AN equestrian organisation has launched a fresh appeal for horse owners across Worcestershire to sign up and help them fight horse crime.

Caroline Passey is secretary of Worcestershire Horsewatch and says that all riders should be supporting the organisation.

"We need to beat horse crime which seems to be on the increase," said Caroline. "It is not only horses which are taken. Trailers and equipment are also going missing - an average of 30 trailers a month are stolen nationwide. The only way to combat this is to build a huge network and database of addresses so that any rural crime can be forwarded on as quickly as possible to members to help prevent them suffering any loss of animals and equipment.

"It is remarkable that, although we have had thousands of hits on the Worcestershire Horsewatch website, we only have 70 members. People just don't seem able to commit. I want at least 1,000 people to come forward and join us."

The fresh appeal comes two years after the Worcestershire branch was told it had to merge with the Herefordshire branch and lost most of its members.

"Worcestershire Horsewatch is about welfare and security of horses," said Caroline. "We depend on horse owners to help us provide the police and RSPCA with the help they need to fight cruelty, abuse and theft of horses. One of our members heard that stolen horses were to be entered into an equine sale. Via our priority information link we relayed the information to the police that resulted in two arrests. We regularly receive news of dead horses dumped in laybys and coloured horses being stolen to be killed for their hide which is used in furniture making. Horses are being slashed, mutilated and even shot. It beggars belief if we, as horse lovers, do nothing."

According to Caroline, there are currently two horses missing from the county - Pickles, a traditional piebald mare that was taken from her field at Puckrup Hall, near Tewkesbury, and a five-year-old chestnut section A Welsh gelding who was taken from a field at Oddingley, near Worcester.

They are still searching for Toby, a 14.3hh heavy tri-coloured gipsy cob gelding that was stolen from Shropshire.

Caroline said that it costs just £5 a year to join Horsewatch and £10 for non-members to be included on the website where they can distribute photos and any information about stolen horses, tack and trailers.

If you would like to know more, call Caroline on 07736 231062.