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

@AppleDumplingWithCustard I went for unreasonable - mainly because op seems to have an expectation that people will take time to educate themselves about horses when they don't have one.

That would be nice but seems unrealistic.

I think the evidence shows the onus is on op to make her horses inaccessible. Double fence filled with hedging, or use another field that more remote etc.

I wouldn't feed or pet a horse and wouldn't let dc do it either. We do have plenty of older children's books where it's the kind of thing kids do though. So I can see why people might think it was acceptable.

You are absolutely not being unreasonable, and I'm grateful this gets raised on here every so often to spread the message to people who don't know. I would like to see the BSS or other national charity really push this on TV and social media.

The ones who are doing it out of selfishness will do it anyway, but many are doing this out of simple ignorance and will stop once they can be convinced it's not just killjoy owners being miserable (which is what the ones I've know had thought!)

@Jobsharenightmare then your husband needs to stop being so lazy and entitled and educate himself.

since he’s unable to figure out how to find information, I suggest he uses the magic of Google to read about ‘laminitis’ in horses, and until he’s able to differentiate between appropriate grass qualities and quantities for individual horses, stops being an obnoxious ignoramus

Thanks for pointing out the grass thing. I've often picked the longer grass around gate posts, that horses can't get to and fed it to them, had no idea it could be problematic. Duly noted and won't do it again.

Probably people who do and don't care it's someone else's animal.

We've never fed anyone else's horses but I've had a horse pinch a rice cake from my child and then I've stood and shat myself as it struggled with it as it's so bloody dry!
My child was just holding it and the horses head came straight over and took it 🤦🏻‍♀️ I stayed until I was 100% sure the horse was going to be ok. The stables were at the opposite side of a very large field and not accessible.
I suppose the act of feeding horses also encourages them to pinch food! My toddler was not impressed.

Sadly the only solution is electric gates, cameras and fields well away from the public.
We live up a private lane with a competition yard next door and get people following the 'ponies' up the lane to see if they can feed them. Thousand of pounds worth of competition animal that will sometimes give their own owners a hard time - there's one dancing about on two legs this morning.

Oh god, here we go. I don’t expect anyone to educate themselves about horses. I expect people to leave animals the fuck alone that don’t belong to them.

I don’t know the first thing about cats and frankly I don’t want to, I don’t particularly like them. But I can appreciate they are someone else’s pet. So I don’t feed them because guess what, they’re not my fucking animal.

im expecting people to do the decent thing and use common sense, and if they can’t do that, i would expect them to read the signs which they literally cannot miss. And I would expect them to realise from the signs - since they say very clearly- that feeding the horses could kill them. And i expect them to see the double and electric fencing put out to avoid them going near the horses. I don’t expect anyone to educate themselves FFS just to use a bit of bloody common sense

And if you actually bothered to read my OP- you would see I’ve done double fencing. It DOESNT work. Same with electric unfortunately and hedges. People just climb the gate and then climb the second gate. My horses are in the most remote field possible. It is not a problem unique to my yard- it’s everywhere because people are bloody idiots.

so what do you suggest eh? The horses never leave the stable?

Oh no, I hope your child was ok! You’re absolutely correct- that’s the problem with people hand feeding- horses become grabby, ill mannered and nippy. The next child that comes along might lose a finger in the process. I know someone who lost a finger after a horse was bitey and nippy and tried to grab food and it was awful, I hate to think that could happen to an innocent small child who did nothing wrong.

The thing is @AuntieJune when this got markedly worse during lockdown, suddenly, there were swathes of people asking why against the SM posts, here and in other places, asking people not to feed random horses in fields.

We were told to 'be nice' and educate people because they were just doing something nice and just telling people off would get us nowhere, that people were just doing something that they thought benefitted the horse, and had no idea it was potentially dangerous and wouldn't do it if they knew........
That's bollocks because people will always try and justify it, look at the comment about horses and jealousy, people think you're making it up because you're posh and don't want the commoners touching your horses (said to me by someone who I caught trying to feed my horse and his field mates crisps and sweets) rather than just believing that I own the horse, I've put time and effort into learning how to keep them healthy and what you're doing counteracts that in a big way and you need to stop because I've asked you to, either in person or via signs on gates, social media posts etc.
So I think the expectation is rather the other way around, instead of heeding signs and campaigns (there's a few around) because they're asked to, people are expecting horse owners to educate them, probably in the hopes that they'll be able to show we're just being precious and not genuinely worried about the horse's health, to justify doing it.

