International event rider James Adams has had more than £25,000 worth of equipment stolen after his yard in Darlington was broken into.
‘Stripped bare’
As well as cleaning out his tack room the thieves literally stole the coats off four of his horses’ backs.
“My tack room was stripped bare – all that was left was the bin,” James told the Northern Echo. “But taking the rugs off the horses’ backs is just the lowest of the low.
“This is November when the horses have been clipped – they would have been freezing.”
‘Heartbroken’
James also lost his dressage tailcoat, the cross-country body protector that he had custom-made in his colours, and a flat-screen television which was pulled off the wall of his lorry.
The 36-year-old is “heartbroken” as he has nothing left.
“They took things I have won at competitions and different pieces of tack that were significant to me, like the saddle I rode in at Burghley Horse Trials, which was a career highlight,” he said.
Since the incident, James has been inundated with support. From saddles and rugs to home-made cakes, he has been feeling the love of the local Darlington people and says he feels “humbled by how they have rallied round”.
High value theft
The theft occurred late on Saturday night (8 November) or in the early hours of Sunday morning.
Darlington police are urging anyone who is offered expensive tack at cheap prices, or has anyinformation to call the police on 101 and ask for PC ChrisHorner.
“This was a high value theft and we will be following up all possible leads given to us,” said the police officer.