Horse with (potential) untreated laminitis

[HG95]

Hi

This is a bit of a sensitive one.
There's a horse on our yard who lives out 24/7 who I'm pretty sure is currently crippled with laminitis. (I'm only saying not definitely as it's not been officially diagnosed)
Horse is clearly unhappy on his feet constantly shifting weight between feet and is lame at the walk. He was brought in by his owner a few weeks ago and apparently saw the vet who diagnosed sycamore poisoning. The owner has now turned round and said that wasn't the case. He's been brought in a further 2 times as we have told her he is crippled but she brings him in gives him some bute and chucks him back out in the field.
He looks so uncomfortable but his owner just doesn't seem to care. She knows he's lame but he's still out in the field and becoming more and more crippled by the day.
The yard owner won't step in as she's mentioned to her as have several others but the owner just isn't doing anything.
Would I be over reacting by reporting the horse to the RSPCA or world horse welfare or something similar? I've never been in this position before and maybe I just need to mind my own business but it's honestly breaking my heart seeing the horse in so much pain

 

[SEL]

Try BHS in first instance. That's what a dog walker I know did for a pony on her route. They sent an educational welfare officer round to the yard to discuss why an obese pony shouldn't be on acre of grass and suggested a vet visit

 

[splashgirl45]

Not the RSPCA, they are useless with horses, BHS Welfare or WHW would be better

 

[ycbm]

WHW gave a great response to my call about some starved horses on a neighbour's farm.
.

 

[AmyMay]

I agree WHW, and perhaps a reminder to the YO that they have a duty of care. Any welfare investigation would also include them…

 

[Barton Bounty]

Report it

 

[Red-1]

I have had bad experiences with the RSPCA. They have been useless.

I would go BHS or WHW too. At least their officials know one end of a horse from the other. Sadly, it gets a bit political if you do call RSPCA first as the other organisations don't want to tread on their toes and won't come out.

 

[scats]

Someone reported a person at my old yard to the WHW for having massively overweight and cresty animals out on grass and they actually came out and spoke with the owner.

I knew a horse a few years ago that I’m convinced had laminitis but the owners denied it. 16hh warm blood, huge crest and bulging fat pockets everywhere. It pottered on hard ground and wanted to walk on grass. When they lifted one foot up it would fall back and nearly fall over. It would shift its weight constantly. The farrier said it didn’t have laminitis because it wasn’t rocking back on its heels when standing (I know ) so owner continued to turn it out on very rich grass. It disappeared one day, apparently sold, but I’m not so sure…

 

[SantaVera]

Report to whw

 

[Sandstone1]

Redwings are pretty good too.

 

[Blanche]

Redwings are pretty good too.

Not in my experience.

 

[Sossigpoker]

I couldn't even get through to anyone at the rspca the other day !
I'd call WFW for sure

 

[Sandstone1]

Not in my experience.

well they have been good on the occasions I have reported concerns to them, can only go by my experience. Im sorry you did not have a positive experience with them.

 

[ycbm]

The good thing about WHW is that you can fill in a form online and "talk" to them by email, and they act on it.
.

 

[holeymoley]

Whw for sure.

 

[toppedoff]

WHW 100%
i hope everything goes okay

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Definitely report it.

 

[HG95]

Unfortunately whw don't have a field officer within the area they only have 17 dotted around the UK so unfortunately can't help. RSPCA are more interested in asking for donations than taking an interest in any information

 

[SEL]

Unfortunately whw don't have a field officer within the area they only have 17 dotted around the UK so unfortunately can't help. RSPCA are more interested in asking for donations than taking an interest in any information

Try BHS - they have welfare officers and can kick the RSPCAs backside if they feel they need to

 

[Orangehorse]

Contact the BHS head office and they will contact the nearest Welfare Officer. Everything is confidential, but they are horse people who will give advice.

The ones I have known included a retired police officer who was also an instructor and another was a local vet, both could be quite scarey at times and people receiving the advice accepted it.

 

[PeterNatt]

BHS (British Horse Society) Tel: 0247 6840 517 24/7

WHW (World Horse Welfare) Tel: 0800 0480 180 8.00 a.m. – 5.30 p.m. Monday – Friday

 

[Kaylum]

Unfortunately whw don't have a field officer within the area they only have 17 dotted around the UK so unfortunately can't help. RSPCA are more interested in asking for donations than taking an interest in any information

Did they tell you that as they work with other charities in the areas. If it's a report they should be passing it on.

Horse needs taking off grass straightaway. YO should be doing this leaving even a day can cause so much damage.

 

[MagicMelon]

I would ask WHW for advice, surely if they dont have an officer in your area then they have some advice on who could attend to educate the owner? RSPCA I think are pretty useless sadly unless the horse is starving to death or literally has a leg hanging off. If the horse has water and food then I dont think they care.

Otherwise Id be getting a book on laminitis and leaving it in the womans stable. Maybe she'll read it...

 

[HG95]

Thanks for all your replies.
Thankfully the pony was brought in last night and has been seen by a vet today. Diagnosed with laminitis and I overheard the vet say he's to stay on strict box rest so hopefully the poor boy will get some relief now

 

[Kaylum]

Good news.

Really needs to be pointed out to people it's part of horse ownership to recognise these symptoms and act on them.

But well done for trying x