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

[YeahBabyYeahYeah]

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.

Another solution could be to leave a bucket of appropriate feed by a sign explaining what horses can eat and why (a bit like at a zoo). This is very concerning. Do you think people should actually do this?

Your solutions seem to be make it easier to let people feed your horse, because you are being mean to it anyway by riding it.

I think the problem is a lot of us have tried the educate and find solutions method, only to be met with abuse and entitlement.

I hate confrontation so I'm always polite and try to explain why I'm asking them not to do something. Unfortunately that doesn't stop me being called a cunt, a stuck up posh bitch, and that I should fuck off and die.

I'm always happy to "talk horses", especially with children because I remember being a pony mad child and it makes their day. But I don't appreciate getting abuse from someone who doesn't care about the consequences of their actions even when they've been politely explained.

@TheBuffster

It's what they do with the reindeer near me. It is a double fence so has to be scattered. No one can get bitten etc. I don't see a problem if people are already feeding unsuitable food anyway.

I give up.

You do know that reindeer aren't the same as horses don't you @TheBuffster?

I have 4 horses on my land. One is an old racehorse that I inherited from my dad. I take nothing to do with the feeding or looking after the horses because I know nothing about it. Two other people do. I would never feed her anything. All I do is pay her farrier, feed and vet bills. She's my old girl seeing out her days and I don't want some random person feeding her.

I think unfortunately no matter what you do some people are going to carry on regardless.

Every time I see a post on Facebook about another horse that's died because of people feeding it I always seem to see people justifying their actions. "I've been feeding the horses down the road for years and it hasn't done them any harm." "My kids like it. They'll have nothing to look forward to if I don't let them." "What harm does a potato do."

You can tell these people until you're blue in the face but they don't care.

But also as this thread has proven, some people simply don't realise and are grateful to have had the reasons explained.

How am I part of the problem? I live in the country, I abide by the code and I respect people's animals.

Because you're here perpetuating the stereotype about posh people ticking people off, and about people with a love for horse's being privileged. That's why you're part of the problem, you're excusing the behaviour of others based in a stereotypical view that isn't true. Behaviour that's making horse's ill and killing them.

I am trying to bridge a place of understanding. You don't seem to understand why it happens, I'm trying to see insight from both sides. It's not going to stop if you don't engage with the other side. I'm sorry you've been threatened but seeing as how about many, many posters have called people names (including you to me) I wonder if there's not another way to approach people. The farmers round my way will happily chat to ramblers to get their point made. Another poster asked an innocent question on here and was torn a new one, so perhaps frustration is fueling an aggressive front.

My 'name calling ' was in response to your asumption about posh people ticking people off. But I see from your response that you think it's perfectly ok to say that about horse owners, but don't like it the other way around. You think it's ok to be derogatory about horse owners, due to a stereotype, but think it's unreasonable for someone to do the same to you, and you can't see the irony in that?
I have engaged with "The other side" I have signs that feeding horse's can endanger them, and been met with aggression, And the aforementioned stereotype about me. I've tried explaining why, as have so many posters, nicely, And using the knowledge we have to let others know. People don't want to be told, they don't want to hear it, and then use the posh stereotype as their reason for not listening. So yes, I'm frustrated about that. It doesn't make the horse any less ill, or dead, or suffered any less because the owner is a skint care worker or a Lord of half the county. The results are the same.

I actually came on here very supportive, but I lose patience with people calling others thickos etc

And I lose patience with people calling me posh and privileged. Apparently that's not allowed though.

And normally, I accept people using horses for their own enjoyment, but it's hypocritical for you to whinge about people doing the same.

No it really isn't hypocritical of me to 'whinge' about my horse's well being being put in danger by people who don't know the first thing about horse's (self confessed) when I've taken time and effort to learn about them to enable me to care for one correctly, And taken time and effort to protect him from being fed and mishandled by people who don't know what they're doing, to prevent illness and injury. And those people just destroy the signs and get aggressive and confrontational when asked not to.

Yes, they are coming from a place of ignorance, but that doesn't mean they mean to be cruel. Some may and that's a separate issue to be tackled, but I think the vast, vast majority of people just like animals and are ignorant of their care.

Then take the time to learn, if they're genuinely that interested, or admire from afar and continue on with the day.

However, I would like to refine my comment on privilege. I am pointing out it's a privilege to work and bond with these animals that many people don't have for various reasons, not just money.

