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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

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:
Throckmorton · 18/04/2022 22:32

@DarkShade

Oh no, me and DS have been known to feed local horse apples, what does it do to them? I won't again. To answer your question: because I didn't know it would hurt them..
It can make them very sick. Some types of horses are evolved to do well on very sparse food (think of the type of ponies who evolved on barren moorlands). If they have lots of rich food (eg apples) it can for example cause laminitis, which is a potentially fatal inflammation of the feet. Food they aren't use to can also cause colic, which is a particularly horrible, and potentially fatal, type of indigestion.
LoveSpringDaffs · 18/04/2022 22:34

@Giraffesandbottoms

Ffs you shouldn’t be sharing a moment WITH SOMEONE ELSE’S PET. Honestly wtf
Why not?
fairylightsandwaxmelts · 18/04/2022 22:34

To be fair @Giraffesandbottoms I would definitely pet a friendly cow through a gate or a fence Grin

The ones here are so friendly and when they close the road in the morning to take them for milking, they'll stick their heads through your car window for a fuss if you don't shut it them time, lol.

I totally agree feeding horses is wrong - I ride and care for horses but I have to admit I really don't see an issue with giving them a stroke if they're right up at the fence demanding attention.

If I was bitten by a random horse I wouldn't ever think to complain though!

ForeverLooking · 18/04/2022 22:35

@Namechangenumber1

Do you horsey people mind if people pet your horses? I never feed them, but always feel a bit embarrassed if I'm caught by the owners fussing one 😂
No! Genuinely no! Just no treats. Also be wary as some are nicer than others!
DixonD · 18/04/2022 22:35

@hangrylady

The only thing I do when I see horses is say good afternoon to them in a posh voice. It's the law.
Oh my god - I do this (and I even own horses - with a double gated field entrance I might add) and I do it to cats as well.

I have a pony with EMS who is currently going through yet another laminitis episode due to escaping from his pen (Shetland with 5 strand electric tape), if anyone fed him a handful of grass (and the next passer-by after that), it could tip him over the edge.

ScaldedBy · 18/04/2022 22:36

I agree. I don't and would never feed anyone's animal (horse or otherwise) it's not my place to. And it doesn't matter if Not every child has the luxury of regular contact with horses, or animals generally (as taken from another post) no one says they can't look at them, but they should be taught not to feed other people's animals, or even wild animals. Not that because you don't see them often you can do what you want.. What parent teaches that and thinks that's a valid reason to feed other people's animals!?

I'd be thinking worse of the parents for letting a kid do that and teaching them thats ok than the kid doing it though...

bumblenbean · 18/04/2022 22:36

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with educating people on things like this and indeed getting annoyed if your request is ignored.

But I have to say some PPs are really unnecessarily aggressive about it. Feeding them is one thing but getting so incensed about people gently stroking a horse’s head is especially baffling to me. Would you berate someone for stroking your cat if they came across it in the street and the cat approached them?

To the poster who said they hope someone gets their fingers bitten off when they stop to pet a horse - I assume this is hyperbole, but just in case it’s not, it’s a bit of an extreme reaction to positively hope that a child innocently petting a horse who came up to the fence should get their fingers bitten off Hmm

NCForThis2022 · 18/04/2022 22:37

Someone had been feeding my ponies whole loaves of stale and mouldy bread for months before even mentioning to me that they wanted to feed them at all. I was lucky that they were fine, but it could have easily been a disaster. I no longer have ponies, and we now only use that field for livestock that nobody would actually want to feed - the ram. He's actually very sweet outside of breeding season and partial to a biscuit but we keep this to ourselves.

Fraaahnces · 18/04/2022 22:37

People are just as stupid with dogs, OP… Mine is a giant breed that I walk with a “Nervous. Don’t Approach” jacket. (Mostly to deter idiots with “Don’t worry, he’s friendly” off-lead dogs”.) Doesn’t stop idiots with toddlers asking if it’s okay if they can cuddle my dog which is twice their size and cowering behind my legs.

