Brings a little tear to my eye...

[Hedgewitch13]

Whilst I understand your good intentions, bran is not a balanced feed to give any horse or pony, especially an elderly cushings horse. If you are that worried about her not getting a proper diet please ring one of the loads of feed companies around and get some expert advice for the owner.
Bran is high in phosphorous so I hope you are giving the mare a calcium supplement to balance it out.

People are just trying to give you good advice on here. Don't get upset! Well done for caring

 

[MagicMelon]

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.

Same here. Obviously your heart is in the right place but this is still someone else's horse. It makes no huge difference if it has cushings, horses arent more miserable because of it generally - one of mine has it. I do rug him but only because he's 25 and prone to losing a little weight over the winter nowadays. But he doesn't necessaily need it, in fact cushings horses usually have a thick coat as part of their condition! I'd be extremely annoyed if someone rugged MY horse and fed it (the feeding part I really disagree with, good way to give it colic if its not used to feed!). Following on from other peoples posts, I would hate it if someone tried to feed my horse anything without asking - I left one of my ponies at a county show at the trailer while I walked around the show for 1/2 an hour, when I got back she was strangely quiet. Got her home and she was colic'ing badly so had to get the vet out etc. luckily she was fine after the injection but I firmly believe it was kids feeding her sweets as I saw some doing it to other ponies nearby... And as for the kids thing, that bugs me too - I dont even have kids (yet...) but a colleague keeps offering clients kids sweets whenever they come into the office (for Xmas) without even asking the parents first, that would drive me nuts!

 

[Fairynuff]

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.[/QUOTE

^^^^this^^^^

I would be spitting nails if someone took it upon themselves to do such a thing.

 

[TuscanBunnyGirl]

aw You sound like a fellow bunny cuddler!

Owner sounds very appreciative of your kindness!

Hope wee cob is doing well

Hope you both have a warm xmas

 

[Gucc]

I too would be furious if someone took it upon themselves to feed and rug my horse. If you know the man so well why did you not consult with him prior to feeding and rugging? If the horse had taken a bad reaction to the bran for instance, how would you feel if a vet call out was necessary? My horse cannot tolerate alfalfa and molasses so would be be livid if someone fed him either. Although on this occassion no harm was done, i would ask permission in future.

 

[Mince Pie]

Another who would be livid if you interfered with my horses! My cob very good at looking like a neglect case he is out filly clipped in a light MW, most people ask me whether or not he needs another rug on until they feel his armpits and realise he is nice and toasty underneath, if they had done what you had done then he would have been overheating for hours until I got down there again.

Also both of mine are on strict diets, Olly because he is a fatty and Millie because she needs a low sugar/starch conditioning diet. If she gets sugar then she starts cribbing, but is fine otherwise.

If you are that worried about the horse then offer to buy her and let her current owner see her whenever he wants.

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

The horse is totally fine...

To all those who would be livid, it actually doesn't mind. Nobody is going to feed/rug a well looked after horse. However jess isn't. Is anyone saying on here that they would leave a horse who has been soaked though out in the field with no shelter in the sleet.

Think we all need to agree to disagree on how i handled the situation. The man isn't always there for me to pop in and offer a rug etc. So i done what i thought was best, everyone does stuff differently.

I'm just thankful if my horses are in need the people who would be livid if someone touched their horses aren't around! As i'd want someone to step in and help

 

[paulineh]

Eight years ago I bought (rescued ) an Arab mare. In with her was a prt Hackney and this horse is still owned by the same people. These people do not know how to look after horses and the poor Hackney has bad sweat ish and then no rug in the winter. She has no shelter and is fed very little. The women's father owns the land but rents it out.

This poor horse looks sad and poor. A neighbour gives her some carrots and checks the water. This horse would just be left to it own is my neighbour did not keep an eye. Is she doing wrong or just caring.

 

[Wagtail]

Feel quite sick after reading this now...

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

You did the right thing! Jeeze the reaction on this forum beggars belief sometimes.

