Seized horses

The priority for Kent Police is to keep the roads safe for all users. Loose horses that stray onto a road cause a significant risk to themselves and the public.

When we are notified that a horse has strayed onto a road, a police patrol will be sent to locate the horse and to get it to a safe location; the safety of the horse is our priority. If local enquires do not identify an owner who can attend and recover their horse, the horse will be seized. 

Recovering your horse

Please contact us by using our LiveChat or by calling 101. We will then advise you of the process to follow for your horse to be recovered.

The costs that are incurred by Kent Police will need to be paid before your horse can be returned. These are set costs which will increase daily to reflect the stabling charge.

Recommendations

Having a horse seized can be stressful as well as incurring a financial burden. It is recommended that:

• you regularly check your horse to ensure its welfare needs
• you ensure that that the environment in which they are kept is adequate and safe
• you ensure that fences and gates are well maintained and secure
• the details assigned to a microchip are up-to-date and accurate (it is a legal requirement to have a passport for your horse and that it is microchipped)
• you insure your horse to provide financial cover should it escape and cause damage to a third party or be recovered