bookahhorselover567
Member
My friend wants to give up her horses because of people saying they are neglected when they are fully looked after. She loves them to pieces, Any way I can try to get her to keep them?
My friend is considering giving up her horses
- Thread starter bookahhorselover567
- Start date
windand rain
Well-Known Member
She will regret it if she does as that is bullying. Maybe she needs to move yards
Scotsbadboy
Well-Known Member
No. Let your friend make up her own mind and do what she needs to do. Support her decision, not change her decision.
bookahhorselover567
Member
thank you! It's not actually a yard, it's a rented council field. And there isn't any way of moving them, its complicated. It's over social media and it's not the first time 
Equi
Well-Known Member
how old is your friend?
Report the posts to fb
Report the posts to fb
Birker2020
Well-Known Member
I'm not being funny but if she loves them why would she want to give them up anyway? It amazes me on social media how judgemental some people can be especially when they don't know your animals or your situation.
dorsetladette
Well-Known Member
The first 3 months of the year are the most horrid for keeping horses out 24/7. The ground is wet and muddy. Just putting hay in the field gets hard work and the horses get generally miserable if we have rain for any length of time. But 6 weeks from now we'll have the starts of nice weather, better looking fields and longer days.
I bet there is not one person on here that hasn't thought 'why am I doing this?' at some point in there pony owning life at this time of year.
I'd assume to own ponies/horses your friend works for a living. As the field belongs to the council I'd also assume the field is close to a housing estate or built up area. If your friend is anything like the rest of us, she probably feeds/checks her horses early in the morning and then later in the evenings during the week (around work)? The people who are bullying your friend on social media are likely to be people who just don't see her there during the day so assume the horses aren't being tended too? Social media is cruel as people don't see the consequences of there actions.
I bet there is not one person on here that hasn't thought 'why am I doing this?' at some point in there pony owning life at this time of year.
I'd assume to own ponies/horses your friend works for a living. As the field belongs to the council I'd also assume the field is close to a housing estate or built up area. If your friend is anything like the rest of us, she probably feeds/checks her horses early in the morning and then later in the evenings during the week (around work)? The people who are bullying your friend on social media are likely to be people who just don't see her there during the day so assume the horses aren't being tended too? Social media is cruel as people don't see the consequences of there actions.
Scotsbadboy
Well-Known Member
Why dont you advise your friend to speak to their equine vet, have them visit and give the horses/ ponies a once over for peace of mind. If they are thin or whatever reason then she has been educated and has sought help and can make improvements. Then advise her to quit social media, it's VILE!
Kitty B
Well-Known Member
I would like to think that people who had legitimate concerns for an animal's welfare would be contacting someone to step in and help, not sitting behind a computer screen bullying the owner. Some people just think they know everything, and if you aren't doing it their way you're wrong. My girl rolls in the mud and is shedding horribly now. I groom her, but sooner rather than later, she looks like she's not seen a brush a day in her life again. I'm not bothered, she's having a good time and shedding, not being neglected.
I don't think trying to convince your friend is the way to go in this situation, it really does have to be her decision, but I do hope that she doesn't give in and allow some Internet bullies to ruin her ponies for her. Personally, I'd never give mine up because someone on social media has a big mouth and nothing better to do.
I don't think trying to convince your friend is the way to go in this situation, it really does have to be her decision, but I do hope that she doesn't give in and allow some Internet bullies to ruin her ponies for her. Personally, I'd never give mine up because someone on social media has a big mouth and nothing better to do.
atropa
Well-Known Member
If I was your friend, I'd quit social media before I sold the horses.
Leandy
Well-Known Member
We really need more background to be able to respond. Presumably you think there are no grounds for the assertion that the horses are neglected? It is however quite possible to both "love them to pieces" and also to neglect them. There are many parents who profess to "love" their children but whose provision for those children is wholly and utterly inadequate.
bookahhorselover567
Member
Yes!! Exactly this
We are in a sort of nature reserve and then near a built up area. The thing is because its muddy, some of the ponies feathers are full of mud because there are a few cobs and horses with longer feathers, so no point taking them all the way to our houses to wash them, all of them are slightly chunky so they dont have rugs during the winter unless it's very very cold. One is a tb who struggles with her weight, she is rugged all day everyday during winter, most of autumn, rainy days and cold days at the beginning of spring. She is on weight gain and is still struggling but they can't see her weight and condition because she is rugged. She struggles with a lot of public feeding and some vandalising. Hay has been stolen and broken into so many times, people keep opening it and letting the horses get to it too. It's just beyond ridiculous now.
