Forget stopping the Grand National - how about banning tethering??

hobnob

hobnob

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It reached about 22 degrees here today. We were driving along earlier past a place where horses are usually tethered and this one horse just broke my heart. She was stood fully in the sunshine, no shade to reach, with an empty, knocked over water bucket, attempting to swat flies with her heavily matted tail. She just looked miserable, tired and as though she was suffering. She wasn't thin, but even so wasn't looked after properly.

How can tethering, in this day and age, still be an acceptable way to keep horses? I know I'm a big softy anyway when it comes to animals but they just look to me to have a very poor quality of life.
 
Hear hear. Maybe AnimalAid should direct their actions towards this instead, but alas they won't as they wouldn't get so much press space.
 
lhotse said:
Hear hear. Maybe AnimalAid should direct their actions towards this instead, but alas they won't as they wouldn't get so much press space.
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Another organization claiming to help animals when all they're really doing is promoting themselves whilst ignoring underlying issues... Surely more horses are neglected than killed in horse racing after living a life of luxury?!?!
 
Actually, it wasn't a gypsy who drowned the horse at Appleby, it was someone who brought the colt at the fair and wanted to be part of the action. In fairness to the travellers there, they themselves were pretty disgusted.
 
lhotse said:
Actually, it wasn't a gypsy who drowned the horse at Appleby, it was someone who brought the colt at the fair and wanted to be part of the action. In fairness to the travellers there, they themselves were pretty disgusted.
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Oh really? :eek: I'm sorry I didnt know that. I take that back!
 
how many horses are fenced in paddocks with no shade? ay have water but cant escape in to hedge or stable to get away from midges and sun, my horses have arge hedges but sti want to come in if fly rugs because of midges, not on and summer not started yet. not just tethered horses that suffer.
 
I'm sure someone, somewhere does tether their horse responsibly, but living less than a mile from one of the lowest income areas in Swansea (actually, somewhere between two of those areas come to think of it), I've yet to see this.

Absolutely in agreement- ban tying a horse up by its neck. I can't believe its even legal in this country anyway! Its kind of up there with de-clawing cats so they can't climb away from preditors or fight back... except at least a cat can still run away.

Children go in those 'common' fields and throw glass bottles, rocks or whatever else at those horses. THey jump on their backs, broken in or not, and untether them, so they end up in the roads.

A stupid idea if ever I heard of one. Ban it.
 
MosMum said:
I'm sure someone, somewhere does tether their horse responsibly, but living less than a mile from one of the lowest income areas in Swansea (actually, somewhere between two of those areas come to think of it), I've yet to see this.

Absolutely in agreement- ban tying a horse up by its neck. I can't believe its even legal in this country anyway! Its kind of up there with de-clawing cats so they can't climb away from preditors or fight back... except at least a cat can still run away.

Children go in those 'common' fields and throw glass bottles, rocks or whatever else at those horses. THey jump on their backs, broken in or not, and untether them, so they end up in the roads.

A stupid idea if ever I heard of one. Ban it.
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Yes, this is another thing I hate about tethering. Horses are often tethered in another area by me, on a council estate near some shops and I've seen kids milling around them and the horses look frightened. I haven't seen then throw things, etc but what could you even say to the kids to stop them?! Most of the time with some people you get a mouthful back, and reporting it does no good nine times out of ten. It's just horrible how the horses' natural flight instinct is restrained and they must instead stand and suffer.
 
mon said:
how many horses are fenced in paddocks with no shade? ay have water but cant escape in to hedge or stable to get away from midges and sun, my horses have arge hedges but sti want to come in if fly rugs because of midges, not on and summer not started yet. not just tethered horses that suffer.
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I know, and I don't agree with this either. It is a minimal requirement to provide the horse in your care with water, shelter, food and company, as well as a safe place to live. But at least these horses can walk around freely and can, if needs be, get away from danger.
 
I think there needs to be some sort of revolution in terms of horse welfare.

I know I treat mine like gods and so they should be. Empires were built on the back of a horse.

I also hate the postage stamp paddock way of keeping a horse. I know it's because of injuries etc... but if you were to introduce horses gradually to a herd in a large field, the chances of injury are small.

Years ago, all horses (except stallions who will be only male in herd of mares) mares and geldings all were kept together in a massive field, room to roam and be horses.

That is how we keep ours. Our YO thinks fencing off small areas is cruel.

