Fuming

[chillipup]

Often the other welfare organisations will not get involved if one is already deemed to have been dealing with it. Best of luck and I hope that it all works out for this poor animal.

And yet YG, in respect of the Peel case, Happa initially investigated it and called in the RSPCA. If the RSPCA are so crap, how come none of the other equine charities are willing to step in and take on a prosecution? Where are all their charitable funds going?

 

[LadySam]

And yet YG, in respect of the Peel case, Happa initially investigated it and called in the RSPCA. If the RSPCA are so crap, how come none of the other equine charities are willing to step in and take on a prosecution? Where are all their charitable funds going?

It's to do with statutory powers. RSPCA is legally empowered to bring prosecutions against members of the public; the other welfare agencies are not. I assumed this was why HAPPA called in the RSPCA - they saw it was a case worthy of criminal charges and the RSPCA was the only organisation that could bring them.

So, one assumes the other equine welfare charities are spending their money on grassroots level welfare.

 

[YorksG]

And yet YG, in respect of the Peel case, Happa initially investigated it and called in the RSPCA. If the RSPCA are so crap, how come none of the other equine charities are willing to step in and take on a prosecution? Where are all their charitable funds going?

WHW income was 7.6 million pounds in 2014, for it's activities Worldwide (the clue is in the name )
The RSPCA shows an income of 125 million for the same year, now I am not the most numerically literate person, but that does seem to answer the question, to me anyway. WHW have a pretty clear account of where their money goes, in their annual review, which was easy to find online.
I should imagine that HAPPA now wish that they had continued to investigate the Peel case, that was not the RSPCA's finest hour IMO and not one which I would have used to show how effective the RSPCA are in terms of prosecution.

 

[chillipup]

It's to do with statutory powers. RSPCA is legally empowered to bring prosecutions against members of the public; the other welfare agencies are not. I assumed this was why HAPPA called in the RSPCA - they saw it was a case worthy of criminal charges and the RSPCA was the only organisation that could bring them.

Sorry LadySam you are very much mistaken and wrong. Anyone in England or Wales has the right to bring a private prosecution. That means you or I, or any other individual. It has nothing to do with statutory powers. WHW, the BHS, HAPPA, could, if they so wished, bring a private prosecution against someone. It is just that the RSPCA have being doing this for so long, have the expertise ( though some might question) and the where for all to conduct these prosecutions. This doesn't in anyway, stop any other charity from doing the same.

 

[chillipup]

WHW income was 7.6 million pounds in 2014, for it's activities Worldwide (the clue is in the name )
The RSPCA shows an income of 125 million for the same year, now I am not the most numerically literate person, but that does seem to answer the question, to me anyway. WHW have a pretty clear account of where their money goes, in their annual review, which was easy to find online.
I should imagine that HAPPA now wish that they had continued to investigate the Peel case, that was not the RSPCA's finest hour IMO and not one which I would have used to show how effective the RSPCA are in terms of prosecution.

WHW, World Horse Welfare. As previously stated, only deal with equines. The RSPCA deal with ALL animals, here and abroad, not just equines, world wide, think about it YG. The RSPCA also publicise their audited annual accounts online for anyone to see, as do most charities.

There is no reason why HAPPA, BHS or any other equine specialist charity cannot take a prosecution. They should put they money where their mouth is.

 

[LadySam]

Sorry LadySam you are very much mistaken and wrong.

I stand corrected. I see it's a fairly common misconception.

 

[Mince Pie]

WHW income was 7.6 million pounds in 2014, for it's activities Worldwide (the clue is in the name )
The RSPCA shows an income of 125 million for the same year, now I am not the most numerically literate person, but that does seem to answer the question, to me anyway. WHW have a pretty clear account of where their money goes, in their annual review, which was easy to find online.
I should imagine that HAPPA now wish that they had continued to investigate the Peel case, that was not the RSPCA's finest hour IMO and not one which I would have used to show how effective the RSPCA are in terms of prosecution.

Is the Peel case the one where they shot several relatively healthy horses, most of which had people desperate to take them back, and then tried to charge a lot of money for stabling fees after the horses had been shot?

 

[VikingSong]

I'm not sure why the OP has been so rudely and aggressively attacked - being that she's not the owner of said horse, nor involved with the neglect of the horse and has been trying to contact a charity that, supposedly, claims to help neglected animals?

