Do police have guidelines for stray horses

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KrujaaLass

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Stopped by loose horse on side of dual carriageway to help police with horse grazing on side of road.Offered head collar, feed and help. But no they had the pony shot. They said it was feral because it had no shoes on and belonged to travellers. This has really upset me as pony looked healthy and uninjured. Police were concerned it would cause an accident.
 
That's appalling. How can having no shoes on equate to feral? On what basis did they decide it belongs to travellers - because of the colour - do they think normal people don't have coloured cobs? Even if it were a travellers horse, do they not have the same ownership rights as anyone else? Did they check for a microchip?

Disgusted.

FWIW, some police are good. Our 11 ponies all got out one summer night last year, and the police (non-horsey) had a great time chasing them up into someone's field, before finding out who they belonged to and giving me a call. One even stuck around to help lead them back.
 
Where was this? How did they 'get it shot'....it seems unlikely a vet would take such action unless it was badly injured. Have you any more details..horrible experience but sadly part of the national problem...so sorry to hear you had to witness it first hand.
 
The police will have a horse on the side of a road shot if they are concerned that it may present a risk to traffic. It may be that they had encountered and removed that particular horse before - I don't know. You can raise a complaint with the Independent Police Complaints Commission. If you offered to remove the animal to a place of safety and it was still destroyed that would not have been appropriate. But at the end of the day loose horses - and cattle / sheep etc - on a road will be shot in order to protect people traveling in cars. They are often shot by a marksman not a vet. After all if you could get to them, get a head collar on and get them to a safe place for a vet to euthanase then there would not be a risk to the public!
 
I am afraid its all part of overall cost cut backs . The police are very reluctant to call vets in any circumstances and usually call RSPCA first so they call the vet . The reasoning is if the police call a vet they are then responsible for the bill .
Like others have said maybe the police already knew of this particular pony they are within their rights to authorise euthanasia of any animal under any circumstances it is one of their powers and they will use it if the public are at risk or indeed the animal itself and that does not mean immediate it could be they knew if it was returned to its owner it would be back again and this time cause an accident.
 
This was in Essex.dont think it was a vet. He had overalls on and a gun in his pocket. We left before the deed was done. We offered to take pony but they were just not interested. It was just grazing and a policeman was standing right next to it. So it could not have been that feral. Did not even want head collar to try to lead it away
 
KrujaaLass said:
This was in Essex.dont think it was a vet. He had overalls on and a gun in his pocket. We left before the deed was done. We offered to take pony but they were just not interested. It was just grazing and a policeman was standing right next to it. So it could not have been that feral. Did not even want head collar to try to lead it away
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It seems bizarre.
The police in this instance did not call RSPCA so would be responsible for all the costs [usually about £4OO I suppose, plus time of police. I would hate to think a charity went around shooting animals on the behest of the police.
I cannot imagine that policeman would know if horse was in good condition/feral or not and I don't really see that as relevant necessarily. This sounds like a regular occurrence in your area.
Round here we don't have travellers ponies, cops would normally get it in a field and then try to find owner, I hope they would do so on a busy main road, but one can see their problem.
 
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KrujaaLass said:
This was in Essex.dont think it was a vet. He had overalls on and a gun in his pocket. We left before the deed was done. We offered to take pony but they were just not interested. It was just grazing and a policeman was standing right next to it. So it could not have been that feral. Did not even want head collar to try to lead it away
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A gun in his pocket, surely he would use a rifle [not an expert], but maybe he had a rifle with him in his car. Who carries a gun in his pocket?
 
Seems to be the done thing now as they shot two in Hertfordshire last year as well :/ those two ponies wouldn't be caught but to make the call on the one your talking about was a harsh decision I think.

As owners we try darn hard to keep our horses safe but accidents do happen. It makes me sick to think its now seems to be a shoot first policy :(

Think a letter to the BHS to see what there stance is on it. Sadly I think it will happen to someone's well loved pet one day.
 
The sanctuaries in Essex are charities relying on donations from the generous public but they are full to bursting, particularly at this time of year. They are doing their very, very best with a LOT of volunteer help. They DO NOT go round shooting horses.... realistically what can they do if the horse/pony is unchipped and they can't find the owner..just put it someone's field?!
 
