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STOP FEEDING HORSES THAT ARE NOT YOURS

956 replies

Pineapplechickenpizza · 18/04/2022 21:25

Unbelievable that this is still a problem after all the hype on social media and the news but unfortunately it is.

Why do people think it’s acceptable to feed an animal that isn’t there’s? I don’t care if it’s an apple or carrot or just a few blades of grass. They’re not your horses- DONT FEED THEM ANYTHING.

If you feed horses in fields that are not yours, honestly, why do you do it?? Do you realise how your ignorance could make someones horse unwell?

Dreading summer holidays when more people are out for walks and think it’s acceptable to feed the horses in the fieldsSad

OP posts:
Pineapplechickenpizza · 19/04/2022 13:10

[quote lameasahorse]@WildFlowerBees thank you for that tip! I will contact them. They aren't being beaten and are not starving. But every time I see them in a field full of mud when it rains I am worried they will become stuck or hurt themselves. The horses you reported sound similarly treated to the ones I see.[/quote]
I second the poster that said WHW (not sure if that’s who you’re replying to) I don’t have any direct experience with them but they’re meant to be good for cases like this!

Poor horses, it’s really nice that you’re looking out for them though. Some owners are just neglectful and it’s awful.

OP posts:
LuckySantangelo35 · 19/04/2022 13:11

@Branleuse

So long as you are having a nice “moment” who cares about anything else eh?

WildFlowerBees · 19/04/2022 13:11

[quote lameasahorse]@WildFlowerBees thank you for that tip! I will contact them. They aren't being beaten and are not starving. But every time I see them in a field full of mud when it rains I am worried they will become stuck or hurt themselves. The horses you reported sound similarly treated to the ones I see.[/quote]

@lameasahorse they are so nice to talk to, someone from that area will visit when able it's not always immediate. The lovely guy who dealt with my case said the aim was not to remove the horses unless in dire need and then they liaise with RSPCA but to help the owner, there are charities available to help if they're struggling and rescue options are also discussed they give them things they need to do before they return for another inspection (owner never knows when that might be)

Thank you for looking out for them Smile

lameasahorse · 19/04/2022 13:13

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lameasahorse · 19/04/2022 13:13

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Ionacat · 19/04/2022 13:15

I love the countryside and it’s a privilege to be able to use it but it’s not a playground or petting farm and you have to respect it - we had the countryside code drilled into us as kids. I don’t feed horses never have done and I’ve seen a horse who was almost certainly used to being fed lean over a fence and bite someone on the shoulder when I was out walking and it was a nasty bite. That person wasn’t feeding the horse either. The footpath ran alongside the field.
However I do love hiking and would like to know from horsey people what’s the best thing to do when you need to use a public footpath/right of way that goes across a field with horses and they start to approach. (I’m not keen on people’s dogs coming up to me either but go with the ‘be a tree’ advice but that’s a whole different thread together with the idiots who go mountain climbing in flip flops etc.!)

lameasahorse · 19/04/2022 13:15

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Ylfa · 19/04/2022 13:17

Or how traumatic it is for everyone concerned when a young healthy horse suddenly colics and dies a totally preventable, agonising death within hours - the vets who try to save them, the owners, family, other horses in the herd, other liveries if at a yard. It’s not something people just get over. When you have horses they are the centre and focus of your life. Nobody can begin to describe the animal and human suffering such a stupid act can cause.

saddowizca · 19/04/2022 13:18

@OhMrDarcy

The problem with feeding even a handful of grass to a horse isn't so much the few bits of grass, its the behaviour of the horse afterwards.

I've got three horses in a field together and they're fine and happy all day until they think one of them has a treat and the others don't. Herd dynamics are interesting but effectively, what happens is if you feed one, the others will rush up and barge the first one out of the way. Lots of wheeling around and kicking can ensue, which is dangerous especially in a muddy field. Think of them as a bunch of feral kids with no manners. So then you've got horses that are het up and cross, and likely to snatch and bite next time there is a treat on offer.

These are my beloved horses and I never take treats into the field with me as it is frankly dangerous.

That is really interesting OMD - I never realised that at all - not that I would ever feed someone else's horse, but it's good to know why.
AProperStinging · 19/04/2022 13:19

@LuckySantangelo35

Urgh there are some really entitled people on here (looking at you *@AProperStinging* )

If you want your child to experience some joy interacting with an animal….here’s an idea…put your hand in your pocket and fork out for a ticket to an open farm or petting zoo or something.

Horse owners make loads of sacrifices to have their animals and keep them well - financial sacrifices, time sacrifices etc. Why should their pet’s health be compromised so that your child can have five minutes pleasure feeding them an apple?!

