Help Humphrey

It does when the examples used are from a different organisation!!

Plus like I have explained, a comment that PeterNatt was demanding.... An explanation of the whole thing. The SPCA have just confirmed horses were removed because of welfare concerns and that it is investigating. AS PER NORMAL!
 
MillyMoomie said:
AS PER NORMAL!
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Given recent events (not including Humphrey), it seems it is getting increasing 'normal' for SPCA to remove without normal procedures being followed.

Glad I'm not in Scotland as would be VERY concerned and hope the RSPCA don't get any ideas. Though maybe one rogue inspector as she seems to be the common denominator.
 
Piebaldsparkle and interested to know why normal procedures were not followed? So far all I have read either on this forum or the FB site seems to be excuses with no believable evidence.

The RSPCA can't get 'any ideas' as the SPCA have powers under the Scottish animal health and welfare act. The Animal welfare act that is used in England and Wales ( with seperate welsh legislation) gives no such powers.
 
How do we know "normal Procedure" wasn't adhered to?
We have only heard one side of the story, as the rider is avoiding answering certain questions.

This is what I make of it, The SSPCA were called to an incident, as is quoted in The Scotsman newspaper:
Allana Evans, 15, was returning from the Currie Riding of the Marches earlier this month when Scottish SPCA officers demanded to examine Humphrey, a retired racehorse, on the grounds of a report she had been witnessed “abusing” the animal.
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The SSPCA arrived after it took the girl 40 mins to load the horse, she refused to remove the horse from the transport, so it could be examined, so the Inspector followed her back to where the horse is normally kept. From what I can see from the video a vet and Police were also in attendance.

Humphrey is now under the care of the Scottish SPCA at their Welfare Centre at Balerno, Edinburgh.

I imagine whatever happen must have taken place after the ride and at time of the loading?
 
MillyMoomie said:
Piebaldsparkle and interested to know why normal procedures were not followed? So far all I have read either on this forum or the FB site seems to be excuses with no believable evidence.

The RSPCA can't get 'any ideas' as the SPCA have powers under the Scottish animal health and welfare act. The Animal welfare act that is used in England and Wales ( with seperate welsh legislation) gives no such powers.
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I just never want them (RSPCA) to push for those powers. As seems to allow them (SPCA) to run rough shod over all.

What happened advising and monitoring? Too much time and effort? Or is it just more profitable to snatch and run?

Bet the holding yards are earning a pretty penny from it too. Good job the have no connection with any SPCA inspectors............Oh but wait!............

The unprofessionalism of the inspector in Humphrey's case is clear for all to see (laughing/smirking @ 3.06 of the vid).
 
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I wondered when this would make it on here.

I'd be far more interested to know what happened to the utterly emaciated bay mare (the kind of body score you'd normally associate with Prince Fluffy Kareem pictures) with the open sores (unsuprisingly not so far mentioned on here) who was galloped over the hills for 5hrs +. I'm not sure if it's the same owner but came from the same yard (and was indeed hacked 2hrs home after a 5hrs common ride) but would certainly explain why they were both taken. The very novice girl riding it didn't own it and said the owner had told her the ride would do the mare good to 'help build some muscle '. She thankfully is the 'other horse' the SSPCA took.

There is indeed more to this than so far mentioned.
 
Probably because Balerno is full to bursting already and only has a handful of stable.

I saw this horse on the ride. I was releived the bay mare was taken and a little surprised but not shocked the chestnut was taken too, having seen the state he got himself wound up into.
 
Of course they were examples of other organisations, it was relevant. You said they couldn't comment because it was a live investigation. If my memory serves me correctly RSPCA, The Horse Trust, World Horse Welfare, Redwings and, I think BHS have all commented on 'live investigations' before court dates. E.g. the Caephilly ponies were "severely emaciated". Photos and video footage of Amersham was broadcast across sky news; Mr Grey was still successfully prosecuted.

If SSPCA gave the owner a statement about why the horse was being removed, why can't that document be made public?

Is there an omnisbudsan(sp?) who can handle complaints against charities? If procedures haven't been followed the board of trustees may well be interested.
 
kallibear was the yard they came from a private yard (ie they are the only 2 horses?)? or livery?

ditto natch- a different organisation doesn't make the legal situation about commenting on a live situ any different...
 
It's a small livery, about 10 horses, mostly owned by just a few people. I know who owns the chestnut. I'm not sure if it's the same owner as the poor bay. The coloured cob that the bay rode home with is a different owner but also should never ever have been asked to do that ride (5hrs at fast hunting pace) as it was so unfit.
 
This is all quite ironic. The SSPCA can be a waste of space but this just proves they'll never get it right in most people's eyes regardless of what they do. They don't act and get slated for being ineffective. They DO act and get slated for being over-zealous.
 
Natch I really am not about to explain it again!

The owner will know why the horses were removed, there has also been an interview where it would again have been explained very clearly.

You are thinking of the charity commission.
 
i knew the horse years ago. he was out on loan and when his owner went to get him he was standing up to his knees in mud with a shetland, he was skin and bone. i was stunned when she brought him back. he was in worst state than fox was when i got him. where was the sspca then?
 
weesophz said:
i knew the horse years ago. he was out on loan and when his owner went to get him he was standing up to his knees in mud with a shetland, he was skin and bone. i was stunned when she brought him back. he was in worst state than fox was when i got him. where was the sspca then?
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Was it actually reported? And what would you have liked them to do? Take the horse away from the owner? They'd yet again be slated for being over-zelous. The most they could have done was go and talk to the loan home. They would have done that if asked. Were they?
 
Kallibear said:
Was it actually reported? And what would you have liked them to do? Take the horse away from the owner? They'd yet again be slated for being over-zelous. The most they could have done was go and talk to the loan home. They would have done that if asked. Were they?
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im not sure what the outcome was as she moved away about a week after she got him back. i dont think they would have been called over zealous if theyd dealt with the people who had left him and a shetland starving in a bare field!
 
Kallibear agree. They can't win.

People will always have their opinions, nothing wrong with that. My issue is the attempted swaying of opinions when there are no actual facts being given or any questions answered. At least give people the opportunity to measure up the information for themselves.
 
im not sure what the outcome was as she moved away about a week after she got him back. i dont think they would have been called over zealous if theyd dealt with the people who had left him and a shetland starving in a bare field!
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people who starved him (the loaners) no longer had him. The SSPCA won't be able to do any more than a stern talking-to and keep an eye on any new horses. They would have done that if asked. They wouldn't even have known about it though if noone told them! What else could you expect them to do? Remove the horses that didn't even belong to the loaners and were no longer in their care?!
 
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Exactly as I said before, damned if they do and damned if they don't. I am sure that everything will come out in the wash. I have my own opinion and no well edited emotional video will change my mind.
 
If this is exactly as it seems from the loaner's point of view, then this is absolutely ridiculous.

Yeah ok, he's not in tip top condition. That doesn't warrant taking him into custody. That warrants at the most, an inspector going to the yard and having a word to suggest a few improvements. Think how many reports you read about welfare cases where the charity/DEFRA weren't able to do anything as the animals weren't in bad enough condition. This horse hardly looks a terrible welfare case to me.

That anti weaving grill actually makes me feel sick.
 
I would like Help Humphrey to come back and state TRUTHFULLY if they or anyone on their yard has had previous contact with SSPCA regarding any of their horses' welfare (going back, say 8 or 9 months).
 
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