And @MissCrowley yes, that's exactly what it does, horses start to associate passers by with food, the people feeding them are effectively training that into them and of course they can't differentiate between the intentions of one person holding food they can reach over another, so leads to your little ones rice cake being pinched but can lead to the horses competing with each other over the food source, injuring each other or anyone who gets in the way, and snatching food to stop a competitor getting it which can lead to bitten fingers and hands.

And this is exactly why people are a problem - you explain that it can cause problematic behaviour, some moron who thinks all animals are automatons and have no clue about animal behaviour can't comprehend it and decides it's laughable and untrue, and carries on anyway.

Bravo, moron. Had a learning opportunity, pissed all over it.

We were on a guided walk once and a horse lent over the fence and bit someone badly on the shoulder. I’ve never fed horses, won’t let my children and after seeing that I’ve given them a very wide berth. I won’t stroke them, I have no idea whether than horse is lovely and friendly and won’t hurt a fly or could have my hand off. I love rambling and walking, but give anything that could kick or bite due respect.

Exactly.

It's not like competition over food/resources is a new concept is it? It happens the world over with every species, yet put it in the context of asking someone not to feed other people's horses and why and it's something to be scoffed at and ridiculed - all so someone can justify doing something they want to for 5 minutes of 'pleasure' while putting the animals at risk - and knowing they're doing it too.

You've had some replies already but just thought I'd chip, contrary to some of the more aggressive replies on here I'd say the majority of horse owners would say it's absolutely fine to take your child up to look at the horses (so long as you stay on public footpaths or roads and don't cross over onto private land or climb any gates or fences of course). Even the most protective horse owner can't think that much harm can come to them from people looking at them 😂

As to petting them, again I'd say fine so long as the horses approach you (don't call them over or try and bribe them with food, even grass from their own field please) and you are very careful, calm and gentle with them - don't lift up your tantrumming toddler and let them scream in horse's face or pull their ears or poke them please! Teach your children to always pat or stroke a horse on the neck not the face and watch your fingers and feet!

I would say however please do be really really careful especially with younger children and looking is always going to be safer than touching so if in any doubt don't go near the horse at all. If you aren't familiar with horse body language it can be hard to tell when a horse is getting anxious or annoyed and I'd hate for your child to be nipped or trodden on. My horse lives in a field with a public footpath running past it and despite all the warning signs and double electric fencing etc he and his herd do get fed by passers-by on a regular basis, so much so now that when he sees people standing by the fence he will go straight over expecting a treat (he's the herd leader and the bravest one so he's the first one to go over). To an inexperienced eye he just seems friendly but he will get annoyed if you are stood there but aren't feeding him after a while, especially if you are carrying a rustly bag or have your hands in your pockets (the cue to him that a treat is about to emerge!) and he could nip you or push a small child with his big head, sending them flying, so I'd probably advise best not to pat him at all, or at your own risk! It's a pity because he is genuinely a nice friendly horse and would also enjoy a pat, it's all the feeders that have taught him to be this way unfortunately...

How about putting a few (false) beehives up near the fences. Most people will steer clear of them for fear of getting stung. Might help keep people at a safe distance from your fences.

I found a mother and toddler a few weeks ago where mother was stood outside field and toddler was in it because she wanted to play with the water trough. I told her to get out and she snapped that she was only playing and there’s no horses in there anyway. Oh yes there are, the stallion just hasn’t spotted you yet!! Numerous warning signs, electric fencing, still didn’t stop the idiot.

YANBU

We've started having issues again too. Now the weather is getting a bit better, there’s more and more people around.

My horses field doesn’t have a footpath anywhere near it, but people are trespassing into fields with no ROW.

We have signs, 2 rows of electric fencing, a big hedge round 2 sides of of the field and locked gates, but I’m still finding people climbing gates and feeding them.

I’ve found the most effective way is to address children direct rather than their parents. The parents usually just get abusive and defensive (call me posh, stuck up, tell me to fuck off, etc, etc,) whereas the kids more often than not will listen when I explain why they shouldn’t feed the horses.

My DD’s pony is quite friendly to a point, as she’ll come over and say hello, DD has taught her to bow which she likes to show off, but if anyone tries to touch her she’ll fuck off (she was quite badly abused in a previous home so is a bit head shy with people she doesn’t know)

YANBU. Some people are just selfish , ignorant twats !!
Seeing our childhood pony in the agonising throes of colic was absolutely horrific. He was in absolute agony, kicking his own stomach and collapsing. He was very lucky to survive.

