Brings a little tear to my eye...

[NoltonSeaShell]

Near the field where my horses are there's a cob in the field with cushings disease! She's been there for years and is one of the sweetest horses ever, and with all this horrible weather we've been have she was soaked to the bone, and hadn't been dry in days. The man looks after her the best he can but sometimes its just not enough. Shes given her best years to this man and deserves all the love in the world for it. Just makes me sad when i'm walking past to see her sodden with a sad look in her eye.

So today i took her a bucket of bran mash and rugged her up (while she was drier) with a spare I rug I had! Don't think the man will mind (hopefully) he will know it was me! It give me a little warm feeling to see her have a little bit of attention. I would love to wrap her up warm and take her back to my stables... after all i have a spare one

Not really an important post thou!

 

[Holly Hocks]

Good on you for helping out. I'm sure the pony will appreciate it and hopefully the owner will too. You could always ask him about filling your spare stable with her?

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Thanks Holly, I am considering it. Its upsetting to see, she always gives a little whicker when you call her name, she truly is the sweetest horse. She must be around the 18-20 mark maybe older. I think the man is quite attached to her thou. I can only hope... would be nice for her to have a warm stable for christmas!

 

[Holly Hocks]

Thanks Holly, I am considering it. Its upsetting to see, she always gives a little whicker when you call her name, she truly is the sweetest horse. She must be around the 18-20 mark maybe older. I think the man is quite attached to her thou. I can only hope... would be nice for her to have a warm stable for christmas!

Maybe when he sees that you can offer her a better life, he will let you - maybe the only reason he doesn't do more for her is that he can't afford to. Good luck! Let us know if you ask him and how you get on!

 

[rhino]

I realise you were doing what you thought best, but I would be furious if someone took it upon themselves to feed and rug up MY horse! You say the horse looks 'sad' but is it suffering in any way, what is its weight like, does it have shelter/food/water? If the horse is elderly and healthy (despite the cushings) then it sounds like the owner is doing a good job...

It really isn't on feeding someone else's horse - especially with something like a bran mash as a lot of people don't like feeding that any more, and any change of diet in a cushings horse can be a VERY bad idea.. I would have asked 'permission' at the very least, or left well alone.

 

[YorksG]

I have to agree with rhino, I too would be furious with someone who fed and rugged my horse. Why would anyone take it upon themselves to rug and feed some one elses horse without permission. I often think that my neighbour over rugs her horses, but I have yet to decide to nip out and take the rugs off!

 

[Archina]

I think if it was obvious the horse was suffering then i would do the same but if it wasnt then it is a bit presumptious but as long as you fed no more than a scoop of bran mash it wouldnt of done the pony any harm. There used to be a field down the road from me with a couple of horses in it and it was obvious the owners where never up, i also knew that they had had dealings with the SSPCA on many occasions in the past. I used to drive past and see rugs hanging off and torn to bits which could of easily caused accidents for the horse so i would stop and either remove the rugs or fix them. The rug would still be on the gate several days after me removing them which showed the owners hadnt been up.

 

[Elsbells]

Have t agree with Rhino too here I'm afraid.

I can see that you fed and rugged her out of the goodness of your heart, but I fail to see why you didn't ask permssion first?

Just a casual, "do you mind if?...." would I imagine of surficed and possibly even been appreciated.

 

[tallyho!]

I honestly don't think one bucket of bran mash does a cushings pony any harm whatsoever. My friend has a 32yo cushings pony who is still ridden and turned out 24/7. Ok, she gets meds and has lost her teeth so bran mash and soaked grass pellets are more her thing these days.

I think that was really sweet of you. Sounds like you know the man and probably talk to him. I probably wouldn't do anything if I didn't know them but I assume you have explained why you did it. Good on you for looking out for the neighbour!!!

 

[touchstone]

I agree with Rhino too I'm afraid, if I found that anyone had given my horse a bran mash because they felt sorry for it I'd be absolutely livid, whether harmful or not. I've had problems in the past with people that pass the field feeding mine unsuitable 'treats' and causing issues. Monitoring the diet of a cushings horse can be a minefield.

Far better to have approached the man and offered the rug for him to use himself than just going and rugging her up.

 

[becca1305]

You obviously only meant the best thing for the horse and if it was underweight and cold I would be tempted to too, but as the owner obviously cares for her Id ask first. Also with a cushings horse of my own I know my boy cant be rugged until it reaches at least -2oC at all (he has a rainsheet then) or he sweats all over his body and is very uncomfortable and more likely to catch a chill. So please please please at least go back later and check that horse isnt sweating! I know they can look like they need it, my fingers often itch to put a rug on my boy when its cold but usually it does more harm than good. He is stabled overnight and has optional shelter in the day through winter so isnt as exposed as this horse but I would still check she isnt sweaty.

