Just come across very thin, elderly pony with no rug on... (v long)

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DuckToller

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Just debating the options, so thought I'd share with you all for your great advice and knowledge in all things welfare related.

Long story, but been driving past a field for last few months with a solitary pony it it. Thought about stopping to see if it was ok, but as it's between two major livery yards in this area, I thought it would be under someone's caring eye.

But something about its demeanour today made me stop. I couldn't find the field entrance for a while, and when I did I nearly cried. He is so thin (body score 1 I reckon) and soaked to the skin. Made a few phone calls, and found out he is owned by an old guy. So I lurked in the road for a bit as the pony seemed to be expecting someone, and the old chap turned up. I thought it was best to be friendly as nothing is gained by going in with all my guns blazing (I've learnt that the hard way) so I said hi, is that your pony? He is very thin.

So to cut a rather laboured conversation short, the old guy is looking after a disabled wife, who used to own the pony, and now she can't get up to see him so the old guy does it. He wasn't best pleased I was telling him pony was thin, and said well he's old. I said yes, but he's thin and could do with at least a rug on.

He then said the rug had been stolen so I asked permission to put one of mine on, explaining that I have several spare. He was a bit suspicious and wanted to know what it would cost so I said nothing (I do have quite a collection). So I drove home, grabbed various manky old rugs, drove back with some cubes and hay, and friend and I put on rug, although the pony is soaked to the skin but I can't think of any way of drying him off and this is an old rug with a serge type lining so hope it will trap heat but soak up some wet.

Plan is to go back tomorrow, swap rug for dry one and... then what? Phone BHS? Redwings? Tried directory enquiries while I was in the lane but got no answer from the number they gave me.

Think the best course of action is to persuade old boy to sign him over to one of the charities, but not sure which one (not thinking RSPCA here for some reason!). Apparently a few local people are feeding the horse but the amount of hay he had would just about feed a large rabbit. He had a small bucket of chaff, but seems to have good teeth as he munched on the couple of carrots I took - I know not to feed him huge amounts in one go, btw.

Done what I could today, feel guilty I didn't stop a few weeks ago, but I am guessing he has only dropped this much weight since the snow and I haven't been that way since teenager's school broke up (on the route home).

Sorry for long story, feel quite bad about it all really.
 
I think you've handled this most tactfully and sensitively so far rather than just calling in the RSPCA etc and I'm so glad you were able to help and find a rug for him.

Sadly I have no idea what you can do next other than your suggestion of trying to get the owners to sign him over to charity as they seem to be in a poor way themselves. Unless of course you could find out who locally has been feeding the horse and try to organise them to make a regular thing of it to help the old couple and the horse out.
 
good for you for doing something, v v glad to hear pony has rug on now and something to eat. sounds as if you handled it very very well. i'd prob call WHW (used to be ILPH) and, at a push, have a plea on here for charitable donations for the pony if they're reluctant to take him, perhaps?
 
Well done Llewelyn, that was a really good thing you did today.

I'd ring the BHS for advice, but in the mean time, if it's no trouble to you why don't you offer to stop by every other day to check it's rugs etc. Can the old man buy some hay? Or could you suggest it to him. If it belongs to his wife maybe he has very little knowledge on how to keep its weight on thru winter?

Good on you.
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I think you did the right thing by trying to keep on friendly terms with the man. May be try & suggest that a charity could help by looking after the pony if he has his wife to take care of.
This is very tricky but well done for providing a rug & waiting around to speak to him.
 
Well done OP - sounds like you handled the situation with tact and kidness.

Sadly have lost much faith in the WHW - and would go with the BHS now I think, for concerns over welfare.
 
I did suggest to him that I share the grazing and keep one of my old ponies in there and then we could share the work, but now I am not sure that's such a great idea as it's hugely out of my way in school hols and I have enough to look after here (I already rent a field in the other direction for some of mine which has no water).

I rang both the nearby livery yards, and they were both very much aware of the pony, but no-one seems to have rung any of the charities. Isn't that the first thing you would do?!
 
Well done you. I would suggest a call to your local BHS Welfare person as well - they are always willing to talk and give advice. Do you have their contact details? If not PM me where you live i.e. county and I will try and find details.

As you say gently, gently but is sounds like this poor ned needs prompt attention.
 
Thanks for all your kind replies, but I do feel I should have stopped a month ago. Pony is over 30, and yes I doubt he is aware of how much a horse needs. Apparently someone is supplying him with hay because he thought I was the hay lady, and said he needed to pay her. And apparently some of the local liveries are feeding the pony, but I would question how much, if he is feeding it and the pony is so underweight. I doubt he could have got up in the snow either, so I am feeling more and more guilty now.

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Out of all the other people that know about the horse YOU gave it warmth by putting one of your rugs on it! Better late than never, don't feel guilty. YOU have just saved it's life, in my eyes.
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You did a nice thing for a poor wee soul of a pony. I bet it feels better now its got a rug on and had some grub. Our horses dont know they are alive.
 