Summer pudding said:
The sanctuaries in Essex are charities relying on donations from the generous public but they are full to bursting, particularly at this time of year. They are doing their very, very best with a LOT of volunteer help. They DO NOT go round shooting horses.... realistically what can they do if the horse/pony is unchipped and they can't find the owner..just put it someone's field?!
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I don't know, is the answer to that one, and if they were to shoot animals they would certainly lose a lot of donations.
I am no fluffy bunny, and have trappped and reported feral animals for a charity knowing they would be put down, but they were in distress due to medical condition, Have also asked for feral cats and kittens to be trapped and removed, but hopefully these were re homed. Somehow horses are different [in my eyes, but probably not in the eyes of the authorities]
 
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Did not say the man with gun was from a charity. Someone has phoned Essex police and asked about their procedures for loose horses. They were told that there were two horses one was taken by a charity and the other was left by the side of the road because it had an old injury. Looked ok to me. The police closed off the road to shoot it why could they have not done that to put head collar on it. Odd to me why would a charity leave a horse by the roadside.
 
KrujaaLass said:
Did not say the man with gun was from a charity. Someone has phoned Essex police and asked about their procedures for loose horses. They were told that there were two horses one was taken by a charity and the other was left by the side of the road because it had an old injury. Looked ok to me. The police closed off the road to shoot it why could they have not done that to put head collar on it. Odd to me why would a charity leave a horse by the roadside.
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Are you saying there were two horses originally and one was uptifted by a charity and one was left sans headcollar but too injured to remove, I am confused.
PS the comment about charities is a general one, no one thoght the marksman was from an aminal charity.
 
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Summer pudding said:
Where was this? How did they 'get it shot'....it seems unlikely a vet would take such action unless it was badly injured. Have you any more details..horrible experience but sadly part of the national problem...so sorry to hear you had to witness it first hand.
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I am not so sure, if he had no place to take it, but if it had no headcollar, a marksman not a vet would be required.
 
That was what Essex police told a lady who phoned them regarding their procedures.that there were two horses one taken by a charity. We never saw two horses. It was in front of a field.
 
Ummmm so the charity took one and it sounds like the other was not fit to move or they would have taken both logically? A bit of Chinese whispers going on here.. From my experience with the local horse charities the strays are often known locally and form part of a bigger picture of neglect and irresponsible behaviour...the owners don't chip or passport, dump on the side of the road without water etc..if they make it to the sanctuaries they are found to have massive worm burdens etc etc....IMO there is a lot worse for some than being PTS. In this case if the horse had an 'old injury' this could have been the most humane outcome.
 
In W Yorks the police would have the horses removed and stored. My YO did it for a time - he'd have calls at all hours to go pick one or more up, hold them in quarantine and then either put them back/move them elsewhere when the police said so.

I would hate to think if my boy got out and was on the road side and the police just decided to shoot him! :(
 
DD265 said:
In W Yorks the police would have the horses removed and stored. My YO did it for a time - he'd have calls at all hours to go pick one or more up, hold them in quarantine and then either put them back/move them elsewhere when the police said so.

I would hate to think if my boy got out and was on the road side and the police just decided to shoot him! :(
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These are Green Yards, a place of safety for 7 days until a horse is claimed by it's owner, with production of passport etc. The police do not randomly shoot horses...it would appear that the horse that was shot was 'left' by the horse charity who took the other one suggesting a good reason for it being PTS. I suspect these horses are known to the authorities and are regulars on the road... Your horse is passported, chipped and in safe environment..checked every day I imagine. So no comparison...if horses are not claimed from Green Yards what would everyone suggest is done with them, given that the sanctuaries are full? Surely a responsible owner would have found their loved neddy within 7 days?
 