 

[Wagtail]

A few years ago, my sister was tortured by the plight of a tiny 2 year old pony left on its own (out of sight and sound of other equines) and in a field full of ragwort. She was told by many hosey people to keep her nose out and not to interfere. The pony was not under weight and appeared to be fairly well in itself. She took their advice. A year passed, and she moved house. She later heard the pony had died alone and uncared for in its field. Should she have taken the advice of these horsey people? It's a regret she has to live with.

 

[Holly Hocks]

A few years ago, my sister was tortured by the plight of a tiny 2 year old pony left on its own (out of sight and sound of other equines) and in a field full of ragwort. She was told by many hosey people to keep her nose out and not to interfere. The pony was not under weight and appeared to be fairly well in itself. She took their advice. A year passed, and she moved house. She later heard the pony had died alone and uncared for in its field. Should she have taken the advice of these horsey people? It's a regret she has to live with.

That's really sad and I would always feel guilty for having ignored it.
HollyJM I would feel really grateful to have someone like you around, knowing that you were keeping an eye on my horses for me. I wish there were more people like you!

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Wagtail that is so sad, stuff like that stays with you for the rest of your life. Its easy for people to say that I was in the wrong, but they haven't really seen the condition the horse is in, but maybe they wouldn't do anything about it even if they did. A lot of people will see a horse and give their opinions about how it isn't looked after well enough but do nothing about it.

I'd rather be called interfering or in the wrong, but at least I know I made the horse a bit more comfortable then she was before. She is such a funny one, she seen me walking past today and followed me to the end of her field!

Thanks Hollyhocks, I'd want someone to step in for me if i was unable to get to my horses or something went wrong when i'm in uni/work. I remember last winter my mare had her rug stuck on the fence and my neighbour tried to release her but she was a bit freaked out so the neighbour drove down my house to tell me, another one was my cob will sometimes paw the fence and got his leg stuck and my neighbour yet again got the wire cutters out and cut a cut in our shared fence. I'm glad they done it, i was nothing but grateful. Not annoyed because she helped, we even shared the cost of repairing the fence. I always help people out if i can, you will never know when you might need their help!

 

[Zimzim]

HollyJM I think you did a very kind thing and by the sounds of it the man was grateful for your help.

At our yard we all keep a look out for everyones horses and help out etc when necessary as we all work different shifts etc. Were all very grateful for the help.

 

[BlairandAzria]

I think you did a lovely thing! I think it boils down to two different issues- neglect and whether you step in or turn a blind eye and - interfering in someone else's horse.

For me it all comes down to welfare, of someone interfered with my horses rugs or was feeding him I would be livid- and actually am writing signs for his stable today as people keep giving him treats and it's driving me mad! But and this is a big but, if it was a welfare issue and (for example) I got very I'll and no one was coming to do my boy id be grateful that someone was caring enough to take an interest and give him some food, rug, comfort.

It's two separate things and I don't think the op was advocating feeding random horses she meets! She did a nice thing for the mare she obviously knows the owner, pony and the circumstances so should be applauded, where so many would turn a blind eye, she stepped in and did what she thought was right.

 

[MrVelvet]

Well I applaud the OP for caring! I do think some decent haylage would perhaps have been better and more beneficial but the deed is done. Said pony is still alive and probably a bit happier now I don't feed bran mash due to the reasons stated but my Grandma swears by the stuff... a big bucket of warm bran mash after hunting! lol! Anyway my point is - the OP's methods are not what many of us would have done but it is reassuring that there are nice caring people out there and she obviously knows the horse and owner.

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Thank you Zimzim!

Naughty elf, I did try and explain in a previous post but i think you explained it better. I would never dream of walking up to a well looked after horse and feed it and put a rug on. If i went up and someone was messing around with my horses for the fun of it I would be confused, but if my horse was in need or any other horse in fact id step in and help.

I'd be too upset and guilty if anything happened to the horse and I did nothing to stop it!

Thank you for all your kind comments!