Having worked in a horse sanctuary, I remember very well when we tried to save several emaciated ponies who had been abandoned. The police would not let us remove them unless the RSPCA said we could, and the thick bimbo from the RSPCA wouldn't let us remove them because, according to her infinite wisdom, their feet "wasn't overgrown" (the fact they were emaciated and dehydrated was a non issue to her). The thing is though, their hooves *were* overgrown. Even the copper could see they were and he, as he admitted, knew the square root of nought about horses. This went on for three weeks, even the police were losing their rag with the RSPCA, until the bimbo actually decided that perhaps we should take them after all..seeing as one was dead in the field.

And yes, we did provide water, hay and pulled ragwort and cleared the mountains of muck from their field amongst other things..

The RSPCA should stick to cats and dogs. As said before, when it comes to horses, they are as useless as a chocolate teapot. I have no idea why people defend them? Yes, I'm sure there are one or two horsey knowledgeable people in the RSPCA, but the majority of them aren't.

 

[ycbm]

Duplicated post

 

[bluedanube]

I'm not sure why the OP has been so rudely and aggressively attacked - being that she's not the owner of said horse, nor involved with the neglect of the horse and has been trying to contact a charity that, supposedly, claims to help neglected animals?

Having worked in a horse sanctuary, I remember very well when we tried to save several emaciated ponies who had been abandoned. The police would not let us remove them unless the RSPCA said we could, and the thick bimbo from the RSPCA wouldn't let us remove them because, according to her infinite wisdom, their feet "wasn't overgrown" (the fact they were emaciated and dehydrated was a non issue to her). The thing is though, their hooves *were* overgrown. Even the copper could see they were and he, as he admitted, knew the square root of nought about horses. This went on for three weeks, even the police were losing their rag with the RSPCA, until the bimbo actually decided that perhaps we should take them after all..seeing as one was dead in the field.

And yes, we did provide water, hay and pulled ragwort and cleared the mountains of muck from their field amongst other things..

The RSPCA should stick to cats and dogs. As said before, when it comes to horses, they are as useless as a chocolate teapot. I have no idea why people defend them? Yes, I'm sure there are one or two horsey knowledgeable people in the RSPCA, but the majority of them aren't.

Well said and so true.

 

[pansymouse]

I feel very uncomfortable with the aggression shown towards the OP - it's easy to see how yard bullying is so prevalent. OP - I hope you manage to get one of the charities to take action and that the pony is OK; well done for starting the process off and not looking the other way.

 

[southerncomfort]

I'm not sure why the OP has been so rudely and aggressively attacked - being that she's not the owner of said horse, nor involved with the neglect of the horse and has been trying to contact a charity that, supposedly, claims to help neglected animals?

Having worked in a horse sanctuary, I remember very well when we tried to save several emaciated ponies who had been abandoned. The police would not let us remove them unless the RSPCA said we could, and the thick bimbo from the RSPCA wouldn't let us remove them because, according to her infinite wisdom, their feet "wasn't overgrown" (the fact they were emaciated and dehydrated was a non issue to her). The thing is though, their hooves *were* overgrown. Even the copper could see they were and he, as he admitted, knew the square root of nought about horses. This went on for three weeks, even the police were losing their rag with the RSPCA, until the bimbo actually decided that perhaps we should take them after all..seeing as one was dead in the field.

And yes, we did provide water, hay and pulled ragwort and cleared the mountains of muck from their field amongst other things..

The RSPCA should stick to cats and dogs. As said before, when it comes to horses, they are as useless as a chocolate teapot. I have no idea why people defend them? Yes, I'm sure there are one or two horsey knowledgeable people in the RSPCA, but the majority of them aren't.

Excellent post.

 

[Nudibranch]

Another hoping you get somewhere op. No idea what all the hostility is about. Fwiw I reported a similar case to the RSPCA once and they said they'd been out and someone was attending with water. They weren't...Didn't get far with WHW either and by the time BHS came out the horse had gone. Poor thing was tethered on bare grazing on a north east clifftop.

 

[Snuffles]

Many years ago I rang the RSPCA about a horse that had no water for at least two days .the water tank was bone dry, The answer was "horses don't drink much in the winter" That finished me with them.

 

[fatpiggy]

So did you walk away without leaving any water for the horse yourself? I'm going to guess you did and thought by ringing someone else, that dissolved you of any obligation what so ever, yet you knew, as you say, for a fact, it's not had any water for three days. Shame on you. Why didn't you take the initiative and do something for this poor animal??