PurBee
Well-Known Member
Contact police regarding vandalism and breaking and entering. You could install a camera and have it linked to the phone so you can monitor horses while not there, and call police to area if a crime is being committed on camera while not there.
bookahhorselover567
Member
They aren't neglected I promise you because I help with them and know them inside out and she is so involved with them, she goes down to feed them 2 times a day. A few are in work by me and her to keep them fit. The thing is one of them struggles with her weight and she's on weight gain twice a day and others on haylage but the one she is doing everything she can to bulk her up, it doesn't help that shes in her mid 20s too so struggle anyway. Because it's winter and they are turned out 24/7 some of their fathers get mud covered because there are mulitple cobs and horses with longer feathers, so washing them doesnt work at the moment because we'd have to bring them all the way to out houses just for them to get covered again. She does absolutely everything for them and sacrifices everything to care for them.
bookahhorselover567
Member
It's annoying because its not the polices first priority, thanks for the suggestion though! Council won't allow cameras because of where the herd is based
bookahhorselover567
Member
she has now, so fingers crossed the bullying stops
thing is, one is thin but she is on a weight gain right now. thank you!!
stormox
Well-Known Member
How many horses are there? If theres a lot, and they are coloured maybe people are mistaking them for travellers horses, a lot of which are neglected and not looked after properly?
I must add a lot of travellers really look after their horses as well as anybody, but there are some that dont - like that huge bunch in Wellingborough that were rescued fairly recently
I must add a lot of travellers really look after their horses as well as anybody, but there are some that dont - like that huge bunch in Wellingborough that were rescued fairly recently
HorseMaid
Well-Known Member
It doesn't sound to me like she's doing anything wrong, but that the location if the field may be the issue. Is it really not possibly to keep an eye out for somewhere else in the area away from interfering do-gooders? I have kept a thoroughbred through winter and shovelled her full of feed, she still looked awful coming out but soon put the weight on when the spring came. I wouldn't be worried about cobs living out with hay, as long as the mud wasn't so bad that they had mud fever underneath the feathers.
bookahhorselover567
Member
Yes there 3 coloured cobs, 2 of which gypsy cobs. Thing is, them 3 are in fabulous condition weight wise and are a bit more built up than they should be (but its winter and harder to exercise!) Their feathers have got mud in them so that could be a reason? And they aren't rugged because they get too hot. But its just such a horrible situation.
bookahhorselover567
Member
It's such a difficult situation because they don't like change and can't be split up because a lot of them have all grown up together and hate being separated because she's tried selling a few of them before but they can't live without eachother. There's no where else near us and if there is they are all occupied because some can't be stabled either. It's super tricky
stormox
Well-Known Member
If theres only 3 and they look good its unlikely anyone thinks they are neglected travellers ponies. I would just ignore social media! Get your friend to block anyone who writes nasty stuff.
bookahhorselover567
Member
thank you
holydaysandholidays
Member
Definitely block anyone who trolls you, lifes too short
Goldenstar
Well-Known Member
If the conditions don’t suit the TB that needs to be addressed .
TulipTilly
Member
Lots of love and support sounds like what your friend needs. don't let her make a decision she might regret - some hideous bullies out there
bookahhorselover567
Member
She's the same wherever she's been, even being stabled. She's on another weight gain that is working wonders at the moment
TulipTilly
Member
Thinking again how sad it is your friend feels that way Becky - if any doubt the vet I'm sure could reassure, which would allow her to feel better in ignoring or even making positive changes. Either way vets advice a win win situation
twiggy2
Well-Known Member
How many horses does your friend have?