OMFG reported to the RSPCA for muddy field!!

I think they DO have to follow up all calls to them, which must lead to the inspectors feeling embarrased several times a day when they realise it's just some ignorant busybody calling them out on a false errand. Honestly, I know your worried but don't be, they'll see your horses are absolutely fine. It happened to a friend recently, she's got 6 in a muddy field, reported by a busybody neighbour, and the inspectors were so apologetic to her when they saw all her horses fed, fat and happy. Keep your pecker up....and don't worry !!!!
 
Inform them that they are a collection of congenital *u** wits, and then tell them to sod off. The RSPCA have no right of entry, unless they are accompanied by a police officer, or a member of staff from Trading Standards.

If your horses are not in need of veterinary help, if there's food and water in front of them, then there is nothing which they can say to you.

Don't answer any questions, and NEVER justify yourself.

That's it!!

Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
Inform them that they are a collection of congenital *u** wits, and then tell them to sod off. The RSPCA have no right of entry, unless they are accompanied by a police officer, or a member of staff from Trading Standards.

If your horses are not in need of veterinary help, if there's food and water in front of them, then there is nothing which they can say to you.

Don't answer any questions, and NEVER justify yourself.

That's it!!

Alec.
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the only problem with this is that the horses sometimes dont have food in front of their faces. despite being fed over 2% of body weight in haylage. Because they gobble it up pretty quickly. evening haylage is mixed with extra barley straw to slow them down. i cant adlib them because they would be butter balls. one is an 'ex' laminitic!

but again, this is hardly a problem is it since they are hayed twice a day. and the hay is fed about of big individual troughs so it doesnt get muddy and trampled. there are little bits of grass, but i call it nothing, and they do browse the headrows.

Thank you for your kinds words.

I am really upset by all this.and the main reason i am upset aside from having the week from hell IS because i have done nothing wrong.
 
Zebedee said:
I think you're over reacting a tad? Your horses are fine, you know that. An RSPCA inspector sees what are to his eyes at that precise moment in time horses stood in mud with nothing to eat.
There is no need to be either defensive, rude or angry when you phone him. Ask him what his concerns are & then explain. From what you say there is no welfare issue to address. He may want to visit & see the horses with their rugs off. As they're perfectly alright that shouldn't be a problem should it? You may even find you enjoy showing them off to him.
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I am insulted by the note because i have done nothing wrong. I do not like meddlers or busybodies in my life and i am very upset by being falsely accused. Im sorry if you think i am overreacting but if the worst thing to happen to a person in their life is a hang nail it is still the worst thing to them! i didnt need you to come and **** on my parade. I hope you were trying to be supportive

but i resent that i should have to explain my horse care to anyone. I know i have nothing to hide. but why should i have to show him???
 
Alec Swan said:
The RSPCA have no right of entry, unless they are accompanied by a police officer, or a member of staff from Trading Standards.

......................if there's food and water in front of them, then there is nothing which they can say to you.

Don't answer any questions, and NEVER justify yourself.

That's it!!

Alec.
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In this instance though there wasn't food in front of them. They don't have ad lib hay as they are all very good doers (no problem there at all).

The RSPCA don't have any rights of entry that's true. I just don't see the point of being rude & negative for the sake of it, especially not to someone whose job it is to care.
 
OK so here's one way to get them off your back and get them to P!ss off out of your life for ever more.

Just ring them, or write, or whatever. Tell them you are from an "ethnic minority of the 'no fixed abode' variation" (get it???!!!) and that you feel you've been picked on by them for being of such "ethnicity". Seriously.

Tell them that you feel so violated that you will sue the blimmin pants off of them for picking on you because you're from a mobile ethnic community - that should ring the bells with them that its OK to do sweet FA about your poor horses coz its what they do with every other situation where horses are "mistreated" by, dare one say, it, the "mobile" community.

If you tell them you're one yourself, hey presto, they'll leave you alone! Logical innit?
 
Alphamare said:
I am insulted by the note because i have done nothing wrong. I do not like meddlers or busybodies in my life and i am very upset by being falsely accused. Im sorry if you think i am overreacting but if the worst thing to happen to a person in their life is a hang nail it is still the worst thing to them! i didnt need you to come and **** on my parade. I hope you were trying to be supportive

but i resent that i should have to explain my horse care to anyone. I know i have nothing to hide. but why should i have to show him???
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Out of politeness?

I've had something very similar happen in the past. Note left on gate, horses out 24/7. I rang the number, had a chat, inspector satisifed that I knew what I was doing, end of, no worries. He didn't even take up my invitation to visit.

Better for people to check these things out that ignore them don't you think?

Just because 99% of horse kept as you describe are perfectly alright, doesn't mean the 1% that aren't don't need people to check up on them, & as I'm sure you'll agree those 1% need all the help they can get.

(Yes I was being supportive - by advising you not to get so wound up & upset about it. it really isn't a big deal !)
 
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As much as it can be infuriating, frustrating and feel insulting I agree with the above "Better for people to check these things out that ignore them don't you think?" - how many times do we say when something truly terrible crops up (Spindles Farm) Why didn't anyone report it before?

