Advice on an abandoned horse please folks

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catdragon

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Hi all

Just looking for some advice. Where my friend lives - there's been a horse turn up on Sunday in the front field. No one knows who owns it and she's seen no-one come to attend to it since.

What concerns her is it has no water (she went down and put a bucket in for it). She was bothered it has no shelter or rug on - but didn't raise any other concerns. I feel it's been put in the field to fly graze...

Who should she be best to contact about it - given that not providing water alone is unlawful.

Sorry - I do not know what kind of condition it's in and I do not live near enough to pop over to take a look - not that there's anything I could do other than contact the relevant authorities.

Any help with useful contacts to pass on to her would be appreciated.

Thanks
 
I guess the first port of call for a lot of people is the RSPCA, although seeing as your friend has already taken an interest in the welfare of the animal then they might be pretty quick to dump the load on her instead of actually doing anything themselves.

The police should be notified, because when it comes to DEFRA guidelines on 'rescue' horses being transferred into the name of a new person, the police have to have been notified of the abandoned horse and the owner given a suitable period to come forward and collect the horse.

Those are my two suggestions (I'd personally go to the police first), I'm sure other people will have some more suggestions though :)
 
SarahThomas said:
I guess the first port of call for a lot of people is the RSPCA, although seeing as your friend has already taken an interest in the welfare of the animal then they might be pretty quick to dump the load on her instead of actually doing anything themselves.
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No...NOT the RSPCA!
Waste of bl**dy time that lot.
BHS or WHW
 
Nothing will happen.

We had this situation last year. A young horse was found in the fields and I made enquiries with all the relevant authorites, police, animal welfare at the County Council etc etc, I was astounded to find it is the land owners problem.

We were told to put a notice on the gates describing the horse and our contact details for 10 days. No one claimed him and he ended up with a friend of ours who raised him and sold him on.

The horse was a quality lightwieght WB x, had been wearing a rug prior to being dumped as he had rubs on his chest. We thought he had been stolen but the Police had no calls about him, so we can only assume someone couldn't afford him and dumped him in a grassy field. No chip in his neck.

I don't think it is appropriate to withdraw water from any animal in the hope it will prompt the authorities to deal with the problem.
 
At my work we had a horse dumped. The RSPCA took her away. She was very feral, and the first twoattempts they couldn't catch her never mind get her in the lorry. On the third attempt they brought a marksman and shot her with a tranquiliser and dragged her into the box. Very dramatic and upsetting, but the horse is happy now.

(She had a twisted front limb and was only a yearling)
 
Cant she usher it onto her field if she wants it? Finders keepers? Probably not but just a mad idea. I would be worried someone will come along if a notice goes up and they lay claim to it. But hey easy for me to say. I would def phone police etc. Good luck. Let us know what happens as its good to learn from this experience.
 
indie999 said:
Cant she usher it onto her field if she wants it? Finders keepers? Probably not but just a mad idea. I would be worried someone will come along if a notice goes up and they lay claim to it. But hey easy for me to say. I would def phone police etc. Good luck. Let us know what happens as its good to learn from this experience.
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You need to follow the law. We put several notices up and took photo's of the notices, on a rather windy night. I will leave you to draw your own conclusions.

We were concerned because the horse we found was a very nice type, not a feral stunted pony or a half starved cob foal. He was frightened of us initally, but once cornered and hands on, he was fine. This again made us think he had belonged to someone who cared. It really was an odd situation.
 
I found a abandoned youngster by the side of the road a month or so ago. Rspca were RUBBISH. Took me 10 hours in the pouring rain trying to find someone to pick him up. Police, however were wonderful :) definitly go police, or find someone willing to take him in, and then refer him to a horse rescue charity.
Had a few nasty voicemails left on my phone from rspca, they said they couldnt do anything. Police contacted them, and rspca said they would come out at a certain time. Certain time came and went, no rspca. Ended up finding a lady to take this horse.
 
The RSPCA will not do anything if they have food or water, if they have no water they may collect them but as they really would rather not have the hassle and cost they would rather not. So if you want them removed do not give them water or wise if you are going to continue to care for it below are a couple of links with advice.

http://www.redwings.org.uk/welfare/advice-and-information/abandonment/

http://www.redwings.org.uk/documents/Abandonmen1_2_.pdf

If you claim the abadoned animal and forefill all the legals it takes about 3 months then you can get a new passport and its yours.
 
So, on the off chance that the RSPCA may turn up, water should be removed?

Who would find that sitting easily on their conscience? Purposely leaving an animal thirsty? I would be damned if I could do it.

Personally I would get in touch with the Police, and then I'd be straight online with "Lost a horse anyone?" type queries. Throw a stone in the waters of horse forums and FB and the ripples reach a long way.
 
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Remember that the local police may not pick up on a horse that has been stolen in another part of the country so I would definitely get onto facebook/forums & notify horsewatch/& the missing on loan people. It could even have been taken & dumped by a vindictive ex.
 
If you contact RSPCA you won't get much response if any.
If you get police out and they contact RSPCA they seem to get a better response. As others have said if you provide water the duty of care has a strange twist of settling on you. If possible take water to the horse 3 or 4 times a day, allow it to drink and remove bucket. Very difficult situation and one that urgently needs addressing legally.
 
Meant to ask, the field it has been left in. Does this actually belong to your friend or just near her property. This does have some implications on the situation.
 
If its half way decent, remove it to another field a goodly distance away and when the owners (eventually)turn up, well it must have been nicked! :). My guess is it is a flygrazer.
 
Enfys said:
So, on the off chance that the RSPCA may turn up, water should be removed?

Who would find that sitting easily on their conscience? Purposely leaving an animal thirsty? I would be damned if I could do it.

Personally I would get in touch with the Police, and then I'd be straight online with "Lost a horse anyone?" type queries. Throw a stone in the waters of horse forums and FB and the ripples reach a long way.
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If there is water they simply won't act....as its basic needs are being met.
If it were me, I would offer water several times a day, until they have been. If you stress the animal has no water they will be FAR quicker to act.
 
I agree, go on the forums/facebook and get the feelers out there

I am a member of horse watch south wales people have joined from even outside the area and there are constant posts about stolen/missing horses. Might be worth a try

rspca are terrible and wont act unless it doesn't have food/water which i think is a terrible attitude to have.

good luck
 
joeanne said:
If there is water they simply won't act....as its basic needs are being met.
If it were me, I would offer water several times a day, until they have been. If you stress the animal has no water they will be FAR quicker to act.
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I know :( The law is an ass, but I can see the logic of their reasoning in it. It has grass and water ergo it has basic needs fulfilled.

Like you, I would be watering the horse on the sly and removing the evidence afterwards.
 
When I had to deal with it, I have to admit the whole process left me both astounded and in B&Q buying chain and padlocks for all roadside gates.
 
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