ScaldedBy · 18/04/2022 22:38

Would you berate someone for stroking your cat if they came across it in the street and the cat approached them?

I wouldn't "berate" anyone for anything but I also wouldn't stop to pat someone else's cat. I'd just judge the owber for being irresponsible enough to let it wander in the first place...

Original poster
Pineapplechickenpizza · 18/04/2022 22:38

Quick fact for anyone who wasn’t aware.

Horses can’t actually vomit. They can’t get anything dangerous, toxic or inedible out of their digestive system in the immediate way by being sick that most other animals can.

OP posts:
Sandsnake · 18/04/2022 22:40

@Giraffesandbottoms

I hope everyone going and petting random horses in the field gets their fingertips bitten off. It’s such a weird and entitled thing to do. I wouldn’t pet someone’s dog without asking, why would you think it’s ok with a horse?!
Seriously? When a horse comes over to someone on a footpath who gently pats and says hello to it, you think it’s proportionate to want them to get their fingers bitten off?
Original poster
Pineapplechickenpizza · 18/04/2022 22:40

@Fraaahnces

People are just as stupid with dogs, OP… Mine is a giant breed that I walk with a “Nervous. Don’t Approach” jacket. (Mostly to deter idiots with “Don’t worry, he’s friendly” off-lead dogs”.) Doesn’t stop idiots with toddlers asking if it’s okay if they can cuddle my dog which is twice their size and cowering behind my legs.
That is just insane isn’t it! Your dog has the right to go for a walk without being harassed Sad
OP posts:
Lorw · 18/04/2022 22:41

So so dangerous, luckily when I had my horses they were on a private farm without any footpaths but a friend of mines horse bit a child who went to give it grass, even with the big ‘horse bites- don’t feed’ sign on the gate the child’s parent obviously thought it wouldn’t, the woman went knocking on her door kicking off, friend just pointed at the sign, had to phone the police in the end as the woman was being really aggressive and wouldn’t leave her property.

WisherWood · 18/04/2022 22:41

Do you horsey people mind if people pet your horses? I never feed them, but always feel a bit embarrassed if I'm caught by the owners fussing one 😂

As this thread shows, it really does depend on the owner. I thought of myself more as my horse's custodian or guardian than his owner. He was a sentient being with his own opinions and desires so if he was happy for you to give him a pat, that was his choice as far as I was concerned. He was quite capable of moving away if that's not what he wanted.

Other owners might be more hard line for whatever reason. There is a safety aspect and horses can get jealous of each other but generally if mine wanted a scratch or a cuddle he'd let you know and he knew how to stay out of trouble. Best to ask if you can. I don't personally think it's so much about 'I pay for him therefore it's my right to dictate who does what'. I think it's more 'I know him, I have his best interests at heart, I have a better idea of what might harm him than you do.'

OverByYer · 18/04/2022 22:41

I wouldn't feed horses - although until I read this thread I didn't know that giving grass to them is dangerous.
I also wouldn't go into a field or stables either.
I do love horses though and if I am out for a walk and pass some in a field I will stop and have a look at them and say hello, if they come to the fence I'll give them a pat or a stroke, is that not allowed either?
I don't mind people patting or stroking my dog...
( If I have my dog with me I don't bother horses , I know that would be wrong)

Gagaandgag · 18/04/2022 22:41

I can totally understand this as you are protecting your pet! (And your finances)
Also it must be frustrating as lots of horses are accessible to the public without their owner being able to watch them!

But I want to ask…
How do you feel if people just try to stroke or interact with your horse?

My children love horses. It was my daughters 2nd birthday and we asked her how she would like to spend the day “go and visit the horses” was her reply.

