OMFG reported to the RSPCA for muddy field!!

Many folk on here who go out hacking regularly during daytime can spot numerous muddy paddocks, most likely with bored occupants loafing about in them in daylight hours.

This is most likely because the horses/ponies have been given hay before owners go to work, its now late morning/early afternoon & they have scoffed it all & are just hanging about till the meals-on-wheels arrive to feed them/put them to bed.

Most think mine are out 24/7 - in fact they go out around 6am & come in about 5.30, having to wait around my working hours. Till yesterday, one of mine was turned out in a very wet muddy paddock & had the centre piece to have her daytime hay on as it was the only drying bit left. (she's now in the February paddock as its much drier, but wil return in a fortnight to the wet one as soon as its dried up a bit more).



Its a fact that at this time of the year, wet/iced/snowy/sodden/flooded fields will attract attention from people who dont know & who are 'concerned' about animlas out not being cared for. YOU know they are ok - but the general public doesn't have a clue about what feed/care the horses/ponies are getting! This is what the RSPCA have to act on - many inspectors get cross with the public wasting their time, particularly at this time of the year, but on the other side of the coin they do say that for 20 calls there is always the 1 who actually does need their help.
 
I think a lot of us are the same hun.....I have 3 horses on 2 acres- the grazing lasts me all spring/summer and autumn if I manage it well....and that means sacrificing a small area for the winter....it is TOTALLY trashed....plenty of room for the horses to roll and play, they have hay twice a day and trough is always topped up. 2 of the horses are unrugged and hairy and.... well- scruffy and muddy...... but healthy and happy.

Anyone who knows about horses would know it was ok.....and a quick check in the stables would reveal nice straw beds and haynets hanging up ready for bringing in.


Deep breath hun:)
 
Surely the inspector is just doing his job. Would you rather he just didn't bother following up on a complaint? I think it's good that the public are alert to potential cruelty and that the RSPCA follow up on concerns. Your horses are well looked after - but others may not be and if they didn't check they wouldn't know.
 
Dont worry about it, just ring Inspector and explain politely. They have to follow up complaints. I had someone report me because my fat cob was in the stable for 3 hours with no water (he had drunk it all!) Inspector called saw the horse was in excellent condition and left apologising. I was not annoyed at the RSPCA for calling but was extremely annoyed at the stupid woman who had called it in.
On another note, our local paper has printed a letter from someone concerned about horses which have no rugs on and no stable. These are big fat hairy types and do have a very good hedge round the field. Most people dont know anything about keeping horses.
 
If you have nothing to hide then why all the bad feeling toward the RSPCA?

As said before, they have to follow up any reports - this is what started the ball rolling for Carrot and Spud. Their owners attitude was to blame the "busybody" who reported them and the RSPCA. Not to improve things for the horses.


Now, you have said time and time again, that your horses are well cared for, so explain this, show the officer the condition of your horses if needs be and that will be the end of it.

No one is pointing the finger, just seeing horses in mud without hay 24/7. Nothing to worry about once you explain.
 
Thanks everyone for you support.

The point that some people have missed, even though i have told you on here i feed haylage by bodyweight... the general public would not see ad lib either as they can only see A MAXIMUM OF A THIRD OF THE FIELD. The bit they can see is the sloped bit.

I am insulted that people think they can meddle, if you dont know anything about horses butt out. Also many people in the horse world who DO know what they are doing have differing views on many aspects of horse care.

Any way. I am still pissed off, i DO think its pathetic. I am angry about it.

I dont feel i should have to justify my horse care to anyone. Why should i. Who cares if the general public cant see my horses haylage. or their water. Im not going to feed and water at the gate just to please some bloody busy body. NO.

so yes i am angry. and i feel perfectly justified in being so.
 
queenbee said:
or it could be an indication of just what the forum users think of the RSPCA! LOL :D
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Maybe both. :)

I am surprised at how much attention my little thread has recieved but i am also very greatful for those shaing supportive words and their own stories of people meddling.

Like the lady who had some woman (who actually owns horses!!!!!!!!!!) complain about her laminitics. that would make me angry too.
 
tristar said:
i think the lengths that people go to looking after their horses properly they have every right to feel indignant when intruded upon by a cruelty inspector, cause that's what they are, and if the inspector can't see a cared for horse when its in front of him he should go and buy some new glasses or get a job as a shop assistant. (no insult to shop assistants)!
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This did make me laugh :D
 
I too had this done to me about 4 years ago. I was so angry... I think it was more the fact that someone could even suggest that my horses were negelted, I didnt blame the officer, but at who ever was the person that reported me. Yes my field was very muddy, and like you I had 3 horses on five acres, but they were in one of the paddocks (about 2 acres) which I solely use for winter turnout so as not to wreck the other fields.
Unknown to the person who reported me they did not know that the horses were only turned out for about 4 hours (in rugs!) a day to stretch their legs, because the rest of the time they were either being ridden or in their large comfy stables. They should have also realised it had been raining none stop for about a week and a half, and yes I'm sure they did look sorry for themselves stood by the gate waiting to come back in, because they drive me nuts with this, they go out everyday no matter what the weather, but as soon as they go out they want to come back in again agghhhh.