I have 8 little fat dartmoor/exmoor/welsh ponies living out on free run of 6 fields with gates between open which gives them roughly 29 acres of grass which is on the generous side of ample - however when it snowed, I gave out supplementary hay along the fence line to our storage barn, which was at the bottom of a 2 acre paddock. Of course now anyone goes to get hayledge out of the barn, the little fatties all stand at the fence looking pleading - someone in the next door property, which is a farm converted into numerous townie flats etc - got very concerned that we had so many ponies in a small muddy space and so I took them on a lovely walk around the 29 acres to show them where the lazy little things COULD go if they weren't fixated on the sight of hayledge!
 
Don't worry about it! All complaints to the RSPCA made by the general public have to be followed up. The inspector will leave a card to say that he has visited-this is done as a matter of courtesy. Inspectors know there is nothing that can be done about muddy fields at this time of year. The original caller would probably have said that they would like to know the outcome of the complaint and the Inspector has to phone them back to advise he has visited and what action (if any has been taken).
I know it sounds as if I am supporting the RSPCA but I do know how they operate. Having said all that there are loads of things that they do do wrong!
 
Achinghips said:
how deep is the mud then?:rolleyes:
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At the moment after all the rain we have had? hoof deep. maybe a little worse in the worse spots and a little better in the better spots.

When there hasnt been rain or its frosty only hoof deep or better in the very worst spots and the rest is fine.
 
Adeer said:
Don't worry about it! All complaints to the RSPCA made by the general public have to be followed up. The inspector will leave a card to say that he has visited-this is done as a matter of courtesy. Inspectors know there is nothing that can be done about muddy fields at this time of year. The original caller would probably have said that they would like to know the outcome of the complaint and the Inspector has to phone them back to advise he has visited and what action (if any has been taken).
I know it sounds as if I am supporting the RSPCA but I do know how they operate. Having said all that there are loads of things that they do do wrong!
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im guessing they wont tell me who is the nosy busybody. :)

I am sure they are just doing their job, but the fact that someone reported us for mud?

you cant even see half the field from the gate. Even if they hadnt finished all their haylage yet no one would be able to see it as the troughs are on the flattest dryest bit!
 
No, I'm afraid they won't tell you who the original caller was. Everything the caller tells them is in confidence. Just forget about it over the weekend. It really is nothing to worry about.
 
Zebedee said:
Out of politeness?

I've had something very similar happen in the past. Note left on gate, horses out 24/7. I rang the number, had a chat, inspector satisifed that I knew what I was doing, end of, no worries. He didn't even take up my invitation to visit.

Better for people to check these things out that ignore them don't you think?

Just because 99% of horse kept as you describe are perfectly alright, doesn't mean the 1% that aren't don't need people to check up on them, & as I'm sure you'll agree those 1% need all the help they can get.

(Yes I was being supportive - by advising you not to get so wound up & upset about it. it really isn't a big deal !)
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I agree with this. As upsetting as it is for you, you know your horses are cared for so have nothing to worry about. I'd rather that they checked on horses they had concern over (he does not know your horses have hay etc) Than for any animal to suffer because they don't check up on them. From the RSPCA inspectors point of view he has just seen your horses with no feed, no grass (or not much as stated by you) and he obviously wants to know that someone is caring for and feeding these horses. He has no idea that you are. When he knows that will be that.
 
Big Hugs!

Try not to worry (easier said I know!); my field looks exactly the same! Its clay, we've had loads of rain and my boys are in a sectioned off smaller paddock with a large bale of hay...and yes, all around the bale its a quagmire!

Do they mind? No. Are they happy? yes.

If someone has complained then the RSPCA do have a duty to follow it up, no matter what. I'd be inclined to give them a call and sort it. You've nothing to worry about :)
 
I have called the centre and i am waiting for a reply back.

I hate this :(

I feel like a criminal and i am just a nice person who does everything she can for her horses.
 
Let the RSPCA come and see your horses just to satisfy them and then put a big notice up saying that it is no good reporting me as the RSPCA already know and are happy with the situation.

If the person who reported you see it hopefully they will be happy.

I have a friend who has 3 footpaths running through her fields (2.5 acres)and because of the rain and the fact that the river runs next to her fields too her horses do not access to the fields they have field shelters with corals around them. They are fed 2 good feeds a day and adlib hay, BUT people still report her. The horses are in very good condition well rugged and well fed.

Some people just think it is their duty to report people
 
Zebedee. I think any horse owner that looks after their horses well, that gets a notice from RSPCA would be bloody upset, these people know very littleabout each animal,and lets face it after the heavy snow falls and now heavy rain, those of us that have restricted grazing have seen said paddocks turn into mudbaths and yes I think you will find they are fed hay or haylage, while they are out during the day. I take it your horses have hovershoes, so they don't churn up your paddocks
 
Just to reiterate, the RSPCA have no right of entry to your property, even when accompanied by the police. For an inspector to visit and leave a note about mud is ridiculous and shows that they have no knowledge about horses. If they left a note because they had concerns about the state of the horses, with regard to weight/condition scoring that would be a true concern about welfare. Any one with any knowledge would have informed the original complainer that fields are muddy in winter. Also be careful when ringing them, make sure you are not ringing on their premium rate number, thus giving them more funds while dealing with a spurious complaint.
 