About 2 years ago we caught 2 horses on our lane early in the morning (end of the lane about 200 yards away is an A road). Put them in one of our fields and rang police. Once they knew they were off the road they didn't want to know, or make any effort to find the owner. Real case of not on road not our problem, go away. After hours of ringing around, found owners, who weren't even greatful and expected us to leave our premises open for them to collect them at their leisure! Were told collect them in 30 min (they are only down the lane so could easily walk them home) or we let them on road again. Their fencing is absolute rubbish, amazing don't escape more often. Have to say attitude of police and owner has left us with the opinion of if we see their animals out again we will shut our gates and ring police. They wont be able to use our fields as all gates padlocked. We don't want other peoples horses shatting and churning up on our well kept land with who knows what worm burden. Hard maybe, but if they can't be responsible enough of their own stock to provide secure fencing (instead on on strand of non-electrified electric tape as gate), it's not our responsibility. We'll tell them they've escaped, but capture is down to them and police.
 
Worse things can happen to horses than.being shot.
Harsh but true, too many horses in need so I don't think this was wrong if it actually happened and they couldn't find owner.
 
I would think its down to duty of care and a risk assessment on the spot. The time taken to get someone to remove the ponies quickly, no one wants them, against the risk it ends up on the road , railway and causes loss of human life. We forget because we handle them daily that they are a potential hazard. I wish the police would shoot more of the waifs and strays around here, the people that own will probably have no third party insurance so if you are left in disabled after an accident you or your family will have problems getting compensation.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Loo...k-Waterbeach/story-24562168-detail/story.html
 
honetpot said:
I would think its down to duty of care and a risk assessment on the spot. The time taken to get someone to remove the ponies quickly, no one wants them, against the risk it ends up on the road , railway and causes loss of human life. We forget because we handle them daily that they are a potential hazard. I wish the police would shoot more of the waifs and strays around here, the people that own will probably have no third party insurance so if you are left in disabled after an accident you or your family will have problems getting compensation.
http://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/Loo...k-Waterbeach/story-24562168-detail/story.html
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Easy enough to say that but say your horse got out and the police found it before you did and had it shot it would be a different story! I for one would be absolutely fuming/distraught!! If this is a true story then its disgusting!!
 
I would be most grateful if the original poster could provide me with the time, date and exact location where this occurred so that I can get the BHS Welfare Officer for the area to investigate further and determine precisely what happened.
 
This is a 'true story'. Myself and daughter offered assistance. There was no discussion pony was going to be shot because'it was feral and had no shoes on'.but the policeman was standing right next to it. They could have used our head collar. Why would I lie about it. We left when the person came to shoot it. The police then blocked the road to shoot it.Why could they not shut the road to remove it. It was not injured just happily grazing. What if it was someone's pony how heartbreaking for them. I think the lady who phoned the police was told a load of ....
 
Summer pudding just seen your post. Will speak to my daughter think it was 414 Chelmsford. By highlands house about 2 o clock yesterday. We do not live in this area just passing through. It's the road off the big roundabout by Ingatestone saddlery
 
KrujaaLass said:
This is a 'true story'. Myself and daughter offered assistance. There was no discussion pony was going to be shot because'it was feral and had no shoes on'.but the policeman was standing right next to it. They could have used our head collar. Why would I lie about it. We left when the person came to shoot it. The police then blocked the road to shoot it.Why could they not shut the road to remove it. It was not injured just happily grazing. What if it was someone's pony how heartbreaking for them. I think the lady who phoned the police was told a load of ....
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Please let Owlie185 know the details that he or she asked for in post 25 either in a post or by private message and they will find out what the reason was. its possible that the horse had an injury that was not visible to you which was why the charity only collected the other one because I doubt very much know the police would take the time to call out a charity and someone else to shoot just one of 2 horses that got out of the field
 
xgemmax said:
Easy enough to say that but say your horse got out and the police found it before you did and had it shot it would be a different story! I for one would be absolutely fuming/distraught!! If this is a true story then its disgusting!!
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Its emotive but if my horse caused an accident that left people dead or injured I would be more upset. One of mine got out and went trotting to wards a main road, if I had not have caught it quickly and the police had to shoot it, I would be upset about the pony but not want the police did, same with a dog. In law you are liable for any damages caused by your animals straying, even if you left them in a locked field, so no wonder when stray horses cause accidents no one wants to own up that they are theirs. The police officers would probably know from experience that they are never going to find and owner quickly and took what they thought was the best action.
 
I have had some details sent by private message to me but I need the date this incident occurred and also a precise location. A description of both horses would also help. I will then get this matter investigated.
 
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