the moment this is all that we can definitely note as missing. Needless to say, if you hear of anyone being offered anything that might sound like any of this equipment, please let us know.

We would also appreciate it if you could spread the word to as many of your friends and acquaintances as possible. Probably hoping in vain, but the more people know, the better our chances recovering stuff.

The good news is that the padlocks on the doors were very effective...the bad new is that they came through the roof and destroyed the heavy wooden doors with iron bars from the inside. be warned!

If anyone can throw any light on this, or help in any way, contact: Tricia Hills on tricia@phills.enterprise-plc.com or: Richard Branscombe (WHT Farm Manager) on 01892 750105

Stolen on 10 December 2005 from Guildford - Bennington BX4. Black with maroon wheels, to fit 14.2hh pony. Disc brakes, de-luxe single marathon seat with wedge cushion, suspension, 28" front wheels, 25" rear wheels, delayed steering. Chassis number 7721. Paint scuffed on swingle tree and these scuffs covered with black insulating tape. Paint also scuffed on rein rail. Both shafts have extra holes drilled next to breeching d-ring.

Any information to Guildford police on 0845 1252222, crime incident number: C0523293 or email to drawahjo@aol.com

Stolen from Bill Vine's stables near Hailsham in West Sussex on 27th November 2005 were the following items:

6 x sets of pairs harness
1 x leather covered hames
1 x nearly new brown and brass 22" collar set of harness
2 x sets pairs black patent and brass harness
2 x 21" collars with hames
40 whips - 2 with ivory handles, 1 with horn in handle.

All stamped on inside of trace and inside of upper collar with W.V.

If anyone can help, please contact the police on 02072 615306 or Mr Bill Vine on 01323 841641
 

Rice Europa Horse Trailer, Mid-coach green, 16 months old. Postcode on roof. Stolen from Thurleigh, Bedford on 17 November 2005.

Please contact Bedford Police on 01234 841212, quoting crime no. B-42042-2005 or email m.prosser@tiscali.co.uk
 

Stick-back Gig

Stolen on 24th October 2005 from Horton, Slough - A Stick-back gig made by Stapfords & Sons. It is burgundy with a cream line, black patent on the shafts and has a cream seat. It had black shafts covers on. On the front it has a mark when my pony kicked it. Will fit a 11 to 12.2 hh pony.

Please contact Joanna Seaman on joanna.seaman@btinternet.com or Windsor Police on 08458 505 505, quoting crime number LA9331274/05
 

On the evening of 28th September 2005 from Barings Field Farm, Newdigate, Surrey the following were stolen:

2 modern three phase carriages and one older type three phase carriage stolen along with 14ft Ifor Williams flatbed trailer with side and front hay ladder.

One single carriage has stainless steel shafts, stainless running boards and maroon wheel stripes - one year old Polish from Steve Jarman.

One pair carriage similar but centre pole fitted and yellow wheel stripes - think this is also Polish but 2nd hand - probably several years old but also looks Polish origin.

One older pair three phase vehicle, made in Scotland 30-40 year ago, all black with polished wooden box and sides - equal wheel sizes.

Ifor Williams trailer - 14foot bed (made of ply veneered dark brown, Standard IW design, two axles but with the word "POWERBRUSH" on the chassis in front of the front pair of wheels. Complete with 12inch dropping sides (two each side) and rear. Fitted front hay ladder.

Any info please to Surrey Police at Reigate on 0845 125 2222 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 or direct to Peter Edmondson at 01306 631012 or email: Peter@BaringsField.co.uk

Reward for info leading to successful conviction or return of goods.

It is a distinctive well maintained pleasure trap, a single/tandem [its single shaft was in place when it was taken] 4 wheeled vehicle with pneumatic tyres. Its wheels are air-brushed silver to blue. It is all metal with dark/royal blue, silver and chrome bodywork. Its upholstery is black leather with a drivers seat, a front passenger seat and 2 further seats to the rear with a broad back step. It has front and rear disc brakes and also a hand brake. On both sides under the seats and clearly visible are 2 chrome plaques with the makers name LEON in scroll.

If you have any information at all, please contact Gravesend police on 01474 331055, giving crime number  AZ-21188-05 or phone Louise Downs on 07734 975109 or email her at Louisejdowns@aol.com

Bennington Back Step Competition Vehicle (2 wheels) (back step has been left behind so it is missing this important part) black paint. Serial number is 6946

Hallingbury four wheel marathon/competition vehicle black with small red lines ( four seats two front two back - two back seats face each other) PIN NUMBER IS 02/2/01/1/W/3781

A Robert Smith's of Quebec Canada 4 wheel Phaeton carriage, black and burgundy paintwork has red and yellow line work and burgundy seats (4 seats - two front, two back) This vehicle has damage to the mud guards on the driver's side but the replacement mud guards and hubs were also stolen, so I guess they will repair it before trying to move it on. Serial Number unknown.

Also stolen was a small black (old) car transporter with rubber mat across the deck and a hand winch on the front and upright ramps on the back, serial number unknown.

Please if you hear of any of the above items being offered for sale through your publications or your auction sites then contact Joanne Taylor on 01296 712295 or 07850 326487 or call Thames Valley Police on 0845 8505 505 and quote crime report number AG8655166/05 - URN 158724/7/05

Hartland 4-wheeler

Stolen on 23 May 2005 from the New Forest:

Hartland 'Versatile'; horse size; black with dark green coachlines; new in July 03; serial number = CH10284

Any information about this carriage to Lyndhurst Police on 08450 454545, incident ref: 44050512516

Theft of Governess cart from Ada Cole Rescue Stables.

Sadly Ada Cole were robbed on the night of 4th May 2005 and the Governess Cart, pictures of which are attached, was stolen. Any information to Ada Cole Rescue Stables on 01992 892133 or to Essex Police on 01279 64212 asking for Waltham Abbey police & quoting Incident 126 of 5th May 2005.

Stolen on 25/26 January from Glastonbury, Somerset, Polish Wagonette. Eight seater with cream canopy and dark red body with alloy wheels. Also set of harness.

A horse-drawn carriage and nine sets of harnesses were stolen in a burglary at a farm near Sittingbourne in Kent. The items taken from the farm in Bredgar have been valued at £50,000.

Police said the burglary, which took place between 1645 on Wednesday 30th March and 0945 Thursday 31 March 2005, caused the victim "a great deal of distress and heartache".

The carriage taken was a distinctive 1886 Victoria "Doxley of Cheltenham" carriage worth £40,000, while the nine harnesses are valued at £10,000.

Det Con John Dyos said: "I believe the offenders would have taken some time to carry out the theft and I am certain there will be a number of people who may have vital information that will help us with this investigation. I would also be keen to hear from anyone who may have been offered the carriage or tack."

Police said the carriage was regularly used by its owners and was likely to have been stolen to sell on, but its uniqueness would make a sale difficult.

Contact Kent Police on 01622 690690 or via the Kent Police website