Help with possibly abandoned, loose ponies

C

City Mare

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Can any one help me?

I really don't know what the "protocol" is for reporting horses that are seemingly abandoned, on a public area.

It’s a mare and foal. I came across them while I was riding along on Sunday, when I came out of some wooded area and onto some land that is used quite a lot by the public for picnics etc.

I couldn't get off to attend to them as I didn't know what their (and my horses) reactions would be and at the time the mare looked like she was tethered. It was playing on my mind all day Monday (yesterday) so I went back down there after work last night (I don’t work locally so once I get home at 7pm, it was then about 20 mile drive from home) and they were still there. I then realised they were both untethered.

There is a couple of farm house type houses around but I was reluctant to knock as I was on my own and it was dark. The houses have their own grazing so imagine it's not their horses just being put out to graze.

The mare looks quite wormy looking - ribs showing and bony back end. Mum and baby were very quiet and allowed me to go up to them, they didn't try to walk off. They were both lethargic and mum's main and tail was a mess.

What do I do??

My local sanctuary hasn't got back to me - I don't even know if they can do anything; I imagine you can't just "rescue" a horse.

So I called the police (which I was initially reluctant to do, but found out there was a "Horsewatch" officer at the local station. But....what an rotten attitude.

Lady in control room told me quite rudely that I need to call the RSPCA - which is fine, and I have done now - BUT this was after:

a) I pointed out that the local/village police station is 2 miles from them, so can they not just pop down and check them - answer "no" (Note, I was speaking to a lady in the control room which is based 30 miles away from this particular town)

b) There is supposedly a "Horsewatch Officer" at the local police station (who I was originally calling for); this lady denied HW's existance so refused to put me though and again said I needed to call the RSPCA.

c) According to same lady, a public area of grass constitutes a field, so therefore they were not at risk….after I pointed out it's public land next to a road and a mile up a lane from a main A road next to a busy roundabout onto the M25 and they are LOOSE. To which she then replied that have been there since Sunday, then they'll be okay there now - WTF?

I couldn’t bear wasting any more time, so got off the phone after taking her collar number (even that was a fight to get) and have now called the RSPCA - does anyone have any other suggestions ?

I really want to know the outcome of this - if they NEED to be rescued - I am happy to sponsor their care before they can be rehomed. However the RSPCA doesn't give out case numbers to follow up on (the public is not allowed to follow up - they'll call me).
I've left two telephone numbers - do you think I'll get a call back?

Without offending anyone on here, and maybe jumping the gun a bit, it wouldn't surprise me if I did get a call back to be told they're gypsies/travellers horses - therefore they're in an okay state (as has happened in the past) but even if they are - are we supposed to turn a blind eye?

Or am I overreacting? Any advise would be appreciated?
 
Hi

I understand your frustration with the police! They are useless! We had some of our horses attacked in their stables a few years back and had a massive fight to get an officer to come out to us! We eventually, out of pure luck, managed to speak to a controller who had horses herself and she was a great help.

From what you say these two need attention. Especially as foal is obviously vunerable as is young.

I wonder if they have been dumed as owners did not reaslie she was in foal and cant/wont cope with 2 of them?

I have never found the RSPCA very helpful if im honest. Is it worth rininging Redwings or a similat horse charity and asking for their advice on what to do? They seem to be alot more willing to help than police/RSPCA a lot of the time. Even if they cant do anything themselves they may be able to advise you as to the best course of action and put your mind at rest a little?

Good luck!!

Emily
 
I would actually pay a visit to the local station and ask in person to speak to the horsewatch officer, and at the same time give him a note of the conversation with the call handler who seems to me to be incompetent and possibly negligent.

Imagine if these horses got onto the road and caused an accident and it turned out they had been reported and no action taken!!

Isn't dumping a horse illegal anyway - if so you were reporting a crime she deserves to be reported for that attitude!
 
Maybe you would be better to try and find out if anyone has lost a mare and foal in that area. Do the police keep a record, like they do with lost or found dogs ? Apart from that I don't really see that it is a police matter.
 
Try World Horse Welfare - much more useful than both the police and the RSPCA. If you're close to the M25 you might even find that your field officer is Ted Barnes who will go straight out for you.
 
