advice regarding horse in the yard never turned out

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Bertieboy

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Just after a bit of advice regarding a horse in the yard. The horse almost two years ago had foot balance issues but they are now resolved and have been for around a year. The horse has not been turned out for over a year now. Its ridden twice , maybe three times a week for half an hour max in the arena only ( never hacked) and has 30 mins turned out in a small barn each day but that's it.
The sole reason for it being kept like this is the owner doesn't want it to run around.

Would you speak to the owner about it's management or keep out of it?
 
It is not your place to really do or say anything but as a YO I would not allow any horse to be kept that way and the owner would be told to either take proper care of the horse or leave the yard, it is not fair to keep a horse so restricted, it may be "safer" but to my mind quality of life is more important than quantity so if it could not safely lead a relatively normal life including some turnout with others or individually if essential then I would pts.
I would not want to prolong life for the sake of it although in this case it sounds as if the horse is physically ok , that being turned out had not caused the problems so it is due purely to having a paranoid owner and a YO who is accepting less than adequate care of an equine in the yard, to my mind this is something the YO needs to address but I know most will turn a blind eye as long as they pay the bills.
 
When I agitate about things like that my OH tells me that it is not acceptable in my eyes, but neither is at active cruelty. Many horses live far worse lives and tbh I wouldn't fall out with anyone over it.
 
I would stay out of it to my mind it's an inadequate way for a horse to be kept and if it was my yard I would not allow it but it's not your yard so I would keep quiet .
 
Although I agree there are much more pressing welfare issues in the grand scheme of things, could you suggest a compromise such as setting up a very small turn out area so he can get some sun (and vitamin D) and relax?
 
i would say something, to be locked up like that is cruel, totally unacceptable, no contact with others horses, how anyone can think an animal that should be on the move most of the time can be locked up is beyond me.

its not your horse, but you feel uncomfortable about it, because something tells you its wrong.

i`ve seen horses like that but at least they were ridden and worked properly, but its a thing i would never do!
 
Bertieboy said:
Just after a bit of advice regarding a horse in the yard. The horse almost two years ago had foot balance issues but they are now resolved and have been for around a year. The horse has not been turned out for over a year now. Its ridden twice , maybe three times a week for half an hour max in the arena only ( never hacked) and has 30 mins turned out in a small barn each day but that's it.
The sole reason for it being kept like this is the owner doesn't want it to run around.

Would you speak to the owner about it's management or keep out of it?
Click to expand...

Are you the YO or manager if so yes if not then the only course of action is to air your misgivings with YO or manager. The sneaky method is to involve welfare folks who might give advice. The YO or manager ought to be proactive in this.......
 
I'm afraid in a similar situation many years ago with a pony stallion that was never turned out, speaking to the owner - even very casually - did not go well. I ended up moving yards, was only there about a month, because there was nothing I could do but I felt too uncomfortable seeing it live like that to stay on the yard.
 
Velcrobum said:
Are you the YO or manager if so yes if not then the only course of action is to air your misgivings with YO or manager. The sneaky method is to involve welfare folks who might give advice. The YO or manager ought to be proactive in this.......
Click to expand...

I dont for one minute think the welfare people should be involved. They have a lot of REAL cruelty cases to deal with. This horse is looked after, ridden 3 times a week and turned in a barn. It doesnt begin to compare with the cruelty of sulky racing foals and yearlings, the abandonment of coloured colt foals and the starving of unfortunate animals.
 
It goes against my views on horse-keeping and I would say something actually because then I feel as if I have tried to make a difference for one horse, no matter what. It's how you say it so choose your words wisely. If it makes no difference then at least you know you tried - better than saying nothing at all.

I'm sure we'd all like to make a difference to all suffering animals, no matter how small. If more people spoke up, it might make a difference to more voiceless sufferers.
 
If it has been this way for over a year i doubt the YO cares, as if it was my yard the YO would have said something a long long time ago. So i don't think there is any hope there. Does the horse get no grass at all? What a poor sad lonely life for it :(

For those saying lots of horses live like this, yeah they do. But they are getting ridden or walked out several times a day and get a holiday at some point in a lot of cases, not 30mins every third day. And those saying there is worse abuse going on..well that all depends on what you see as worse. Abuse doesn't have a scale. It either is or is not and in my eyes this is abuse. Its not a good way for a horse to live.
 
Does the horse actually appear to be unhappy, stressed, unhealthy or shut down? If not, it's nobody's business but the owner.
 
You say it had foot problems,OP - maybe the vet has told the owner not to let it run around, as this is the reason she gives for only letting it loose in a barn each day, and giving it 3 rides a week in a school?
 
I think I would just chat to owner and discuss her reasons for not turning him out and just say something like " it's such a shame he can't be turned out more, so unnatural way for a horse to live" whilst trying very hard not to sound critical. Got to be honest I hate horses being stabled and would never keep mine restricted in any way but I do realise that I am in the minority.
 
It would not be the way I would keep a horse, but he is ridden 3 X a week and is turned out a little, so no, I would'nt interfere.

That is, as long as his bed is OK, water and feed OK, shelter OK.... not ill treated when handled or ridden...
 
Bertieboy said:
Just after a bit of advice regarding a horse in the yard. The horse almost two years ago had foot balance issues but they are now resolved and have been for around a year. The horse has not been turned out for over a year now. Its ridden twice , maybe three times a week for half an hour max in the arena only ( never hacked) and has 30 mins turned out in a small barn each day but that's it.
The sole reason for it being kept like this is the owner doesn't want it to run around.

Would you speak to the owner about it's management or keep out of it?
Click to expand...

If you know all this about the horse ^^^ you are either the YO or you regularly see or talk to the owner
If the horse is kicking the walls, weaving like a crazy trapped animal, lives in muck with no clean water or regular feed/hay I would approach the owner, mine would personally climb the walls if I tried to keep them in a week but other people's horses seem to love it, I've seen horses hate even going out into a paddock and fence walk or stand screaming at the gate until they are brought in

You don't mention stressful behaviour regarding this horse so if it seems happy enough with its routine I would tend to ignore it, it depends on what the owner has told you really, who knows maybe this horse is still under vet supervision in some way or another

I wouldn't be happy doing it but then mine would dig an escape tunnel, pack their bags and leave home or report me :)
 
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