FFS DONT feed horses in fields !!

[Thoroughbred5]

Honestly it blows my mind that this is still a problem but it is. Just wanted to post since it’s coming into nicer weather and more people will be out and about.

caught 3 separate families over the weekend feeding my horse treats when he was out in his field. I spoke to each and 2 were clearly annoyed but did stop, the third just threw their apples and other treats into the field anyway. We have signs, CCTV, double fencing, we have everything. Every summer is the bloody same- people feeding the horses.

DONT feed other people’s horses or ponies. Firstly, nobody is entitled to feed another persons animal. Secondly, you have no idea what that horses specific diet is. Would you be happy to pay for my horses laminitis bill? Or colic? And honestly, it’s best not to feed handfuls of grass either. It doesn’t matter that the horse is in a field full of grass. Feeding horses by hand in the field can cause jealousy amongst the herd and can cause horses to become nippy and bolshy towards people at fences and gates

It’s only may and already it’s a problem. I love the summer but I’m fed up of worrying if my horse is safe in his own field. Anyone else in the same position? And if your reading this and you’re one of the people who feed other people’s horses, please just fucking stop

It sounds like you might be confusing reality with the film jurassic park ? Anyway, it sounds like you don't understand the argument very well.

"You do know you can lock horses up within a field don't you ... by locking the gates to the field? I'm surprised you haven't seen locked gates to fields before ! You live and learn I guess."

@ChedderGorgeous - do you honestly not realise that people will simply climb the locked gate to get at the horses? So the only way a locked gate would work would be if it were part of a high fenced enclosure like the one @Throwyourkeysup is describing.

I honestly don't know why you are finding it so hard to accept the maxim that people should just not feed animals that don't belong to them. Is that really such a hard rule to a) remember and b) follow?

Nothing! Nothing else needs to be said at all. But! This is you using logic. It ignores the complexity of the situation. It ignores that people don't always think logically either because they simply don't know things or because their emotional response is stronger than logic.
When people don't know things, it is not because they are ignorant buffoons, they simply don't know things. You cannot expect someone who has never owned a horse to know about the complexities of owning a horse.
An analogy - a person sees a hedgehog in their garden and they put out milk thinking they're doing a good thing for the hedgehog and they get a nice thing in return (seeing a hedgehog in their garden). They don't know that feeding a hedgehog milk is a very bad idea.
Young children see a horse in a field and want to stroke it because they don't often see a horse and horses do indeed look like friendly creatures to most children. Not all parents will know that there could be potential health consequences of feeding horses. Yes, they know that this horse is owned by someone else, but they think they're doing a good thing by feeding it, not a bad thing.
I think the over-reaction by horse owners on here is valid in terms of them experiencing what they have experienced. I don't think, however, they should tar every person who does not own a horse and who wants to feed it with the same brush. Reasonable people will respond to a polite sign. Unreasonable people won't.

People, you're not going to get @ChedderGorgeous to back down because they are enjoying winding you up enormously.

Keep the thread bumped and hopefully someone will get educated and learn something.

No arguments have been put forward so far that can convince me that relying on the British public, who clearly don't know about what to feed or not feed horses, is better than taking preventative measures to protect them from harmful food. Hopefully I can win you round!

I bumped it two days ago @WrenNatsworthy . 7 pages have been added since then. proudly polishes imaginary halo

You're naughty!

I think that the public should be better educated, most horse owners are absolutely dedicated to their animals.

That's why I never pursued owning a horse, the commitment has to be 100%

No arguments have been put forward so far that can convince me that relying on the British public, who clearly don't know about what to feed or not feed horses, is better than taking preventative measures to protect them from harmful food. Hopefully I can win you round!

But you haven't, as far as I noticed, come up with any workable preventitive measures beyond those which the OP is already taking.

She knows the public is unreliable. She already has 'signs, CCTV, double fencing' .

So... hopefully this thread will at least have educated a few people who didn't realise they shouldn't feed other peoples animals in general and horses in particular.

It's occurred to me that this issue is a literal demonstration of 'Chestertons fence'. (If you don't know what a fence is for, don't remove it). Similarly ... if there's a fence with no stile or openable gate, don't climb it. If there's a double fence really, really don't climb them.

So if I come to where you live and decide I'm going to have a game of tennis, and you have a lovely garden that lends itself perfectly to a game of tennis, and a car sat on the drive that's next to your lovely garden, and I let myself in to your garden, because even though the gate is shut and locked, well I'm the general public right so the fact I can climb over your locked gate means you haven't done enough to protect it.

I then proceed to have my lovely game of tennis, trampling your flowers and shrubs, but that's ok because you haven't protected the garden well enough, and secondly the plants within that garden when I inevitably do get in, from being trampled - because I'm the general public and your job is to keep your stuff protected and you haven't done so properly.

And then because I'm not very good my ball puts a window through and I put a couple of dents in your car swinging my racket around.

But all that is your responsibility, not mine because you should have better preventative measures in place to protect your stuff right?

Or I could just have some common decency and courteousy and look at your lovely garden as I go past, noting the locked gate and fence and carry on with my life?

Game of tennis anyone? 😁

Can you put a sign up telling people why. You not not feel like you should have to but most people don’t want to make animals ill.

It clearly says in the very first post that they have signs...

I'm definitely going to start feeding random children gin and haribo. They're not as cute as horses but needs must.

I'm very much in bed being a nights worker, thank you for your concern though.

Where's your response though? Other than mocking? Is that because you don't actually have one and just want some attention?

Night worker also ! Last night this eve. I've already given my response to cover your argument. You are making an analogy to criminal damage to someone's house and car. I'm saying put adequate fencing/ separation in so that the general public can't feed your horses though it. Good luck with rest of your nights.

Can we stop feeding it please? Thanks

People can't claim ignorance, there are many signs up, and even if someone actually tells them verbally they still ignore them - or tell them to "fuck off". This is wilful.

I think the second most effective approach (after the shotgun) will be to get their reg numbers (because most will have come by car) and use that to trace and sue them for damages.

You could put up a sign saying CCTV is in operation and anyone feeding your horses will be tracked down and sent the emergency equine vet bill

Fences don't work.

Gates don't work.

Gates with padlocks don't work.

Signs don't work.

Extra fences don't work.

What "preventative measures" are you suggesting that owners use, short of shooting trespassers (which unfortunately is illegal)? Measures that will actually work.

Is anyone happy to tell me what county they are in that this is a problem please? I work in education so I could pass the info on and our team could start to tackle this . . .

Maybe the RSPCA and RSPB have leaflets @NeverendingRabbitHole .
Feeding Other People's Pets | RSPCA - RSPCA - rspca.org.uk
Birds and wildlife (rspb.org.uk)

Thanks @FayCarew. I have the ability to gather the best resources - just need to know where to aim it. Targeted approach in problem areas is way better than a scattergun approach in the early stages.

Counties anyone?

@NeverendingRabbitHole , I don't have a horse but friends do, Buckinghamshire.

What if they arrive on horseback ?