Fuming? So am I.

Totally uncalled for. If nothing else the OP could be done for trespass, administering substances to a horse that isn't their own etc etc. How many people complain here that do-gooders ply their laminitic/Cushings ponies with food because in their opinion the animals are underweight and neglected. In fact most people seem to be aggrieved that anyone even reported them. I came across a mare with young foal at foot - foal was fine but the mare looked like a hatrack. I made discrete enquiries but when that drew a blank I called the WHW. Are you suggesting I should have driven 10 miles each way every day to feed the mare myself???

 

[fatpiggy]

I'm not sure why the OP has been so rudely and aggressively attacked - being that she's not the owner of said horse, nor involved with the neglect of the horse and has been trying to contact a charity that, supposedly, claims to help neglected animals?

Having worked in a horse sanctuary, I remember very well when we tried to save several emaciated ponies who had been abandoned. The police would not let us remove them unless the RSPCA said we could, and the thick bimbo from the RSPCA wouldn't let us remove them because, according to her infinite wisdom, their feet "wasn't overgrown" (the fact they were emaciated and dehydrated was a non issue to her). The thing is though, their hooves *were* overgrown. Even the copper could see they were and he, as he admitted, knew the square root of nought about horses. This went on for three weeks, even the police were losing their rag with the RSPCA, until the bimbo actually decided that perhaps we should take them after all..seeing as one was dead in the field.

And yes, we did provide water, hay and pulled ragwort and cleared the mountains of muck from their field amongst other things..

The RSPCA should stick to cats and dogs. As said before, when it comes to horses, they are as useless as a chocolate teapot. I have no idea why people defend them? Yes, I'm sure there are one or two horsey knowledgeable people in the RSPCA, but the majority of them aren't.

They aren't any better with cats and dogs. When I was growing up our neighbours locked their GS and JRT in the barn. We realised we hadn't heard barking for a while, and back then no-one locked their properties so we went over and took a look. Dad poked about with his toe for a bit then we left and he called the RSPCA. The did come out (at our insistence, not least because we had already called them previously about the dead and dying bullocks, Jersey cows and pigs in the field outside our kitchen window) and advised that the dog should have more water. We said but what about the other dog? The answer was, perhaps they owners got rid of it. At that point Dad produced the skull and a handful of dog fur that he had found in the straw - the skull had teeth marks all over it. The GS had died and the JRT had survived by eating the corpse. RSPSCA man shrugged. It was one of only two occasions I ever heard my Dad tell someone to eff off.

 

[PeterNatt]

For the BHS to employ a nation wide team of Welfare Officers they would require a far larger income which means they need to be supported by far more horse riders to subscribe as members.
That is why it is volunteers doing the job which they do very well.

 

[Damnation]

No I don't feel your opinion is worth much. How is that the RSPCA feature almost every week on HHO news for their rescues, rehabs, etc involving equines. You obviously have no idea. Would you stand by and watch a horse suffer if it didn't have any water too? What ever charity you contact, be it RSPCA, WHW etc, surely you can't stand by and just watch until they turn up?

Wow. Just wow. OP came on looking for help, not for your tone which I don't care for either. Stop being so rude.

I would also like to say I have had personal experience of the RSPCA's faliures, on two occasions. I think they are useless.

May I direct you to Spud and Carrot? The RSPCA thought they were fine. It took a great deal of lobbying to get these two rescued. The BHS was at the front of this along with other local rescues (namely Bransby of which "Hovis's diaries" supported and I think still do, also started on this forum). NOT the RSPCA. Below are the links and the quote to that case. Those horses were days from death.

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-300933.html

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/archive/index.php/t-301534.html

okay, the rspca atended these horses last month. The words were 'the horses are okay, the old one is eating and they're still standing, they're okay'.

The area's vet just told me this http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/images/graemlins/crazy.gif

personally, I'm horrified...

OP - contact local rescues in the area, you may find that yes they do need to go through the RSPCA but they may have more welly to get them to shift into action.

I would also give the horse water then remove the evidence. (I think you said you already have).

Another tactic would be to take a picture of the horse and tell them you will go to the local papers if you are not able to speak to someone that isn't reading off a script that can help you. After the Rachelle Peel case I doubt that they need anymore negative publicity of their many shortcomings.