There is a woman in our village who has a field with 2 horses and a donkey. We have only been to see them a couple of times. So on her birthday we headed over there as part of a longer walk…just to give them a stroke …

They come running to the fence and they are very friendly. So we stroke them. We don’t and have never fed them! She stood in the field watching and glaring the entire time. She saw that we weren’t feeding them! We shouted hello to her and she stormed off in a huff. I started to feel uncomfortable so we just left.

If she had a problem I wish she would have just spoken to us about it. I know they aren’t our horses but I didn’t think stroking one is unreasonable? Especially if it runs up asking for a bit of attention. We haven’t been back since.

I guess maybe like you she is just so pissed off about people feeding them that she judged us doing the same!

gwenneh · 18/04/2022 22:43

How do you feel if people just try to stroke or interact with your horse?

I feel that those people are a liability and will be the first to sue when their precious darling (ur they) get bitten, kicked, etc.

Ariela · 18/04/2022 22:43

@SoftSheen

A pony will not get laminitis from a child feeding it a couple of handfuls of grass. Not every child has the luxury of regular contact with horses, or animals generally, and this is a nice thing for them to be able to do.

Giving armfuls of hay/buckets of carrots- obviously YANBU.

Except it's your child and the next child and the child after that, then all the people that think it'll be OK as they've seen others feed said horse, each child feeding a couple of handfuls of grass, hour by hour in our road we get 60 walkers per minute on a warm sunny Saturday - that all adds up. Hang about till you spot the owner and ask if you can come and feed under their supervision by all means, most owners are very reasonable (and not all horses are safe so don't just wander in! )

Don't just assume you're the only one feeding them and it won't cause any harm. That's the problem.

WaltzingToWalsingham · 18/04/2022 22:43

@bumblebean Completely agree. The aggression is so unnecessary and just damages the good will that most people feel towards horse riders.

Original poster
Pineapplechickenpizza · 18/04/2022 22:45

I don’t generally have an issue with people petting them, it’s just that petting usually leads to handfuls of grass which can lead to other treats too. Obviously not everyone who pets them feeds them, but it’s easier just to have a blanket leave them alone policy.

My horse is friendly and wouldn’t do anything wrong if someone petted him but for some herds it can cause problems as the other horses might think the horse being petted is being fed. When a stampede or a fight within the group breaks out it can be extremely dangerous to the horses aswell as the people at the fence who wouldn’t know what to do in that situation.

That’s why I overall think it’s better for people to admire horses from a distance rather than pet them and interact with them.

OP posts:
ForeverLooking · 18/04/2022 22:46

Just a warning to people wanting a pat -some (like my Welsh C) like a good headbutt/punt. She literally shoves you with her nose for attention. She is very strong and could easily push a child off a gate. It's not just the teeth Grin. She had managed to get me over before. Excess of welsh dragon personality!

Original poster
Pineapplechickenpizza · 18/04/2022 22:46

[quote WaltzingToWalsingham]@bumblebean Completely agree. The aggression is so unnecessary and just damages the good will that most people feel towards horse riders.[/quote]
It’s not aggression it’s just frustration that people are so entitled and feel that they have the right to feed and interact with horses they neither own nor know anything about, and could unwillingly cause a serious accident to that horse or illness in the horses by feeding it.

OP posts:
Throckmorton · 18/04/2022 22:47

[quote WaltzingToWalsingham]@bumblebean Completely agree. The aggression is so unnecessary and just damages the good will that most people feel towards horse riders.[/quote]
When you've seen beloved horses suffer and die due to people feeding them when they shouldn't, despite signs and warning, then I reckon the agression is totally understandable. Feeding other people's horses isn't something people object to just to be difficult - they object because it could kill their pet. And if you've never seen a horse die from colic, believe me you don't wnat to.

Giraffesandbottoms · 18/04/2022 22:47

I had a horse once who was badly treaten once and not everyone understands the correct way to pet or stroke a horse and actually can wind them up/cause problems and difficulties.