Honestly so entitled and selfish and stupid!

Shame you didn't read any of my posts. I am not interested in feeding horses and I don't take my children to feed, interact with, or in any other way interfere with anyone's pets.

My children have many better things to do with their time than stick their hands in a random animal's mouth.

My posts were all about the disgusting way that people treat living creatures as property, and the assumption that everything in life is about money.

But feel free to make up completely different things that i haven't said and attribute them to me if it makes your day pass more enjoyably.

AllThingsServeTheBeam · 19/04/2022 13:19

@Celendine

What is it with people feeding horses? Would they be OK if someone fed Felix a different brand of kippos🐈‍⬛
My cat gets fed all sorts by loads of people. Just a risk I take letting him out
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 19/04/2022 13:20

@Pineapplechickenpizza

Honestly this thread is bizarre.

We explain why it’s dangerous to feed horses. We explain several times why it can be dangerous to approach horses and it’s best safety-wise to avoid them unless you have permission to pet them.

But people still don’t like itSmile us horse people clearly know nothing about how dangerous an accident with horses can be! We are so entitled and rude for getting frustrated at having to say several times that people should leave animals that don’t belong to them aloneSmile we are rude for getting frustrated at saying several times that it’s a safety thing and not just about being weirdly possessive Smile us horse riders are just so entitledSmile

Like how you ignored me once I said it was the horse owner in the wrong for having it in an open footpath field
ArcheryAnnie · 19/04/2022 13:22

However I do love hiking and would like to know from horsey people what’s the best thing to do when you need to use a public footpath/right of way that goes across a field with horses and they start to approach

I'd like to know this, too - and especially what to do if you have a dog (obviously on a lead) with you. There's several rights of way I use on holiday where you can't see what's on the other side of the field. The dog I walk (on a lead) doesn't notice sheep at all, is utterly oblivious to them, but I am very worried about Surpise Cows, and now about Surprise Horses.

WildFlowerBees · 19/04/2022 13:22

[quote lameasahorse]@WildFlowerBees that sounds a good approach. It may be the owner can't afford more suitable land?[/quote]

@lameasahorse perhaps, the owner of the horses I reported just didn't care, refused to allow them to go to a rescue one was old with arthritis and malnourished. She moved in the end I'm hoping WHW had a hand in helping her afterwards.

Some just simply don't care I can't understand that, when one of mine had laminitis I spent hours for days sitting in his stable reading just being with him giving him love he loved company and I was happy to be his daily companion whilst the other was out grazing. Sadly he's no longer with us I wonder why I have them it's soul destroying to lose them so to think of those who wilfully neglect them makes me really angry and upset.

Pineapplechickenpizza · 19/04/2022 13:26

@AllThingsServeTheBeam

Oh yeah, right after you said ‘But if there are horses next to a fence and they let me fuss and stroke them I will.’ The entitlement is strong here.

And even in cases where footpaths run through fields. I’ve walked past horses in fields before and said hi and admired them. I’ve never felt like I had to go and pet them or touch them or interact with. It’s a shame if other people are not able to just walk past them without apparently needing to pet them too

OP posts:
Worldwide2 · 19/04/2022 13:27

Never been much a fan if horses tend to give them a wide berth so have never fed any. Didn't realise people fed them so much! Strange really you wouldnt give someone else's dog something to eat.

SexyLittleNosferatu · 19/04/2022 13:27

@GodspeedJune

If you speak to folks in person as you do on here, I wouldn’t be surprised if they do it on purpose to wind you up. Smile
Can you hear yourself? I'm embarrassed for you and your pathetic passive aggressive little smiley face.

I'm glad I don't have a horse anymore. The sheer entitlement of people is unreal. Also loving how you have to ask people nicely not to feed your horse. Anything else is classed as 'aggression'.

I'm off to distribute haribo in the local park. Kids like haribo, right?

Pineapplechickenpizza · 19/04/2022 13:28

@Worldwide2

Never been much a fan if horses tend to give them a wide berth so have never fed any. Didn't realise people fed them so much! Strange really you wouldnt give someone else's dog something to eat.
Hallelujah for people like you! It’s a relief to know sensible people are out there Smile
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lameasahorse · 19/04/2022 13:28

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AllThingsServeTheBeam · 19/04/2022 13:30

[quote Pineapplechickenpizza]@AllThingsServeTheBeam

Oh yeah, right after you said ‘But if there are horses next to a fence and they let me fuss and stroke them I will.’ The entitlement is strong here.

And even in cases where footpaths run through fields. I’ve walked past horses in fields before and said hi and admired them. I’ve never felt like I had to go and pet them or touch them or interact with. It’s a shame if other people are not able to just walk past them without apparently needing to pet them too[/quote]
Right. And then I went on to say that there is a field where you can't avoid them! I saved a life of one once.

