To wonder why people see large animal as public property?

[lastqueenofscotland]

I have two ex racehorses. Both slightly institutionalised, if you understand horse behaviour they are fine, but they aren’t docile or all that tolerant. They are also huge.
Both can be quite aggressive over food so we do not hand feed them at all.
They live with a family member of mine ina field on the edge of town. We’ve had a lot of issues over the 2 years they’ve been there of people trying to feed them anything and everything, ham sandwiches, and very concerningly on one occasion, a binbag full of grass clippings.
As one of them is VERY aggressive around food and the other has turned into a hugely fat blimp since his retirement from professional sport we put up signs on the field asking them to not feed the horses. This was largely ignored so we got some electric tape fencing and put it about a meter inside the post and rail. (With signs pointjng out this was electric)

Today someone has knocked on my aunts door fuming that her daughter has had an electric shock trying to feed the horses.
When my aunt politely pointed out that the blimp and the thug really don’t need anymore food this woman goes off on one about how we are stuck up snobs and her daughter enjoys feeding the horses so she will continue to do so.
What the fuck is wrong with people

*Rattleickle
*
You intentionally fed someone's dog chocolate covered raisins as revenge for them feeding your pony? Fair point that they were absolutely in the wrong to feed your horse making it sick. That's awful but for you to knowingly, wilfully give an innocent animal something which could cause them liver failure and kill that dog painfully too?

I cannot believe you think that's fair game. Abhorrent

Good post ladylance
I never kept my horse anywhere with footpaths alongside, I'm glad as I didn't realise how dopey some people are!

Goat it IS entitlement when people ignore signs that say please do not feed and often ignore and argue with the owner! You do NOT have a right to feed other people's animals! And you are not doing something nice for the animal, you are doing something nice for yourself or indulging your child. Plenty of people can pass my ponies by without feeding them, are they horrible people that don't like doing nice things for animals?!

I suggest you put in a new line of electric fencing a metre or so inside the outer fencing, so that passers by can't reach the horses.

I think GoatWithACoat has it right:

“It’s not a sense of entitlement, but a genuine desire to do something nice for an animal. Misguided yes. Entitled no...”

I think that’s why people react so strongly when told not to feed the animals, they run into a psychological black hole as it were, and refuse to drop into it!

People are really resistant to having their positive act revealed as them doing actual harm to the animal... it’s not just that they are feeding the animal, it’s the act of giving and communicating with the animal, forming a bond on some level.

Eg those idiots standing in another posters grand dads garden in their lunch break feeding a pony their lunches including a sausage roll!

They replied ‘oh he likes it we’re his friends’... they don’t want their sense of a personal relationship with the horse destroyed and in their heads, they are having this moment of joint fun together, so therefore they CAN’T be harming the horse. A sort of, does not compute’ kind of mental block.

I think the psychology of it is kind of interesting.

I wonder how it can be used to keep the horses safe? Leveraging the emotions often gets better results. Like the posters who leaves a bag for people to put their treats in...

Hummm... I’m getting far too interesting in this problem! I really should be getting in with some of my own!

@Krustykittens, I agree if there are signs that are being ignored. But I am not talking about people ignoring signs and fencing.

Not sure about the mentality of thinking people are nasty if they don’t feed them. Or people believing they have a ‘right’. 🤔

I think you are over thinking it and projecting your anger. Obviously if you’ve been told not to and argue or ignore signs, that’s one thing. But often people genuinely think they are being kind, that’s all.

When people act out of ignorance, it can cause harm and so is an unintentional form of abuse. Unfortunately they don't know enough to understand that.

Just wanted to thank everyone for all the information on this thread, we often see horses etc when we're out and about on walks. We never feed them because we don't carry snacks with us but I have often wished for a handy packet of polos (obviously I can read, I would take heed of any signs) But now I will be able to explain to my DDs why we shouldn't ever feed them. I have brought them up to first ask dog owners if it's ok to say hello to the dog, so this shouldn't be much different.

Yes thanks everyone for the useful info which I will be sure to pass on to my children.

Feeding most animals such as dogs teaches them to beg for food, but horses are an odd one. Feeding them by hand actually trains them to bite people. They get more and more impatient and grabby, and will tear people's pockets open as well as biting hands. They have strong jaws and large teeth, their bite can be really painful.

