Helping police round up strays and escapees!

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Bertthefrog

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Hi all,

In view of recent posts by horsey samaratans - I thought I would ask for a few more fairy godmothers or fathers!

I live in Yorkshire. After hearing in the local press of the less than satisfactory fate of two loose horses, I was motivated to contact the local police and offer my services as someone they could call upon to help catch stray horses. (The two horses in question were shot by police marksman as noone could catch them.)

I am on call 24/7 - and get a call on average once a fortnight or so.

The reason for the post - I have no horse transport, and nowhere to move horses to for temporary holding.

So - a plea! (And this goes for any area - if you would like to help, contact the volunteer section on the local police website).

Anyone in the York area that has transport and somewhere suitable to put up horses on a temporary basis? If so would you pm me if you would be willing to help out.

I know many people will be put off by expense and being "left" with stray horses, but the police have been very grateful for the help on every occasion. Most of the officers have very little equine experience so are very relieved to see someone appear with h/c and feed! I am very happy to help out with aftercare and costs (last time the police rang they asked me what I charged for livery - so it may be that a grass livery fee could be charged).

If it helps to prevent an accident, and horse welfare issues then I am happy to be involved.

If you can help - please get in touch, with either myself or your local police force. They will be VERY pleased to hear from you!!:D

After all - if, for whatever reason, your horses got out onto the road(and the ones I have rounded up are not all gypsy horses) - you would be eternally grateful to know that they were safe and sound.
 
Just a quick update on the little one we found - he was reunited with his owners last night.

It was a group of travellers who said they had been away at a wake for the past three days. They did say the pony was in a field in a neighboring village (not where i found him) and the only explaination that we have come up with is that this pony has escaped and soemone tied it to the fence and then didnt do anything else.

He was definately theirs as they gave a perfect description of him etc and were very grateful that we had sorted him out. The way he was tied in this weather with no access to food and water I dread to think how long he would have lasted.

The lady who took him into her paddock for us (non horsey) now has a heartbroken son, bless him but they have been told they are welcome to come up to my horses if he would like to see them.

Its lovely to know there are some nice caring people in this world!
 
If you are offering your services to the police make sure you are covered under their insurance or have insurance of your own, in this day and age you will be sued for anything, also if you retrieve a horse and no one comes forward you are responsible for its welfare, passport etc., sorry to be negative but our Horse Watch group had to withdraw this offer to help because of this, we couldn't afford the insurance. Good luck and well done though, its nice to know people still offer to help
 
MHOL said:
If you are offering your services to the police make sure you are covered under their insurance or have insurance of your own, in this day and age you will be sued for anything, also if you retrieve a horse and no one comes forward you are responsible for its welfare, passport etc., sorry to be negative but our Horse Watch group had to withdraw this offer to help because of this, we couldn't afford the insurance. Good luck and well done though, its nice to know people still offer to help
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So sad that things have come to this really, where are the days of being able to help people without the fear of getting sued for it?

Festivefrog, lovely idea :) , not much point in me offering my services in my area though, if the police don't know someone horsey round here id be seriously worried lol, every other person seems to own horses here.
 
Just be careful - a few years back a pony was tethered in a dangerous position next to the M1 on a rope long enough that had it got through the fence it could have got onto the main carriageway. The police were flagging down traffic as they were unable to get near it and were concerned it would panic and crash through the fence. I stopped and offered to catch it which I did with no problem. The RSPCA refused to come out as despite the fact it was in a dangerous porition, had no water and was distressed and extremely dehydrated it was apparently not in danger! Redwings agreed to come and get it but it was a minimum 4 hour journey. Once it was sorted I was left by the police, literally, holding the pony until they arrived. On the verge of an unlit country lane, it was a november evening, it was freezing, I was on my way home from Tescos so not appropriately dressed. The police did drop by once to see if it had gone and I got them to get my moblie from my car so I would call a friend to come and bring me better clothing and a flask of hot soup but I was not best amused.
 
There is a rescue charity that pays the cost of rescue/recovery of large animals (basically horses and cows) where the fire brigade calls a vet and the owner can't be traced - they also part fund the BEVA equine rescue course in the New Forest. Surely it should cover the loose in dangerous situation (i.e. accident waiting to happen) scenario.

Might be worth talking to your local firebrigade/police about animal rescues/handling - OH just did a talk for ours, and only 2 (of the voluteers in a rural area) had any stock handling experience - so they spent most of the talk discussing how to read the body language - maybe a talk to the police/fire brigade about how to approach in an unthreatening way would be helpful.

Also talk to your local vets about liasing with the emergency services generally.
 
The insurance is something I have looked into, but at the end of the day I am not going to worry about being sued. I would never be able to do anything I thought was fun if that really prayed on my mind!

