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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Worried about a horse... WWYD?

11 replies

DefinitelyNotAPenguin · 19/04/2019 13:18

I'm worried about a horse on the livery yard where I keep my horses. I'm not sure if there's anything I can or should do or if I need to keep my nose out of it. I'm usually highly averse to being a livery yard busy body and only venture opinions if they are asked for... And even then am more likely to say something soothing and uncontroversial than venture my real opinion. So actually thinking about taking action about someone else's horse is a reflection of the condition of the horse rather than a general proclivity to interference on my part!

The horse in question is not abandoned or necessarily uncared for... it might be rather too cared for in a sentimental sense but is somewhat lacking in the practical. I know it has received veterinary attention and has serious dental problems and an increased amount of care is being provided to try and improve its condition BUT the treatment it really needs to its teeth is being withheld (cost? The requirement of a long journey to a vet hospital?) and it's condition has worsened to it being basically shockingly thin (as opposed to just moderately skinny). You can see wither and hip bones jutting out even through a rug and all ribs and some spinal further processes without the rug. The thing that's really getting to me is that it has now lost all the hair on its face, like it's just fallen out because the nutritional resources to keep growing it are not there.

Sad

It's getting fed but it can't chew or properly digest it.

I'm not on close enough terms with the owners to venture a discussion (It's one of those large yards where you aren't friends with everyone and they aren't in my block) and from what I've seen of them I'm not sure how well received it would be. I am considering a quiet word with the yard owner but the YO themselves have a very old, very thin horse (who is otherwise, however, healthy and happy) and I don't want them to feel judged by proxy! Angering the yard owner is not something I want to risk. I'm not sure phoning the RSPCA is the right thing either. Confused

I also don't want to watch or feel I have been complicit in a horse dying of starvation.

At the moment I'm waiting and seeing and hoping a bit of spring grass might set it up for a bit. But if it was my horse it would not have ever been allowed to deteriorate to the current point which is I think verging on and most likely actually crossed into being cruel. I understand there would be a reluctance to PTS, of course, but it seems to have overstepped the normal variation I've seen in people of where that line is drawn. I'm hoping they will draw their line soon... perhaps they are also just waiting to see what spring grass will do. The horse has been relatively cheerful but is just starting to look sad and sunken in the last week.

I'm just wondering what would you do? What have you done in similar situations? I would very much rather not involve myself in any way but it's starting to get to the point where my conscience is nagging me.

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Fireinthegrate · 19/04/2019 13:51

I would phone World Horse Welfare, explain the condition of the horse and ask them to take a look. If the horse is receiving vet treatment then I would hope every eventuality is being addressed. Perhaps there is an underlying condition you don’t know about. If the owners are paying for other vet treatment then I doubt the cost of having its teeth seen to is being held back.

DefinitelyNotAPenguin · 19/04/2019 14:11

It's teeth have been seen to "at home" by the vet but it requires more expensive work at Horsepital. They have adapted feed and have been washing it's mouth but it has had no effect and the horse's state has worsened. It dribbles much of its food out half chewed. I'm not sure when the vet last saw it.

I might phone WHW just for advice.

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DrunkenUnicorn · 19/04/2019 14:25

Definitely phone WHW.

I had a similar situation 6 years ago and they were great. Similarly the horses were in an awful state but owners didn’t seem to appreciate how bad they were and emotionally cared for them greatly even if their needs weren’t actually being met.

I think they were able to go in anonymously however, in my situation it was very clear it had been me and caused a huge fall out as they were good friends with my husband. However, it was worth it as the problem was sorted in a kind, sensible matter both owners and ponies got the help they needed

Jayblue · 19/04/2019 14:32

I agree WHW or BHS welfare line. They can come out and advise the owner and you can stay anonymous.

If the owner can't afford to pay for the treatment at the vet hospital then maybe PTS would be the kindest thing.

DefinitelyNotAPenguin · 19/04/2019 15:10

Thank you. I think I will phone WHW and see what they say.

Sadly I think the best thing for the horse would have to have been PTS already. I'm not even sure the trip to horspital would really be in its best interest given age, condition and apparent temperament but that kind of thing is very much personal judgement so can't fault either way. BUT this kind of undecided limbo with the horse getting worse and worse is a bad state of affairs.

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Floralnomad · 19/04/2019 21:06

Just out of interest what are they feeding it , we had an elderly TB with oesophageal stricture and few teeth ( they got knocked out in an accident) and she survived very well on buckets of soaked nuts and sugar beet fed 4x a day. She did go out and nibble grass but couldn’t really eat hay as it just got stuck .

DefinitelyNotAPenguin · 19/04/2019 21:46

I'm not quite nosey enough to know exactly but have seen it eating a big bucket of slop a few times and they were asking about linseed a while back. They only visit once or twice a day though so it's not getting a full hay ration replacement via bucket feed. Adlib haylage and grass such as it is currently (enough grass to be making me worry about one of mine getting too much but not enough for the other one of mine to have started to plump up yet). It's an older horse so could well be something other than just teeth going on but I still don't think it's right that it's been allowed to get quite into this state.

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Floralnomad · 19/04/2019 22:41

No that’s perfectly true , ours maintained a good state on her slop diet but she did get lots of slop , we were on a fair few bags of nuts per week .

Fazackerley · 23/04/2019 12:41

do you have a nice friendly vet yourself? I'd ask my own vet in passing

DefinitelyNotAPenguin · 23/04/2019 15:09

We use the same vets so they probably can't comment. The horse seemed more cheerful over the weekend and does have a slight shine coming on its coat... so I'm hanging fire for now. I may just talk to the yard owner when I catch them after all. I just worry about there being a witch hunt for the person that phoned WHW! I will if it goes downhill again but I think I should try yard owner first...

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DefinitelyNotAPenguin · 23/04/2019 15:12

I have to be a little bit selfish because I have no "escape route" from the yard so worry about my horses ending up homeless. I've been chucked off a yard for less (made a small complaint about inadequate fences... response - off you go! Lol. Ooops) so am wary of conflict.

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