In the footsteps of the theft of horse ammunition in Europe: how not to become a buyer of a stolen saddle

Photographer Alesya Safe / Photo from Instagram @eshchibrik

In early February, the equestrian world was stirred up by an unpleasant event – a series of thefts of ammunition in European stables. In total, about 200 saddles of various models and brands were stolen.

Against the backdrop of the theft, the fears of horse owners for the safety of their ammunition increased. Not only the search for ways to protect yourself from the loss of expensive property is becoming relevant, but also the question of how not to acquire a stolen item. She told us about possible ways to check the saddle for “cleanliness” and what you should pay attention to when purchasing it not through an authorized dealer. Daria Aksenova, employee Prokoni Shopspecializing in the sale of saddles.

Photo from Instagram @cwd_europe_official

All life in a serial number

The most important identification mark at the saddle, as Daria told us, is the serial number. And you must remember it – it is thanks to this number that you can find out all the information about the saddle. The serial number is located under the wing of the saddle and, as a rule, is very difficult to erase or paint over – the number is deeply imprinted on the skin, and any attempts to deliberately get rid of a few numbers will be very noticeable and should immediately arouse suspicion.

Knowing the serial number of the saddle, you can check it yourself on the manufacturer’s website or contact the official dealer of the brand in your country. With it, you can find out if it has already been bought by someone or is wanted. Therefore, in case of theft, it is worth immediately reporting the serial number to the manufacturer so that he can enter it into the database of wanted saddles. That’s exactly what she did firm CWD, as soon as the serial numbers of saddles stolen in Europe became known.

Our dealers are your assistants

Daria notes that the safest way to purchase a saddle is through the manufacturer’s authorized dealers in your country. For example, store Prokoni Shop is an official dealer of brand saddles CWD, and specialists from the team can not only help the owners choose the right model, they will officially contact foreign manufacturers and clarify with them directly all the questions of interest to the buyer. This way you can be completely sure that you are taking a new saddle, delivered straight from the manufacturer, and not passed through several more hands.

If you buy a saddle that has already been used, you are at greater risk. And in such cases, you should follow a few rules.

At first Always ask the seller for the serial number of the saddle first. In no case should it be specially worn or damaged in any way. So you can check through the manufacturer whether the saddle is listed as stolen and is really available in the store.

Secondly – it is worth discussing the moment of payment with the seller in advance, if the ammunition is going to be sent to you, and you cannot pick it up after making the payment. Giving the whole amount at once, without concluding any agreement or contract and not being able to immediately pick up the saddle, you expose yourself to risks. In this case, it remains only to hope for the conscientiousness of the second party.

Thirdly – if the price of the goods is suspiciously low, always CAREFULLY check the seller for honesty. Try to find out who was the previous owner of the item and contact them. And if the saddle for sale is still in the wanted database, immediately inform the official manufacturer about this in order to avoid further problems with its purchase and ownership.

Insurance of own nerves

As Daria explained, the only sure way to keep your costs to a minimum in case of theft of a saddle is to insure it, like any other valuable property. No one can guarantee the complete safety of your ammunition, this can happen to anyone – at a tournament, when moving, at an exhibition, or even in your own stable. And only saddle insurance will help the owner to minimize their material damage. However, do not forget – in this case, the theft must be officially recorded through the relevant authorities within a certain allotted time.

Of course, the sale and purchase of stolen saddles lies entirely with the good faith of the buyer and seller. But it is worth remembering that the equestrian world, no matter how big it may seem, is quite narrow – and ultimately the truth about buying a stolen saddle can become public, changing the attitude of others to both the seller and the buyer. Therefore, it is better to initially check the product and make sure that the purchased saddle is “clean”.

We hope that those responsible for this series of thefts will be found and all saddles will be returned to their rightful owners. However, we ask our readers to carefully check the serial numbers of used saddles purchased!