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Thank you Hooligan - it was literally half a scoop, tiny amount really! that's all my mother fed her horse was bran mash! My two have a scoop each and then the rest of their food! My mare goes crazy for the stuff, shes a really thin skinned tb but shes doing well since i started feeding it again! I'm quite old fashioned with my feeding, but I have no trouble whatsoever with my horses, no excess energy, no upset stomachs and no big fat bellies!

 

[el_Snowflakes]

I would be pretty mad is someone took it apon myself to feed and rug my horse (because my horse is extremely well looked after) but hopefully the man will be grateful and recieve your kindness graciously It would be lovely if you could offer a stable for this horse but remember there is the possibility that the man may just abandon u with her and you may be left to foot the vet bills etc. If you keep that in mind I think that would be a lovely thing to do. If I was struggling to provide shelter for my horse somebody like you would be a god send! Good luck, you are very kind

 

[AJ & Kiz]

thats whats wrong with the horse world these days!! everyone is so snobby!! "oh don't touch MY horse" tell you something if somebody took my horses rug off because it was too hot or put it one on id be greatful not slating the person for doing it! makes me so angry when people get mad because other people are trying to help what happend to everyone helping each other? well done OP i hope that the good deed comes back around for you one day x

 

[touchstone]

thats whats wrong with the horse world these days!! everyone is so snobby!! "oh don't touch MY horse" tell you something if somebody took my horses rug off because it was too hot or put it one on id be greatful not slating the person for doing it! makes me so angry when people get mad because other people are trying to help what happend to everyone helping each other? well done OP i hope that the good deed comes back around for you one day x

Generally people get mad because what one individual, who doesn't know the horse, thinks is 'right' could well be downright harmful!

Feeding treats or a bran mash at 30% NSC, (yes - even half a scoop!) to my laminitic would certainly be enough to possibly tip her over the edge, so what began as being 'kind' can also result in pain and suffering and potentially even the loss of an animal. I fail to understand that if you know the owner why you wouldn't approach them and ASK if it's okay to rug or feed if needed. I've often removed rugs from my neighbours horse as she works full time, but I've always asked first and never presumed.
I've also been involved in neglect cases, and people feeding those horses actually made it harder to get them removed, so involving authorities and getting help is always my first port of call instead of just going in and feeding. Just because people don't interfere as a knee jerk reaction with other people's animals doesn't mean that they care any the less.

 

[AmyMay]

What a lovely, kind thing you did OP. I'm sure the horse will be grateful for the extra warmth being provided by the rug.

Now, what hay is being provided in the field? And with the rug on will anyone be able to monitor the horse's weight?

 

[BBH]

thats whats wrong with the horse world these days!! everyone is so snobby!! "oh don't touch MY horse" tell you something if somebody took my horses rug off because it was too hot or put it one on id be greatful not slating the person for doing it! makes me so angry when people get mad because other people are trying to help what happend to everyone helping each other? well done OP i hope that the good deed comes back around for you one day x

This.

Just aswell not everyone turns a blind eye. Am sure pony is a lot more comfortable and better off for the attention. In all my years of horse owning we've always looked out for potential neglect, sometimes people run out of money and are too proud to ask.

Well done OP.

 

[Holly Hocks]

Just because people don't interfere as a knee jerk reaction with other people's animals doesn't mean that they care any the less.

There is a difference between interfering and helping. The OP was helping. I think in this case had she contacted WHW or any other organisation then that would have been interfering, but rather than get a bee in her bonnet and getting busybody authorities involved, she has dealt with it as she sees fit. If the man had not taken her help on board, then maybe she would have contacted RSPCA/WHW. But all credit to her, she hasn't gone whinging to the authorities, she has dealt with it herself. Credit where credits due!

I can understand what you are saying about your laminitic, but I doubt it would look in the condition that the horse that the OP has been helping looks and therefore there would be no reason for concern and the OP probably wouldn't have looked twice.

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Amymay theres no hay/haylage just the grass that's in the field (which isn't very much). I walk past every day so i'll be keeping an eye on her.

