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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

AIBU to yell at the next person I catch...

141 replies

Pleasedontfeedme · 03/05/2020 20:39

Yes it is a clickbaity title but hopefully what I'm saying might educate people who weren't aware...

AIBU to yell at the next person I catch feeding/throwing food and treats into the field where my old semi-retired pony is supposed to be happily living out the rest of his years?

Ok, I already know I'm being unreasonable but lockdown has made the footpath at runs along the perimeter of the field busier than I have ever known it.
OP (old pony in this instance) has some health complications now and has to have a pretty strict diet these days, he also seems to get fat on thin air and owing to his age and an old injury meaning he can't work off the calories like he used to and so a controlled diet is crucial in keeping him healthy. Yet EVERYONE keeps feeding him, I was only there 30 mins or so today and in that time I spoke (politely I might add) to 2 families giving him apples, carrots and treats, which may seem harmless but each one is akin to giving a toddler and chocolate bar (best comparison I can make). Fine if one person does it, but I'm not their 24/7 to stop everyone else and it's making poor OP a ticking timebomb, I worry I'm going to go see him one day and it's going to be his last, to put it bluntly.
I've got signs around the field saying please don't feed him, I speak to people and try and educate. Some people are really lovely about it and apologetic, others I've asked time and time again. Its not just apples and carrots, some people are throwing random kitchen waste in which is not suitable to be fed to him ( some foods cause colic or horses bolting food down can choke) and some people throw grass clippings In (again can cause colic). Before people suggest, he can't be fenced away from the path, plus from previous experience it doesn't deter people anyway ( I've caught people having a picnic In the field, sharing it with him before).
I just want the public to realise that whilst feeding other peoples people's animals may seem harmless, they might have specific dietary requirements or even just the owner doesn't want you to (some start to bite or it can cause injury if there's a couple of them getting aggressive over food).
I've started posting on local Facebook groups in an attempt to educate (near us one horse has died which was shared widely across Facebook as a result of being fed something she shouldn't have) and yet people are still doing it.
So yes IABU to lose my shit with the next person I see but hopefully the message will reach more people by posting on here.
(Sorry it was a bit of a long winded post!)

OP posts:
Thread gallery
6
tempestterra · 03/05/2020 23:11

Then again they might call the RSPCA out on youShockBlushSmile

GabsAlot · 03/05/2020 23:11

I cant believe the cheek of somepeople after you actually asked them no to-why not just say really sorry wont do it again not argue back!

tempestterra · 03/05/2020 23:11

Yes ring worm perfect

category12 · 03/05/2020 23:12

I suppose you can't stable him during the day and let him graze at night?

Megan2018 · 03/05/2020 23:15

It sould give me the rage too as another owner of an old laminitic. Two ponies died the other day near me from grass clippings.

Fortunately our grazing all inaccessible from the road/paths and as it’s a farm they risk the wrath of our farmer and his guns.

If you are staying there long term I’d ask if you can put up additional semi perm fencing (wooden posts and electric?) on the condition you remove it if/when you leave.

Nitpickpicnic · 03/05/2020 23:15

“There were three healthy ponies in this field, until people like you with your ‘it was just a wee carrot’ ended up killing two. Feeding ANYTHING from outside this field causes serious, expensive and often fatal consequences. If you love animals, and don’t love formal criminal charges, DON’T FEED THE PONY.” Signed The Owner, and the local Vet.

QuestionableMouse · 03/05/2020 23:16

I hate this. Only thing that works is running another fence inside the current fence to keep the horses out of touching difference.

Original poster
Pleasedontfeedme · 03/05/2020 23:17

No, he quite literally tries to climb out the stable, he hates it, sweats up and I think he'd end up hurting him self. He lives out 24/7, he has a field shelter he pops his head in when he's too hot. I have a small yard that he uses if ever he needs box rest, but it borders onto the fence with the footpath, it would be like an all you can eat buffet for him at the moment with all the Walkers

OP posts:
QuestionableMouse · 03/05/2020 23:20

What about a grazing muzzle during the day @Pleasedontfeedme? Depends if he'll tolerate it but worth a try?

Thelnebriati · 03/05/2020 23:23

Would the field owner put in a double gate?

