Photo's of Ellie, reported to the RSPCA

MrsElle

MrsElle

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Ok, so I am back from giving Ellie her tea (see, I do feed her ;)) and thought I would put a couple of pics I took of her on here.

Please bear in mind she is 28 years old, partially sighted and not a good doer anyway. She has had her teeth done, vet is happy with her given her age and she is on three feeds a day of build up cubes, sugar beet and alpha a oil. She has ad lib haylege.

I do understand she is thin but what is your honest opinion? Would you have called the RSPCA out after seeing her (see my last post).

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she looks ok, if she was mine i would be slightly concerned (i have a 23 yr old, i know this is slightly younger but he has cushings and i have manage him carefully)

i have found with my horses that if you feed to much protein (i.e alfa and build up cube) they tend to not be able to digest it properly. i feed my old boy hifi senior and mix with pink powder and he seems to do very well on it.

good luck with her i know its not easy keeping an oldie and i can understand why people get rid before they get old but i wouldn't have my lad any other way
 
Please don't take this the wrong way but, Yes, I would report her. That sounds mean I know but if you saw another horse looking like this wouldn't you report it. Think of all the poor horses that have never been reported until it was already too late. IMHO always better to be safe than sorry.
 
I'd be concerned TBH...

I know I sound like an advert for this stuff... but it worked on 2 horses I know including my chappy...

Slobbermash... it puts weight on anything.

Blitz
 
Well obviously she is poor, but you know that - I can see why she was reported, did I not know horses and the situation, I might report her too. Its the officers responsibility to check out the facts, not the general publics.

Good luck getting and keeping some weight on her, we have a lovely oldie at our yard, he looks like he's going to die every winter, but comes back beautiful every summer!
 
I too admit, that if I was a normal Joe Bloggs, member of the public with no horsey knowledge, then yes I would report it. But as a horsey member, I can't comment on her weight, as I have no idea about weights. But she if very cute! :)
 
I feel awful for saying this because I know how much you are doing for her, but yes, I can see why she would of been reported. Unfortunately the passer by person does not know her age, history, vet visits, dental treatment etc, and would look at her on first sight and see a stiff thin horse. sorry. xx
 
In all honesty I think I might well have done, I'd be worried about a horse that looked like that at this time of year. I would certainly have made sure to walk past a few more times at the very least to see how she was doing.

I don't want to overstep the mark, but I do think you need to consider your options very carefully before the winter comes:( I'm sorry.
 
I'm sorry to say that I would be really concerned - I have a 24 yo and she is a total picture of health - probably a bit too fat but she has a shiny coat and is in good order!

I hope that you manage to help improve your mare's condition.
 
First of all I know how much you care for her... But ...if I didn't know how old she was and that she was seen by a vet regularly etc then I would be concerned. I have a 26yo mare and oldies can be hard to manage - she has always been a good doer but the last 2 winters she has lost more weight than previously and been slower to put it back.
Like you we care very much and monitor her carefully. I do think I would worry if your girlie did not pick up a lot between now and the winter - but I have no doubt you are more than aware of that. I think you just need to chalk it up to experience and hope the RSPCA keep a record of what has happened so they do not bother you with this again. I kind of feel they are dammed if they do turn out and dammed if they don't - sadly usually they seem not to.
 
Sorry but I have to agree micramadam. If Joe Bloggs walks past and sees the horse is thin, then they do have a right to report it. You obviously know your doing everything right, so you don't need to worry.
Why is she lame? I guess its just arthritis, but could she not be on a dose of any medication to ease her symptoms and make her 'less lame'?
I too have several oldies, and although their coats are a bit dull, they look well.
I can understand how fustrating being reported is when you are doing your best, but don't be angry about it.
Your mare must know she is loved and cared for.
 
Thank you for all your replies, sometimes it is hard to look objectively when you see something everyday.

I really don't know what else I can do :( I have tried several different feeding regimes over the last year since she was attacked by a dog and lost the weight. She has ad lib haylege as well as her three feeds a day. The vet and I had talked about this being her last summer if I can't get the weight on her, I can't let her go into winter in this condition :( :( :(
 
What about putting up a notice on your field? something like, Please leave me in peace, I am elderly, cranky and a little bit arthritic. I am also under veterinary care and am doing the best I can!

However, as you have been opened up to this, then maybe you could take some other ideas from other veteran owners for some different ideas. I do feel for you though - my old boy was always a poor doer and was a complete nightmare to try to keep looking decent in winter and it was even worst when he got older. Dr Grass always bailed us out each summer but he had a lot of food poured down his throat just to look OK
 
Without the background I would also be concerned. Her feet look long to me too which doesn't help with the overall picture; I think the people who called the RSPCA obviously had her best interests at heart.

Context is everything though so don't take it personally, sounds as though the RSPCA will be more than happy with her care as soon as you get the opportunity to speak with them.

She looks a very sweet girl.
 
(((HUGS))) I know how much she means to you and remember the dog attack incident - Despite my previous post I still think you know what you are doing and I am sure you will do whatever she needs either way. I hope she picks up for you soon x
 
I can understand why passers by who possibly don't know anything about horses especially those of the elderly variety have reported your horse. TBH I think after the whole Spindles Farm incident and because it made national news lay people are more observant to this kind of thing more so possibly than before.

