legislation will kill my horses, please help!

TB135 said:
Just going to point out to everyone who has said things about this yard having 'scrap metal, scrap cars and dangerous fencing' etc. - there was an inspection done there end of December, and they passed. If the place was in a bad state, it would not have passed, would it?
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What was it inspected for?
Licensing runs January to December so a December inspection is unusual.
Was this H&S or fire safety?
If there were no horses in the paddock with the scrap then it would not have counted & I've yet to see an inspector walk a entire property.
 
from what I can gather it was the vet inspection for the horses (they all had to be got ready, tack cleaned etc.) but whether there was anything else involved I don't know.

loaners seem to have their own rider insurance as that was asked to be provided too.
 
A vet inspection of the horses would not involve the surroundings unless immediately apparent -I'm not joking as I have seen horses tied to sagging barbed wire.

Not seen any mention of planning permission.
 
s4sugar said:
What was it inspected for?
Licensing runs January to December so a December inspection is unusual.
Was this H&S or fire safety?
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Riding establishment inspections can be carried out at any time of year, I spent 18 months working for the equine vet in charge of the licenses for that particular authority and we did them year round :) The vet can check all the fields but doesn't always, in my experience :)

For anyone who hasn't been involved in one, it is a relatively simple procedure. All ridden horses (young, old, retired etc. need to have their numbers recorded but are not inspected individually) are trotted up and then checked in a stable for eyes, heart. It is NOT a vetting and only takes a few minutes per animal. Tack is inspected (we usually had to tack up a few of the horses but not all). First aid kits (horse and human) are inspected. Fire extinguishers/notices are checked. Comprehensive insurance must be in place and will be checked. The HSE poster must be displayed, as do the contact details in case of emergency. Records of farriery and worming should also be produced for the vet to check.

Housing for the animals will be briefly checked, as will the grazing facilities.
 
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I have experience of this place and I just want to say that there was no breeding of any kind, horses or dogs. The only foals were from mares who arrived already pregnant. As for profiteering, I'd be absolutely amazed if anything was left over after paying vets/feeds/wormers etc. There were no fancy arena flooring as suggested by someone who obviously has a problem with this place. I understand some of us have drawn conclusions from things that have been posted throughout the thread but really it is exactly as explained at the very beginning. There is just no way that there was ever any funds left over after keeping the animals. :(
 
icklemee said:
There were no fancy arena flooring as suggested by someone who obviously has a problem with this place.
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That was me who mentioned that. I had never even heard of the place before OP posted so please don't suggest I have a problem with it. There are clearly labelled photos on the facebook page, including the one from 23/6/11 with the 'new woodchip' in the arena.
 
icklemee I don't think anyone is suggesting that the op is making money out of this venture! more that it is likely being done in the best of intentions but that perhaps doesn't come out in practice
 
Rhino, from what I see on the fb site, those who have questioned any 'issues' at this 'rescue' have been gunned down by the posse of young supporters (from what I can read of the poor grammar and spelling!) who automatically accuse said concerned person of 'having a problem and bitching about the place'. One poor owner who sent her horse there for a few months ended up with a dead horse - guess what from?!!! Oh, yes, colic!!!!!!! OP seems to be only answering certain comments from this thread, and doesn't appear to be explaining why she thinks it is acceptable for 'loads' of acorns to be in the fields of 'rescued' horses who owners have given to her 'believing they will end their days happily'. More likely end their days with liver failure/colic/diarrhoea.

I fully imagine that the fb group will miraculously disappear from public view very shortly. Oh there is also a profile on bebo where someone comments (again in the usual txt spk, wot da fck da ya meen? type way) that OP does great work and she just gets slagged off and shot down for it. Seems to me this place is rife with trouble.
 
We spend a lot of time on here complaining because the authorities dont deal with issues. It seems that in this case they actually are doing something.

I've said before there is a similar rescue place near here that I sincerely wish someone would shut down. They offer riding lessons and shares too.

I'm voting in favour of the council and would totally disagree with anyone on here giving advice on how to get round the laws. The rules are there to protect horses and the public.

So OP, you need to choose whether you are going to become a charity or a riding school, but whichever it is, do it properly and people on here will support you.
 
rockysmum said:
We spend a lot of time on here complaining because the authorities dont deal with issues. It seems that in this case they actually are doing something.

I've said before there is a similar rescue place near here that I sincerely wish someone would shut down. They offer riding lessons and shares too.

I'm voting in favour of the council and would totally disagree with anyone on here giving advice on how to get round the laws. The rules are there to protect horses and the public.

So OP, you need to choose whether you are going to become a charity or a riding school, but whichever it is, do it properly and people on here will support you.
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Agree
 
rockysmum said:
We spend a lot of time on here complaining because the authorities dont deal with issues. It seems that in this case they actually are doing something.

I've said before there is a similar rescue place near here that I sincerely wish someone would shut down. They offer riding lessons and shares too.

I'm voting in favour of the council and would totally disagree with anyone on here giving advice on how to get round the laws. The rules are there to protect horses and the public.

So OP, you need to choose whether you are going to become a charity or a riding school, but whichever it is, do it properly and people on here will support you.
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I've been watching this thread with great interest and have to say I agree with the above. I'm also in awe of the detective skills some of you have on here, maybe a new career in it for you? ;)

Joking aside though we all know horses are addictive and I'm sure we all go looking at Horseporn as I call the various horses for sale websites, however most of us are responsible enough to realise that we can only care for so many horses and do so properly. I cannot imagine how you can possibly thoroughly check each one of 120 horses every day for injury, stones in hooves etc. Even with help from 'mums'. That in itself for me is cause for concern. I'm sure it's all done to the best of your abilities and they're all well fed but imho it's unlikely that they can all be checked thoroughly. Takes me a good 5-10 mins to totally check over mine and pick out their feet, by which I mean removing rugs and cleaning legs etc to check for injury/mud fever etc. doing that for ten horses would take almost an hour so how do you do 120?

