Photo's of Ellie, reported to the RSPCA
- Thread starter MrsElle
- Start date
rosie fronfelen
Well-Known Member
i know that-whats the point of nit picking- bit juvenile.
rosie fronfelen
Well-Known Member
ok you guys, have your fun and kicks- nothing else to do or write??
rosie fronfelen
Well-Known Member
thank you Amymay.
conniegirl
Well-Known Member
I have not waded through the 22 odd pages of this post.
To answer the original question, yes as a passer by who did not know the history of this mare I would report her. I would rather report her and then find out she was just old and thin but well cared for as opposed as opposed to not report her, spend all week worrying about it and potentialy find that it was a neglected horse by seeing a collapsed or dead horse in a field.
Knowing her history now I would say you need a sign up on the gate to stop people worrying. As a passer by with no knowlege of the horse, seeing her I would be worried but after seeing a sign explaining why I would not report her because I would know she is being cared for.
As for the care of old ponies maybe I can help with the feeding, currently the youngest horse on my yard is 20 years old, the oldest is over 30 and looks similar to your mare (although he is not artheritic and he has no teeth what so ever).
The decision has already been made with my 30 yearold that we will not be putting him through anouther winter. It would not be fair to him.
I am a great believer in 'Better a month too early then an hour too late' Let them pass before they start suffering.
That said I have a little pony who a few years ago looked like yours does and was 22 years old. We made the decision to have him PTS at the end of summer as well, we did get his teeth done and he had one pulled out. Then on the reccomendation of the vet we tweeked his feeds. He (a 13.2hh pony) was put onto the following feed regime: a scoop of stud mix, a scoop of topline cubes, some blue chip and an obsene amount of flax oil in his feed and fed 4 times daily. By the end of summer he was glowing and looked fantastic so we kept him going. He is still going years later, has put on tons of weight, did not struggle through winter and is now out showing again.
This is he last weekend, he is now 27.
Dont give up on her just yet, get her teeth done, change her feeds (bare in mind it will take at least a month for any visable results to show).
Perhaps give her a tidy up, trim or pull her mane etc. Make it obvious that someone comes regularly and is caring for her (a sign etc).
Good luck
To answer the original question, yes as a passer by who did not know the history of this mare I would report her. I would rather report her and then find out she was just old and thin but well cared for as opposed as opposed to not report her, spend all week worrying about it and potentialy find that it was a neglected horse by seeing a collapsed or dead horse in a field.
Knowing her history now I would say you need a sign up on the gate to stop people worrying. As a passer by with no knowlege of the horse, seeing her I would be worried but after seeing a sign explaining why I would not report her because I would know she is being cared for.
As for the care of old ponies maybe I can help with the feeding, currently the youngest horse on my yard is 20 years old, the oldest is over 30 and looks similar to your mare (although he is not artheritic and he has no teeth what so ever).
The decision has already been made with my 30 yearold that we will not be putting him through anouther winter. It would not be fair to him.
I am a great believer in 'Better a month too early then an hour too late' Let them pass before they start suffering.
That said I have a little pony who a few years ago looked like yours does and was 22 years old. We made the decision to have him PTS at the end of summer as well, we did get his teeth done and he had one pulled out. Then on the reccomendation of the vet we tweeked his feeds. He (a 13.2hh pony) was put onto the following feed regime: a scoop of stud mix, a scoop of topline cubes, some blue chip and an obsene amount of flax oil in his feed and fed 4 times daily. By the end of summer he was glowing and looked fantastic so we kept him going. He is still going years later, has put on tons of weight, did not struggle through winter and is now out showing again.
This is he last weekend, he is now 27.
Dont give up on her just yet, get her teeth done, change her feeds (bare in mind it will take at least a month for any visable results to show).
Perhaps give her a tidy up, trim or pull her mane etc. Make it obvious that someone comes regularly and is caring for her (a sign etc).
Good luck
minesadouble
Well-Known Member
OK - haven't read all of the previous posts but in answer to the original question - no I would not call the RSPCA (ever actually but that's a different story) or any other welfare organisation.
If you see a field where a few horses are kept, on decent grass or with fodder available and they all look well but there is one that looks poor then it's a reasonable assumption that the problem is with the horse itself rather than the way it is kept. Have a word with the owner if it concerns you to that extent.
Very elderly horses always change shape and in their latter years may carry little condition - if they are still enjoying life should they be PTS because they are offensive to the eye??
This is a subject close to my heart as next door to our farm there was an elderly gentleman who had bred fell ponies for about 50 years. He was in 70s and still had about half a dozen mares in a field adjoining one of ours. One of these mares was in her late 20s, she was lean and dippy backed - her shape was probably exaggerated due to her spending her life as a broodmare. She always looked happy and healthy - just thin but by no means a walking skeleton.
We took on some liveries about this time and they used to go on about how thin this poor mare was. Myself and my OH explained she was an ancient broodmare so was bound to look a bit ropey. Soon after someone reported this mare to the RSPCA, they visited and said all was fine but the old man was devastated someone had reported him and had her put down a week later. I was absolutely furious - it still makes me mad to think about it now!!