So someone decided to report me for this, but unlike you the officer came to my house to say as much, but to be fair he was very nice, and said he had a look at the horses and put his hands in their rugs (very surprised they allowed a stranger to do this to them), and that he could feel how well their condition was and that he could see how bright they looked in the horrible weather and mud (the horses were prob hoping he was going to bring them in to their stables)!!! Even though I was seething I explained how they were kept and why that certain field looked the way it did... which he totally understood.

At first I was so angry that someone would even think to report me, my whole life resolves around my horses, I go without for them to have everything they desire, their welfare is paramount to me and my family, so to have someone report you makes you feel gut renching, so I totally understand where you are coming from... I really do.

I think it would be a good idea to call the inspector and invite him/her over to show/explain the situation, they will not or can not take your well looked after horses from you, show the person who ever reported that you are the bigger person, and that you are confident to prove to anyboby how well you look after your horses (mud or no mud!)... I now have the thought that I can prove to the RSPCA that my horses are the best conditioned they will come across.. in mud or not!!! xx
 
Zebedee said:
....... 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.
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Generally Zebedee, I'd agree with you. The problem with human nature, and the RSPCA in particular, is that if you start to justify yourself, if you make excuses for the mud, and if you generally end up on the back foot, then you will be explaining yourself to a collection of people, who with the best will in the world, very rarely have any understanding of the equine.

The RSPCA, will all too often give precious little thought to the weather which we've endured for the last few weeks, or the fact that there are those who keep horses, who would love to have their own yard, and have ideal conditions. Not having ideal conditions, should not be a precursor which would prevent people from keeping horses.

Many have attempted to assist the RSPCA, and direct them towards a common sense approach, and in my experience, most have failed. The general ethos which drives the RSPCA is centred around fund raising, not animal welfare.

I'm sorry, but I would stand by my original post.

Alec.
 
Must admit I would be upset and angry BUT I would rather people reported me 100 times than walk past and not care!

Just to show one of my fields..

PICT7957.jpg


and this is one of my babies that someone actually had a go at me and told me I was cruel! (they do have a large field shelter, a huge haylage ring, buckets of warmed water 4 times a day and 8 acres for 2 babies and a mare) I did expalin their coats are fantastic insulators and thats why the snow doesn't melt on them, if it melted I would have them rugged and in!

PICT14581.jpg
 
Sorry to hear that this had made you ill hun but to be honest the RSPCA couldnt find there backside without a map. Ive seen some horrific fields and one is owned by an RSPCA inspector so people in glas houses should throw stones get on the phone and give them hell.:)
 
My fields are more water logged at the moment, rather than muddy, but it wont take long to get that way if this rain keeps up.

I think what the OP is really annoyed about (please correct me if I'm wrong) is not the fact that someone reported the horses/condition of the field to the RSPCA, but the fact that when the inspector turned up to the premises, he/she couldnt see that obviously the horses were well cared for.

I am still waiting for the day that I get reported for my horses being in the field with no rugs. They have lots of grass, get fed every day, get hay every day and have access to a field shelter. I had the vet out on Tuesday for vaccinations, and she was more than happy with the way they were looking. In fact, I have been told that they really need to loose some weight before the spring so they dont have to spend all summer on restricted grazing.
 
Holly

thank you for posting that picture! My field isnt half that bad, the wind has been helping dry it out. Anyway there is a section outside the water and fieldshelter that looks like that but the rest is much less muddy and still has grass patches.

Suzyqet you are right in a way! I am annoyed that i was roprted for muddy fields. which i think is pathetic but i am even more annoyed that the inspector person who was THERE to leave a note, couldnt tell for him/herself that the horses are in good condition

And that no one (unless they tresspass further and come right over the gate into the field and climb the slope can see any more than a third of the field.

and i am just the type of person that likes to be left alone, i mind my own business why cant other people.
 
Holly831,

what an interesting pic. NOT the Florida swamp, the snow bound one!! Had heat been escaping from your horses backs, then the snow would have melted. I think that it's a bit like the house which has no loft insulation, it's always the first to have the snow melt from its roof, isn't it? I'd bet that they were warm, regardless!

We've recently acquired a lake, by the way!! Bloody rain!!

Alec.
 
Alec,

They most certainly were warm, never thought of the analagy of loft insulation, will have to try that one next cold spell!! I even made the complainer come into their field to see! They have a field shelter, bedded up that they only occasionally use to escape the sun :D

Tried to ask how they thought wild horses coped but their answer was 'well you have one with nice warm rugs on'....he is a fully clipped horse (aged 20) in work!! I hate rugs on babies......

My very wet field is used by the above rugged horse and a weaning mare who both come in at night, the field has plenty of large dry areas with..''grass'' but they choose to stay near the gate, I think they just like to make sure I remember to bring them in!!
 
