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.

I honestly would have had no idea potatoes, apples etc were bad for horse. In story books apples are always what horses eat!

I certainly wouldn't have imagined grass cuttings would do any harm, I had no idea horses had a delicate digestive system. I've never fed a horse any of these things, mostly because I just wouldn't think to, but I can see how easy it would be to think you are doing something kind. I don't think its fair to say people are being selfish or stupid

I don't know what the solution is, but I do think its up to horse owners to educate others about their animals. So threads like this do help but I'm not sure name calling does

I had horses for 25yrs and used to hate it if anyone tried to feed them. Mine were turned out with a couple of tiny hooligans and the pecking order sometimes got really nasty. Lots of teeth and hooves. They would mug you/each other for food, so apart from the toxicity, diet and choking issues that can happen, it really can lead to accidents on the human and horse end. One of mine got his leg caught in the five bar gate as part of a scuffle which brought him down and he panicked. It was bloody awful and he cut his fetlock. We then got firm with people, asking them to please leave the horses alone and why. It just doesn't help with good socialisation and pecking order habits if they see people at the gate and just think FOOOOD!

@HikeForward

I agree people shouldn’t feed horses, but sadly signs won’t stop everyone! Lots of people ignore signs or don’t see them or don’t know it’s dangerous to feed a horse or what the consequences can be.

It would be much safer for the horses if the owners built a double fence (the outer fence preventing people from being able to reach the inner fence) like in a zoo. I’ve seen horses in fields where the outer fence is electric! Or keep them in fields that don’t back on to footpaths or residential areas.

It’s unrealistic to expect everyone to obey the signs or understand them. Yes they should obey them but many don’t. ‘Educating’ people only goes so far. Horse owners need to make their fields and paddocks inaccessible to walkers. Many people feed potatoes and turnips to cows/pigs etc and don’t understand the danger for horses.

My horse is kept in a field only accessed by opening a gate, walking into the first part of the yard and up to the fence. The roadside hedge is a 6ft spiky prickly thing on top of a bank a further 2/3 feet high, from a ditch, you can't see over it or through it, a post and rail the other side topped with electric tape. Bordered by our own/farmers fields/ the yard on the other 3 sides. No footpaths. The road comes down the hill and you can see them further up, which is how I assume people know they're there.

The amount of crap I have picked up out of the field is ridiculous, and the yard owner was threatened by someone trespassing and trying to sit their toddler on a 16hh+ unbroken 4 year old horse, I have been told to stop being so precious and called a stuck up cunt for asking people not to come onto private land and feed horses that don't belong to them.
So what else do we do? Put invisibility cloaks on them?! And while I agree that it's unrealistic to expect everyone to do it, it has always been a problem, a risk most horse owners have to accept, the increase in incidents through both lockdown is staggering, I really don't see what's unrealistic about expecting someone to not put your animal in danger or kill it, just because they want to, especially when told face to face or informed through signs.

I'd be interested to know if there's any legal president of someone being prosecuted for doing this, in all honesty if I end up with a 4 figure vets bill and a dead horse because of someone else's negligence - despite the set up, despite the signs up, then I'd be tempted to try my luck legally if they were identified. I'm no law buff but surely animal cruelty or maybe even criminal damage?

There needs to be a national campaign and fines etc for people doing this.

For now I'll settle for the fucking great gsd that has free run of the yard, who is a gobshite and scares people into staying off private fucking land and not feeding other people's horses.

Thanks for starting this thread OP. I wouldn’t feed animals if I was out for a walk anyway but honestly had no idea about hazardous food to horses so it’s been educational. I feel so sad for those horses that have been needlessly killed

I should add, these are individually lovely, well socialised animals - just like any other pack animals, they can behave quite ferally when competing with each other for food in the moment and without an owner present.

We live near the New Forest so my children know you don't feed the animals, but it's amazing how many people don't. My children are very fond of horses and will often stop to look at them in fields and it's obvious which ones people have been feeding because they can be quite aggressive. It's such a shame it's not better known, I know as a child I had no idea you shouldn't feed horses or ponies.

Thanks for this post. Has educated me. I can understand why the horse owners among you are so angry, but it might help you to see it from the other side. I loved horses as a child, and my mother had grown up with her own horses. I was brought up that you could give a horse a carrot as a treat, and it was nice to offer a handful of grass with a flat hand. Since then I've had very little contact with horses.
To call me thick that I don't know not to give horses food (inc. carrots) seems a little harsh. As far as I knew, I'd been well educated in what to do with horses. Turns out times have changed and perhaps knowledge of horse digestive systems has moved on. But if you're not a horse owner, why would you know that? Seems there's a genuine need for a big campaign of (re)education, to challenge what people think they know. But don't insult people for not knowing things that for most of population are fairly niche bits of knowledge. I agree with PPs, get Country File on board, and the local papers, and local primary schools. But avoid the insults.

