Brian Hennessy

RINGWOOD Stud in Co Limerick is the latest equestrian yard to be hit by a devastating burglary. The entire tack room was cleared out in a raid last Tuesday night (February 23rd) at the home of well-know sport horse producer Peter Leonard in Newcastlewest.

Leonard told The Irish Field: “They took about 12 saddles, most of them were Stubben and they were all fully dressed with stirrups girths and saddle cloths. They took about the same amount of bridles along with helmets, rollers and head collars. They came in through the back entrance, through the cow yard and broke the lock off the door, so they must have known the place quite well. There was nothing out of place the next day and it was about 11am before we saw everything was gone as the arena was frozen early that morning. I suppose we are all guilty of buying second hand tack but we have to ask where is it coming from.”

Anyone with information are asked to contact Newcaslewest Gardai on 069 20650.

This latest robbery comes on the back of several similar incidences of tack rooms being cleared out despite extensive security equipment being in place at some of the yards in question.