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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Wording for a don't feed the pony sign

55 replies

LaPufalina · 10/07/2022 17:11

We have my DD's pony on a smallish bare(ish) paddock to keep his weight down but unfortunately that paddock is next to a busy road and we've caught people feeding him Sad so annoying.
He's very cute and friendly but I'm going to do some supplementary/more personalised signs to beg people not to feed him.
He had lami before we got him and has fat pads at the moment, no heat in hooves but I think he's borderline. Any ideas for wording for the sign?
Ps He has a grazing muzzle but he's so miserable wearing it so the small paddock seems the lesser of two evils but not if CFs treat him as a petting farm pony.

OP posts:
kimfox · 12/07/2022 10:01

Could you also laminate a page (from the internet or a book) which explains exactly why some horses & ponies can't eat "treats" and how it makes them suffer if people feed them. Alongside the big "don't feed the pony sign". Just an idea as I think some people think owners are just being mean spirited Hmm

Serenbunny · 13/07/2022 21:19

I've got BHS ones that say. 'Please don't feed the horses. Although it may seem harmless your kindness could kill'

closingloop · 18/07/2022 12:38

I am an equine diabetic on a very strict diet. Do not feed me anything, you may kill me with kindness.

maxelly · 21/07/2022 15:30

We've just put new ones up on our fields with public footpaths running through or adjacent and this time have gone for very clear and simple: "Please do not feed or approach the horses under any circumstances". Previously we had much more wordy, nice, written from the horse's POV ones that said something like 'I know we seem sweet but please don't feed us any treats even grass as it could make us very sick' - this did not seem to work as we'd regularly come across people feeding them all sorts, on one memorable occasion a lady with a big bag of veg from the greengrocers including peppers, aubergines and celery Confused. The people opposite have taken the polar opposite approach and have gone for ginormous 6 ft high posters with pictures of the horses, names, ages and details of their medical conditions that mean they can't be fed. We'll see who gets better success over the summer holidays which is peak horse-feeding time round here!

TBH I think however you word it a sign is not hugely effective, at a guess 95% of people know you shouldn't feed someone else's animals and never would so don't need a sign, there's maybe 1% who wander around with their heads in the clouds and won't notice any signs (even the 6ft posters lol) - these are the same people that will 'not realise' there are lambing ewes in the field they are letting their off-lead dog run around in, another 1% who think they above the rules and will just do what they like regardless of any sign or polite explanation, and a really horrible 1% who believe horse owners are disgusting snobs and will actively go out of their way to annoy them, so a sign will probably make them more likely to feed than less. So really the signs only work on the tiny minority who genuinely don't know you shouldn't feed horses but who will change their behaviour when told. You can see this phenomenon in practice on the regular MN threads on this very topic, the vast majority will agree other people's horses should never be fed, the odd person thanks the OP for enlightening them as they've rarely come across horses IRL and are basing their knowledge off Jilly Cooper where they're constantly feeding apples and polos, but every. single. time there's a belligerent poster or 2 who says 'Fuck you OP, my DC love feeding the ponies so we aren't going to stop' or 'Who cares about the vet bills for your colicing pony you rich cow, one less horse getting in the way of my BMW on country lanes' or similar!

twistyizzy · 21/07/2022 15:47

My husband has just suggested:
Do not feed this horse he is on a vet diet. Extra food will kill him.
CCTV in operation and my husband owns a 12 bore shot gun. You kill my horse, my husband will kill you.

Original poster
LaPufalina · 21/07/2022 22:32

We had one of the other horses in our field put to sleep two weeks ago after the vet couldn't fix her.
She had a stomach impaction, which the vet said was pretty unheard of in a grass kept horse with no other food, so she may have been fed something by someone else Sad she was old and had a lovely life but I really hope no one else caused her death.

OP posts:
nothingfound · 22/07/2022 07:45

If you want to kill me - feed me. If you love me don't feed me anything at all, not even grass.

You have to be blunt for some people to take any notice at all. I have screeched at people actually leaning on a don't feed sign... to stop feeding. If you put up a double fence people will climb in to get closer or throw stuff. People are arseholes about this, thinking it doesn't mean them, or carrots are fine, or whatever excuse works for them.