Original poster
Pleasedontfeedme · 03/05/2020 23:25

He wears one every other day but I've never been able to find one that doesn't run under his chin raw, and people feed him through the hole anyway. When I asked some one what on earth they thought he was wearing it for as they shoved a bloody breakfast bar through the hole, they said they thought it was so he couldn't bite people.

OP posts:
HorseRedArrow · 03/05/2020 23:26

I hate people who do this. I used to ask what their reaction would be if I, a total stranger, just went up to their toddlers in a playground or in their front garden and handed them an alcopop in a sippy cup. I mean, it’s sweet, it’s tasty, the kid would probably drink it happily enough. It’s also potentially lethal. And how exactly they thought that was any different to giving my horses completely inappropriate shit like crisps or chocolate, without asking or thinking. One or two had the good grace to admit I had a point.

12stepCAKE · 03/05/2020 23:28

Someone just posted a similar thing on our village Facebook page. She is going to put a box for people to leave the treats there for her to organise inatead

Original poster
Pleasedontfeedme · 03/05/2020 23:28

I guess the only real solution is to fence him away from the footpath and hope no one else decides they need some new electric fencing again Sad it's really annoying because the field is an odd shape and typically the footpath runs along the longest side of it... I may put charity boxes out and see if all those who feed him also want to contribute to the cost of doing this.

OP posts:
Honeyroar · 03/05/2020 23:32

We’ve fenced one of our footpaths off, but in our summer field they cross a footpath to get to the stream to drink. They also like to paddle when it’s hot.

Sparrowlegs248 · 03/05/2020 23:36

Electric fence. 😊

MojoMoon · 03/05/2020 23:40

Grazing muzzle?

Would stop him eating the treats and it might work together with signs to deter them?

AquaFaba · 03/05/2020 23:40

@Pleasedontfeedme : I feel your pain! We have a footpath that crosses our land. The lockdown has seen a rise in antisocial behaviour...lots more people leaving dog poo in bags hanging on the fence, trespassers into our land and cyclists on the footpath.
We have lots of signs already, so the lack of signage isn’t the issue. I’ve been verbally abused when I have pointed these issues out.

It’s making me really depressed; we have no recourse.

LesleysChestnutBob · 03/05/2020 23:41

I wouldn't have thought these morons are doing it because they want to contribute to the pony's feed bills. They're doing it because they think "ah poor pony hasn't got any grass he must be hungry". They don't want to leave treats they want the fun of feeding the pony themselves otherwise there's not much in it for them.

Maybe any signs should read something like

"This pony could die if he eats too much sugar. Do not feed him. He doesn't have much grass in his field because it is dangerous for him (laminitis) but he has an owner and they give him the special diet he needs. Thank you for helping him stay healthy by not feeding him anything, including grass".

MojoMoon · 03/05/2020 23:41

Ah see someone suggested it already, sorry. We used to line our old pony's one with artificial sheepskin (using glue gun) to prevent rubbing

TrainspottingWelsh · 03/05/2020 23:48

Depending on pony's talent for removal and head shape, the next size up lined with sheepskin sometimes does the job for rubbing.

TunnocksOrDeath · 03/05/2020 23:50

People don't like being asked to stop doing things, it makes them defensive and they come out with nonsense like "it's ok for them, provided no one else does the same thing".
Maybe turn a negative request (don't do this) into a request for action (please do that) ? Put up a really big sign on the gate that says "I spent £xxx on vets' bills last year because people fed this pony extra food and he got sick. If you see anyone feeding this pony please ask them not to.". It might make them think a bit more about the pony and less about themselves.

OakleyB · 03/05/2020 23:53

Just to add virtual support. A lot of horse owners are struggling with this, it's happening alot. Non horse owners just don't realise the harm they are doing. All of the suggestions I have seen on here are good. I agree with you about educating people if you can.

category12 · 04/05/2020 00:05

I think TunnocksorDeath has a good take on it if you're doing signs.

"This pony has laminitis, a very painful condition that could kill him. To keep him well, he needs to be on a diet. If you see anyone feeding him, please ask them not to."

Thelnebriati · 04/05/2020 00:08

I'd be looking for alternative grazing.
The fields I used to keep my lot in are all houses now, they couldn't be rented out safely and that was with double fences and gates. People moaned about losing their view, and bitched about how much money the owner must have made.