If they approach me and don't piss off when I raise my arms why exactly do you intend I do?

Thankfully I know the owners of the horses we see behind fences being looked after properly. Just don't know the ones on the footpath field.

Pineapplechickenpizza · 19/04/2022 13:33

@AllThingsServeTheBeam

So when they approach you are you not able to walk away from them and ignore them? That’s a bit unusual, I've never had any problems walking away from horses before. I’ve also never had to raise my arms. Walking away usually does the trick.

Do people seriously need to be told this?!

If you have permission then by all means pet them. But if not, leave them alone, they’re not yours.

OP posts:
AllOfUsAreDead · 19/04/2022 13:33

If you can't keep your pet safe you are irresponsible and shouldn't own it. One of the things you have to keep it safe from is other humans. I wouldn't leave a dog unattended in a publicly accessible area as I am a responsible human. Many horse owners in this thread seem to think that this doesn't apply to them.

Not you obviously, you are an responsible owner who is able to keep their horse safe. I have no idea why you would encourage the ones who don't.

How do you expect them to do otherwise?

Say I've got a horse in a field with a footpath running alongside it, that many people go past every day. I put signs up all along the fence, very clear big signs saying don't feed the horses, they are on a diet, feeding them could kill them. I also use electric fencing on the outside, and put another fence further back from the footpath also electrified so people can't reach them. The gate is padlocked and also not accessible by the horses as the fence stops them. Don't forget the signs all the way along explaining the fences are electrified. Don't want a lawsuit on that.

And yet people still throw food to them, or climb the fences to get in the field, potentially getting an electric shock at the same time.

Other than standing by the field all day and shooting trespassers, what more do you expect from people? Livery yards are being shut down more and more and fields are getting built on for more bloody housing. There are many places getting taken away from us to keep our horses.

People should be able to read a sign and follow it. I know, I am expecting too much really, why should an adult be able to read and understand a simple instruction? Maybe we need fences beside roads and railways now to stop these people from wandering across them. Oh I know, we should give every adult a 'guide', someone to hold their hand all day and explain simple concepts to them, remind them to breathe, that sort of thing.

ArcheryAnnie · 19/04/2022 13:33

Some of us are actively asking for advice on what to do when approached by a horse, and are being ignored.

Pineapplechickenpizza · 19/04/2022 13:34

@AllOfUsAreDead

If you can't keep your pet safe you are irresponsible and shouldn't own it. One of the things you have to keep it safe from is other humans. I wouldn't leave a dog unattended in a publicly accessible area as I am a responsible human. Many horse owners in this thread seem to think that this doesn't apply to them.

Not you obviously, you are an responsible owner who is able to keep their horse safe. I have no idea why you would encourage the ones who don't.

How do you expect them to do otherwise?

Say I've got a horse in a field with a footpath running alongside it, that many people go past every day. I put signs up all along the fence, very clear big signs saying don't feed the horses, they are on a diet, feeding them could kill them. I also use electric fencing on the outside, and put another fence further back from the footpath also electrified so people can't reach them. The gate is padlocked and also not accessible by the horses as the fence stops them. Don't forget the signs all the way along explaining the fences are electrified. Don't want a lawsuit on that.

And yet people still throw food to them, or climb the fences to get in the field, potentially getting an electric shock at the same time.

Other than standing by the field all day and shooting trespassers, what more do you expect from people? Livery yards are being shut down more and more and fields are getting built on for more bloody housing. There are many places getting taken away from us to keep our horses.

People should be able to read a sign and follow it. I know, I am expecting too much really, why should an adult be able to read and understand a simple instruction? Maybe we need fences beside roads and railways now to stop these people from wandering across them. Oh I know, we should give every adult a 'guide', someone to hold their hand all day and explain simple concepts to them, remind them to breathe, that sort of thing.

I said the same thing but apparently we’re rude and entitled!

It’s a bad state of affairs when we can’t expect adults to use a bit of common sense and leave well alone animals that don’t belong to them.

OP posts:
AllThingsServeTheBeam · 19/04/2022 13:36

[quote Pineapplechickenpizza]@AllThingsServeTheBeam

So when they approach you are you not able to walk away from them and ignore them? That’s a bit unusual, I've never had any problems walking away from horses before. I’ve also never had to raise my arms. Walking away usually does the trick.

Do people seriously need to be told this?!

If you have permission then by all means pet them. But if not, leave them alone, they’re not yours.[/quote]
No. One continues to follow and nudge and I am disabled so cannot walk well as it is. I have had to physically push the horse away. Keep turning away. So no, I am not able to just ignore and walk away

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