Has anyone offered to help before and it landed well?

[anyideasthatcouldhelp]

There's a pony in a field near me - he's been there for about 3 years, turned out all year. He seems to have very little or no hay during winter, but the owner must be feeding him something as he's not skeletal- just not in very good form, not winter chunky. There's no field shelter/evergreen trees, so no protection from rain/sleet/snow.

On the plus side, the field is at least an acre and a half, not muddy fortunately -apart from around the field gate obviously. There is usually a very (very) short layer of grass all year. I guess this may be why he doesn't give him hay. That and the really high hay prices this year. He does have a coat (fixed in places with bailer twine) and as he's a colt/stallion he is completely alone. I know he probably can't be in a field with others realistically for this reason - but currently he can't even see/hear other horses.

I just feel sad for this horse and call me stupid, but I do lose sleep at night worrying when storms come in as his field is really exposed- he's often under torrential rain for hours. Also when we get a run of frosty or snowy days, he has no hay. Yes his hooves need a trim, but they are not massively overgrown. So this isn't neglect. It isn't enough to phone Horse Welfare. It is just not much care for his wellbeing or food security.

I'd like to offer hay to the owner. And ask if he might welcome a field shelter (which I'd try to source via 2nd hand or crowdfunding). However I'm worried it won't land well and could just be seen as criticism. The owner is from the travelling community and lives permanently, locally (I don't know him). He uses the pony mainly for cart work in the summer.

Am I being stupid to even think of offering? Will I just be told to FO?
I don't want to leave my mobile number and then receive multiple messages slating me for being an interfering old bag (polite version here) - which clearly I am. I just care about his lovely horse - and I shouldn't - as it is none of my business.

Anyone tried doing this before and it went ok?
Or tried and wished they hadn't?

Thanks for your thoughts xx

Only way to find out is to ask. Maybe start by talking generally about the horse – what's his name, how old, breeding, etc before jumping straight in with an (implied) accusation that the horse is being neglected. Build a relationship first, if you can.

Thanks - great idea- will definitely try to do this. The challenge is that in the three years that the horse has been in the field, I've not seen the owner even once and I go past the field on my way to and from work each day and to get to the local town/when dog walking.. but you are right about trying to build a relationship. Thanks x

Is the pony a native breed, do you think? If so, the field shelter may not be a priority, though it’s a shame there are no trees. I’d be tempted to go in stealthily to plant something small but fast-growing in an unobtrusive spot on the weather side! At least he has a rug.

Depending on his type, should he be chunky at the end of winter? Does he gain weight in the spring? It’s just possible that it might be laminitis concerns rather than slackness.

I have topped up the feed of a couple of horses, with the owner’s permission, previously - the paddock was in poor condition, they had poverty marks in the warm weather, and it turned out she was struggling financially. But that was an easier conversation with a woman, honestly.

I think in your situation I wouldn’t leave a mobile number but maybe try to catch the owner in person, and put it forward as being a horse-lover who would welcome the opportunity to feed him sometimes because he’s such a handsome fellow?

Thanks Gremlins - good points - he's quite a fine boned horse - certainly not a Cob that you might expect (from the cart racing) - I think he's a thoroughbred X. I love the idea of planting something :) - it might take while to grow..

Most of the issue is in the fact the owner simply isn't present - I've never clapped eyes on him - he may need to come after work/dark for some reason or he might not wish to engage with anyone...so I can't bump into him and chat about his horse and try to create a dialogue. I wish I could.

I am a bit focused on him as we have had 3 large sets of horses that have suffered considerable neglect within 2-3 miles of home. For the first group we all (local people/neighbours) contacted the Police, RSPCA etc over literally months - nothing happened. Then when two ponies died at the gate and the local press and TV press got involved, things started to happen and rescue was sorted.

The next time, again very locally, someone put a large number of skewbald and piebald Cobs into a large field on the outskirts of the local town and simply didn't feed them once all the grass had gone, in winter. The owner of the land (unbelievably the owner of a horse/livestock feed supply shop less than a mile from the field) was contacted to ask if he knew the ponies were being left for weeks with nothing. Instead of helping he must have turfed them off the land as the group was moved off a week later. So not a good result at all either..

The next group were lovely polo ponies -overwintering again about a mile away. Whoever was being paid to look after them started off feeding them well but then simply stopped putting out hay - leaving them with nothing.

It happens a lot around my area and it is awful. I'm wondering how I can help rather than interfere - I thought some horse charities had a national map of local welfare volunteers that they support to identify issues and offer practical help - not criticism - to provide food where needed. I thought World Horse Welfare had such volunteers but not according to their website...

Sorry to go on - it is an age old problem, one which isn't going to be covered by the new animal welfare laws I imagine.... xx

Just a positive note to add here - as if my magic, a large bale of hay has appeared in his field today as I walked by. Miracles do happen! x

At this time of year horses should be at their slimmest. It is not good for them to be chunky at all never mind at this time of year. Not ideal to be alone but certainly not a reason to say he is neglected.
Kindly, you should save your concern for a horse that doesn’t have the freedom of 24 hour turnout with plenty of forage.