To report these horses to the RSPCA?

[G3entlemanjack]

There's two horses in a field along a path we have started walking a lot. It's fairly hidden away so you don't get lots of people going past. I've noticed the last few evenings that the two horses in the adjacent field seem to be uncared for (I'm an experienced horse owner myself so know what I'm looking out for).

They are turned out in this heat with absolutely no shade at all. The 'grass' is non existent, literally. It's basically soil. There's no hay left out for them so they have nothing to eat. There are no feed bowls or anything to suggest regular feeding. I can't see a water supply anywhere but I'm guessing that there's a bucket somewhere, there must be. These horses are so thin you can see their ribs but with large, distended stomachs which could be worms or malnutrition or both.

I'm on the point of putting some of my hay out for them but I'm slightly hesitant because a) they aren't my horses and b) there might be a reason why they haven't got hay. But I can't bear to see the poor things in such a dreadful field I have no idea who the owners are, there are no houses around there at all. Does anyone else have any ideas how best to help these horses?? Or should I just keep my nose out?

Would the RSPCA even be interested??

Thanks everyone.

Out of hours - because I wanted others' perspective and possibly advice which I have indeed had.

Yes, I see them at different times of the day because I often go running down there and then we take the dog in the evenings when it's cooler (it's a very quiet place so perfect for our energetic puppy where he can be off the lead and not bother other people!)

I do appreciate the fact that I don't know any of the circumstances, but this just doesn't sit right with me.

I will definitely look into the other organisations and report to one/all.

I'm wary of posting on local Fb groups because these things can often turn into rumours and arguments and I don't want to cause a fuss, I want to help these horses.

I will report back

Compulsiveliar- Yes, I can see the whole field.

Best off reporting it, but ribby with distended stomach is classic cushingoid so could be a possibility in older equines. I think looking at thing like whether feet are trimmed etc can be a good indicator of general welfare. The welfare organisations are sadly overwhelmed and often unable to act unfortunately.

Police will go out to neglected / in distress horses round here. 101 then they send someone from the rural team x

Just to add the most recent call round here turned out to be nothing to worry about, they were off grass due to laminitis worries but the police and the vet thanked the caller and said they did the right thing. On another occasion the horses were taken away and the owner prosecuted.

In my experience (50 years' worth of horse care/ownership and horse rescue), the RSPCA are usually quite good at fast response to reported small animal rescue, but pretty useless when dealing with non- travelling travellers. Before anyone jumps on me by saying that I'm racist, I'm not. I know some local settled Gypsies who keep their beautiful horses in immaculate condition, and I have learnt a lot from conversations with them. However, up the road to me we had some problems with about twenty very thin neglected young coloured cobs who were fly grazing a local farmer's land. No water and no hay. Fencing broken. They kept getting out and ended up on the roads and railway lines. RSPCA were told very many times. No improvement. Police informed and removed them immediately. The farmer now has his land back, re-fenced, and his cattle grazing safely. The police carried out a major raid on the previous owners' settled land and discovered a puppy farm and a large amount of stolen goods. The RSPCA have, I have been informed, insufficient funds to employ more specialised horse inspectors. I suggest you look at the annual salaries of senior management, their audited yearly accounts and the derisory wages of their field officers. They also put down a number of purebred Arabian horses whose owners were immediately available to take them back, whatever state they were in. The RSPCA then claimed 7 months' livery costs be added for the dead horses who had never occupied them.

Local to me the RSPCA left dead and dying horses in a field that was filling up slowly with water (over months not over days) horses were still tethered couldnt pull themselves free were in very poor condition a couple were dead one was just mostly bones left so long long term neglect they were not interested there was an outcry a local horse charity got involved and went to rescue them the rspca turned up with the police saying they had no right to remove them and the owner needed to be contacted first to turned into a right argument the police allowed the horse charity to remove them and put them in a safe place as it clearly wasnt suited some had to be euthanized
The RSPCA would have left them to rot

Worst case scenario if you report unnecessarily is an offended owner. Worst case scenario if they're neglected is a slow and painful death. It's always better to report concerns to the BHS welfare team / WHW etc than not.

Although I say this as someone who often half expects these types of threads to be describing my lot, who are on limited grazing (albeit with water, forage which isn't necessarily obvious from the gateway, and in good general condition). They'd try to tell you that they're starving though!

If you were really an experienced horse owner why waste time making a thread to ponder over whether to report witnessing animal neglect?

RSPCA do fuck all. There was a big campaign recently about some horses near us that had been left in a field that floods regularly. People were clubbing together to get hay bales delivered to them. Went on for months if not years. Think 3 horses died there before anything was done www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.northantstelegraph.co.uk/news/people/huge-operation-sees-dozens-horses-rescued-flooded-wellingborough-fields-1889232%3famp

Thanks for all the info, I wasn't aware of the RSPCA attitude. I would never have thought that an animal welfare group would treat animals like that!!

I've called a couple of charities - one very local to me - and one isn't taking on any new cases at the moment and I'm waiting for the other one to call me back. Doesn't look hopeful 😞

Viking - I explained upthread why I started this post. When I say experienced, I mean I have owned horses for 30 years.

For all the slating of the RSPCA they may be your best bet, just because they cant help all animals doesnt mean they dont help any animals. It will depend on their local resource.

But - the horses must have access to water or they'd be dead, so its possible they have access to food also. Lots of horses are neglected I the uk each year so you should report your concerns but I also know of cases of very old, much loved horses who present with the toast rack ribs/big belly look.