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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

FFS DONT feed horses in fields !!

358 replies

Thoroughbred5 · 07/05/2023 19:42

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

OP posts:
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Peach0123 · 07/05/2023 23:30

This is mental. We had this at our yard, massive mixed herd too, families thinking it was a nice little walk to go feed the horses. The amount of signs, extra fencing we put up was ridiculous. The yard had a lot of hoses but we all had a few and we were good friends so made sure someone was there most of the time.

I started chasing away people feeding our hoses bread (couldn't fucking belive that was happening) and explaining to people that hoses CANT VOMIT seemed to make a difference. Non horsey folk don't get what colic is at all. They think babies. Anyway, between the apples and bread we had 1 fatal impaction colic and a few colic, lami and other situations. It did seem to get better after educating people. At one point a woman was ignoring everything we said, so we brought her in to the yard and showed her the amount of horses on special diets and why. Also a few points about fighting caused due to the apples and other shit. She backed down, very nicely actually, now understanding the danger she was causing, think she told her mates as it was not as often we chased people away after that.

Soon as people realise horses cannot vomit, and compare lami to diabetics they start to realise the harm caused. It's soo difficult as a horse owner, I really hope you find a solution to this xx

Ladysaurus · 07/05/2023 23:43

I feel you.

My colleagues horse had a feed muzzle to restrict her grass consumption because of severe laminitis last summer. One day she caught a walker trying to remove the muzzle to feed her carrots.

People are just so ignorant. I don't own horses but I know enough not to feed them.

CharChar91 · 07/05/2023 23:54

Oh I used to have this problem it was infuriating. It changed my boys behaviour too as he then associated people with a treat and started getting bolshy/trying to mug.
He was in a paddock adjacent to a lane popular with dog walkers, families heading to the country park, park etc. I started off with 4 red signs I had made asking not to feed and informing CCTV in operation. Didn't stop them. Ended up making wooden stakes along the entire length about 2ft apart with an obnoxious amount of signs up, it was super petty but people got the message!

elm26 · 08/05/2023 00:08

BabbleBee · 07/05/2023 19:56

I’ve just seen the first of the social media posts about a dog attack where several ewes and lambs have been killed / severely injured. It’s really simple - don’t feed animals you know nothing about and keep your dog on a lead.

This isn't about dogs on a lead 🤦🏻‍♀️ any old excuse.

elm26 · 08/05/2023 00:12

Arightoldcarryabag · 07/05/2023 20:46

This definitely sounds like a "You" problem.
You've identified that people do this and you are aware of the potential harm to your horses health so by not taking action you are knowingly putting your horses in danger.

Now, I am not one for victim blaming which this very much sounds like but I am one for practical based solutions and that's what you need I'm afraid OP.

Once you've worked it out if you could inform the rest of the horse owners as this gets brought up each year so is clearly a country wide issue.

What? Are you serious? How about don't fucking tresspass/climb fences to get to animals that aren't yours/feed them when you don't know what they eat, their diet, if it will make them poorly etc.

People are so stupid, baffles me.

blacksax · 08/05/2023 00:12

Who are the 16% of fuckwits who have voted YABU on this thread?

BeginningToLookALotLike · 08/05/2023 00:16

It is such entitled behaviour. It's like they are in a theme park, and the horse is a Disney horse, put there for their entertainment.

justgettingthroughtheday · 08/05/2023 00:34

TheGirlWhoLived · 07/05/2023 20:52

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.

Just stay away!!! It's not hard! Unless you have permission from the owner then stay away. Don't feed them, don't let them, don't take photos of them! Just leave them alone!

PinkLemonadee · 08/05/2023 00:51

CaroleSinger · 07/05/2023 20:56

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.

Show quote history

Grass clippings ferment which can cause colic. It is agonising and can kill horses.

Colic in horses: Horse Vet explains what owners should know

http://www.equinevetireland.com Equine vet Warren schofield discusses Colic in Horses and helps owners understand this complicated problem.

https://youtu.be/uB-o9e6_rxM

StrawberriesSW1 · 08/05/2023 00:52

Maybe a notice about humans catching diseases from horses.

justgettingthroughtheday · 08/05/2023 01:06

@Thoroughbred5 the only way I have ever managed to have people leave my animals alone was to make sure they were not visible at any point from a public right of way! Difficult I know. We have gone to the extreme now of installing 6 foot heigh garden panel fencing along our public right of way.

