Oy, you with the arthritic mare ......

cobgoblin said:
Just report it if you think it's appropriate. No need to post on here in the hope someone will recognise their horse, that's just unpleasant.
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I didn't do it just for that reason, as I explained above. Too many people do this, either deliberately, or because they don't see the deterioration in their horse because it happens gradually over time.

Please everyone, If you've got an old horse, get someone who has nothing to gain or lose by upsetting you to take a look at it regularly and tell you the truth. The vet and your mates aren't enough!
 
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You are priceless cpt, absolutely priceless. Just when I think you can't get anymore arrogant.
Only you could choose to deal with a situation like this with 'Oy, you with the arthritic mare'.

Is there anything you're not an expert on?
Anything that can be resolved any way other than yours ?
 
this thread is a little saddening-it shows how social media distances people from people in a way that makes bullying faceless and therefore acceptable by many who would not bully when face to face with someone.

just sad
 
ribbons said:
You are priceless cpt, absolutely priceless. Just when I think you can't get anymore arrogant.
Only you could choose to deal with a situation like this with 'Oy, you with the arthritic mare'.

Is there anything you're not an expert on?
Anything that can be resolved any way other than yours ?
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Do me a favour Ribbons, put me on user ignore. Then the people who send me PMs so that they can tell me how my advice has helped their horses can read what I write and you won't have to get upset by me knowing more than you do, or by you knowing more than I do but not sharing it with people.
 
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twiggy2 said:
this thread is a little saddening-it shows how social media distances people from people in a way that makes bullying faceless and therefore acceptable by many who would not bully when face to face with someone.

just sad
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I post under my own name. I don't say anything that I wouldn't say to their face of I met them, barring the 'oy you' which I wrote to get people attention on the forum in case they had old horses they should be taking a second look at.
 
Perhaps if you want to be certain of getting the specific individual's attention a well worded letter expressing your concerns pinned to the gate would be the more effective and appropriate course of action. Then a separate thread reminding everyone to be vigilant against deterioration in their horse's condition to cover your second and subsequent issue. The approach adopted seems potentially ineffective at best and in poor taste.
 
Cptrayes you did this I am sure with the best intentions but I do think it distasteful as well. If you are truly concerned a kind word to a possibly less knowledgable owner could be more understood.
 
AmandaMT said:
Cptrayes you did this I am sure with the best intentions but I do think it distasteful as well. If you are truly concerned a kind word to a possibly less knowledgable owner could be more understood.
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He's a farmer who has been breeding horses and other animals for years.
 
Good thread cptrayes :) I always enjoy reading your posts, and I don't think you've done anything wrong. The owner might not even read this. Not EVERYONE goes on hho. I haven't been on for weeks!! So calm down everybody.
 
ridefast said:
Good thread cptrayes :) I always enjoy reading your posts, and I don't think you've done anything wrong. The owner might not even read this. Not EVERYONE goes on hho. I haven't been on for weeks!! So calm down everybody.
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But isn't that just the point?! If the owner may not read this it's done nothing to help the poor mare that the OP is oh so concerned about. I agree with whoever suggested a well worded letter of concern left at the field. Much more effective at getting the point across to the individual concerned IMHO.
 
cptrayes said:
I disagree with you. This horse is now definitely a welfare case, she is bearing very little weight on one front leg and the knee is so big with arthritis I can see that it has increased in size again when I am passing in a car fifty yards away. She has already been unable to completely straighten her front legs for two years.

The owner is not the only person who has the right to say that this horse should be put out of her pain, and I'll be trying to find someone on Monday to go and tell them so.
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I do agree that the owner may need a hand to see something in a much lived animal they see day in, day out. And there's nothing to be ashamed about in reporting.

But you haven't. You've titled this topic rudely 'Oi, you' is hardly polite is it? You've slated some person you don't even know - for all you know, the vet could be coming to PTS Monday morning - on an Internet forum. Where no action can be taken.

Posting a thread on the internet is not the same thing at all as reporting to appropriate welfare authorities to work with the owner - where action could be taken for the mare, if she is really as bad as you say she is.

This just just stinks of poor taste, IMHO. There are far better ways you could have got an equally effective message over to educate the 'masses' - if that really was your intention in posting this.
 
NPL, if they want to reply, they can. In my personal opinion, if the vet is coming on Monday then they are two years too late. But as people have pointed out, that wasn't my decision to make until the mare was clearly a welfare case. Doesn't mean I can't have an opinion on it though. I understand that a number of people thought I was wrong to post, but of course I agree with the ones who think I was right.
 
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I think people are being a bit harsh on the OP. This thread does not name anyone. It is totally anonymous. Seems that nowadays there are too many posts criticising people for posting things when you have to ask, what on earth is this forum for if not to highlight problems and provide help for people and horses? It is probably the case that the owner doesn't even frequent the forums. It may well be the case that this thread helps someone look objectively on their own old arthritic horse and decide it's had enough. It may be the case that the owner is buting the horse up and it is not in any pain. Who knows? But I think the attacks on the OP are unwarranted.
 
