Equine Welfare Issue: Who to Call?

RE: Equine Welfare Issue: Who to Call?

Gina Dungworth — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 20:54:37 GMT

Thanks, Wynne.

The big boy shouldn't be too much hassle once his leg's healed up. He's very amenable to new experiences, but had never left the land he was born on (barring escapades into neighbouring gardens) until I fetched him from the South Coast up to Yorkshire.

The little one's trickier. He was dumped on an abandoned airfield as a yearling and has yet to get over his fear that someone might grab him roughly if he gets too close. Once I've got hold of him, I can do most stuff with him, though I'm not sure I'd risk walking him out alone on any of the roads round where we are at present.

RE: Equine Welfare Issue: Who to Call?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Sun, 06 Mar 2016 07:58:12 GMT

The very best of luck. Two of mine came from a horrible sale of feral Welsh Mountains at Brecon. They were wild as hawks when I bought them, and are now lovely cheeky little chappies.

Wynne

RE: Equine Welfare Issue: Who to Call?

Gina Dungworth — Sat, 05 Mar 2016 18:54:03 GMT

Thank you Evelyn, Hannah and Wren for your well-thought-out replies. We've still had no communication from the mare's owner, although someone has been messing around with our haylage stores (and possibly taking some away for horses elsewhere). Meanwhile we've started giving the mare a bucket of feed when the others are eating -- as well as haylage and carrots, and she's not as nervy around us as she was the first week (no idea if/when we'd be able to catch her, though).

We're trying to get the landowner involved, and also asking people in the surrounding houses to let us know if anyone comes down to either feed the mare or take haylage for other purposes.

I'll try talking to local welfare charities from Evelyn's list just to make them aware of the situation as soon as other stuff calms down (I keep intending to be at home in daylight hours one day in the week, but I've had a lot on trying to keep my big pony's wounds clean and healing nicely in all the rain and mud -- he's had enough of being washed and has started politely expressing his displeasure when I approach with yet more salt water).

It's a real shame about the mare. She'd make a lovely project pony for someone with the time and patience to work with her properly. But then I have two of those already.

RE: Equine Welfare Issue: Who to Call?

Wren — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 09:40:45 GMT

There is actually no answer to this one - it happens all the time. The owner is taking the piss.

The welfare charities won't be interested as the mare is being cared for (albeit by you and your friends). Police etc. ditto as there is no offence being committed.

I have had people have to actually stop looking after the horse (ie. stop providing food/water etc.) to get the RSPCA involved, but even then they can't do much. A recent clear neglect case that I was involved with (ex-racehorse with a BCS of 1 - emaciated, no concurrent illness, purely malnutrition and negligence) didn't even make it to a prosecution.

I suggest you round up a posse of your biggest baddest friends and go knocking on her door. Give her a fixed deadline by which you want things done and tell her that if they don't happen she'll wake up to find the horse tethered to her front door and a padlock on your field gate.

RE: Equine Welfare Issue: Who to Call?

Hannah Wynne Richards — Tue, 01 Mar 2016 08:20:47 GMT

I agree with Evelyn in that I think the 1st step is for all of you to call together to see the owner. However, I don't agree with him on the RSPCA. If a private chat doesn't produce an improvement, then they're the next step.

Wynne

Good luck that it all turns out well for this poor mare

RE: Equine Welfare Issue: Who to Call?

Evelyn Barbour-Hill — Mon, 29 Feb 2016 23:11:34 GMT

Tricky....

Who actually owns the land? Maybe the land owner is the person to take the mare owner to task?

Maybe the three of you should don your gunbelts and pay a call on the lady.........?

To be fair, maybe she doesn't know that "the girl" has been neglecting her duties? Maybe there's a misunderstanding and the girl doesn't know what she's supposed to be doing?

Suppose the mare does get injured or ill? You can work out the plot... you call veterinary attention, owner turns up later, says you shouldn't have interfered, declines to pay....

Sorry, I've no good answer, but don't call RSPCA. If you want to call someone, call one of the horse welfare people... start with BHS?

http://www.newc.co.uk/advice/advice-for-welfare-organizations/