Mistreated horses - how many?

[Lisamd]

Just thinking about the number of mistreated horses that are out there.

Do you think there are more mistreated horses than well looked after horses out there?

And as horse owners and lovers is it our responsibility to donate money to equine charities on a more regular basis as part of the cost of owning and loving these incredable animals?

I often look at my lot and image how they may be if things were different for them, how would they coap in a 'Spindles Farm' environment? It makes me shudder at the thought.

 

[Shysmum]

I used to work in animal welfare, and I can assure you there are thousands that are mistreated, or most often neglected. The Amersham case is just one that has been uncovered - I dealt with two similar in my time.

I think it all stems from the fact that there are just too many horses being bred, and far too few GOOD homes. Far too little knowledge, and the horses are just a form of currency and nothing more. Passport and microchipping is not being enforced, and breeders just carry on regardless.

Owning a horse is a privilage and not a right. sm x

 

[Fellewell]

As far as we know, none of the horses at Spindles were stolen. They were simply surplus to requirements, unwanted. Should we be wearing 'think before you breed' t shirts? (BHS campaign) Is that the answer?

 

[Blaise]

We were talking about a similar thing last night, not just horses though, dogs and cats too. Some people seem to think it's their right to have a pet and as Shysmum said it's not, its a privilage. If they cant afford to or dont have the knowledge to look after them they just shouldn't have them and thats that! Going back specifically to horses i do think irresponsible breeding could play a huge part in things, there are just too many foals being bred from mares and stallions who were never of breeding quality and should have been kept far apart from each other. Some breeders cant seem to get this into their heads though and dont care what they breed or who they sell to as long as they get paid for them. I dread to think what may happen to some of these foals going into the future.