Yes I get a few kicks and cuts got during play but they heal. They come to call and suffer no ill effects being ridden 'off the grass' that so many fear.

Anyway, yes I will join the campign to end tethering... Local Auth should have the power to remove horses tethered to roadsides and a decent holding facility. They can afford it if they stopped having meetings in the Hilton.
 
but no authority touches these tethered horses or police we all know that, but why should they be above law, bet they all have passports as well.
 
tallyho! said:
I think there needs to be some sort of revolution in terms of horse welfare.

I know I treat mine like gods and so they should be. Empires were built on the back of a horse.

I also hate the postage stamp paddock way of keeping a horse. I know it's because of injuries etc... but if you were to introduce horses gradually to a herd in a large field, the chances of injury are small.

Years ago, all horses (except stallions who will be only male in herd of mares) mares and geldings all were kept together in a massive field, room to roam and be horses.

That is how we keep ours. Our YO thinks fencing off small areas is cruel.

Yes I get a few kicks and cuts got during play but they heal. They come to call and suffer no ill effects being ridden 'off the grass' that so many fear.

Anyway, yes I will join the campign to end tethering... Local Auth should have the power to remove horses tethered to roadsides and a decent holding facility. They can afford it if they stopped having meetings in the Hilton.
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I whole-heartedly agree :) it breaks my heart to see any horse suffering after all their relatives have done for us! We are entirely responsible for them and therefore we should ensure we deliver a duty of care.

Agree with you about the turning horses out in a herd too. I dont think any horse is too valuable to take away its rights to be a horse - does that make sense? Haha! Every horse should be able to canter round with his friends, regardless of its worth - whats a small cut or bruise in the grand scheme of things? At the end of the day its a life and they deserve to be able to live it out to the best that we can offer them.

Is there a campaign already or shall we start one? I don't even know where to begin with that but yes, something needs to be done!! Touche about the Hilton!, and if they weren't given such ludicrously extravagant wages and actually paid them for what they do (seemingly not much at the moment..) there would be more money available for important things.
 
mon said:
but no authority touches these tethered horses or police we all know that, but why should they be above law, bet they all have passports as well.
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They get away with way to much dont they. Why? Are the authorities afraid of them or something?! Everyone else has to abide by the rules.
 
They do seem scared of horses don't they - maybe that's it.

You know how we have dog-wardens? What about horse wardens? A volunteer scheme perhaps - no-one said doing good paid dividends :rolleyes: if only.

I know not all travellers treat horses this way - it is the few who give the rest a bad name.
 
tallyho! said:
They do seem scared of horses don't they - maybe that's it.

You know how we have dog-wardens? What about horse wardens? A volunteer scheme perhaps - no-one said doing good paid dividends :rolleyes: if only.

I know not all travellers treat horses this way - it is the few who give the rest a bad name.
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Its true, many travellers really value their horses because they are important to their culture. Its like with anything - we are all let down by a minority, whoever we are.

Brilliant idea :D I would volunteer - its just a shame that every horse has to cost so much money..

I was thinking scared of travellers, but horses as well probably. Many people are afraid of them, but its just ignorance at the end of the day!
 
hobnob said:
Its true, many travellers really value their horses because they are important to their culture. Its like with anything - we are all let down by a minority, whoever we are.

Brilliant idea :D I would volunteer - its just a shame that every horse has to cost so much money..

I was thinking scared of travellers, but horses as well probably. Many people are afraid of them, but its just ignorance at the end of the day!
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Well, not every horse... mine costs almost nothing feed - he is a COB (Cumbersome Old Brute).

All you'd need is a field which hopefully has a small amount of grass, a trough full of water and that's it for cobs. Maybe a wormer... if the count says you need one.

I'd volunteer too... you know WHW? There could be regional centres instead of just Norfolk or wherever it is they are (i may have got confused with redwings...)
 
hobnob said:
They get away with way to much dont they. Why? Are the authorities afraid of them or something?! Everyone else has to abide by the rules.
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Yes, they are afraid. Our local small council run site at our old place, the police would only go into with armed and helicopter escort. Yet complaining about the animal cruelty the RSPCA handed us some animal welfare leaflets and asked us to take them into the site....says it all.

If animals are seized then unless the police have a secret place to put them, there have been cases of raids where the animals are stolen back with menaces.

Our old YO had to help the animal welfare officer with a horse that had been so neglected and abused it had to be put down and a few weeks back they dumped a dead horse on the lane.