I don't blame non-horsey people for not knowing what to feed a horse, but I do think people are selfish and entitled when they ignore signs telling the not to feed or are abusive when asked not to in person. I've had a neighbour scoff at me when I asked him not to hand feed my herd of bolshy native ponies because he was convinced he knew better and I was just being precious. For people like that I have a long list of names to call them and I will use them!

You don't feed any animal that is owned by somebody else. You don't have to be a horse owner to know that.

God this annoys me so much!! My little Shetland looked like a barrel after the first lockdown I have no idea how she avoided lami

For those who want to feed horses regardless, I witnessed a mare in one of our fields attack a man when his carrier bag of food ran out, she kicked him to the floor if I'd not been there to shout her off he'd likely have been trampled, a child wouldn't have stood a chance.

@hoodiemum I would never think you were thick - how can you know if nobody says, so I'm really glad this thread is helpful for people to know what's safe/ok and what's not for humans and horses.
My patience would only wear thin with repeat offenders or people who won't be told.

While there are experts to ask ... please could anyone advise: I occasionally run on footpaths through horse fields. With dog. I prefer to avoid, but if I have to, what's the best tactic if they come up to you? Walk slowly and ignore, with dog on lead? Stop and say hello and be friendly? Run as fast as you can get away? I'd prefer they just ignored us but sometimes they don't, and they don't seem to like the dog, although he does nothing to antagonise, as far as I can see.

But if you're not a horse owner, why would you know that?

But if you're not a horse owner, why would you feed a horse, no matter how 'educated' you think you are?

@hoodiemum

Thanks for this post. Has educated me. I can understand why the horse owners among you are so angry, but it might help you to see it from the other side. I loved horses as a child, and my mother had grown up with her own horses. I was brought up that you could give a horse a carrot as a treat, and it was nice to offer a handful of grass with a flat hand. Since then I've had very little contact with horses. To call me thick that I don't know not to give horses food (inc. carrots) seems a little harsh. As far as I knew, I'd been well educated in what to do with horses. Turns out times have changed and perhaps knowledge of horse digestive systems has moved on. But if you're not a horse owner, why would you know that? Seems there's a genuine need for a big campaign of (re)education, to challenge what people think they know. But don't insult people for not knowing things that for most of population are fairly niche bits of knowledge. I agree with PPs, get Country File on board, and the local papers, and local primary schools. But avoid the insults.

Don't be ridiculous! Maybe ask yourself why you think it's perfectly fine to feed a horse when you wouldn't dream of feeding someone's dog in the street. You don't know better than the owner, so just don't do it!

I hope I haven't insulted anyone or called anyone thick, I've tried my best to answer questions nicely, I do feel passionately about it but only because I love my animals and would hate to see them suffer needlessly, and also because I am truly afraid an innocent child could get hurt with some of the behaviour I have seen or heard about from their parents, no amount of 'ignorance' excuses that IMO.

But I have no ill will towards people who don't know about horses and their diets, of course not, if you aren't horsey why would you know or care, so long as you aren't the kind of person who would deliberately ignore a clear and polite request not to feed them because you feel you know best!

Most horse owners I know honestly try their level best to educate, everyone I know has signs up everywhere, usually nicely but unambiguously worded with explanations, not just 'DO NOT FEED', as I've said we've also constructed a barrier inner fence for our fields, we have no choice but to graze them in fields alongside footpaths. I really don't see what more we can or should do, and the truth is I am sure the vast vast majority of walkers see and heed the signs and don't try and feed the horses, it's a small minority who feel entitled to do as they please and as others have said no amount of signs or pleading or education will stop them.

The British Horse Society, countryside association and other bodies do campaign and try and educate on these and other welfare matters, cynical me says that the media tend not to be very interested due to perceptions of horse owners as 'toffs' etc but maybe I'm wrong there....

And it isn't "niche" to know that you aren't supposed to feed other people's pets!

@Maverickess

But if you're not a horse owner, why would you know that?

But if you're not a horse owner, why would you feed a horse, no matter how 'educated' you think you are?

Exactly!

Oh and also people need to be reminded to keep their dogs on a lead around horses.

I've known a horse kill a dog in the field as it got too close to one of the mares. And my daughters will go for a dog if it comes into their field. They can kill a dog with one kick.