@krustykittens - I've sent you a PM but if you're as crap as checking yours as I am, if you send me your email, I'll email you the poster I've made to get printed

I’m glad you posted that as I was just about to. Never mind education. People just need to obey the fucking notices! 🤬

It’s not only horses. One of our local farmers has posted on FB, has signs up etc asking people not to feed the sheep, more importantly his bad tempered ram.
Why do people do it?

Well, from the angry tone of your response it seems you only want people to come on here and say 'yes they're morons'. Yes, ideally they'd read the signs and ideally they'd know about horses. As to leaving horses alone - they're so beautiful and large, I'd always stop to look at one when passing because you don't see them that often. It's only human to be interested in them, I think.

Is there a horse owners association or something that could do an awareness campaign? Go around schools telling kids not to feed the horses, do social media posts to educate people, go on TV shows to educate people about it. Surely if horse owners banded together, funding a bit of a campaign would be a lot cheaper than vet bills for lots of horses with colic.

I'm not unsympathetic, I realise it must be very frustrating, I just think there should be a different solution to the lack of knowledge that isn't calling people morons. People have lost their connection to the countryside and the assumed level of knowledge there used to be just isn't there any more.

You can be furious about it or you can find something to do - either prevention by keeping horses away from public paths etc, or helping to increase awareness. As the parent of young children, I have a lot of things to attend to and googling 'should I feed a horse in a field' is not likely to make it to the top of the list any time soon.

The short answer is people don't need any knowledge, they don't need to Google about feeding horses, if they just look, admire and keep going they don't need to do or know anything else.

Personally I'm not bothered if someone wants to stroke his nose or neck, but if you choose to do that without any knowledge then if you get nipped, shoved by his head or your toe stood on, it's on you because that's what you chose to do and that's a risk when you're around an animal as big and strong as a horse, and that is just common sense. I don't fuss horses I don't know precisely because I don't know them, and I do have knowledge and can read body language.

Do people randomly go around putting fuel into someone else's tank because they like the car?!

No, they don't, but for some reason horses are seen as public amenities and a free for all, we try and tell people the damage they could cause in the hope that it will appeal to their better nature and they don't want to hurt the animals, and as I said before, because people asked to stop demand to know why?! They might not have any interest in horses, but some will demand the knowledge, then refute it without a second thought. Simply because they want to do what they want to do and they aren't the one facing the potential concequences.

I mean I could talk all day about my horse, but apparently we're unreasonable for expecting people to heed signs or verbal requests because they can't be expected to have knowledge - they don't need to have knowledge to heed a sign or request asking them not to feed a horse, or any other animals for that matter, they just need to not do it.

There are campaigns, I'm part of one "Stop feeding our horses" it's on FB (Twitter and Instagram I think too but I don't have those) and there's posts and it's shared around a lot, I have signs up along with a couple of other owners with fields in the area, I ask people face to face when I see them, they're on private land with two gates (both locked) from the road, a hedge, fence and electric fence between them and the road and a 'barrier' electric fence along the fence that adjoins a footpath as well as the actual fence with electric wire along the top of it.
People climb the gates, and a neighbouring farmer has found people putting their coats over the electric wire and climbing over the fence into the barrier bit to get close enough to lean over and feed or throw food in.

The BHS has a section dedicated to it with printable signs, they have run campaigns, local press here ran ads and sections online and in papers, there have been news reports and segments (and I think one on Country File) I've been to my local farm shop today, big poster in there.

The problem is people ignoring it all, and the only way to change that is to have some sort of concequences attached, but even then people don't learn, dogs can be shot for worrying livestock yet we still have reports of them being worried, hurt and killed by loose dogs.

I've lost around a 3rd of my grass to these measures, I've taken responsibility, it's cost a fair amount of money and time, I'm being proactive, as from her posts is OP (and many others) and you bet it's frustrating to invest all that, still have people do what they please and ignore it all, and then someone like you come along and reckon it's still our fault and the people doing it bear no responsibility at all, poor things just trip and fall into a double fenced field and the apples/carrots/crisps/McDonald's jumps out of their hands and makes it's own way to the horses!
And that we're apparently not allowed to be worried and frustrated about that, or annoyed with the people doing it.
Well sorry to disappoint but I am going to be worried, frustrated and annoyed about it, and I'm not going to stop taking about it either - because it raises awareness, every thread like this there's at least one person who says they didn't realise and won't do it again - that's one (or more) less horse at risk, and although I prefer not to use the word moron (my go to is idiot) I'm not going to excuse these people their responsibility or pander to their entitled attitude because we've 'lost our connection with the countryside'.

Our child patted and fed animals only when it was known to be OK, why it so hard to understand that feeding touching a random animal could cause an animal problems?

Do humans always have to put themselves first?