I know not all travellers behave like this but I am sick to the back teeth of the authorities not getting to grips with the extensive cruelty and law breaking that goes on. Theres far more than is ever prosecuted as at least at our site, when the authorities appear, every one is suddenly Billy Smith and the horse is their uncles or their friends.

Banning tethering would create problems for some genuine gypsies but it would help to wipe out the practice of overbreeding followed by fly-grazing illegally on council or private land all over the place. Most of this land isnt fenced so couldnt be grazed if tethering was banned.
 
tallyho! said:
Well, not every horse... mine costs almost nothing feed - he is a COB (Cumbersome Old Brute).

All you'd need is a field which hopefully has a small amount of grass, a trough full of water and that's it for cobs. Maybe a wormer... if the count says you need one.

I'd volunteer too... you know WHW? There could be regional centres instead of just Norfolk or wherever it is they are (i may have got confused with redwings...)
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Ahh, most of the tethered horses you see ARE Cumbersome Old Brutes arent they!

There SHOULD be regional centres. They have four - one in Norfolk, one in Somerset, one in Scotland and one in Blackpool, according to the website.
 
tethering can be reported if they are not tethered correctly and with the minimums they need to live. BHS will be the way to go.
 
bhs site:
The British Horse Society has Welfare Officers throughout England, Wales and Scotland who will investigate reports of equine welfare concerns.


There are many reasons why you may feel that a horse or pony should be reported to the BHS. These include (but are not limited to):


•Significantly underweight or overweight animals

•Lack of water or food

•Overgrown or poorly-kept hooves

•Obviously untreated injury or disease

•Poisonous plants in the field

•Unsafe field or stable conditions

•Abandoned animals

•Incorrect tethering


If you have genuine concerns about a horse or pony, you should report it to the BHS and one of our local Welfare Officers will pay a visit to investigate.


Welfare concerns can be reported on 02476 840571 or 02476 840574. Alternatively, you can e-mail welfare@bhs.org.uk.


For genuine emergencies outside office hours, please ring 02476 840570 and then call the mobile phone number given in the answerphone message. However, this number really is for use in emergencies only.
 
Toffee44 said:
Clearly you have never owned a fence trashing horse. And most travelling by horse gypsies care for their horses as with out them they cant travel.
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That's very true, real gypsies using horses to draw their traditional vans generally take great pride in them and they are well cared for.

The problem area is those who aren't keeping traditional cobs in great condition, these are valuable and valued animals, but those whose mobile homes are anything but mobile, and who spend their time indiscriminately breeding anything coloured and manky trotters and ponies which they dump on other peoples land with no water, feed or care, let along passports or microchips.

Their mode of transport isnt a traditional van but a Transit screaming down the lane towing a terrified young horse forced to canter at breakneck speed as it is tied to the back door of the van, laughing as they go. Or smacking my OH round the face when he tried to stop them beating a young horse (no more than 2) who they had driven so fast it had fallen onto its back on the road.

That's all anyone has an issue with, it isnt with the gypsy and travelling people as a community, it's the behaviour some of its members exhibit and which authorities have been too reticent about tackling for too long.
 
OH MY GOD a thread that makes sense some people who see cruelty at its worse. cruelty goes in a sliding scale everyone needs to get theres in a critical order
 
just for the record i was not on about tethering or gypsies just that there are far worse thing out there done to animals that need urgent attention racing would not currently be anywhere near the top of that list
 
Same as anything I think, some are done well, some are not.

One of the sites I have to survey must have nearly 30 horses on it. Maybe 8 of these are lucky enough to be loose in paddocks their owners have fashioned from rubbish fencing. The rest are tethered (bar one yearling who is loose!). They are all quite obviously well fed, must have access to water as they haven't died yet and all are in good condition. They all look happy, and the ones I have petted when my colleague isn't looking have all been nice animals, and obviously well treated.

I have seen horses in small paddocks at an australian stud who have no shade (welsh sec a's) 22 degrees, try 45!!

I would rather see a well kept tethered horse than a suped up, in 24/7 competition horse, who has the most stressful life? All depends on the owner - not all competition horses are kept in 24/7, not all tethered horses are managed badly :)
 
Hmmmmmm food for thought most definitely... and the stallions at a stud which never see daylight except when covering a mare or "milked" for semen. (Don't know name for it).

Have you seen that vid in India where some b**** ties a poor ponies leg then whips it???

THAT is unbearable to watch... I would find it but I'm too traumatised to try.
 
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