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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To remind you not to feed horses

143 replies

lastqueenofscotland · 04/05/2021 19:46

It doesn’t feel like it but summer is approaching.
While out and about PLEASE don’t feed horses unless you have express permission from the owner
Not carrots, not polos, no not even long grass from the other side of the fence, there is probably a reason the horse is in the field with the shorter grass.

Horses can’t burp or be sick, so a minor stomach upset can quickly turn into colic, which can kill them, they can suffer from laminitis if they eat too much sugar (which can be from grass he se why not to feed them grass from the other side of the fence)
They can also be really aggressive around food and can do some real damage to you/DC even from the other side of some post and rail.
More and more frequently I’m hearing horror stories about horses who’ve died/miscarried foals/cost owners tens of thousands in bills due to colicing all after being fed by well meaning strangers.
Please please please don’t do it.

OP posts:
BashfulClam · 05/05/2021 19:05

@BeneathYourWisdom showing you have no wisdom. In Scotland all countryside, even fields belonging to farmers and with animals in them are legal for the public to access. Freedom to roam, even signs saying ‘Beware, young bulls’ don’t stop idiots wandering across fields. Therefore any field with a horse in it can be accessed by the public.

sanityisamyth · 07/05/2021 03:29

Feeding Wales' wild mountain ponies 'could be killing them' www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-57016518

Seeyou · 07/05/2021 03:57

Coming here to say that I had absolutely no idea about any of this. And have done it too., with the long grass. Assumed that the horse would not eat it if it was not good for them. Thought carrots and apples were OK for horses and regarded as treats.
So here is one ignorant person who has been educated. Never again.
Just wondering , do donkeys also have the same issues ?

MessedOfTimes · 07/05/2021 04:00

Thank you for explaining this, OP. I’ve always felt a bit iffy about what the relevant etiquette is, and this is an important clarification and PSA! I sincerely appreciate you posting this ☺️

Ispini · 07/05/2021 04:02

Brilliant thread OP, well done and so good to see people are taking your advice on board. 💐👍🏻

Dustyblue · 07/05/2021 04:06

This thread is an eye-opener for me. I'm in Australia, somewhat rural area but not too many people have horses. One property I pass on my dog/toddler walks has 2 beautiful, big dark brown horses (no idea what they are!) who usually come stick their noses over the fence next to the path.

We always stop to admire them, but I wouldn't try to pat them- let alone feed them. Now I'm wondering if they're coming to the fence b/c other people have been feeding them.

As for letting the dog near them- people must be nuts! We've an Australian Cattle Dog, he'd probably get confused and try to round them up. Can't see that ending well.

I had to laugh at giving a horse a mint b/c it looked ill, please let that be a jokey exaggeration.

LemonLilyLeaf · 07/05/2021 04:37

Damn ducks and bread, they can have it, in moderation
inews.co.uk/news/environment/ducks-bread-rspb-food-diet-underweight-352184

Onesnowynight · 07/05/2021 05:07

We have ponies on our mountain and every year someone puts on Facebook about their child being nibbled/bitten/eaten by a horse when they feed them. Every.single.year. These people are incapable of reading the Do.Not.Feed.Horses signs too!

MyOctopusFeature · 07/05/2021 06:02

As a horse owner I would like to add that “Do not feed the horses” should be construed very widely. Please do not feed the horses to tigers, lions or dragons. If there are any ogres or giants on MN this applies to you also! Please leave the horses alone.

Planttrees · 07/05/2021 11:48

@TheGumption

But the children so enjoy it. What about my children?! Wink
Maybe next time I see a parent allowing their child to feed my horse I will offer their child some really unhealthy sweets! Grin
Planttrees · 07/05/2021 11:52

@TheGumption

But the children so enjoy it. What about my children?! Wink
@seeyou Yes really bad for donkeys too..
Planttrees · 07/05/2021 11:52

Sorry, don't know how that quote came up again!

HavelockVetinari · 07/05/2021 12:45

[quote PerspicaciousGreen]@LaLaLandIsNoFun I'm so sorry to hear that. But I believe heartily that there are some people who will have read those signs and changed what they do as a consequence. Thing is, you'll never know as they haven't caused any problems![/quote]
I agree with @PerspicaciousGreen - it's not mind-boggling that the majority of the population that in general has nothing to do with horses wouldn't know this. I only learned from MN that giving grass to horses was a big no-no.

And to the poster saying it's not owners' job to educate people - well no, it's not, but since the owners are the ones who reap the consequences of people feeding their horses inappropriately, I should think they have a vested interest in trying to educate people.

Yes, there are real wankers out there that don't give a shit, but generally most folk are decent and don't want to hurt animals.

Springersrock · 07/05/2021 12:48

YANBU at all OP, but as a non-horse-owning townie I beg you to put up more informative signs than "Don't feed the horse".

We’ve tried all manner of signs. Nice ones, ones giving explanations, ones with photos, etc and they mostly get ignored.

Do not feed the horses should be enough - people shouldn’t need to know the ins and outs, not their horse/animal - don’t feed it.

My horses are away from public footpaths, but we’ve had people coming onto the yard and feeding them while they’re in their stables, trespassing in fields with no footpaths in them and feeding horses despite clear signs asking people not to. Then they come down to the yard complaining that they’ve been bitten, or shocked themselves on the clearly signed electric fence.

A few times when I’ve intervened I’ve got a mouthful of abuse, told to fuck off, called stuck up, been told people will do what they want or parents complaining I’ve spoiled their child’s fun - what about my child’s ‘fun’ when her horse has to be put to sleep?

We’ve never had such a hard time with this as we did last year and so far this year so I’m hoping that the lifting of restrictions will mean people go back to their usual activities.

I’ve actually found it’s more productive to speak directly to the children in some cases. A few times I’ve intervened when a child is feeding my horses with their parents and I’ve explained directly to the child why they shouldn’t do it and why it’s dangerous and they’re far more willing to take it on board than their adults. A few weeks ago a woman and a little girl were feeding them, when I intervened the woman just gave me a load of shit about upsetting her child. I spoke directly to the little girl, explained that the horses had some health issues and were on a special diet. The little girl was lovely and very sweet, I called my old girl over to the gate, she gave one of her trademark bows, the little girl made a fuss of her and everyone went on their way with the child vowing to tell everyone at school what I’d told her about not feeding horses.

WrongWayApricot · 07/05/2021 13:06

@countrygirl99

That's awful, I'm so sorry that happened 🙁

thereisonlyoneofme · 07/05/2021 14:59

My horse had severe liver damage and was in intensive horsey care at the vets for nearly a month. Someone had put tree clippings from an evergreen tree in the field. Cost me nearly £4000 not to mention the anguish

Procrastination4 · 07/05/2021 15:04

You are so not being unreasonable. I am fed up of seeing people feeding horses (not my horses), actually meeting up with other families to do it (breaking the Covid regulations that are still in force in my country) and and feeding bread to the ducks and swans at the local lake. Some people are absolutely idiotic.

littlepattilou · 07/05/2021 15:18

YANBU @lastqueenofscotland

Thanks for posting this. BUMPING it for you.

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