I got so sick of people feeding them or calling me to tell me I was doing x y or a wrong. Not to mention being constantly reported to the rspca for not having water in the field (there was just not visible from that end of the field, horses wearing fly rugs in summer, horses not wearing rugs in winter, horses stood in mud! The list was endless!
So we put up the fences and security cameras. It's been 14 months now and I'm slowly starting to relax!

DdraigGoch · 08/05/2023 01:38

Arightoldcarryabag · 07/05/2023 20:46

This definitely sounds like a "You" problem.
You've identified that people do this and you are aware of the potential harm to your horses health so by not taking action you are knowingly putting your horses in danger.

Now, I am not one for victim blaming which this very much sounds like but I am one for practical based solutions and that's what you need I'm afraid OP.

Once you've worked it out if you could inform the rest of the horse owners as this gets brought up each year so is clearly a country wide issue.

I'm afraid that the only inexpensive, practical solution which I can think of involves discharging quantities of lead into their buttocks. Sadly there's probably some law against shooting people who cause the death of an animal, even though if you caught a dog worrying them you'd be within your rights to shoot-to-kill.

QueenBitch666 · 08/05/2023 01:57

Big sign saying CCTV in operation and offenders liable for any vet bills. Fucking idiots

FairGoMatron · 08/05/2023 03:13

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

Really important point. About which there needs to be far more public awareness.

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.

Horrific. Just bloody horrific.

Coyoacan · 08/05/2023 03:31

A filly of mine died because someone thrown grass clippings over the hedge into her field.

transformandriseup · 08/05/2023 03:53

YANBU I would teach my kids to never approach an animal where they didn't know the owner never mind attempt to feed one.

OrderOfTheKookaburra · 08/05/2023 04:08

Hide rat traps around the fence line? (With some appropriate warning that there are rodent traps in place, please don't enter).

Or plant something spiky along the outer fence. Or anti-climb paint.

Pity you can't train bees or wasps... lol.

jakephi · 08/05/2023 04:17

transformandriseup · 08/05/2023 03:53

YANBU I would teach my kids to never approach an animal where they didn't know the owner never mind attempt to feed one.

It's right but people do try to care but get so destroyed if they aren't perfect. Some situations are aweful

Newmumma83 · 08/05/2023 04:24

I didn’t realise about the grass so you have educated someone here thank you .

though thankfully I have enough brain cells to know not to put my child on the back of a horse I have no clue about.

JandalsAlways · 08/05/2023 04:31

Well this thread makes me despair for humanity, I knew it was bad, but wow. People are so thick 🤨

FairGoMatron · 08/05/2023 04:58

Re people ignoring Please Do Not Feed signs:

I'm not sufficiently tech-savvy to know if it's even doable, but could including a QR code linking directly to this 4 minute video work?

Might make the message sink in.

Be Horse Aware | Thank you for not feeding other people's horses

The British Horse Society are urging members of the public to not feed horses without the owner’s permission. Although frequently motivated by kindness, feed...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKdCmvb53iY

FairGoMatron · 08/05/2023 05:01

@Coyoacan Am so sorry for your loss.

SunnySaturdayMorning · 08/05/2023 05:04

“Jealously among the horses” 😂😂😂

SunnySaturdayMorning · 08/05/2023 05:07

FairGoMatron · 08/05/2023 04:58

Re people ignoring Please Do Not Feed signs:

I'm not sufficiently tech-savvy to know if it's even doable, but could including a QR code linking directly to this 4 minute video work?

Might make the message sink in.

Who on earth do you think is going to see a sign with a QR code, scan it, and then stand there like a lemon by a field wasting 4 minutes of their life?!

EverestMilton · 08/05/2023 06:32

SunnySaturdayMorning · 08/05/2023 05:04

“Jealously among the horses” 😂😂😂

Err yes!! What we mean is that the herd leaders will assert their dominance over the more submissive ones to get the food or perceived food usually by barging, kicking and biting. Mine is fully capable of being a complete thug!! To keep him a nice person and protect his field mate, I am very strict with him. Treats are limited and only for specific rewards, they only ever get fed in their stables. You'd be far braver than me if you chose to get in the middle of him throwing his 650kg weight around because he thinks you're giving someone else sugar lumps.....