Are these horses being neglected

[Stayinghome]

I am worried about someone who keeps there horses stabled on DIY livery. The owner visits them twice a day at lunchtime around 1pm and again about 5pm to hay and water etc. Occassionally they are turned out during those hours but when the weather is bad they are left in 24/7. The horses are retired so no exercise other than when they are in the field. They seem to be very bored horses and never have any hay left in the mornings. Is this ok or should I say something?

Poor things. It's awful, but probably within welfare guidelines. Does nobody see to them first thing?
I'm always horrified by people who leave horses beyond 9am latest.

Yards with no turn out at all for part of the year are not uncommon. Whilst not ideal they are getting two feeds a day and some turn out.

Ours will always polish off his hay in an hour or so per net and would be enormous if given enough to eat constantly (we went on holiday to a place with automated feeders and he attempted to gorge 24h a day).

Yeah while not exactly extreme neglect, it doesn't sound great, was this always how they were kept or is it just since the virus situation - I suspect at the moment even though everyone is doing their best there are some horses being kept non optimally. As PP says, it's not always possible for all horses to have constant access to forage (although this is ideal), I too have a fatty and no matter how much hay she is given, by what method, she will always, always guzzle it all by morning if in overnight. In fact the more you give her, or the more difficult you make it for her, the quicker she'll eat! But I do make sure she gets more first thing in the morning if not going straight out, it doesn't sound ideal for them to be waiting until 1pm especially if they are the type prone to ulcers or stomach-y issues, and presumably they are stood in 18 hours work of muck by then too! At least hopefully with the weather improving they can start to go out more soon?

As to whether you should say something, are you in a position to offer any help (e.g. if owner made up haynets could you sling in for them in the evening/morning if you are on the yard anyway?) as this would probably be a more constructive approach than simply stating your concerns if owner has no way of getting up at other times ATM. Or if your yard manager is good they will be used to dealing with these concerns although again if owner can't or won't change then there's not much they can do other than offer paid-for services such as morning skip-out and feed if these are available on the yard (but owner may not be willing or able to pay), or as a last resort threaten to kick them off yard but that would not really be sensible or in the horses best interest at the current time!