CountryCob · 23/07/2022 08:29

I think the best way if possible is a big hedge, electric fence, design yard so no one can really see the horses. Know this sounds hostile but it’s what I do. There is a gap in my hedge but I have put a pile of horse poo there to put people off. No feeding that I know of for mine. I have got a horse watch north wales sign which explains well the risks and issues caused by feeding too

Hotenoughtoburnasausage · 26/07/2022 10:03

Why has nobody demanded a photo yet?
<nudge nudge op >

ridasabeen425 · 26/07/2022 17:35

A "Don't Feed the Pony" sign is used to stop horses from eating anything while on a trail. It's a good idea to have a few of these signs in your possession. They should be easy to find and can be put up quickly. The sign is made of wood and has the word "don't feed the pony" written on it. checkout the fruit horses can eat

XelaM · 26/07/2022 17:47

We once witnessed our pony being fed chocolate raisins and Oreos by a random kid and their parents. This was when we kept her at a riding school and everywhere it said "please don't feed the horses" and CCTV

Kathers92 · 26/07/2022 17:50

Go with warning pony has ringworm very infectious. Worked a treat for me as a footpath runs right next to my field

sallllladfiingers · 26/07/2022 17:55

Do not feed the horses, they are on a strict diet and certain foods will kill them.
You are being watched by CCTV.

rainrelief · 26/07/2022 17:56

Yeah, you need to explain in clear and brief terms the serious health risk to your pony. People are not bad. They just genuinely don't understand the implications of what they do. They think horses eat apples and grass so don't understand why they can't feed these, and they interpret ' Do not feed' signs as the owner being a miserable, possessive meanie.

Explain the reasons, clearly, plainly and simply.

Original poster
LaPufalina · 26/07/2022 19:08

Hotenoughtoburnasausage · 26/07/2022 10:03

Why has nobody demanded a photo yet?
<nudge nudge op >

Sorry Grin
This is him and his girlfriend!
We've moved him off the front paddock as the grass was sparse across all our land so been feeding supplementary haylage. Will need to dust off my shite PowerPoint skills this week and sort a sign with his photo on!

Wording for a don't feed the pony sign
OP posts:
countrygirl99 · 26/07/2022 19:42

You're inluck. As he is grey you can spray the wording on him like in the H&H link😊

QuestionableMouse · 26/07/2022 20:06

They're absolutely adorable!

Get a stencil made up that says

"Unapproved foods will kill me. That includes grass, carrots and apples!" and spray it on him with sheep spray.

Bellatrix13 · 26/07/2022 20:10

The horses near us have signs saying “don’t touch covid” or something similar (the sign made it sound like the horses had covid!).

i know rules around covid are relaxed so people might not pay attention, but possibly worth a shot?

Seriou · 27/07/2022 19:53

These suggestions are so much nicer than what I was thinking!

(F off Do Gooders)

lifesabitchandthenyoudie · 31/07/2022 18:35

I agree @Seriou ; I'd be tempted to put 'DO NOT feed any animal that isn't yours without consent. You are being filmed.' and get one of those fake cctv setups. Most people are just trying to 'be kind' (selfish) but as others have said, you still get the dicks who think they're entitled. Lots of brambles near the fence to make a barrier worked in my case.

MuffinMcLayLikeABundleOfHay · 31/07/2022 18:48

I don't think people give a hoot about CCTV cameras. They have to be good quality in order to actually recognise people and I can't see the police investigating someone feeding a horse.

The feeders think they are being nice, they aren't smashing in the window of a bookies. So you have to explain to them why it's not actually nice so I'd definitely go sign over CCTV.

ScootyAlan · 20/08/2022 10:39

"If I catch you feeding my horse, I will break your fucking legs".
People are shit. They think they're entitled to do what they want. I'm past the point of pussy footing about.😁

FourTeaFallOut · 20/08/2022 10:44

"This killer pony has rabies and bites"

Maybe you could toughen up his look a bit?

Original poster
LaPufalina · 20/08/2022 16:49

ScootyAlan · 20/08/2022 10:39

"If I catch you feeding my horse, I will break your fucking legs".
People are shit. They think they're entitled to do what they want. I'm past the point of pussy footing about.😁

I met an old lady with a bag of carrots on my way out last night. She asked if the horses were mine and handed me the bag, I thanked her for not feeding them and checking with me first as they needed to be sliced. She looked really surprised and I explained we'd had the vet out for choke last time, so hopefully that's eliminated one of the feeders. I didn't threaten to break her legs though Grin

OP posts:
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