A horse owner is offering a £500 reward for the return of saddles and bridles after dawn raiders ransacked her livery yard.

Showjumper Lydia Graham, 28, has been left devastated after the thieves stole tack, worth about £4,000, belonging to her and her livery customers.

The haul included three leather saddles, valued together at nearly £2,000 and including a Jaguar make and a John Whitaker saddle, leather bridles and breast plates, leather draw reins, a John Whitaker brand head collar, a bit, a pair of Eskadron boots and a pair of riding breeches.

The raiders are thought to have struck at the livery yard Miss Graham owns with her parents in Ladywell Lane, Liversedge, at about 5am last Wednesday.

They got through two gates to the American barn, where the horses at the yard are kept, and then forced a padlock on a tack locker to steal the saddles and other equipment. They also took bridles hung up outside stables.

Miss Graham said: “I have worked very hard for ten years to build up the business and this is a massive blow. The stolen saddles and bridles are specialist tack and not easy to replace. My parents are going to lend me money to buy some bridles so I can keep riding the horses.”

Miss Graham, who lives just yards from the stables, said she was woken at 5am by the horses neighing and banging on their stable doors.

“I thought they were just wanting their breakfast, but now I think they must have been disturbed by the thieves.

“I doubt that I will see the tack again. I expect it will be sold at auctions or on eBay, but I am desperate to get back the saddles and bridles and I am prepared to offer a reward of £500 for their return.

“We are now installing CCTV cameras and high security floodlighting, and I would urge any yard or horse owners to get CCTV and make sure their security is as good as it can be.

“Make sure everything is locked up and keep in touch with your neighbours about anything you think is suspicious.”

Anyone with any information is asked to contact PC Tracy Boucher, of Heckmondwike Police, on (01924) 206357, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.