Its obvious to everyone that you just want to do right by the horse and i think offering a stable for the cold, winter period is a lovely idea but make sure you check she actually needs a rug on, and talk to her owner about feed, as others have said feeding a cushings horse can be a rather delicate balancing act with some horses.

 

[somethingorother]

A wet horse is not neglect. Some cobs don't need rugging, they are built to last. If she has a thick cushings coat maybe she gets too warm in a rug. And I would agree that you shouldn't feed anyone else's horse. She will probably be fine but I wouldn't do it again. You've basically told her owner he's neglecting her, which it doesn't sound like he is.

 

[rascal]

If a wet horse is neglect then report mine! I also have a cushings horse, and i too would be furious if you fed him. He is 28 and lives out, yes he does have a rug but that is because he needs one. Alot of horses prefer to live out and do realy well, it is after all what cobs are bred for.
If on the other hand the horse is skinny and neglected call one of the wefare charities.

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Horses has no shelter....

And for all those who would be annoyed the man wasn't and was actually thankful for the rug and the half a scoop of bran mash she had. Infact... he has now gone out and bought a bag himself.

Rhino, shes actually quite tucked. The only food she has is the field she is in which isn't very much.

fat-pud-with-bells-on, the man often 'goes away' for a few days, sometimes weeks at a time.

tallyhohoho - thanks for the support, ive known the man since i was 13 so don't think it was presumptuous of me!

becca1305 - its around -5 in nights around here now, with really bad sleet/snow as we are quite high up in the mountains i seen the man today and he said she was fine so i'm assuming she was

somethingorother - i have a cob myself and realise that cobs don't need rugging, my boy is has nothing it was a light no fill with a thin fleece, so mainly to keep dry rather than warm.

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Feel quite sick after reading this now...

At least jess was happy with me, suppose that's all that matters

 

[Holly Hocks]

I still think you did the right thing - and it's nice that the man was appreciative of your help. I think you already knew yourself that it was the right thing to do.

When I was little we always used to go and see the ponies in the local fields with a carrot and apple or two. It was never a problem then. From reading some of the replies on here, it sounds like you'd get your head bitten off for doing it these days!
We have a little primary school near our yard. The children can often be seen patting and feeding the horses bits and pieces at school finishing time on their way home with their parents. I've never once felt the urge to go and tell them to stop and I don't even like kids!

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Thanks again Holly, didn't think i'd come under quite so much fire! I love my horses, but if i went up and somebody had given them apples, carrots i'd think it was a nice gesture! Not enough nice gestures around these days...

I only done it because I know the man and horse well enough... I wouldn't dream of going up to a strangers horse and interfering. Also bran mash is the least likely of foods to upset a horses stomach, especially half a scoop!

My next door neighbour to my horses has been known to take the rug off my horse if it gets a bit too warm for whatever rug she has on, i don't take it personal or get annoyed in fact I welcome it and it makes sure she is comfortable, and i would do the same for her.

I am definitely going to air on the side of caution when next posting... haha!

 

[Holly Hocks]

Thanks again Holly, didn't think i'd come under quite so much fire! I love my horses, but if i went up and somebody had given them apples, carrots i'd think it was a nice gesture! Not enough nice gestures around these days...

I only done it because I know the man and horse well enough... I wouldn't dream of going up to a strangers horse and interfering. Also bran mash is the least likely of foods to upset a horses stomach, especially half a scoop!

My next door neighbour to my horses has been known to take the rug off my horse if it gets a bit too warm for whatever rug she has on, i don't take it personal or get annoyed in fact I welcome it and it makes sure she is comfortable, and i would do the same for her.

I am definitely going to air on the side of caution when next posting... haha!

It's pretty much the same on our yard - especially in summer. If us that are working are at work and the sun comes out, then sometimes whoever is at the yard will go and take our rugs off our horses for us. I am always grateful - never annoyed!

 

[Chestnuttymare]

don't feel bad for having a kind heart! Obviously you know the man and know he wouldn't have been annoyed with you. Maybe he would be glad of you taking the pony to yours for the winter. x

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

festnuttyfairy... thank you we'll see, maybe jess coming to mine would be seen as interfering! wouldn't want another back lash haha She did look a bit perkier today

 

[Chestnuttymare]

festnuttyfairy... thank you we'll see, maybe jess coming to mine would be seen as interfering! wouldn't want another back lash haha She did look a bit perkier today

yeah, just make sure you don't take her without asking!!

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Oh my... I'd probably have a mob sent after me!!

He wouldn't have to look fair mind... We're only 3 fields down

 

[Boulty]

Whilst I personally wouldn't advise feeding and rugging a total stranger's horse you obviously know the guy and the horse well and if they appreciated your efforts that's what counts.

 

[PeterNatt]

I am sure that the owner will be very pleased and happy that you gave his old horse some compassion, food and a nice warm rug. You are clearly a very kind and thoughtfull person.