Oh god, my nana used to take me feed the horses with carrots as a child. I was scared of them so never actually gave them anything. My mum once a year maybe, takes my horse mad youngster to feed the nearby horses. I'll tell her not to from now on!

Goat you may think it’s unfair to prioritise an animal's health and welfare over your child’s desire to feed it. I do not.
I can live with that.

It’s sad that after all of the useful info given on this thread that there are still parents saying ‘we won’t feed carrots then...’ or ‘but we wanted to do something nice’ rather than simply ‘thanks for the info, we won’t feed ponies anymore’

@Veterinari if you're referring to my post, I actually meant I'll tell her not to feed them anything. It's very clear from OP and all the others with horses (and other animals) that's it's a big no to feed them anything at all. I personally hadn't really thought about it as I don't do it and don't take my children to do it. However as their nana does, albeit rarely, then I'll tell her not to feed them anything either.

My neighbour used to encourage my little cat into his house with Dreamies. I didn't mind so much - his dog had just died and was probably lonely.

However, when he told me he had a new dog that hated cats and attacked them, I had to present him with a water pistol and ask he squirt my cat if he entered his home. He didn't want to discourage my cat in this way because he thought it cruel. "Not as cruel as my little cat being ripped to pieces by your cat-hating dog, mate." I replied.

Just the other day he was telling me how much he misses him and that "it was a shame I made him squirt little cat with water! Again I explained it much more of a shame for my cat to be ravaged by his dog.

Definitely a form of entitlement - ie., I like doing this and I shan't consider any possible consequences.

We had the same problems wirh our laninits pony. But it stopped very quickly when my DD went round to their house with a big bag of chochlate snd raisins and started feeding their dog. Not very nice, but then i couldnt give a fuck

You’re an idiot. You tried to make your point by poisoning the dog? Who presumably hadn’t been feeding your laminitic (sp, dear) pony? One raisin can kill a dog.

Not just large animals my friends very overweight Cat was being fed by other people! She had to leaflet drop the whole neighbour hood in a bid to stop it!

Goat your first post didn't distinguish between people who feed out of ignorance and people who feed despite signs being up telling them NOT to. And most people don't feed animals to be kind, they do it because they enjoy it. They enjoy the attention they get from an animal that might otherwise have ignored them if they had not bribed it over with food. To feed when ignoring signs asking you not to IS entitled. The fact that most people can pass my ponies without feeding them, just rubbing them on the nose if they are close enough or complimenting me on them if I am out in the field, tells me they are animal lovers who recognise that what they want does not trump what I want or what is best for my animal's health.

Perverse if you ever see the owner in the field, don't be scared to ask if your daughter can pet one of her animals. We have a holiday cottage near us, so I get lots of requests over the summer, I am happy to comply. I LOVE to see children's (and adult's) faces light up when they pet one my lot and I have a couple that really love kids. I am very proud of my little herd and I love to show them off!

@whydobirds

Handful of grass from the other side of the wall is different as it isn't fermented but you still don't know if the owners of those horses want them to be hand fed.

I'd just add about poisonous plants into feeding grass pulled up from the other side of the wall. Ragwort is really common where I am (spend a lot of time ragging my field!) And grows in the adjacent field and on the lane leading to the field where my horse is. There's others too, but ragwort is probably the most common and can be deadly to horses. I found some, mixed with grass pulled up from the side of the lane, chucked over my horses gate. Horses won't usually eat it until it's dead, because then it tastes sweet - so pulled up in a handful of grass and left in the sun to wilt and die could cause problems. And as many horse owners struggle to identify it unless it's in full bloom, I doubt others could, even if they know it's poisonous to a horse.
Luckily my horse was too busy being a tart over the fence the other side with the horse next door and didn't notice.