Also as you said in your previous post because she has no muscle especially in her hind quarters it probably looks worse (especially since a lot of people these days are only seeing overweight horses!!!) and also it probably highlighted how thin she was if she was in the field with 2 others that don't have a problem with condition.

It is difficult keeping weight on these oldies but would say that as long as she is happy, and your vet and farrier are happy with her then so should the RSPCA be, although nice to see them being proactive for a change even though in this case unwarranted.
 
MrsElle said:
Thank you for all your replies, sometimes it is hard to look objectively when you see something everyday.

I really don't know what else I can do :( I have tried several different feeding regimes over the last year since she was attacked by a dog and lost the weight. She has ad lib haylege as well as her three feeds a day. The vet and I had talked about this being her last summer if I can't get the weight on her, I can't let her go into winter in this condition :( :( :(
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Sorry - posts that crossed in the night!

What about contacting the veteran horse society and see what advice they can give you? they must be the absolute experts in keeping oldies looking good..
 
I can understand why someone has, sorry. Obviously your not neglecting her, but someone isn't to know that.

Have you tried Equijewel? A friend of mine bought an old tbx back at the end of last summer that had been subjected to cruelty and looked horrific. She was on 3 feeds of Alfa Oil, Baileys Topline and 1 mug of Equijewel 3 times a day and ad lib hay. I still didn't think she'd last the winter... She actually had her feed CUT in Feb as she was fat!! Seriously try it, it's excellent stuff!
 
Watching an animal you love age is the poopy end of the stick of animal ownership, it sucks:( I think everyone on here will understand that.

It sounds like you are doing your level best, but from the pictures and what you say perhaps it really is just that she is coming closer to the end now. I'm really sorry:(
 
I can understand why someone would have reported her as she does look poor but the trouble is people don't bother to find out the facts before they call people the RSPCA.

As much as it's annoying at least someone is looking out for horses welfare and I'm sure their heart was in the right place.
Without people calling people like the RSPCA there would be allot of cruelty cases unreported with horses and ponies suffering.

At least you know your doing everything you can for your horse and as long as she's happy then that's fine.
 
Honestly...she does look pretty poor. If she was in a field near me then yes, I probably would report her :( Sorry, I know thats not what you want to hear.
 
Another vote for Equijewel. It does do a grand job on putting weight and condition onto horses. (Just don't be too shocked at the price!! - its worth it).
Good luck and I admire you for your dedication to her needs.
 
I am currently loaning a 39 yr old mare who is thinner that your Ellie, she doesn't have many teeth and she isn't a good doer either, Her owner has been reported to the RSPCA so many times that now they know her and don't bother. They know beauty is healthy and that she is just old
 
C&P from the post in sb, re why people don't (and IMO shouldn't) try and speak to owners first in most situations:

Obviously you (as the owner) know you aren't a raging psychopath, but if you (as the observer) see a horse in a state there's no way to know what the owner is like, and it's not worth the risk of approaching them. Look at the way the delightful Grays intimidated all their neighbours and threatened them even outside the court - this is the kind of person you might end up dealing with!
 
im sorry but i would be very concerned if she was in a field local to me and would prob report her. i know you are doing your best and it must be very difficult as you obviously love her. how about asking world horse welfare for feeding advice, they are the experts with this sort of thing and may come up with a feed regime you hadnt thought of. i know you said she has haylage adlib but she may not be able to chew it properly and it may just pass through her.........hope you can find a solution...good luck:):)
 
I think the others have given you fair comment and unless you can get some decent weight on her in the next few months I would seriously not consider letting her go through winter. We had to make the same decision for 'my' old mare who was in a similar (but worse) state due to having cancer and decided to let her go last Autumn - Thank god we did given the winter we had!!

Big hugs. It's really hard when their bodies just give up on them while their brains are still going xxx
 
I can't really offer any help on feeding, although all my horses have done very well on pink powder to help them get the best from their feed. She looks like a fairly sizeable mare, and the bigger ones always seem to take it harder than the smaller pony types (forgive me if she is only like 14hh or something now!)

Its clear you love her - so don't think any of us here doubt that. But just a supportive word, its never too early but sometimes its too late.

Hugs ME x
 
Madness - most of these posts......I have seen lots of forum posts with people asking for critiques of their horses, where the condition is as bad if not worse then that one.......What time of year? If coming out of winter, and elderly, then yes likely to be thin. Yes you can count its ribs - as you can all of my horses once they finish a hard season of racing.......I was always told to ignore the ribs and look at the cover on the rump - not looking that bad on your beast.
Can you move this horse away from all the oh ah brigade?
Based on most of these comments - I am guessing that you are making difficult decisons? I expect you have had its teeth checked out? If a field full of grass puts on weight - then let the animal enjoy the summer - think about early feeding programme, good rugs etc, or make that tough decision?
I am really irritated by the majority of posts - you have taken it all in good part, I am surprised, but then it was high risk posting this...
Best wishes
 
My friend had a gelding in the same condition as yours he was 42 years old and a tbx, RSPCA was called out to her and told her that unless he was put to sleep at the end of that summer he would consider taking further action against her.
It was a real sad summer for my friend has she really tried hard to get weight back on him so she could avoid having him PTS, but sadly she could not get him to replace the weight winter had taken away that year.
I agree with the other posters who advise you getting in touch with the veteren society who have lots of experience in the problems you are experiencing with replacing your mares weight.
Good luck
 
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