Elsazzo, I am trying to convince my dad (hes the one who pays for everything) hopefully it will all work out!

Touchstone - i know the horse well enough to know its never been laminitic. Like ive said the man often goes away for days - weeks at a time. He wasn't there when i put the rug on but he was there the next day, but i didnt know that he would be back then. Was I supposed to just leave the horse in the sleet and hope that he would be back soon?

I doubt the horse would be taken off him, and i dont think it should as he does try his best which is what all of us try to do for your horses. Shes a little bit tucked but that's it at the moment, she has a constant supply of clean water.

AJ & Kiz i totally agree with you. If someone took off/put on a rug for my horse I wouldn't mind if it was what my horse needed. Jess was soaked to the bone with no shelter, if i had to do it again i would! Just maybe not put it on here to have a bashing haha

 

[AmyMay]

Amymay theres no hay/haylage just the grass that's in the field (which isn't very much). I walk past every day so i'll be keeping an eye on her.

Now that there is a rug on it will be impossible to monitor her weight.

I would approach the owner now and ask him to start providing hay.

What was the body score prior to the rug going on?

 

[NoltonSeaShell]

Thank you BellsBaubles&Holly, I think this might be the case! I'll help as best I can without starting to tell the man what to do etc, I think that would be interfering.

As with contacting RSPCA or any other organisation that would definitely be interfering. I'd much prefer someone come up to me, have a quiet word and offer help and advice than to phone an organisation to come out and probably do nothing. The man would have been embarrassed, and probably wouldnt accept any help offered after that.

It may be the case that they don't care any less, but that doesn't matter if nothing is done to solve the problem.

She was a bit tucked in her back end, when i walked past this morning he wasnt there, i'll leave it a while and see if he provides hay or not. Another neighbour did chuck some haylage over last year and i've never seen him provide any.

 

[tristar]

thanks for doing that, so glad someone cares enough to to take action, to stand there in december soaked to the bone with no hay, does'nt bear thinking about!

i've seen horses on livery yards go without and suffering, whilst all around are 'minding their own business'

you are a true good samaritan to help an animal when you see it is in need,
that can't help itself, and are sensitive enough to see the pain in its eyes, well done, hope it gets to that stable eventually!

 

[touchstone]

"Touchstone - i know the horse well enough to know its never been laminitic. Like ive said the man often goes away for days - weeks at a time. He wasn't there when i put the rug on but he was there the next day, but i didnt know that he would be back then. Was I supposed to just leave the horse in the sleet and hope that he would be back soon?"

If it has cushings disease it will be vulnerable to laminitis I'm afraid and should be fed accordingly. I always approach/get approached from neighbours in advance of actually needing to bring in/rug/feed etc. so that I know it's okay, we help each other out all the time when needed.

To be honest if this man is going away for weeks at a time and leaving the horses with no food then it is a welfare issue and if the man doesn't take on board that he needs to provide care after your quiet words then the authorities should be involved to support/advise, unless you are happy to care for her totally yourself and provide an adequate diet.

 

[AmyMay]

To be honest if this man is going away for weeks at a time and leaving the horses with no food then it is a welfare issue and if the man doesn't take on board that he needs to provide care after your quiet words then the authorities should be involved to support/advise, unless you are happy to care for her totally yourself and provide an adequate diet.

OP, as much as I commend you.

Touchstone is absolutely bang on.

 

[LaurenBay]

I would be grateful if someone took my Horses rug off, or put one on. However I wouldn't be too happy about people feeding her. Although half a scoop of bran mash won't do any harm! I think the problem is, there are so many Horses with medical conditions that need a strict diet.

I also think it sounds like a case of neglect. Although, not the worst by far!!! OP, I would approach the man (you say you have known him a while, so would be far better coming from you) and tell him the Horse needs more forage, in order to keep herself warm and keep a suitable body weight and condition. If he adores her, as much as you say, I'm sure he will be more then happy to supply some extra hay. He may just think the grass alone is good enough and just needs a nudge in the right direction.