 

[Kaylum]

OP you did the right thing if you have concerns but if you could try and get some water.

You will probably find it drinks it straightaway as these ponies tend to drink as soon as they are given it as they know they wont get much.

Plus even the Equine Welfare Council say to report to the RSPCA first http://www.newc.co.uk/

 

[YorksG]

To the poster who suggested that other charities, rather than the RSPCA should be acting, and asking what those charities are doing with their money, what benefit do you think you are doing for the RSPCA by trying to 'do down" other welfare organisations? It feels to be a case "mud slinging" to try and confuse the issue, not something which can give credit to the RSPCA, and mentioning the Peel case, where the RSPCA shot horses and then claimed the livery costs for several weeks, seems to be trying to discredit the RSPCA!

 

[Achinghips]

So did you walk away without leaving any water for the horse yourself? I'm going to guess you did and thought by ringing someone else, that dissolved you of any obligation what so ever, yet you knew, as you say, for a fact, it's not had any water for three days. Shame on you. Why didn't you take the initiative and do something for this poor animal?

Fuming? So am I.

What an unnecessarily rude and aggressive presumptuous response. The OP is not the perpetrator of the animals distress.

 

[cambrica]

Having been involved in several cases of fly grazing and neglect (although not tethered) trying to get anyone to listen, let alone act is frustrating beyond belief. Trust me, I have had many sleepless nights spent worrying about fly grazed horses in my town. You may remember little Olaf who sadly passed away after being rescued - that took 2 years of campaigning before anything was done, sadly several were pts and didn't even make it to the rescue centres. I won't go into all of the details but it was eventually a joint effort between several welfare organisations.
The RSPCA were hopeless to a point where I was utterly disgusted by there lack of concern and 'monitoring' with nothing being done. It took relentless emails to our local MP, the local council (some have an animal welfare officer), the local press and community FB groups and the landowners.
If you can find out who owns the land then try to persuade them to erect a notice of abandonment - this entitles them to legally remove the horse after 14 days (I think this is correct as new laws have been put into place).
There is a FB group called Hope for Horses UK. The person that runs this campaign is called Mark, I suggest you look on there for advice.
It is a vicious circle of red tape, pass the buck & bureaucracy. Nightmare situation, if you supply water it is no longer a welfare case but if you don't and still nothing is done then the horse is being deprived a fundamental need and is suffering for what could be the foreseeable future.
My first step after contacting the welfare organisations is to email your MP - he/she has to act and the more people you get to email them the better. Really hope that you can help this poor horse.

 

[DD]

I feel sorry for the OP who tried to get help for the poor horse and got no help and even vilification. terrible.

 

[little_critter]

OP, did you speak to any other welfare organisations yesterday? any luck getting a response?

 

[Magicmadge]

He had two big trugs of water yesterday afternoon . I spoke to some other agencies one of which confirmed they had had other reports on the same pony . Obviously other people unknown to me share my concerns.

 

[horsebenny]

I rarely post on here anymore due to the bullying behaviour of some members - I think the Horse and Hound team should do something about it but I doubt they will.

 

[Damnation]

He had two big trugs of water yesterday afternoon . I spoke to some other agencies one of which confirmed they had had other reports on the same pony . Obviously other people unknown to me share my concerns.

You are doing the right thing, short of theft there isn't a huge amount you can do other than offer water when you can and really nag the RSPCA.

If you are forceful enough they will go out! When I intervened regarding some dogs, the call handler was adamant the inspector couldn't ring me and discuss anything incase a prosecution was brought and that they couldn't tell me if the inspector had even been out. I informed them that would call on the hour until I had a factual update or reassurance that this would be dealt with.

Not only did they call back within half an hour to tell me when the RSPCA were attending, the inspector then called me to discuss the situation.

It can be done! If I was in your area, I would work my magic.

 

[Achinghips]

I rarely post on here anymore due to the bullying behaviour of some members - I think the Horse and Hound team should do something about it but I doubt they will.

Do report it, I have.

 

[OWLIE185]

I absolutely fail to understand why people who have some understanding of horses contact the RSPCA by default with horse Welfare issues when World Horse Welfare and the British Horse Society have a far better in depth understanding of horses and have a nationwide coverage of inspectors?

 

[ester]

I think it often happens because neither of them are open at weekends.