Ok, yes I do consider myself lucky that I was at school with someone who's parents owned the local riding school, that they allowed me to work for rides, that I had enough natural affinity and the drive to go to the library and get books on horse's, made friends that lent me books and taught me things. I worked at it, none of it just happened. But yes I am lucky in the respect that I was in a place it was feasible to do it.

And as for providing an alternative, why is that horse owners responsibility?

There are alternatives. They're called petting zoos and farms. I appreciate they cost money but if you can't afford a day out it doesn't make you entitled to feed someone else's animal just because it's free.

"Please do not feed the horses, doing so may result in me suing you for the cost of the vet bill that may result, as you have been asked not too and it may cause illness and injury to the horses" But then I'll bet you'll tell me that that's too rude and I'm making the problem worse by being confrontational!

I think financial consequences are a good idea actually.
The only difficulty is if people think they can’t be seen or identified!
I don’t know if it’s legal to put up a ‘CCTV in operation’ sign when there’s no CCTV, but if it’s legal such a sign could work like those dummy CCTV cameras people sometimes use as a deterrent on their houses, or decoy burglar alarms you often get on houses/outbuildings. The thought of being identified on CCTV and sued might put people off?

Your sign doesn’t sound rude but a little jumbled. I’d re-phrase it to something like:

‘Please do not feed our horses as this may cause severe illness or injury, resulting in vets bills that could exceed thousands of pounds. Please do not feed anything to the horses, including grass. If you choose to ignore this sign you may be held liable for paying all vets bills. Please note this field is protected by CCTV. Thank you.’

So riding horses is as dangerous to a horse as giving it poisonous food?

I wasn’t the poster who made this point, but yes a lot of equestrian pursuits are dangerous for horses.

Eventing, racing, show jumping, hunting, cross country all put the horse at risk to some extent. I’m not saying horses don’t enjoy these sports any less than they enjoy apples! But they have very delicate cannon bones in their front legs so a fall, especially on landing, can break that bone. There’s no way for it to heal so the horse (in agony) is put down (unless it’s a very valuable horse with potential to breed from, then it may be suspended in a full body sling for months to give the bone a chance to heal).

In my trail hunting days I often saw horses galloped along hard roads, over hard frozen ground (risking leg injuries), whipped about the head for refusing fences, forced into sliding down steep banks then jumping up the other side (and a few horses fell and got injured every hunt). I’ve seen people caught up in the thrill of the chase so much they jump a 5 bar gate onto a main road. And even a horse stuck in a wooden farm gate because the rider tried to make it jump blind and it refused and crashed through the gate instead, sustaining horrible injuries.

I’ve known people who use a harsh bit or a gag snaffle as back up breaks on a soft-mouthed youngster. People who wear spurs when they don’t know how to use them.

I’m not saying all owners treat their horses badly, most don’t. But some do and that doesn’t give riders a great reputation.

@HikeForward

"Please do not feed the horses, doing so may result in me suing you for the cost of the vet bill that may result, as you have been asked not too and it may cause illness and injury to the horses" But then I'll bet you'll tell me that that's too rude and I'm making the problem worse by being confrontational!

I think financial consequences are a good idea actually.
The only difficulty is if people think they can’t be seen or identified!
I don’t know if it’s legal to put up a ‘CCTV in operation’ sign when there’s no CCTV, but if it’s legal such a sign could work like those dummy CCTV cameras people sometimes use as a deterrent on their houses, or decoy burglar alarms you often get on houses/outbuildings. The thought of being identified on CCTV and sued might put people off?

Your sign doesn’t sound rude but a little jumbled. I’d re-phrase it to something like:

‘Please do not feed our horses as this may cause severe illness or injury, resulting in vets bills that could exceed thousands of pounds. Please do not feed anything to the horses, including grass. If you choose to ignore this sign you may be held liable for paying all vets bills. Please note this field is protected by CCTV. Thank you.’

Well yes, the identification is the issue, we have got CCTV, and we got broken into, with a lot of stuff nicked, and feed bins and medical cabinets rifled through (the lock broken off the medicine cabinet where we keep drugs like wormers and Bute) I assume looking for ketamine. We had clear pictures. They were turned over to the police, but as we couldn't identify the people, that was that. And that was for an actual crime with things stolen. I think they'd be even less interested in a vet bill from feeding a horse and trespass to be honest.

@HikeForward

So riding horses is as dangerous to a horse as giving it poisonous food?

