Mouldy hay

[Paint it Lucky]

I am quite annoyed as when I got to the yard this afternoon to get my horse in I discovered the yard manager had chucked a load of mouldy hay into the field which he then spent all day eating! YM had apparently joked that they'd either have cast iron stomachs and be fine from eating it or it would kill them off! Grrr, she only did it because her pony doesn't go out there (needless to say I am moving from this yard soon). Anyway my boy looked very listless and was hanging his head over the gate being very quiet and sad looking. So I got him in and kept an eye on him, well he soon perked up and seemed a lot more like himself, possibly he was just cold or bored but nonetheless he could have been quite ill. I am not impressed with the YM at all.

 

[happihorse]

I would be very annoyed too! At least you are moving from there soon!

 

[_OC_]

Dumb,springs to mind!

 

[Cuffey]

Quoting Scottish legislation but all UK similar
Under Section 24 of the Animal Health and Welfare (Scotland) Act 2006 animal owners and keepers have a legal duty of care for the animals for which they are responsible. This duty can therefore apply to livery yard owners, transporters and anyone who has agreed temporarily to take care of a horse:

All conserved forage should be of good quality; it should be clean (free from soil, debris and poisonous plants), smell fresh and be free from dust and mould. Feeding forage at floor level is good for horses' respiratory health, provided the underlying ground is kept reasonably clean. It also means that the horse eats in a similar position to that when grazing naturally