Horses at side of road

[wills_91]

I've been down south for 5 days and there has been 2 horses tethered at the side of the road close to where we are staying. The first day there was also a goat and a caravan, the same evening when we passed again goat and can where gone. We've passed several times a day over the last couple of days and never seen anyone. There is no water either ?. Is this common practice? How long can they be left?

 

[TreeDog]

If there is no water call a local equine welfare agency and report the horses, I would hope they will try locate the owners/provide care for them. It's quite common around where I live to see tethered horses but they usually do have water (unless the bucket gets knocked over). It may be that the horses are being tended to when you are not there to see, but it is possible they have been abandoned so worth reporting if you are concerned.

I own a yearling who had been left tied by a road with another horse and no one was coming back for them, sad to think what would have happened to him had no one reported them.

 

[paddy555]

I'm down south and I have seen it several times. Question is do they look abandoned? what sort of condition are they in? if they were on a yard would you consider them well looked after? water may be brought in buckets for them. Are they being moved on when they have eaten their circle of grass or are they left day after day with no grass living in a shit heap. Are their feet in good condition shod or well trimmed, what about their coats, rain scald and a mess and caked with mud? eyes OK? any bite, whip or damaged marks on them? Do they look like adults who pull the caravan, cared for youngsters or abandoned youngsters.

We have a girl who brings her caravan, dog and 2 horses and winters on a roundabout. They are not tethered but have a single strand of electric fence between them and a major roundabout with lorries and other traffic continually going round and past. The horses are in immaculate condition and she buys in a big bale of haylage for them. Big worry is if some idiot pulls the fence down especially in the night. I raised this point with the police who were having their break nearby. They were not interested. If the horses got loose and caused an accident they would do something if not then no problem. They had no interest whatsoever in the horses.

 

[wills_91]

They look in reasonable condition and both adults. If they were on a yard then no i wouldn't be concerned, its the lack of access to water that's bothering me. They aren't being moved either it's a small area right at the side of a busy road that they have grazed right down. I'm here for till Monday so will keep an eye.

 

[paddy555]

are you in accommodation? if so does the owner know anything? any local horses around you could ask their owners or livery yards. It may be a regular occurrence that is locally well known. Grazed right down could start ringing alarm bells in the next couple of days. Not sure if you want to but if you don't get anywhere by say Sat you could put the location on here and see if anyone is familiar with them. Sat am would be the deadline for me if no obvious progress.

 

[Suechoccy]

The good owners check the horses twice a today, regularly move the tether pegs to new areas so their horse has new grass and fresh water is provided (sometimes the owners arrive with water twice a day and the horse drinks its fill and the owner then takes the bucket home to prevent the bucket being stolen overnight which could explain why no bucket left in situ).
If the tethered horses are not moved at all, not fed supplementary (hay) and no water (dehydration check - take a fingerful of skinfold on neck, let go and see how quickly skin goes flat, should be quick but if it stays raised, then horse is dehydrated), then alarm bells should ring.

 

[wills_91]

I am in accommodation and I will ask the owner tomorrow. They are right across the road from a haven holiday park I think it's called Blue Dolphin - Yorkshire. My partner thinks I'm mad but I've been thinking about them every day so we drive past to see! If they haven't moved by Sat I'll make relevant calls unless someone with more local knowledge knows about them. I just find it odd that the tethered goat has gone and the van and caravan.

 

[DabDab]

Haha, I think Yorkshire is less south than most of us were imagining!
The owners might well be staying at the Haven.

 

[wills_91]

Haha, I think Yorkshire is less south than most of us were imagining!
The owners might well be staying at the Haven.

Haha yes I suppose I should have put the rough location in the first post, it was a long drive for us, feels further down ?

 

[paddy555]

Haha, I think Yorkshire is less south than most of us were imagining!

Yorkshire is "oop north" to me.

 

[paddy555]

I am in accommodation and I will ask the owner tomorrow. They are right across the road from a haven holiday park I think it's called Blue Dolphin - Yorkshire. My partner thinks I'm mad but I've been thinking about them every day so we drive past to see! If they haven't moved by Sat I'll make relevant calls unless someone with more local knowledge knows about them. I just find it odd that the tethered goat has gone and the van and caravan.

I wouldn't ignore them. There is the odd chance they could end up in trouble. Owners could be at the haven park but I'm not sure they would take goats!!

I guess it is the haven park at FILEY.

 

[sunnyone]

Off topic slightly. I was once asked to attend a meeting in Redruth, Cornwall so was hot desking whilst waiting for the start. Two local staff were discussing the whereabouts of an ex-colleague.
Person 1: Oh he moved up north.
Person 2: Where?
Person 1: Bournemouth.

She was right too,