Thank you very much for the kind words everyone. Nothing like this has ever happened before and i found it all so ridiculous and insulting.

I feel much better and i will be calm and polite when i eventually speak with the officer person. when ever they ring back.

*sigh*
 
I'm not the only one then!!
My lot are in a field thats not great, but one half is dry enough, just not much grass. They are also fatties and get hayed twice a day.
An inspector came out to me, she seemed a bit unsure about what to say apart from "all animals have a right to dry ground."
I said "its been raining all day, lack of grass just makes the wet ground look less pretty then grassy fields."

That was the end of that. i mean deal with some actual cruelty!!
 
Poor You, I know exactly how you feel. Years ago I got a note on my gate about my two yearling colts. I had been reported by a spiteful woman who was friends with the welfare officer and she sent a young girl to look who did not know what she was talking about.
I fed them and gave them hay twice a day at 6am and 6pm and she came at 5pm hence no hay. One yearling who ended up 17.2hh was in a quick growing lean stage but the other was very rounded.
She said she was worried that they were so hungry they were eating eachother !!!
In fact they were biting eachothers knees and hocks playing to get eachother to drop to the groung like yearling colts do.
The problem is whatever you say sounds like excuses so I decided to fight back. I got my vet out who wrote a lovely letter re their welfare and the way I look after my horses. I sent a copy to the BHS and laminated one and tied it to the gate. No further problems.
Recently my old mare who hates being in was in a yard with an open stable she would not go in even when it rained. Several people were muttering about how cruel I was.
Now at 24 she is in a muddy 5 acre field with her mates all not rugged and is happy and well. Fortunately the field can not be seen from the road as I would probably be in your situation again.
Keep your chin up if you can, you are not doing anything wrong.
 
gala said:
I think they DO have to follow up all calls to them, which must lead to the inspectors feeling embarrased several times a day when they realise it's just some ignorant busybody calling them out on a false errand. Honestly, I know your worried but don't be, they'll see your horses are absolutely fine. It happened to a friend recently, she's got 6 in a muddy field, reported by a busybody neighbour, and the inspectors were so apologetic to her when they saw all her horses fed, fat and happy. Keep your pecker up....and don't worry !!!!
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That's me! (But Gala, love, I've got seven ... I think you've lost count ...)

Anyway, I've had them out twice to me in the past two months. Problem is, my fields back on to main roads so passing 'well meaning' people can see them.

The first time, it was about my lower field - the bit by the gate is a bog but what you can't see from the road is that it goes on up around the corner and up the hill in another two acres which aren't too bad. The inspector rang me (my number's on the gate) and left a message asking me to call him back, but leaving a number which no one ever answered. It was a Friday, and yes, I was upset and panicking as I didn't know why he was ringing. He rang back on the following Tuesday, explained that someone had reported them in the mud, but he'd been and seen that they had hay and water and were a good weight (you can see into the second field from a public footpath)

The second time was last week - I turned up at my field to find an RSPCA van there. A lady this time. Someone at the other end of my fields had reported that my four horses in the other field (it's about 10 acres) weren't getting fed. That's probably because they got fed at the other end, which they can't see from the far end, but never mind ... Again, she said she was happy with their condition and was just taking a note of my number to ring me, as RSPCA Officer A had told her they probably belonged to me as the fields adjoin.

So the first time I was upset, worried and annoyed with someone reporting me when there are horses in much more dire need of help, but the second time I was pretty blase about it all, and if it happens again (which I'm sure it will) I'll just be polite, shake their hand and see them off again.
 
they'd have a field day down in australia if they worry about muddy fields.....they will have lots.....seriously if the animals are all in good nic and have plenty of water and hay....then whats the issue?......
 
Can I just say here if someone phoned up the charity and said there are x amount of horses on a patch of land all mud, no grass, no hay, would you not think it may need looking at to check they are getting fed etc (you said you don't provide ablib so there will be points through the day when the horses will be seen without hay)??? Yes if their body conditions are fine, you don't really have anything to worry about, but actually depending on how much mud there is horses/cows/pigs anything requires access to dry lying, so if your patch is knee deep in mud all over with no access to anything else and they are out 24/7 in it. Then this is not a suitable environment (AWA). On the other hand if there is just a muddy area but the horses can move away from it out of the muddiest parts then this is fine. Think about it a horse stood in wet mud 24/7 with no relief is destined for thrush and other conditions......
 
Hey, ring them and say "sure, pop over but only if you are happy to be filmed for educational purposes" You then ask a friend to film the lot and pop it on YouTUbe to show all donaters exactly what their money is paying for.

Whilst they are on your property ask them what advice they have about stopping the mud from leaking up between the grass during the winter ;)
 
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