Is this something you would report?

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appletree

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I know of a yard locally to me where all of the horses are stabled 24/7 during winter. There is no walker and they are not ridden or turned out at all.

The owner of said horses and yard goes to do them in the morning, and skips them out, gives them hay and a normal sized trug of water, and their feed then leaves and does not return til the next day. They have usually been given their feed and left by lunchtime meaning they go a full 24 hours til they are checked again.

I know they arent given ad lib haylege, meaning that the hay they are given is probably eaten and gone by late afternoon at the very latest, same with the water.

I feel very uncomfortable knowing this, yet many people have said to me there is no point reporting it because as long as they are being fed and watered nothing will be done...

does anyone know any different???
 
Think I would report to WHW. They would come out and at least advise the owners on how they should be giving their horses regular turn out/exercise.
 
I would ring WHW and chat to somebody- can't hurt, and they may be able to do something.

I know of a youngster which was kept in 24/7, never turned/ walked out for at least a year, and within 2 weeks of being reported to WHW was rapidly turned out!! And it was fed and watered, and checked at least twice a day.

Ring them- you might be suprised :-) sounds like a horrid way to keep horses anyway :-/

Good luck!!
 
Why are they kept at all if they are not ridden or turned out or by the sound of it loved at all?

I would report - Can't do any harm can it? But are you sure they are not given enough hay to last them?

I would make sure of your facts before doing anything further - perhaps a vist to the horses after say 8pm would be in order?
 
If the horses body weights are good, they do not show signs of dehydration etc and are not showing any veterinary issues associated with being kept in this manner, then legally I can't see how you could enforce any change, BUT I would say it's worth a visit just for someone to speak to the owners and discuss the situation, no one can enforce turnout etc, otherwise race yards etc would never be able to exist!! Also how many peoples horses didn't get out for days on end during the frozen period? why is it ok then but not as an ongoing winter routine?? As I say legally not much that you could do, but I think you should talk to WHW if they are able to pass by when in the area, if nothing else just for an advise call.
 
I know, its not so much the turnout issue, although that isnt my way of keeping horses but i appreciate that lots of people dont turn out in winter, however them being stood in dirty beds without food or water troubles me...
 
Whether they are in or out, they need to be checked twice a day!

I would report to RSPCA. Even if they wont 'do' anything. It may be enough for the owner to realise that she/he is doing something wrong, and that she is being 'watched'.
 
I thought one of the requirements with the new Welfare Act was that all horses have to have adequate turnout? Appletree good for you for taking this on, horses can get ulcers quite easily if they stand for hours on end without sufficient forage.
 
ISHmad said:
I thought one of the requirements with the new Welfare Act was that all horses have to have adequate turnout? Appletree good for you for taking this on, horses can get ulcers quite easily if they stand for hours on end without sufficient forage.
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Not the case, section 9 stipulates the need for a suitable environment of which a stable of suitable dimensions with clean/maintained bedding (i.e correctly managed deep litter) qualifies, here is what Defra have outlined as being required for a suitable environment:
http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/cruelty/documents/cop-horse.pdf

Of course good management includes daily/regular turnout or exercise, but this goes back to the arguement of people not walking there dog, it is impossible to prove either way and is not illegal, just good ownership! Therefore in the OP's situation I think a call to a specialist equine welfare organisation such as WHW is required as it sounds to be more a case of advise and persuassion rather than anything official etc.
 
How disappointing, I was sure I'd seen somewhere about turnout being a requirement. Thanks for that link.

Good luck with this OP.
 
Although not an ideal way to manage the horses, I wouldn't say it was a cruelty issue. Maybe there is an underlying reason why they are not turned out which should be investigated before you report?
 
They arent turned out as the fencing on the yard is all broken and the horses kept on escaping into the neighbouring farmers fields to get grass as their fields are all churned up.
As I said, i know that lots of people dont turn out in winter but their horses are excercised in one way or another i'm sure?

The main issue i have is leaving horses for a full 24 hours potentially without aces to water, depending on how quickly they drink it or knock it over, and withour hay or any other feed for long periods....I feel terrible if i bring my horses in at 3.30 occasionally cause of the weather, and they are given tons of haylage and are checked/topped up at 10pm and turned back out by 7.30! Maybe i am just fussy but it just worries me that these horses are stuck in hungry and thirsty :(
 
In the circumstances you describe, I think that it could be argued that the owners are in breach of Section 2.15 where continuous access to forage is required for stabled horses, and Section 2.21 where continuous access to fresh water is required.
 
AndySpooner said:
In the circumstances you describe, I think that it could be argued that the owners are in breach of Section 2.15 where continuous access to forage is required for stabled horses, and Section 2.21 where continuous access to fresh water is required.
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This is kind of what I was thinking...there are some other animals there too which are kept in less than ideal conditions but i guess i WHW would only deal with the horses...
 
One wonders why the owner has the horses in the first place :confused:
I would def. call WHW. Obviously the lack of exercise is an issue but really, as you say, it is the overall management that is the real concern.
 
I don't think it is acceptable that they are without hay/water for this length of time, not sure what WHW will do though as they would need to call in to the yard at a time when they been left for a while eg late afternoon other wise they might turn up when the owner has just hayed them and find nothing wrong...

what other animals are there?!
 
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