Keep on keeping on, I reckon. Either track the old guy down again and be a little more persistent, whilst maintaining the tact and diplomacy you have already shown him and save moving the charities in as a last resort. Do mention them if/when you can establish they could help him by taking the old horse in?

I think I'd be taking them both under my wing. Poor chaps.
 
Yes, that's my feeling brighteyes - sigh!

Think I will be asking the name of a good divorce solicitor soon - when I told OH, he said other people clamber over fences in the dark to steal rugs, he married a woman who clambers over fences to give them away.

Oh what do I not need in my life - another old horse and an old boy to go with it. Wish I had the drive on by gene sometimes - just joking.

And no, ours don't know they are alive - I went down to my lot to dig out the rugs and they all banged their doors (how rude!) and demanded more feed, even though it wasn't time. I gave them a stern lecture on starving horses and don't they know how lucky they are - straight over their heads I'm afraid.
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yes well done i agree, you have given that pony some comfort tonight in this cold weather its better late than never. Now it has you as its voice it has more hope.
Poor pony
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maybe you need to explain to him that it needs a minimum of a few bales of hay a week (i'm guessing, no idea of size of pony, or quality of hay). does it have a shelter?
thank you so much for doing this, seriously. we all appreciate it (hope you know what i mean), and i'm sure the little old pony does too.
 
No wooden shelter, but it's quite a nice field in that it has natural shelter of sorts, a wooded bit and some overhanging tree branches so probably quite effective against wind, but not the rain of course.

It is quite hard to get to, as it's down a little used lane and I had to trample through undergrowth to get to the entrance - I doubt he has been out of the field for years. I now know who owns the field, so might tackle them too.

He was a really sweet pony (mind you they all are when they sniff food!), I would love to have just loaded him up and brought him home. Might try taking a few photos (body only shots, discreet) to see what we all think re diet and building him up. He spooked at me as I clambered over the gate waving rugs and a bag of hay, and he cantered a few strides quite well, so at least he is relatively sound.
 
That's a good one, hadn't thought of them. Don't suppose she/he is in this area? I know any old horse looks poor but this chap is thin and wet and not being fed anywhere near enough bulk if the hay I saw tonight is anything to go by.

Kerilli - One of the local liveries I rang said that someone had mentioned feet, as in they were bad and needed attention, but I couldn't see them in all the mud! I am a little shocked that several people know but have not as yet interfered. I am hoping that he has dropped weight suddenly due to the snow (as in that's why no-one has done anything) but the fact that the field is back from the lane hidden behind the trees makes me think people have found it easier to keep on driving by. Grrrr.
 
Herts and yes please. Within 20 mins of junction 6 A1M. Old boy quite ok once I had persevered. But the roads round here have been dreadful with the heavy snow and he only has a normal old car so I don't see how he could have got up to do the pony on a daily basis, which possibly explains a lot.

Apparently the wife asks how pony is every time he gets back after feeding him, so I suspect she would not want to part with him. Although if she saw him she might change her mind, hard to know if she is any more knowledgeable.... So advice good idea.
 
Thanks kerilli - I will keep that in mind - I am happy to give him some of my feed and hay, and I have several rugs spare, although not all the right size.

The one I put on tonight is the ancient canvas type, just so I can dry him enough to put a slightly better spare one on in the morning. Am thinking I could perhaps swap some of my spare rugs with people on here for some the right size, but not sure what he size he is yet as the canvas one has been hanging about my stables for years, no idea where it came from (probably a job lot when I bought one of the ponies).

I am guessing 5'6 but he has a very dipped back and pronounced withers so the canvas one might rub a bit. Don't want to get him something too nice or it might get stolen again so will wait and see what size I think he is tomorrow and see if anyone has any to swap/donate.
 
How sad, sounds like the man is certainly struggling but trying to do the best and what his wife wishes. You did right by at least enabling the horse to be dry and not have to fight the cold and burn any more fat off.

Sounds like it could be a welfare issue though and the owner needs help. It certainly doesn't sound like any intentional neglect and is so sad they find themselves in this position. I think a charity could help or even someone local who may be able to look after the horse and move it to somewhere with companionship.

At least you didn't turn a blind eye and the pony will at least have some comfort anyway. You certainly took the best and most sympathetic approach. I feel very sorry for the man.
 
This is exactly the sort of 'case' charities and welfare organisations are there for, I think. Not just wanton cruelty or deliberate neglect, but genuine needy animals in quite tragic circumstances. The old guy might be very proud and not aware he could legitimately ask for some assistance in his straitened position. You could even suggest it would be temporary, just to ease the pony through the winter. I think it's great you have stepped in and here's to an even cheerier report tomorrow.
 
well done you! i think i would have done the same thing.
Good luck finding somewhere that can give him the feed and shelter he needs. please keep us posted x
 
I dont have rugs that size, but if you need it, I have copius amounts of pink powder, pre and pro biotics, wormer and the like from when Little Stig was so desperately underweight. In fact I may have a 5lt bottle of Linseed oil, which would help with the weight issue.
 
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