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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask people to tell everyone they know NOT TO FEED HORSES THAT DON’T BELONG TO THEM

574 replies

YeahBabyYeahYeah · 19/01/2021 15:09

I won’t post the article as it made me cry and may be more triggering for others, but the most beautiful pony is in the papers today. He died because someone ignored “do not feed” signs and fed him a fucking potato.

Why oh why do some people (who in this case clearly know fuck-all about horses if they are feeding them whole potatoes) think it is OK to feed other people’s animals without their permission?

AIBU to think there should be more awareness about this, especially with more people going for walks at the moment. It is never OK to feed a horse unless the owner tells you it is OK and approves the food.

OP posts:
Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2021 15:12

This is a huge problem around here too. There's a sign on most of the fields saying not to. Somebody took some of them their grass cuttings to eat. Angry

Isadora2007 · 19/01/2021 15:12

YABU as this was amply covered in the first lockdown for some reason. Sorry.

Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2021 15:13

@Isadora2007

YABU as this was amply covered in the first lockdown for some reason. Sorry.
I didn't see a thread about it in the first lockdown-but that's about 9 months ago now. TBF judging by all the essential walking being done at the moment by Mumsnetters a reminder might be timely.
Floralnomad · 19/01/2021 15:14

@Isadora2007

YABU as this was amply covered in the first lockdown for some reason. Sorry.
Well it obviously wasn’t taken on board then because it’s still an issue .There are regular threads on our local horse site about this issue and I can’t see what is so hard to understand , you don’t feed any animal that does not belong to you without asking first .
Soubriquet · 19/01/2021 15:16

I mentioned it to a friend once

Went down like a lead balloon

I had taken the fun out of their daily walk

Dutchesss · 19/01/2021 15:16

YABU as this was amply covered in the first lockdown for some reason. Sorry.
Obviously not if it's still happening... Also, if you see threads repeating something you've already read you have the option not to open and read it.

Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2021 15:16

I have found one thread from May last year-that must be it. Grin

Original poster
YeahBabyYeahYeah · 19/01/2021 15:20

This pony was alive in the first lockdown. He isn’t now, @Isadora2007 Sad. So I think the message needs to be put out there more clearly somehow.

Horses are loved and looked after and fed a set diet by their owners. It’s not for the public to feed them treats (I can’t believe someone took grass clippings for someone else’s horse without asking!!).

For example I do think most people now know that dogs shouldn’t be allowed to eat chocolate when certainly this wasn’t as well known by non dog owners when I was little, so raising more awareness around this would be good.

OP posts:
Beaniecats · 19/01/2021 15:22

Yes I know this pony everyone did. Little sweetie. Died frenzied and suffocating. It needs telling far and wide

FatCatThinCat · 19/01/2021 15:22

I didn't realise potatoes were toxic, I just googled. Not that I'd ever feed them, or anything else, to a horse anyway. I'm too scared of anything bigger than a rabbit to get close enough to feed it.

Beaniecats · 19/01/2021 15:23

@Soubriquet

I mentioned it to a friend once

Went down like a lead balloon

I had taken the fun out of their daily walk

Stuffing horses with sugar?
Laiste · 19/01/2021 15:26

Why on earth would anyone feed a horse a potato!? They looked around the house and thought - i'll take this potato out with me on my walk and give it to the horse

??

What is wrong with people?

TurquoiseDragon · 19/01/2021 15:26

It's still a problem because people don't like being told not to do it. As if they are entitled to feed the animals because it's for the kids doncha know, almost public property, and you're being a spoilsport telling them not to.

Some really ignorant people around at the moment.

Sparklingbrook · 19/01/2021 15:28

People would say at the moment that it's the only treat the DC have to look forward to or something. Going to feed someone else's horses without permission.

sanityisamyth · 19/01/2021 15:28

It's the same mentality as people who take a whole loaf of bread out to feed the ducks. They've been told that it's not healthy for the ducks but they clearly know better! Would they like it if people fed their dog/cat/rabbit/snake inappropriate food just because they wanted to?

Baycob · 19/01/2021 15:31

But actually most people don’t know. They think they are doing something kind. There is even an advert from the government here saying “feed the birds, being kind to nature is being kind to yourself”.

I think what would be better is putting a sign up saying please don’t feed my horse XYZ because it will make my horse sick. If Lots of people feed my horse and it can get horsey diabetes ( laminitis). Why don’t you call him over instead, his name is X, and give him a big pat! Alternatively, you could write a sign advising people that your horse bites or kicks.

These signs that just say DO NOT FEED THE HORSES, seem passive aggressive and make people more likely to try to do the opposite! You catch more bees with honey than vinegar!

endofthelinefinally · 19/01/2021 15:35

This is just one aspect of the extraordinary levels of stupidity and selfishness that we have seen increasingly in recent months.
This pandemic has really brought out the best and the worst of human nature.

Purplethrow · 19/01/2021 15:37

I do see you’re point @Baycob but it still angers me as to why people just can’t do as they’ve been asked .

Fiadh79 · 19/01/2021 15:40

I don't feed horses anyway, as I'm too scared. But can you more knowledgeable people explain, surely the horse is in the field eating grass from the ground, so what's wrong with feeding them grass? Is it the quantity with it being grass clippings?

ApplestheHare · 19/01/2021 15:42

YANBU. So sad. I don't understand why people do this. I read about people feeding horses Yorkshire puddings during the first lockdown. Bizarre.

PatchworkElmer · 19/01/2021 15:42

Poor pony 😢

Original poster
YeahBabyYeahYeah · 19/01/2021 15:43

Yes, much as I could, and do, get equally wound up about people feeding wildlife, a horse is clearly someone else’s animal. Nobody would justify walking to someone’s house throwing random food into the garden for their dog, so why do people think they can do it to a horse in a field? They’re not swings in the public park for entertaining children for free.

@Beaniecats you must be so sad, he looked beautiful. If you know the owner, I hope she is able to take a tiny bit of comfort in how many people are saddened by her loss and angry about its needlessness.

OP posts:
WiddlinDiddlin · 19/01/2021 15:44

I have friends with horses who live on/near public footpaths, they have signs all down their fencing asking folk 'please do not feed us, we will get laminitis/we have a special diet or we will be ill or die' and people STILL dump loads of grassclippings, loaves of bread, packets of biscuits....

She's challenged them and been told 'oh but it will make my little child sad if she can't feed the ponies'.. she asked how sad child would be if they came and found the pony dead, apparently she was cruel and over dramatic to say that and upset the child!

Honeyroar · 19/01/2021 15:44

I know this pony too. So bloody sad. And it needs saying time and time again, even if it bores the cold hearted types like Isadora, until the thoughtless idiots that feed other people’s animals get the message.

ApplestheHare · 19/01/2021 15:44

Fiadh79 the BHS has a good explainer on why it's dangerous to feed horses grass clippings: www.bhs.org.uk/advice-and-information/horse-health-and-sickness/grass-cuttings