 

[littlescallywag]

If someone was worried enough to check my horses , I'd be grateful.
I feed 2 horses in a local field every night, don't know who they belong to but the field( if you can call it that) is bare heavily overgrazed and never ever poo picked, has cars and rubbish strewn all over it.
The horses feet are long.
Last winter they lost so much weight it was heartbreaking, didn't do anything then except report them and worry . What makes it worse is that there is a small stable yard (if u can call it that ,someone I know used to keep her horse there)opposite the field and the people don't acknowledge the skinny horses (which I can't understand)
I and many others have reported these horses to various local rescues but nothing has been done, I tried so hard to get the rescues to step in before winter came but they are still in the field.
The locals throw scraps over to them and there is a man that throws them a section of straw over to them every other day(not the owner,although he's had run ins with them) and I feed them a section or more of hay(warm weather),hay, chaff and some sugar beet (winter) just to try and help them stay warm every evening on my way home from my horses.
I don't see it as interfering, I see it as making a animals life tolerable. Too many people ignore or don't act on neglect that they see every day then moan when the poor animal dies.
Obviously I wouldn't feed another liveries horse without permission

 

[touchstone]

I still think you did the right thing - and it's nice that the man was appreciative of your help. I think you already knew yourself that it was the right thing to do.

When I was little we always used to go and see the ponies in the local fields with a carrot and apple or two. It was never a problem then. From reading some of the replies on here, it sounds like you'd get your head bitten off for doing it these days!
We have a little primary school near our yard. The children can often be seen patting and feeding the horses bits and pieces at school finishing time on their way home with their parents. I've never once felt the urge to go and tell them to stop and I don't even like kids!

I can only assume that you've never had to cope with a horse with metabolic issues/laminitis in that case

Even tiny amounts of sugar can tip some horses over the edge, and when you've got dozens of people passing on a daily basis and just giving 'little treats' it soon mounts up - I've even had people tipping carrier bags of windfall apples into the field of a laminitc. Considering the pain and length of time it takes to bring them right I'd rather not risk it, if children are desperate to see the ponies I let them come in with me under supervision.

It is good that the man wasn't upset by the op's actions, but there are far better things he could be feeding than bran to a cushings horse, bran can be very high in NSC, up to 30% according to this article:- http://www.safergrass.org/pdf/JEVS8-05.pdf Unmollassed beet and low sugar chaffs would be far safer, there is also the risk of unbalancing the calcium/phosphorous ratio if just bran is fed. I'd also be wary of feeding it as a one off, new feed causes a change in gut balance which can be disastrous for cushings/laminitics.


ETA - If a horse is truly neglected then the worst thing that you can do is to feed it, as hard as it is it means that the authorities are unable to act as the horse is being cared for, albeit not by the owners and you are effectively leaving the horse trapped in that situation.

 

[BillyBob-Sleigh]

Aww bless, I think this is lovely! Granted if it was a strangers horse maybe it wouldn't be such a good idea but as you know the guy and the horse I think that's really kind of you - I bet she thought her Christmas had come early with the bran mash

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Touchstone - I'm pretty sure half a scoop of bran isn't going to upset her at all. Like I said he cares for her the best he can, there are most definitely worse cases out there!

Billybob

 

[rhino]

Also bran mash is the least likely of foods to upset a horses stomach, especially half a scoop!

I would hardly say you are coming 'under fire'; you posted and people are replying saying they wouldn't have done the same thing. Everyone appreciates you were doing what you thought best.

As regards the bran mash, a mix up at a livery yard I was meant that a horse with a history of choke (could manage long stem forage/grass but not always great with 'hard' feed) was accidentally given a sloppy mash. She couldn't be saved

It's not the same at all, but I don't randomly go around feeding other people's children or dogs and I don't really appreciate people feeding my horse I do turn a blind eye if it is a couple of carrots and will happily look out treats if there is a child desperate to 'feed the ponies'.

Glad it worked out well for you, horse and owner, but I think it is important for people reading who may not be as experienced to realise that generally it is not a good thing to feed other horses.

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Silly phone... I will carry on haha

Billybob-sleigh, littlescallway, peter and boulty, thank you for your supportive comments. I never intentionally set out to upset/interfere with anyore people's horses and would never dream of feeding and rigging a strangers horses!

If someone was acting in my horses intrest I would be happily accept any help, after all everyone wants whats best for their horse

And littlescallywag it's heartbreaking to see isn't it, someone made fun of my earlier for saying this but you can definitely see the sadness in a horses eye, and it is too hard to stand back sometimes, it is very kind and selfless of you to take on the burden of looking after them in the winter! God knows it's not easy!

And Holly I still agree with you, I don't mind if someone gives my horses tit bits... They are sane healthy enough horses to not be sent over the edge