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

I have a question… I know not to feed horses- what is the etiquette around talking to them/stroking them/ letting them walk up to the fence and let your child see them etc etc. could you tell me in complete layman’s terms. I really want to do the right thing, so it best just to ignore they exist completely? Or is it ok to give them a bit of attention but absolutely no touching or if they seem particularly friendly is it ok to stroke them on the nose.

Had this exact conversation with my husband today. He said it was illogical not to be able to offer horses grass if they are eating it. I could not reason with him. The sign needs to say because it was cause X. Then he'd stop.

Many owners would prefer you didn't for the simple reason that you might have good intentions but the horse could inadvertently be encouraged to approach someone else for a stroke who doesn't have good intentions. Believe it or not there are still people out there who mutilate and take pleasure in hurting horses.

I grew up near farms and it was the norm. An apple for the horse/donkey. A sign would obviously stop me completely.

I don't understand why people are so puzzled over it. It's not a new thing!

Explain to him that when horses are in a field eating grass they are only snipping tiny amounts at a time to chew. When you dump grass clippings they don't have to pull it up and gorge themselves instead and get colic, which is deadly for horses.

Not a chance, those big teeth freak me out.

Cut grass can make horses really unwell, it confuses me too as they eat the stuff out of the ground! I had no idea until my daughter started riding. But don’t feel bad, you know now ❤️

It very much depends on the horse or owner tbh. I don’t mind if people say hi to ours at all, but mine are pretty chill and aren’t going to do anything stupid. Some horses will bite, some owners don’t like it when you fuss over the fence as it can make horses rude at the gate and they will barge the fence/gate to get out. But I think on the whole a Pat on the head of a horse that comes to see you is fine.

Put a sign up like this. Add even more graphic photos of dead and dying horses.

Just make it a really horrible and scary place for children to be. Appealing to their intelligence doesn't work.

Did you make that sign yourself or did you buy it?

You can put as much signage and fencing up and people will still ignore it.

I would be tempted to put up a sign with Do Not Feed, Risk of Colic with a picture of a horse undergoing treatment. Grim, but may ram it through their entitlement that they are not doing something nice for the horse.

It's not my sign @krustykittens - I saw it on Facebook I'm afraid. But I could make one and send you the file so you could get it printed.

I get so angry by stupid people in the countryside.

There's a post on our local spotted fb page from an angry house owner who's caught people feeding the horses again

You'd think people would know better

Would you mind? After nearly losing my boy, I am beyond angry! I am really fucking sick of people now.

I don't care for people I don't know touching my horses, only because if I see them doing it I don't know what they are doing, if they are feeding them or whatever.

In reality I don't think it hugely matters but if I see it I do worry 🙈. People feeding horses that aren't theirs drives me crazy though. Where my horses used to live they were fed all sorts, from the usual carrots and apples ( not suitable for my laminitic horse!) to leeks (poisonous), and even McDonald's 😡.

We had a mare come in with cigarette burns once where the field had a footpath on one side and a residential road on another. Thankfully that was the only instance of intentional harm in my experience. I was happy to have a gelding for many years that was a absolute shit to catch- the casual passerby had no bloody chance.

And also there is a huge problem at the minute with sycamore seedlings so if these were accidentally pulled up with the grass and fed to horses only a small amount can kill a horse.

I admit that I didn't really have any experience of horses except at farm visits when feeding them is the done thing, so didn't really know the things you've mentioned OP, but I still don't think I'd approach random horses in people's fields and feed them. I just don't think everyone knows about horse stuff, but to me it is just a weird thing to do unless invited to do so.

The problem is people going around the countryside feeding horses/ livestock that don't sodding well belong to them. It beggars belief that owners have to double fence or move their animals in order for them not to fed by random passers by who think they know better than the owner.

Really sorry @Newuser82 although i haven't done it this year. But I will knock it on the head.

Thanks for highlighting the issue op. I have no experience with horses (obviously) and common sense told me no food but the grass thing is my naivety. Lesson learned!

Justin remembered, I was told when I was little, on a guided countryside walk, that horses enjoy polo mints. I never fed any horses mints since then, but I am guessing this is a complete no no. Horses are beautiful animals but I don't tend to get close as they're massive!

ok so what would you have me do? ive put up double fencing, we've tried electric, ive put up gruesome signs, ive put things on local Facebook pages to raise awareness, wrote to local papers to get them to remind people not to do it. But yet still people climb under fences or throw things into the field. So what would you have me do? keep him in a stable 24/7 away from everyone? do you understand that's cruel and can kill horses?

Just

I'll do it tomorrow @krustykittens

I think I can send an attachment via DM but if not, I'll email it to you.

I don't have horses but my family does and I've see the devastating effects of laminitis.