@hoodiemum

While there are experts to ask ... please could anyone advise: I occasionally run on footpaths through horse fields. With dog. I prefer to avoid, but if I have to, what's the best tactic if they come up to you? Walk slowly and ignore, with dog on lead? Stop and say hello and be friendly? Run as fast as you can get away? I'd prefer they just ignored us but sometimes they don't, and they don't seem to like the dog, although he does nothing to antagonise, as far as I can see.

Thanks for asking - I'd def put dog on lead in any field with any lifestock in, for his safety as much as yours. If the horses approach keep him close at heel or if you can manage, scoop him up into your arms. Keep your hands out of your pockets as they can associate hands going in with a treat coming out and get a bit stroppy when one doesn't emerge! Then I'd calmly walk on past them without engaging or trying to pat them, and quietly and slowly leave the field. If you then want to pat or fuss them do so on the safety of the other side of the fence is my recommendation!

Horses are not usually territorial, hopefully the ones you encounter are just curious/wary, but they can get a bit bolshy if they think they might be being fed and some are really afraid of dogs (even well behaved ones) which can on the odd occasion manifest in aggression. If you see any truly aggressive behaviour such as snapping (at you or the dog, not one another, the latter is pretty normal and harmless herd behaviour), or swinging their bums around and going to kick, I would get away asap, shout loudly 'get away' or similar, perhaps wave your arms or shake a rustly object such as a carrier bag to frighten them off, just until you can get away. If you can, report any aggressive behaviour to the landowner as aggressive horses should not be kept in public access fields as this is just a danger to themselves and the public!

@hoodiemum To call me thick that I don't know not to give horses food (inc. carrots) seems a little harsh. As far as I knew, I'd been well educated in what to do with horses

I wouldn’t think you were thick - if you don’t know, you don’t know.

I do however, get very fed up with people who continue to feed horses when they’ve been asked not to, or ignore clear signs

Our field had at least a dozen signs along the length of the footpath but people ignored the signs or pulled them down.

We left a bucket out with a nice sign asking people to put treats in the bucket and if they were suitable, we would share them around the yard - someone pulled down the sign and nicked the bucket

We put a double electric fence in to stop the horses getting within feeding reach - people climbed the gate or chucked food over the fence.

I’ve spoken to people directly, very politely and been called a stuck up bitch, told to fuck off, told that “I can do what the fuck I want” that their “child is upset”

I don’t want to be unkind, if people are around when I’m out in the field, I’ll happily talk to them, bring our oldie over for a stroke. I made one little girls day once by letting her old our oldie’s lead rope while we plodded back to her stable (and I had hold of her head collar) but it does make me very angry that they continue to put my horses and themselves at risk of harm

@hoodiemum

While there are experts to ask ... please could anyone advise: I occasionally run on footpaths through horse fields. With dog. I prefer to avoid, but if I have to, what's the best tactic if they come up to you? Walk slowly and ignore, with dog on lead? Stop and say hello and be friendly? Run as fast as you can get away? I'd prefer they just ignored us but sometimes they don't, and they don't seem to like the dog, although he does nothing to antagonise, as far as I can see.

Probably keep your dog on the lead at all times and walk slowly and ignore. Unfortunately some might be coming up to you... because public feed them. There's no one answer to this, but I think be aware that some horses aren't keen on dogs. One of mine will be very threatening to dogs, and I never quite trust him. If a horse is targeting on a dog they will tend to do it by coming at the dog head on intending to stamp with their front feet.

Thank you so much, @maxelly. Really useful tips.

And @stablefeet.

I suspect it will take a tiny child being severely injured to stop the public from thinking that horses are all extras in a giant petting zoo.

@hoodiemum

Thanks for this post. Has educated me. I can understand why the horse owners among you are so angry, but it might help you to see it from the other side. I loved horses as a child, and my mother had grown up with her own horses. I was brought up that you could give a horse a carrot as a treat, and it was nice to offer a handful of grass with a flat hand. Since then I've had very little contact with horses. To call me thick that I don't know not to give horses food (inc. carrots) seems a little harsh. As far as I knew, I'd been well educated in what to do with horses. Turns out times have changed and perhaps knowledge of horse digestive systems has moved on. But if you're not a horse owner, why would you know that? Seems there's a genuine need for a big campaign of (re)education, to challenge what people think they know. But don't insult people for not knowing things that for most of population are fairly niche bits of knowledge. I agree with PPs, get Country File on board, and the local papers, and local primary schools. But avoid the insults.

Educated or not, what on earth makes you think it’s ok to feed an animal that doesn’t belong to you in the first place?