Old horsey in trouble!

H

hollykb

Well-Known Member
Joined
12 July 2009
Messages
125
Location
Romsey, Hampshire
Visit site
This is quite a long story so apologies in advance.
I used to own a chestnut section D mare that was a happy hacker. I then decided I wanted to do some schooling but she was not having any of it! After various advice and efforts I decided to sell her in order to get something more suited to my needs, it wasn't fair on her continually forcing her to school when she clearly hated it!
Anyway, I sold her to a girl that had another horse at the same yard, and my friend also still keeps a horse there. The girl who bought her almost immediately became pregnant so wasn't riding her. My friend and the yard owner who I also know put some pressure on her about horseys weight etc (she's a very good doer!!) so she had a sharer ride her. The sharer stopped riding when winter started and since then she has been a field ornament, piling on the pounds. They had her shoes taken off and weren't having her feet done anywhere near often enough and by a rubbish farrier at that who seemed to just file off half an inch each time! The result now is severe laminitis. She has been seen by a vet who recommended xrays and things to find the extent of the damage but owner is refusing to pay for it. The decent farrier that saw her (I use him so know he's good) has said to me that with treatment she'll be ridden again, but owner has written her off as a companion and seems content to leave her barely able to stand on box rest for the forseeable future. I went to see her (friend sneaked me in) and poor thing is so miserable, she is obviously in pain just to stand, she has nothing to do in her box as is on strict diet and it is just grass turn out with 1 box for resting so there aren't even any other horses in view.
I have offered to buy the horse back. I know it will be expensive and she will only ever be a light hack if anything, but I feel like it's my responsibility as I sold her to this useless girl in the first place. I would rather buy her back and then pay for her to be put to sleep than let her live out her life as she is. She is only 10! Problem is the stupid girls dad paid for her, and he is saying he won't sell, but he won't pay for treatment either!
Ok getting to the point, I see this as a case of neglect and therefore cruelty. They clean her out and she has water, but she is obviously suffering. Friend doesn't want to get involved, understandably she doesnt want to make things difficult at the yard which I completely understand. Owner isn't really interested as the girl keeps 3 horses there so she probably doesn't want to lose the income. Is there anything I can do? I'm pretty sure RSPCA won't be interested. I just feel so guilty knowing that she's suffering and not doing anything about it.
Sorry this is so long, I just need to get it off my chest and really need some advice and help! Thanks.
 
oh god- horrible, i'd want her back regardless of price but seriously how can the dad both refuse to pay for treatment and refuse to sell her back??? i'd threaten them/him with rspca, do they/him have any idea how much pain she's in- can the YO step in??
 
I don't really know what to advise, seems crazy that they don't want to pay for vets fees but don't want to sell her. Is it worth you speaking to the YO to see if they can persuade them to sell. If the horse is in need of veterinary treatment and not getting it then I think the YO could be held responsible. Possibly also worth calling the WHW for advice, although they probably won't be able to get involved.
 
Poor you Holly (& poor horsey more so!!!) How awful, if they won't sell could you offer to pay for treatment? I know this really isn't ideal but could be a starting point. So sorry I can't be of more help. Love & hugs to you both
 
I would want her back to. If she is treated correctly and manged properly there is no reason why she can't work again and have a good life. No idea what you do now though. I suppose you could offer what they paid and an extra £500 - that was my vets bill for the initial treatment and diagnosis of laminitis last year - and infer if they don't sell her you will report them for cruelty. As laminitis is considered to be as serious as colic the non treatment of it is in fact cruel and they are subjecting the horse to unnecessary suffering.
 
Trouble is I say yard owner but is really an older lady who lives in the farmhouse and rents out her land for grazing. There is a lockable tackroom and the one stable like I said but it is very much DIY. She maintains it well but that is about all her involvement. The dad is quite intimidating and her husband is also a bit of a thug. I am not a judgemental person but it seems he has married her as a baby machine. She seemed a nice girl when I sold my horse to her, I think she is really but has no money of her own and is rather under the thumb. I haven't managed to speak to any of them in person, but I spoke to the dad on the phone and when I offered to buy her back for the price they paid his response was 'if you want the nag then you shouldn't have sold her' and to hang up on me. My friend is doing what she can to persuade the girl but she can't do anything without her dads say so. I could offer to pay for treatment but I feel a bit like they'd be getting away with it then, as I'd pay out all the money and they'd get the resulting rideable horse at the end (though they probably wouldn't ride her and ruin her all over again!). Horses welfare is most important but I'm not made of money. Is it worth getting it on paper from farrier and reporting it?
 
This isn't what you want to hear but i doubt the RSPCA will get involved. There was very old horse at my last livery yard who was as thin as a rake and over grown feet, then deteriorated over 6 months, was having great difficulty standing up, got brought it, left in for weeks, one day got down then when tried to get up couldn't put one of his back legs down (looked dislocated) and was like that for about 4 days. Throughout all of this, from the first day he stuggled to get up and the owner used a lunge whip to scare it into getting up, it was reported to the RSPCA by various people over the 6 months and frequently towards the end. But whenever they came they saw he had a bed (filthy in my opinion, 'deep litter' so deep and dirty they used a tractor at the end of the month to clear it out) water and hay so therefore was not technically neglected.

They were very nice and I could tell they wanted to help but had very little powers and therefore would give weak excuses. "He was old so could be expected to be thin" (you could count every bone) "he is in a field of long grass so owner is providing food" (shame he had pratically no teeth to eat it) and the owner would say he got let down by a farrier etc. regarding his curling up hooves.

However, put in that situation again I would still call WHW (apparently better?) and RSPCA because I just couldn't watch to see it happen.

If you feel they are putting a horse in unnecessary pain then call them. If they think they can help then hopefully they will. They are starting to take obesity as seriously as being under weight, I think it all depends on what the owner is doing to help the problem. Don't be disheartened if they say it's not severe enough, I'm not knocking them, I just don't think they have the powers they would like/should have.

They may offer her some advice such as not to starve a laminitic! Maybe just a visit from them will make her see sense and she may listen to them? Or if they aren't going to visit maybe ask for advice on how you can deal with your situation.
 
The Welfare laws changed last year and it now far easier to get a prosecution for animal neglect. Witholding veterinary treatment would be included in this.

The World Horse Welfare would be the people to speak to as they specialise in horses. They also have a network of inspectors many of which are ex-mounted police officers all over the country. Their dedicated Welfare Hotline is 08000 480180
 
Ok I will definitely call them tomorrow, even if they just tell me they can't do anything, at least I will know I have tried. I realise the RSPCA often don't do anything because they can't, rather than don't want to, but maybe like you say if they visit it might worry them into acting. Fingers crossed, I just feel so awful for her and so guilty for selling her
frown.gif
 
Money sometimes does talk so to speak, could you flash the cash in front of their eyes for an immediate sale? Explain she is the love of your life, biggest mistake you ever made, could they find it in their heart to part with her and you promise her a forever home, you know they love her but could they re-consider as you are heartbroken ... bullsh*t to try to get them to waiver.
 
Ok update on this! I called the WHW, they basically said as they have sought some form of veterinary treatment then it can't be classed as neglect and it is really down to the vet they have been seeing to push for the correct treatment or to report it if they think the owners aren't doing enough. I said I wasn't sure when the vet came out last so they suggested I find out. They said I should keep as good records as I can of any offer to buy the horse or to help with costs and continue to monitor the situation and call them back if I am still concerned. Well I am still concerned, so bit lost on what to do next. Some detective work seems to be in order. Maybe some photos of poor hobbling horsey would help? I don't know, I just feel awful about it, poor girl
frown.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top