Yes - I do appreciate that there is a chance you will be left "holding the baby" so to speak (info about charity to help with costs is very much appreciated - thanks Wishful:D) - but again - better that than an accident. I believe the NY police told GG that as long as you had taken reasonable effort to locate a horse's owners, after 14 days it is considered yours. Whether that is the case or so I am not sure but I am sure one of you guys can enlighten me on that one!:confused:

Most horses do have owners, some very grateful (thanks for the news gg - so glad he's back home!), some sadly not so, but hey that's life.

Like I said - if it was my horse that got out - I would be so relieved that someone helped and that he hadn't caused an accident. That is why I want to help out.

I am fully aware that you can be stuck around for hours once the horses have been caught - but in my case, the police have been doing as much as I had to find somewhere for them to go and never left me on my own! This is why it would be easier if I had transport and somewhere that I knew I could take them! Hence the post.

Thanks for taking a look and your replies x
 
Wishful said:
There is a rescue charity that pays the cost of rescue/recovery of large animals (basically horses and cows) where the fire brigade calls a vet and the owner can't be traced - they also part fund the BEVA equine rescue course in the New Forest. Surely it should cover the loose in dangerous situation (i.e. accident waiting to happen) scenario.

Might be worth talking to your local firebrigade/police about animal rescues/handling - OH just did a talk for ours, and only 2 (of the voluteers in a rural area) had any stock handling experience - so they spent most of the talk discussing how to read the body language - maybe a talk to the police/fire brigade about how to approach in an unthreatening way would be helpful.

Also talk to your local vets about liasing with the emergency services generally.
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These are great ideas W, thank you so much, I will definitely look into them :D
 
Cuffey said:
There is a list of personnel attached to the Emergency Services protocol of 'horse' volunteers who will turn out to assist Emergency Services at accidents etc
Many are BHS Welfare Volunteers.
It may be worth approaching BHS about this if more people are willing to assist and be part of this.
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Hadn't thought of this - I'll email the BHS and find out more. Thanks Cuffy x
 
The BHS attempt to have at least one volunteer Welfare Officer in each County.

The BHS volunteer Welfare Officers have to attend a training course and anyone interested in becoming a BHS Welfare Officer should contact their local county BHS group.

If you need to know the contact details of the chairman of your local County group then either contact BHS H.Q or myself and we will be pleased to provide you with the details.
 
OWLIE185 said:
The BHS attempt to have at least one volunteer Welfare Officer in each County.

The BHS volunteer Welfare Officers have to attend a training course and anyone interested in becoming a BHS Welfare Officer should contact their local county BHS group.

If you need to know the contact details of the chairman of your local County group then either contact BHS H.Q or myself and we will be pleased to provide you with the details.
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Hi Owlie - thank you for this. I had a look on the BHS website earlier and have contacted my area rep. Will see what she suggests.
 
i often get called out to collect horses on the road. i bring them back to my yard. settle them hay and water. look after them til someone collects them. some have been here for up to 3 days. an invoice is raised jointly to the owner and the police (you should always get a reference no from the police). if the owner doesnt pay the invoice the police will. they have a special fund for this tho they wont ever offer to pay or tell you this. i went to 2 today who had been found and put in a farmers field early yesterday morning. a lady turned up and said they were hers!? and that she had checked them on Friday and left haylage for them and they had been fine! sorry i couldnt bite my tongue and said "Friday its now bl.... tuesday afternoon. etc. she wasnt that bothered really seeing as she had found them. the farmer did tell her that payment was due for 2 days keep and got £30 for their trouble! she had a 4x4 so had no excuse as to why she hadnt checked them and its been cold and frosty but not undrivable!
 
ofcourseyoucan said:
i often get called out to collect horses on the road. i bring them back to my yard. settle them hay and water. look after them til someone collects them. some have been here for up to 3 days. an invoice is raised jointly to the owner and the police (you should always get a reference no from the police). if the owner doesnt pay the invoice the police will. they have a special fund for this tho they wont ever offer to pay or tell you this. i went to 2 today who had been found and put in a farmers field early yesterday morning. a lady turned up and said they were hers!? and that she had checked them on Friday and left haylage for them and they had been fine! sorry i couldnt bite my tongue and said "Friday its now bl.... tuesday afternoon. etc. she wasnt that bothered really seeing as she had found them. the farmer did tell her that payment was due for 2 days keep and got £30 for their trouble! she had a 4x4 so had no excuse as to why she hadnt checked them and its been cold and frosty but not undrivable!
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Hmm yes, the sort of owner a horse could do without!
It's gd to read a positive post on the subject - I've had a couple of offers of help too, which is great.

The police asked me my livery charges when they last rang - so I thought there must be some recompense. Sadly, I'm not lucky enough to have my own yard or I would be of more use to them! As it is I head out and ring in various favours when I know what I am dealing with!!
 
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