Irresponsible breeding

[ester]

As a postscript to the Drury and Sons/welsh pony situation in the last 2 days we have had a

a foal delivered to someone's housing estate for £250 and picked up by WHW 2 days later
https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/new...e59olgUqQA6FALUmb8kTHl9_VFKSqJAeL4VLKN5cM1bVU

And 72 horses in cambs being attended by multiple agencies, with some with more serious welfare concerns taken away by WHW and redwings because '“The family started with far fewer horses, but as none were castrated the herd size grew and the owners became overwhelmed' - what a surprise that happened.

https://www.horseandhound.co.uk/new...AgpTaYXsrJ6KQBKiP5EZmLQgYtMp9f0uR55QMfl4io-QU

 

[millikins]

The second case is a bit bizarre. How can the owner let things get so out of hand if she has the money to pay for gelding?

 

[Equi]

I think some people like the novelty a lot more than the actual on going care etc. Having a foal is incredibly exciting and cute...but unless you are prepared to have the adult animal why have the foal? I get multiple people stopping at my door asking for a mini because they want one for the garden/kids cause they have seen them on youtube and they assume they can't be any harder to look after than a large dog.

 

[P.forpony]

I think some people like the novelty a lot more than the actual on going care etc. Having a foal is incredibly exciting and cute...but unless you are prepared to have the adult animal why have the foal? I get multiple people stopping at my door asking for a mini because they want one for the garden/kids cause they have seen them on youtube and they assume they can't be any harder to look after than a large dog.

I was once brought a mini when i was breaking/reschooling for a living.
Blew my mind!
Lovely kind friendly family never owned or ridden before. Purchased it as a present for their 7yr old daughter.
They just wanted something cute and fluffy to give treats and play with.
It was a 6 month old entire colt, after 3 weeks of treats and play it was flattening terrified child, kicking biting and bolting whenever they could catch it.
Also emaciated under all the ‘fluffy’ full of worms, crawling with lice and with all the problems of disproportionate dwarfism, angular limb deformity, dreadful teeth/jaw domed forehead etc.
Reasonably happy ending to this one, had a long chat with family who were horrified once they realised, and committed to regular stable management/ handling lessons together even after I’d taught it basic manners, treated vet problems, had it gelded and sent home
The problem is the breeder!
This pony was a complete welfare case that should never have been conceived let alone sold (for a lot of money!) to absolute novices.

The lure of ‘cute’ that a foal or a mini has is to me the biggest problem. People either never learn what the animal needs so it suffers. Or they learn and can’t/wont provide it, so the animal still suffers.

 

[cauda equina]

The cambs one is very odd; not the usual garden shed thing, but a 40 acre field, and not only not gelding the entires but not doing any sort of care at all, just chucking them all in together to be feral
It sounds as if the owner had no clue about horses at all and perhaps didn't realise that they would go forth and multiply - a 'sanctuary' gone wrong perhaps

 

[Errin Paddywack]

The Cambs one certainly was odd. From the photos there were some nice animals there and in pretty good condition too. Not what I was expecting from the headline.

 

[Xmasha]

Credit to WHW and the vet school, that was some undertaking.

I just hope when the owners sell them, they ensure they are going to experienced people used to dealing with feral/unhandled youngsters.

 

[ester]

I found out a bit more about the cambs situation, in that one of the family members already has a ban, people have been trying to get the situation resolved for years, dead horses, refusal to sell any etc etc.

 

[Widgeon]

I found out a bit more about the cambs situation, in that one of the family members already has a ban, people have been trying to get the situation resolved for years, dead horses, refusal to sell any etc etc.

Interesting. I also thought it seemed strange that there were some nice looking horses in there - I had assumed it was a case of elderly or vulnerable owners being unable to cope with the logistics of managing that many horses. But apparently not, if what you say is true. At least it sounds like the owners have agreed to sell the majority of the horses, and sign over any sick ones to WHW (there was a 10 minute video interview on H&H the other day with the WHW officer and one of the vets involved)

 

[ester]

yup the video should be on the link I provided, that's where I watched it anyway (which is what gave the location to people who know the area better than I do)

 

[Ceriann]

I don’t understand the mentality at all. Horse care is hard work. I’ve toyed with the idea of having a foal but only had two mares I would want to breed from - the one now I would love a foal off as she’s just got the best temperament and is capable (though does have bad feet!) but I just don’t have the knowledge to carry it through. It would cost me a small fortune to get the fo to what I would need it to be for me! What goes through their minds when they do this.

 

[Xmasha]

I don’t understand the mentality at all. Horse care is hard work. I’ve toyed with the idea of having a foal but only had two mares I would want to breed from - the one now I would love a foal off as she’s just got the best temperament and is capable (though does have bad feet!) but I just don’t have the knowledge to carry it through. It would cost me a small fortune to get the fo to what I would need it to be for me! What goes through their minds when they do this.

im pretty sure not much thought goes into this. To me its more akin with hoarding .
They seem to have simply acquired some horses and left them to get on with it. so no care whatsoever, no AI costs, no swabs, scanning etc etc.

 

[ester]

Previous press report for the Cambs situ in 2011
A WHITTLESEY woman who left one of her 70 horses with an open leg wound so severe that the animal’s bone was visible has been banned from keeping horses for two years.

https://www.cambstimes.co.uk/news/w...years-after-gelding-dies-from-wound-1-1080048

 

[P.forpony]

I find this whole thread and the questions it bring up really interesting but also a bit sad/frustrating.

I’ve worked in breeding and with young stock and loved it but always written off the idea of breeding my own as the chances of owning a mare of sufficient quality are slim.
By a mixture of luck, accident and haggling. I actually now own one. Well bred, well put together and sufficiently proven with a fantastic temperament.
Foals of her type in the current market are also incredibly sought after.
And yet I’m still hesitant.

Conversation last week with an acquaintance where I asked after their lame mare. The response was it’s now retired at 7. Vet advised against breeding because cause of lameness is conformational, they’ve already picked out a stallion because the vet might have got it wrong.....

Although educating people is obviously beneficial, there will always be those that knowingly go against good sense using varied justifications and that seems tricker to solve.