The OP is great at giving advice and getting on her high horse on what people should and shouldn't do, but doesn't take advice on the care of her horses ... even when several people state what they would do, but she knows best...
 
bonny said:
Not having a laugh no, someone else's horse and their decision, not some random passerby. Maybe it's an old horse having one last summer, who knows, but unless it's a welfare case which it doesn't sound like then posting this on a public forum is at best unkind and I fail to see what good can come of embarassing someone in this way
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How is a horse in pain not a welfare issue? How is having one last summer in crippling pain, OK? This IS a welfare issue. If a horse was in pain for any other reason (colic, broken leg, fence injury...) you wouldnt leave it there without either treatment or euthanasia. How is this different?
 
I actually think the OP is right in highlighting this the way they did. The horse is obviously very well loved, so much so that they can't see past their love to make the heartbreaking decision that needs to be made.
Shock tactics are sometimes needed to spur people into taking a good look at what they are doing.
No names have been mentioned and if the owner is on here and does see this, they may realise that because of their love, the mare is suffering.
Its never an easy thing to admit and sometimes it needs a blunt remark from a stranger to make you realise what you're doing. Deciding to put a much loved animal to sleep is one of the hardest and most horrible decisions anyone will ever have to make. I feel for the mare but at the same time, I feel for her owner.
 
Really poor taste - call the BHS / WHW if you genuinely believe it is a welfare issue. I honestly cannot imagine why any "experienced" horse owner would not call the appropriate organisations first, before coming on here to educate the ignorant masses...

zigzag said:
The OP is great at giving advice and getting on her high horse on what people should and shouldn't do, but doesn't take advice on the care of her horses ... even when several people state what they would do, but she knows best...
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Didn't you know the OP has a monopoly on "truth" and "being right"? Who are we to question her supremacy?
 
Completely agree that an authority should be notified but to lord it up on here is pointless and attention seeking.

This thread hasn't brought the mare any attention, just the OP.

OP have you taken the APPROPRIATE action?
 
We had a much loved and cared for elderly Appy mare,who had always been a very good doer. We saw her every day (obviously) so missed that she was loosing weight, our farrier pointed this out to us and we were grateful for the comment. Anyone can be too close to see.
Those who claim the OP is attention seeking, a bit of pots calling kettles imo
 
YorksG said:
We had a much loved and cared for elderly Appy mare,who had always been a very good doer. We saw her every day (obviously) so missed that she was loosing weight, our farrier pointed this out to us and we were grateful for the comment. Anyone can be too close to see.
Those who claim the OP is attention seeking, a bit of pots calling kettles imo
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But I bet your farrier didnt post a rather unpleasant post on an internet forum specifying the rough location of your horse in order to bring the matter to your attention did he? I don't think anyone is disagreeing that sometimes people need to be shown what is under their nose as regards a much loved animal, the issue is how best to achieve this and I cannot for the life of me understand how this method can be thought to be either effecitvie or appropriate.
 
I am extremely concerned that there are people posting who don't think a horse not weight bearing on a limb because of arthritis is not an welfare issue because the horse is 'loved'
I have never heard such rubbish.
 
Goldenstar said:
I am extremely concerned that there are people posting who don't think a horse not weight bearing on a limb because of arthritis is not an welfare issue because the horse is 'loved'
I have never heard such rubbish.
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yes think we all agree it is a welfare issue but how is posting on here going to help?all it has done is put people backs up! The OP needs to inform the Welfare officer rather than posting a bitchy comment on here. We really don't know the full story about this horse either.
 
Goldenstar said:
I am extremely concerned that there are people posting who don't think a horse not weight bearing on a limb because of arthritis is not an welfare issue because the horse is 'loved'
I have never heard such rubbish.
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I've not seen anyone say that?

I agree that if the mare is as bad as the OP says it is they both need professional help - either to advise on further treatment/management or putting to sleep. I don't think anyone is questioning that.

I've never seen the mare & never met the OP - so I've got no idea on the reality of the situation.

What I don't agree with, is an unpleasant post on an internet forum, that quite frankly the owner may not even see, is the best way to get the most appropriate help for this horse & owner - which the OP has stated, was her primary reason for posting this in the first place.

That for me, is the questionable part.

I very much hope this mare & owner are given the help & support they need by the appropriate authority.
 
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We have threads on here complaining about YOs and other liveries, about how badly others keep their horses, badly behaving sharers, people who let their horses get too thin or too fat... the list is never ending. Nothing is said criticising the OPs. I rather think the people attacking the OP in this thread must have personal axes to grind. i.e. for some reason or another, they don't like the OP. I never understand this behaviour on forums. The way people bear grudges just because they may have had a disagreement in the past. A forum is a forum, and the subject of horses is bound to cause disagreements on various issues, but to comment on a thread motivated more by not liking/liking the OP rather than the subject matter itself is just strange, but sadly all too common. Of course there are also people who just like to criticise how other choose to use the forum, the self appointed moderators and other strange behaviours.
 
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