I've had a few incidents of people feeding my horse, and my old pony. One person very kindly reported me to the RSPCA for using a grazing muzzle, and used to take it off! I had to then subject the horse to a tiny paddock instead of a larger field, with double electric fencing and signs, to prevent a recurrence of the laminitis I was trying to prevent on veterinary advice. All this was on private property. I padlocked the gate, put signs up and even a print out of a guide to laminitis. All to no avail.
Old pony has since passed on (not related) but I still catch people trying to feed my horse all sorts, despite a sign and electric fence preventing him getting to the gate. While I'm polite about it, my patience is wearing thin now. The last people I asked not to were taken aback because
"He ate the full pack of mints you know - wrapper and all!"
They only got the message when I asked for their address to post any vets bill to should he colic from the foil on a packet of Polo's! I was a posh stuck up bitch then.

I think where horses are concerned a lot boils down to the stereotype people hold of horse owners in general. That in order to have one you must be rich, stuck up and above yourself. Yes, they are expensive animals, however many of us work hard and go without other stuff to have one. We're normal people who love an animal and invest time, effort and money so we can have one. We know what they can and cannot eat, what is likely to happen in certain scenarios and we know this through time and effort spent learning. We're not saying it for the fun of it.

@krustykittens thanks, l do that.
I've explained to the children why they aren't to feed horses and they understand now. Not even grass from near the field I said, even if that's what they appear to be eating.

Grass clippings are dangerous for horses. They ferment and can cause colic. Can you tape the field off so that they are further away from the main fence?

I think where horses are concerned a lot boils down to the stereotype people hold of horse owners in general. That in order to have one you must be rich, stuck up and above yourself. Yes, they are expensive animals, however many of us work hard and go without other stuff to have one. We're normal people who love an animal and invest time, effort and money so we can have one. We know what they can and cannot eat, what is likely to happen in certain scenarios and we know this through time and effort spent learning. We're not saying it for the fun of it.

Yes! I think this has a lot to do with how people react when you ask them not to do stuff that is dangerous to the horse - in their mind you're obviously better off than them (lol, no chance) so should be providing them with free entertainment because they can't afford it.

And don't get me started on the lunatics who allow their young children to run, screaming, towards me on a hack. Or who ask if little Jocasta can 'have a little ride on the pony' - mate, it's a 16hh eventing-fit Section D that's totally bonkers even when it's not fit enough to gallop and jump for 6 minutes. My safety equipment won't fit. Your child will die if it falls off from that height and lands on its head. The horse has cost me 25k over 4 years. Would you let me drive your sports car just because I fancy it?
And then they tell precious that the 'mean lady' won't let them have a go and it's so unfair and the mean lady obviously doesn't know how to share .

@TERFMcDuck

Yes, I have encountered this. My horse can get impatient when he's asked to stand a while, and likes to wave a front foot in protest. He's got his tack on, me on his back and he's trained to do a job. He wants to get on with that job - not stand (causing a road hazard) while every child in the neighborhood pats him. He weighs half a ton, and he has metal on his feet, he only has to shift himself slightly to adjust his weight, or turn his head to look at something to cause someone an injury. If I stop and let them, and this happens, guess who gets sued? If I say no, guess who's a stuck up posh bitch?

Of course, electric fencing is legal. It's standard method of keeping horses protected. And in fact, it protects stupid people from being dangerous around horses. feeding them makes them aggressive. If someone gets hurt, op has done all she can to prevent idiots trying to kill themselves and the horses

TERF - oh my goodness yes. Families out for a lovely walk, then adults points and says ‘ooh look children, ponies’ then they all run over in a pack screaming and flapping their sticks and coats and whatever else they have on them, usually with a badly trained labradoodle/ cookapoo / something else x poodle barking it’s head of in glee and excitement. My horse then is obviously startled and jiggles about and the parents get all panicky and start making comments about people who can’t control their animals.
Hmmmm, I think actually I have loads of control or my horse would have bolted with fright at the oncoming scene. Also have people endlessly asking for their children to come and ride DHorse. Nope, he is not a toy or suitable for children. As a horse rider we are always taught to (or should be taught to) respect other users of public spaces like common ground or bridleways etc. It’s a shame some families don’t do the same (although I appreciate lots do).
In all my time as a horse rider (30+ years) I have found the most considerate road users are bikers (motor bikes not cyclists). They will nearly always slows right down, offer to switch off engine and many a time I have had a hell angel type ask if my horse would like to come a sniff his switched off bike, to ‘get him used to bikes’. So kind. (Although Dhorse is happy around motor bikes, it’s a very kind thing to do and v helpful)