I wasn’t the poster who made this point, but yes a lot of equestrian pursuits are dangerous for horses.

Eventing, racing, show jumping, hunting, cross country all put the horse at risk to some extent. I’m not saying horses don’t enjoy these sports any less than they enjoy apples! But they have very delicate cannon bones in their front legs so a fall, especially on landing, can break that bone. There’s no way for it to heal so the horse (in agony) is put down (unless it’s a very valuable horse with potential to breed from, then it may be suspended in a full body sling for months to give the bone a chance to heal).

In my trail hunting days I often saw horses galloped along hard roads, over hard frozen ground (risking leg injuries), whipped about the head for refusing fences, forced into sliding down steep banks then jumping up the other side (and a few horses fell and got injured every hunt). I’ve seen people caught up in the thrill of the chase so much they jump a 5 bar gate onto a main road. And even a horse stuck in a wooden farm gate because the rider tried to make it jump blind and it refused and crashed through the gate instead, sustaining horrible injuries.

I’ve known people who use a harsh bit or a gag snaffle as back up breaks on a soft-mouthed youngster. People who wear spurs when they don’t know how to use them.

I’m not saying all owners treat their horses badly, most don’t. But some do and that doesn’t give riders a great reputation.

This is complete derail - sorry, I know you are responding to a pp. But bad riding practices have nothing to do with this discussion.

@TheBuffster

Another solution could be to leave a bucket of appropriate feed by a sign explaining what horses can eat and why (a bit like at a zoo). People are much more likely to comply with something presented like that than a posh person ticking them off. I think it's rather sad the way people who express interest in animals are demonised on this thread. People should not feed hedgehogs milk either, but I educate them why instead of calling them thickos. Most people are not privileged enough to own horses, but many people like them. I guarantee most people it's coming from a good place. Bit ironic as well you sneering at people using horses for their own gratification too as I am not sure you chucking all that uncomfortable equipment and sitting on it is for the benefit of the horse.

I have no words. A bucket of food! Perhaps you'd like my tackleft out so anyone who fancies can ride him as well

This thread gives me the heebie jeebies and thanking God we have no PROW across our land.
Horses are property plain and simple. People have no rights to feed, interfere or trespass onto private land. If you feed a horse and poison it, it is (in my opinion) criminal damage. Welfare is a separate matter for the Authorities not for the judgement of the individual. Horses are expensive and the vast majority of equines are very well looked after and do not need feeding.

It would not be that hard to comprehend that one shouldn't; climb the fence into their neighbours garden, or feed their dog chocolate, kids alcohol, key their car or smash their windows. So why the fuck do all and sundry feel they have the god given right to whatever they please with a god damn horse......???

We had a couple in the summer, climb two locked gates barred with electric fencing, whilst lifting their dog over.....to get into my private paddock full of very pregnant and lambing ewes. Lucky my neighbours saw them and sent them packing before I caught them.

I think we are going to have to invest in CCTV going forward. If the worst did happen and I could identify the perpetrator I would be doubtful of any criminal justice but we would have the option of civil legal action.

YANBU. Same with other animals and ducks.

We had a couple in the summer, climb two locked gates barred with electric fencing, whilst lifting their dog over.....to get into my private paddock full of very pregnant and lambing ewes.

I have no words!

Hope you've got a shotgun.

TheBuffster

"Another solution could be to leave a bucket of appropriate feed by a sign explaining what horses can eat and why (a bit like at a zoo).
People are much more likely to comply with something presented like that than a posh person ticking them off.
I think it's rather sad the way people who express interest in animals are demonised on this thread.
People should not feed hedgehogs milk either, but I educate them why instead of calling them thickos.
Most people are not privileged enough to own horses, but many people like them. I guarantee most people it's coming from a good place.
Bit ironic as well you sneering at people using horses for their own gratification too as I am not sure you chucking all that uncomfortable equipment and sitting on it is for the benefit of the horse."

I have no words. A bucket of food! Perhaps you'd like my tackleft out so anyone who fancies can ride him as well

My God, I'd misread that as a bucket left out for other people to leave the food.
It's not a good idea for so many reasons, not least that handfeeding causes behavioural issues in some horses.
Ooops there I go again, posh person ticking someone off!

If you want to feed animals get your own or ask a friend or go and volunteer for an animal charity or train as a vet or go to a farm park

I AM posh. That shouldn't matter. You still shouldn't feed or approach my horse unless I say you can.