Abandoned Horse on Yard

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mollymurphy

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Hi there,

There's a 17hh gelding on our yard who has had no owner tend to him for months! She's stopped paying the rent and is ignoring all calls from the YO.

The horse is only worth meat money (he's about 17 years old, got horiffic conformation (like 3 horses stuck together!), floaty bits of bone in his knees, arthritis, a bad back, in DESPERATE need of dental work, and an old fracture of a fetlock that hasnt healed properly). So the rent due has exceeded that of what he's worth. But what do we do now?

Other people are looking after him, so he's ok, but i'm so angry. We never reported the owner to the rspca / ilph because he has to be showing actual signs of suffering before they'd do anything, but we wouldn't let him loose weight and look too bad. He's never sound, but he's not majorly lame when trotted up. When the new animal welfare law comes in, can anything be done then?
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The YO couldn't even GIVE him away, let alone sell him to get his money back.

The horse seems happy enough just being turned out daily, but it's such a shame - he's really lovely.

Any help would be greatfully received, and i'll take it to our YO.

Thank you!

Lou. x
 
Is he stiff or having movement problems at all? What about the fetlock? Remember lame is another word for pain and it is not being treated. Consult the ILPH on the matter, Maybe a letter to the Owner should be written to say that unless she pays the livery etc he will be taken to the ILPH or equivalent.
Let us know how you get on.
 
Maybe you could contact some independant horse charities who are more prepared to take on horses that havnt been left to get the suffering stage, there is one called HACK nr Wrexham not far from Chester. Or you never know someone might just have there own land and would take him as a companion. If hes good natured it would be a such shame for him just to be sent to the meat man....
 
The ILPH will take the owner to court for abandonment etc and may possible take the horse in to one of their rescue centres.

Other than that contact redwings or the veteran horse society and see if they have any room for him.

I swear people like his owner do not deserve to have horses.
 
I'd speak to the IILPH on the matter as whatever way you go this looks like a legal matter as you can't do a thing until he is signed over.....awful situation but he'sonly 17 so may be horsemeat to some but a companion to others...therefore a use, poor boy I hope the right thing is done by him
 
where abouts in cheshire is this horse? PM me if you like - I am working in Cheshsire the end of April and if he is near by I may be able to pop in and make him more comfortable in the mouth. No fee if he has been deserted!
 
Thank you everyone - especially victoria - ive PMed you!

I'm deffinately going to report the owner on Monday. I've spoken to the YO's several times about this, but they're not horsey (they're working famers), so they dont really know what to do - just keep giving her "one more chance". (I recently found out she was kicked off her last yard for never turning up!) But she's never gone this long without paying her rent. So do i report her without telling the YO's? Because i know they'll say to give them time to sort it themselves...again! I'd report her anyway, but the farmers are lovely and i dont want to make things awkward. Hmmmmmm.....

I deffinately wouldn't let him be pts - as bad as he is, he's not "suffering" that much. If he was my own, i'd keep him going...maybe could do with some pain relief though.

Thank you all. Will keep you posted! x x x
 
We came across a situation like this.....my mam was visiting a livery stable to medicate a clients horse and there was an abandoned 4 yr old Irish draftx TB, he was lame on hind leg and the YO was sending him to knacker man to re-coup some money..........the owner has not shown up for over 6 months.

My mam paid the knacker money and removed him and he was taken on by a friend of my mams in a local horse sanctuary............he was adopted as a companion as he could not be ridden.
 
Try a local branch of the Blue Cross. They are usually pretty good at taking in unwanted horses. The trouble is you are all looking after him so kindly and feeling sorry for him when in actual fact it would be more practical to put him down - you are all going to shoot me down, now, I suppose!! Sorry.
 
I aggree that that time isn't very long off, but to me (i'm no professional), he doesn't seem to be suffering to that degree...yet. If it was up to his owner, he'd have starved to death in his stable almost a year ago. She decided it would be easier for her to turn him out 24/7, but he's TB-type and wasn't rugged up (until other people stepped in) - he'd never have made it through the winter.

I think he's got at least this summer left though...i hope. x
 
Mollymurphy, I am in a similar situation. A horse which is looked after by my none horsey neighboughs have had two horses dumped onto them and she has not been up in three months. The last time she came up it was only for around 4 days so effectivly she has not been up in 6 months!!!!
 
I've taken some pics of him today and would really appreciate other peoples' point of view on his condition before i phone the rspca / ilph tomorrow (just so i can be exact in my description of him). They're not very good though, cos i had to sneak into his stable and take them on my phone. Should i post them on here or would anyone mind me PMing them to them? He's actually looking a bit skinnier than i thought - haven't seen him without a rug on for a while. I know for a fact that the owner wouldnt see them if i were to post them - she's apparently got better things to do with her time than come onto horsey forums! And even if she did see them, i doubt she'd be able to recognise it was her horse! Most pics havent got his head in shot.

Lou. x
 
Okie doke!

Sorry about the quality! He wouldn't pose for me - was more interested in his hay (had to give him some, otherwise he was just weaving...a lot!) Can get some more though if needed?

I'd just like to know what you think of his condition. Don't want to over-exagerate to the rspca / ilph!

His legs are FULL of scars, but pics didn't get them. God knows whats happened to him over the years. Poor boy.

Many thanks.

Lou. x



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yes, he's wormed along with all the other horses on our yard, so that's ok. He does seem to have a bit of a belly though.....

Thank u sooooo much.
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will be on the phone to report the owner tomorrow. x
 
Molly,

The horse looks poor in the photos - However, the duty of care lies with the owners and the YO. So whilst I know you are thinking of calling the authorities, you may want to speak to the YO first. If the RSPCA or ILPH call the first thing they will want to know is why the YO has not made responsible provision for the horse in terms of adequate feed etc.

Proceed with caution on this one as you could find yourself in a whole world of trouble.
 
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