I'm certain it was one of our liveries that reported him - the fields are not visible fom the road or even from the farm itself. They were told in no uncertain that if we found out who it was they would be thrown off the farm immediatley. Needless to say we never found out!
If one of my horses gets to their twilight years and begins to lose weight but is otherwise happy it will not be getting PTS for being thin!
If you see a field where a few horses are kept, on decent grass or with fodder available and they all look well but there is one that looks poor then it's a reasonable assumption that the problem is with the horse itself rather than the way it is kept. Have a word with the owner if it concerns you to that extent.
Very elderly horses always change shape and in their latter years may carry little condition - if they are still enjoying life should they be PTS because they are offensive to the eye??
This is a subject close to my heart as next door to our farm there was an elderly gentleman who had bred fell ponies for about 50 years. He was in 70s and still had about half a dozen mares in a field adjoining one of ours. One of these mares was in her late 20s, she was lean and dippy backed - her shape was probably exaggerated due to her spending her life as a broodmare. She always looked happy and healthy - just thin but by no means a walking skeleton.
We took on some liveries about this time and they used to go on about how thin this poor mare was. Myself and my OH explained she was an ancient broodmare so was bound to look a bit ropey. Soon after someone reported this mare to the RSPCA, they visited and said all was fine but the old man was devastated someone had reported him and had her put down a week later. I was absolutely furious - it still makes me mad to think about it now!!
I'm certain it was one of our liveries that reported him - the fields are not visible fom the road or even from the farm itself. They were told in no uncertain that if we found out who it was they would be thrown off the farm immediatley. Needless to say we never found out!
If one of my horses gets to their twilight years and begins to lose weight but is otherwise happy it will not be getting PTS for being thin!
ElaineD
Active Member
Don't give up on her yet as someone else said try her on other feeds. We have a 35 yr old who we bred and she does really well on 16+ mix, chaff and Kwik Beet she has only lost one tooth and still rules the roost here. I also had a TB Charlie who I got when he was 18 he raced until he was 12 then was passed from pillar to post, he had a serious accident when he was hit by a car when he was 29 and I thought I had lost him but he pulled through and I was still riding him until he was 35 as he loved it, the last couple of years I started having trouble keeping weight on him so tried him on stud cubes,chaff and beet and he really put weight on again. I lost him at nearly 38 with a heart attack which was a real shock as he looked so well so don't give up just yet.
dressedkez
Well-Known Member
I have almost lost the will to live......'bitchy thread' those were aimed at those who thought that maybe Ellie, whilst thin, was possibly not the thinnest horse we had ever seen, albeit a youngster (and wow he / she got loads of flack for suggesting that yongsters could get skinny....) and mine, many, many pages previously, who dared suggest that all those who were rushing off to the RSPCA were a bit OTT - OK, I did use the word 'bonkers' - bad move om my part...!
The Ms Ellie - who we are feeling truly sympathetic about, as she owns the much loved horse, who has been the subject of in excess of 22 pages of comment, told me that she needed the advice of many, many complete strangers to enforce her own view that maybe Ellie was coming to the end of her life, and in the Autumn, might be destined to meet her maker?
Yes, of course very sympathetic about those who need to make that ultimate choice - but like politicians, if one opens one self up for public scrutiny, then sadly reap the consequences.
OK guys, I am thinking that I might have to pull a horses mane tomorrow to smarten him up to prior to selling him - it will undoubtably hurt him ( a bit, I expect we will try and exercise him before hand) but I would value your views on whether this is a wise thing to do?? Rubbish, Of course I don't - and if he gets a leg problem tomorrow from galloping around
the field on rock hard ground, where he might do a tendon, am I going to consult with you guys before I call the vet? No! That is why finally I have HAD IT WITH THIS POST!!!
Ms Ellie, finally - IT IS UP TO YOU - if your mare, is thin but happy keep her going and ignore the RSPCA jibes, if her quality of life is **** - MAKE THAT DECISION......what would you do if she was your elderly dog / cat / grandmother........She is not the latter, you have the power and for goodness sake the knowledge you should have as a responsible horse owner, that should empower you to make that decison....it is a bit different from what type of bit, should I try on a horse that pulls etc. etc. Is it not??
Rant over......!! Let the hate mail begin!
Munchkin
Well-Known Member
The mare is being PTS within a few days, so, this bitchfest can be put to rest also.
Spudlet
Well-Known Member
The OP posted an update earlier, and very sadly, on the advice of her vet, it has been decided that for the welfare of the mare it is best that she is pts
I think that the mare is very lucky to have an owner that has done, and is doing, the very best she can by her all the way.
I think that the mare is very lucky to have an owner that has done, and is doing, the very best she can by her all the way.
saddlesore
Well-Known Member
did I miss something?Sorry - just saw Spudlets post. So sorry OP, hugs and thoughts to you and your girl x
AmyMay
Situation normal
There has been no bitchfest.........
Berkeley
Well-Known Member
There has been no bitchfest.........
I agree.
I am also very sorry to hear that PTS is the best way forward. Brave decision - and no doubt a good one.