The float's parked at the grounds, tack room unlocked for the ten minutes it takes to warm up. That's often all it takes — saddles, bridles and rugs are targeted specifically because they're valuable, easy to carry, and hard to trace once they're gone.
Why tack theft is such a common, targeted problem
A good saddle alone can be worth thousands, and most riders own several rugs, bridles, and other gear on top of that. Tack rooms and floats are, by necessity, often left accessible during events and training — which is exactly when theft happens. Insurers assessing a claim want to know the make, size, and condition of each item, details most riders know well but have never actually written down.
Replacing stolen tack isn't just expensive, it can mean weeks without gear that actually fits your horse properly while a claim gets sorted.
What helps a claim move faster
- A photo of each saddle, bridle and rug, including any maker's marks or engravings
- Purchase receipts or a rough price and date, especially for saddles
- Serial numbers or unique markings, where they exist
- A record kept at home, not in the tack room or float itself
Where My Asset Mate comes in
My Asset Mate's Animals & Equipment category lets you log your tack properly — photos, details, what you paid — kept safely on your phone, and in the cloud too if you choose. It's a Premium category, and every account gets a free one-month Premium trial to get it all sorted.
If gear does go missing from a float or tack room, you've got a proper record ready for the insurer, not a description from memory.
Worth doing before the next event, not after a padlock's been cut.