I admit I'm especially thorough but I don't see how anyone can be otherwise. Just my opinion of course.
 
Just copying my post on the thread in stable yard because not everyone goes in there:

I am by no means condoning everything the OP does, but if you have 100 horses, many of which are old or have other health problems, I should think you would have quite a few cases of colic per year. Also, they are showing vets bills, and also there was a picture of an EDT with one of the horses on their FB site. If there was a real welfare issue, wouldn't one of these professionals have raised it and done something about it? OK, the EDT may or may not be qualified, but if a vet was concerned about the state of the horses wouldn't they do something about it?

I think this is a lady who had all the right intentions when she started out, but is now totally overwhelmed with the situation she is in. It's quite sad really, and I don't just mean for the horses.
 
ellis9905 said:
so the facebook page seems to have dissapreared??
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As predicted. OP's original plea for 'help and advice' has meant that she has now inadvertently exposed herself as a less than adequate establishment and any 'charity' that suddenly removes itself from public eye must have plenty to hide IMO!
 
rockysmum said:
So OP, you need to choose whether you are going to become a charity or a riding school, but whichever it is, do it properly and people on here will support you.
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I think this is the crucial point OP. If you're a riding establishment (as you clearly are at present) it's in everybody's interests to admit that's what you are and do it safely and legally. However if you're a charity, get yourself registered so that your charity is open and above board.

I'm sure your intentions are good and you love your horses. Coming on here shouting hysterically that we all want to "Kill, kill, kill" your horses and over-reacting to peoples' opinions (which I agree can be a tad harsh at times) doesn't help your case though.

I hope you find a way to work with the authorities in a way which is in the best interests of all your horses.
 
TB135 said:
It doesn't mean she has something to hide... people have been using that page to find things against the yard, personally I'm not suprised she opted to delete it...
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Well THEY DID find things against the place!! Lol, if she has nothing to hide why the hell remove it from public view?!! Are you seriously saying that you find it acceptable that OP allows her horses to consume lots of acorns (and yes I did see it and other people most likely did too!) and yet call herself responsible? As for trying to defend the barbed wire issue etc - the pictures were there for all to see?!! In one post on fb someone even said they had done the usual check around a field to make sure no horse had their feet stuck!!!
 
And of course no one has saved the Facebook pages?

Paranoia is another symptom of hoarding.

The only person who has ranted is the OP who is clearly running an unlicensed riding establishment.

Everyone else has asked reasonable questions, tried to explain the regulations and of course looked at any evidence available. People here are concerned for the horses' welfare and also the safety of the poor souls contributing to a fake sanctuary.

BTW the guy with 28 dogs who is breeding mutts needs reporting as he needs a breeders licence and won't get one looking at the conditions.
 
Another thing (yes, me again, sorry! :rolleyes:), OP says she is rushed off her feet and working so hard etc etc that she doesn't get time for a holiday etc... Explain then OP (or OP's friends on here) whether it is the responsible thing to do for so many 'loaners' to be reporting OP's horse's illnesses to her on FB. So many comments on there saying to OP "So and so horse came in lame today, put bute in her tea", or "Such and such looked really off and wasn't eating tonight, she was sweating" (seems another common thing). WTF can they not ring her and tell her, or given that she is so busy at the yard - go and show her?!!!! Either these responsible people think that these symptoms are not urgent enough and that they can merely put them on fb for when she next logs on, or she spends a hell of a lot of time on fb so they know she will receive the message soon!!! :confused:
 
TB135 said:
What on earth gave you that idea?!?
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Just that this was OP's first post after joining two days ago, and yourself and Icklemee joined today and appear very knowledgeable, supportive and confident about her 'business'. Must just be a coincidence!
 
rockysmum said:
Joining the forum and only posting in support of the OP on one thread perhaps :D :D
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I know a lot about it because I know the OP personally, and of course I created an account to defend her because I know that she is not in the wrong in the way that people are making it seem! How can any of you, who don't know the full situation or the OP personally, possibly pass fair judgement on the place?
 
TB135 said:
I know a lot about it because I know the OP personally, and of course I created an account to defend her because I know that she is not in the wrong in the way that people are making it seem! How can any of you, who don't know the full situation or the OP personally, possibly pass fair judgement on the place?
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Because we are not stupid or blind. Simples. All OP and yourselves seem to actually be responding to and saying is that the OP is great and that we don't know the situation, and that she isn't breeding or has never had a stallion etc etc. Not one of the other worries or concerns has been responded to. Then again, your not obliged to. Just seems odd that's all. If you really want to defend OP and she is so perfect then how can you not respond about the acorns or the fencing or the riding establishment etc?!!
 
TB135 said:
I know a lot about it because I know the OP personally, and of course I created an account to defend her because I know that she is not in the wrong in the way that people are making it seem! How can any of you, who don't know the full situation or the OP personally, possibly pass fair judgement on the place?
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In which case you can hardly expect anyone to value your opinion, you are hardly unbiased.

If people come on here with a business, charity or whatever which is easily traced on the internet they should expect people to do some research. I have also seen the facebook page, what do you expect a forum full of horse professionals and horse lovers to think about some of the things posted on there.

The OP made a serious error of judgement coming on here for advice, perhaps there are forums out there which would have taken her at face value, this isn't one of them.

To be honest I have been quite surprised at how mild the opposition to the OP is, I've seem a lot worse for a lot less.
 
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