TWO horses stolen from Worcestershire on the same day were sold at a horse market 150 miles away from where they were taken.

The horses, taken from land in Hartlebury and Kempsey, were whisked up to Huddersfield, Yorkshire, after being stolen in the early hours of Saturday, October 9 and sold on that day, have now been reunited with their owners. But a third horse taken from Hartlebury is still missing.

Jaz, a three-year-old piebald filly, was taken from land near Kempsey Common and owner and horse were reunited when she was discovered in Bradford after being sold at the horse sale in Huddersfield.

By chance she had been sold with the horse stolen from Hartlebury, Kelly, who had been branded using the freeze mark method and identified by police as stolen, alerting them to the possibility that Jaz may also have been taken illegally.

Jaz's delighted owner Emma Street was contacted by Malvern police about the discovery.

"Myself and a couple of friends drove to Bradford on Sunday, positively identified her and brought her back," said Miss Street. "She looked very tired but was not injured."

Miss Street said she would now be making sure Jaz is also branded to ensure she will always be identifiable.

"I know I'm extremely lucky to have her back. It really was a one-in-a-million chance that she was identified and returned after such a short period of time. I would like to thank everyone who helped."

Jackie Crew, of Hartlebury, near Stourport-on-Severn, was reunited with her gelding Kelly, after it had been discovered in Huddersfield as well. However, there is still no sign of her dark bay mare called Sprout, stolen on the same night. Sprout is 15 hands high and has scarring under its front two legs.

Anyone with information on Sprout's disappearance can call Miss Crew on 07799 496385.

Cold branding

"We just hope someone can give us some information," she said.

Anna Brown, national secretary for the organisation Horse Watch, said the freeze mark method was the safest way to keep track of a horse.

"It is a cold branding where the hair doesn't grow back and is the only way I would recommend to keep track of your horses," she said.

A Worcester police spokesman confirmed a man was arrested at Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire horse sales on Saturday, on suspicion of being involved in the theft of horses. He has been bailed to return to Worcester Police Station while enquiries continue.

There are two companies in the country that freeze mark horses. They are Farmkey, based in Crewe, Cheshire on 0870 8707107 and Freezemark Ltd, of Banbury, Oxfordshire on 01295 690090.