I found a pony on our local rugby field earlier this year you dead rite bout police we phoned police and this police woman came pulled up @ roadside wound the window down and tld us it "wasn't her problem", and drove off, my friend had to run after her and she told us to "wrap up" and "mind our own business", however, her attitude soon changed when she found out my dad was the inspector at her station.Advice- dont be used and put on I ended up with the pony at my yard for 8 weeks!good luck, I hate the thought of abandonned animals.
 
Rather than RSPCA try WHW or BHS Welfare department.

I would try again to speak to the local horsewatch officer and let him know about the attitude of the person you spoke to. It would even be worth a complaint to the police about her. When I reported strying cattle the police took it seriously and despatched a car immediately, they even told me not to worry about calling 999 (i didn't know the non-emergency number). These horses could have caused and accident so it is a police matter.
 
A similar thing happened to us a couple of years ago, and like you the responses I got from the Authorites was pretty shocking. It was a Sunday, and we had tremendous trouble trying to get through to speak to someone from the RSPCA and I got sent round in circles, ie the police told me to contact the RSPCA, the RSPCA told me to contact the police if I thought they were in danger, etc. We tried another organistation too, (I can't remember which one) but we were unable to speak to a person, and we left messages. In the end, after spending about 4 hours; on the phone, waiting for people to call back, who never did, and watching over these very poor, scruffy, unshod horses, who were loose in a wood, next to a bust A road which went into the M25 a mile further on, we simply left them.

I was loathed to put them into one of our own, nearby fields, because (apart from worms / other diseases) there is an old law still in force; once a horse is allowed to graze somewhere it has the right to remain there for 2 weeks. We hardly wanted the local gipsys to have that privelege on our land.
 
Thanks to ALL of you for taking the time to reply and for giving me your advise and stories - you made me realise I am not overreacting!!

WHW are fantastic and have given me lots of advice - they're not going to tread on the RSPCA's toes now, but gave lots of constructive advice and information on what to do/not to do with them.

So, I will go down and check on them tonight on the way home from the yard - its quite out of the way by car and i won't be able to ride there quicker on horse as it will be dusk by the time I get to the yard. Hopefully before that I'll hear from the RSPCA. Luckily it's forcast dryish weather so no additional worry about storms etc.

Thanks again

xxxx
 
Quick update:

Popped up there tonight - still there and seemingly okay (as well you can be when possibly abandoned); seemed happy grazing this time and took no notice of me.

They're about a mile from the main road down a bumpy track (my poor car is suffering!), and presume they'll stay that way and won't wander down.

RSPCA not called me back (helpful); finally spoke to my local sanctuary (where I volunteer at casually) they'll go down Friday if still there.

We all presumed they are travellers' horses (there are a LOT in that area) so probably not much they can do and feel a bit bad "putting on them" if that's the case as don't want to cause them trouble with the travellers and RSPCA as they get enough of that...

Anyway I'll ride over there Sunday, if not before, and have another check - noticed there's quite a lot of DIY stables on the way to them up the track so hopefully they'll keep an eye out too (couldn't stop to ask tonight as had to get to my field before dark - and just about made it!)

oh and - on the way home found a loose skinny mastiff type dog near another camp running loose in the road - I must attract the sad cases!!

Thanks again all
x
 
I've always found Redwings to be a very good first port of call for things like this, always helpful, will help of they can and point you in the right direction if they can't.
 
Another quick update - just had a voicemail from RSPCA officer, sounded very nice and not at all like I wasting his time.

He said they are not in a terrible condition, but not in a good condition (my thoughts also - if that makes sense).

He asked around, the locals are keeping an eye on them and he'll continue to monitor them as well. Not a great response but better than I was expecting from the RSPCA to be honest - so better than nothing really - and glad to hear they're okay(ish).

I'm helping at my sanctuary tomorrow morning, so perhaps I can take them out too to visit and see what they think.

Thank again to all those that posted replies.
 
You could have rung your local council if you had found them mid-week. Many local councils are rounding up loose/stray and even tethered horses. In your case I WOULD report the unhelpful response to the Chief Constable of your police area, stressing that you were concerned that these horses could get onto the road.
 
I would have called Redwings too, they are very good.
WHW took a week to reply to an email i sent them early this year about a foal who froze in that awful weather. Rspca, well not worth bothering with, full of great sounding waffle but DO NOTHING!!
 
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