Im sorry but it is ridiculous that people are calling the rspca over mud. *shakes head*

Crazy

Anyway, the field isnt as bad as Hollys like i said in an earlier post. They have flatter drier bits to go on too and a big field shelter with woodchip surface inside.

Also my farrier has recently confirmed than not one of the horses has any sign of Thrush!

So what the hell is their problem?

I guess the point is, i really cant believe i have been reported for MUD. It is just so laughably ridiculous! So stupid.
 
The RSPCA have to follow up every call;better that they do than miss a genuine neglect case surely?About 75% of their calls are by busybodies,in fact there should be fines for those that waste public resources in my opinion.God knows how many times they`ve come here,almost always "nuisance" calls and a complete waste of their time.
The last time was just after Christmas..about "dogs living in filthy conditions and with no water" absolute drivel of course,it always is.It must be a gutty job for them though ,think I`ll offer the por sod a cuppa next time.;)
 
A bloke went into a friends shop in the next village when we had that snow, and knowing she was horsey, said he was 'concerned about a pony in the field on __________'...

She replied 'is it a small black hairy pony?'...

'thats the one! Poor thing is covered in snow and has no coat!'...

'thats because he doesnt need a coat, he is a shetland, and they have coats designed for weather like we have at the moment......'..

'Oh....right...'....

That was the end of that!

:D
 
I do think the RSPCA are damned if they do and damned if they don't sometimes. I remember reading of a neglected horse left in a field and people ranting at why the RSPCA didn;t do anything. Yet when they do look into horses which either they or the public feel are neglected (remembering they can't see any hay/grass/feed or water and shelter) People say they are interfereing. Ok in this case, the horses are cared for, but how do they know that without speaking to the owners or investigating further?

I appreciate it must feel like an intrusion OP and unjust, but if people don't report what they think is a neglected animal then some animals may suffer as a result.

People may have called because they can't see food or water and the mud just adds to the situation. If it is just over mud, then yes, it's very daft indeed! :)
 
I can see why you are so angry! All fields are muddy at the moment at least in some places, some fields that are on higher ground are not as muddy, but most horses at the moment are standing in mud. Its not a negliect issue tho, it suprises me as when you actually report negliect (horses that are actually not being looked after, no food, no water, bad feel, poor condition, dangerous fields) they never bloody turn up and look at them!! And if they do they dont do anything about it as they dont have the power to unless the poor beast is on its last legs!! Sorry got into a bit of a rant there too! lol!!!
 
Totally agree Sarah Sum1! They can't win either way! I'm not their hugest fan but i'm sure their have been many animals helped by their inspectors. What gets me- is Alphamare hasn't even heard back from the inspector- they may just want to check owner is coping ok etc. They are only doing their job. Joe Public doesnt know about horses- at least they are showing they care. Have a chat to them and I'm sure this fuss will have been over nothing.
 
Mmm ,got a visit once about my "palamino" horse having no shelter.Said DUN horse was clothed in a very super rug costing £200..do you remember those with the T harness arrangement? Never shifted. Anyway ,horse came to whistle full tilt bucking and farting down to the gate where it`s haynet and plassie clip on manger were.Embarassed officer:o.As a parting shot I told him to tell his misguided informant to brush up on horse colours.
 
I know how you feel, I have an elderly pony (shes 36!) and is showing signs of ageing. had a note from the RSPCA stating that she is underweight. Shes 12.2 and is perfectly healthy and up to weight. Anyway, rang them as they said, she came out and spoke to me about her. She then said, and this made me laugh out loud literally in her face, 'i have horses of my own and i know this STALLION is up to weight and looked after, but we have to carry out these cases. Firstly, if she had horses, she would realise my pony was a mare! and secondly what was the point in coming all the way out to my fields to tell me that, why have me so worried for days, and mithering for nothing. i understand the RSPCA are there to care, but they do pick on those animals that are looked after. i once reported three donkeys that were standing in there own ***** and were starving, one of which was heavily pregnant, and all they said was because we were giving them a couple of our own slices of hay, they couldnt do anything about it! Honestly, i think that sometimes these inspectors are a waste of time.
 
Alphamare said:
Im sorry but it is ridiculous that people are calling the rspca over mud. *shakes head*

Crazy

Anyway, the field isnt as bad as Hollys like i said in an earlier post. They have flatter drier bits to go on too and a big field shelter with woodchip surface inside.

Also my farrier has recently confirmed than not one of the horses has any sign of Thrush!

So what the hell is their problem?

I guess the point is, i really cant believe i have been reported for MUD. It is just so laughably ridiculous! So stupid.
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Yes but as you said (can't beleive I'm saying this again, but the point keeps getting lost along the way in this long thread!!) the shelter or drier ground by your own admission are not visible from the gate which is where the officer saw them!!!!!!!

They don't know about the shelter.. or the haying/feeding arrangements so they don't know if there's an issue or not without making contact with you!!!!
 
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