Photo's of Ellie, reported to the RSPCA

No I wouldn't have reported her. If she is having 3 feeds a day and haylage then there would be signs of that in the field, so with that, along with fresh water, I would have been happy. I would have had a look at her feet and general wellbeing (i.e. I would be concerned if she had knots in her mane or tail as I take that, at this time of year, to be caused by people not giving a damn).

I would have tried to find out whose horse it was and have a chat with them rather than calling the RSPCA - I would do that anyway. There is a LOT of bitching and moaning about the RSPCA on this board, but if they are being called out to look at elderly horses who obv have grass, feed, haylage and water, then that doesn't leave them a lot of time for the real welfare cases.
 
Summerleft said:
well I had a horse very similar looking to your mare in breed, he would not put weighto n at all no matter what he ate, vet checks etc etc RSPCA came out to look at him and although he was underweight his coat gleamed, they said they could see we did all we could for him and left us alone. Hope you have a good outcome of this, we never did find out why our elderly horse wouldnt put on an ounce
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And the outcome was?
 
for an old lady she looks grand.:) What most people forget is that in Victorian times and earlier horses were old and past it at 9 years old and worked to death. I think we've gotten soft on our animals over the years. So we have fat kids and fat animals, seems the way the world Western type is going.:(
 
johnrobert said:
for an old lady she looks grand.:) What most people forget is that in Victorian times and earlier horses were old and past it at 9 years old and worked to death. I think we've gotten soft on our animals over the years. So we have fat kids and fat animals, seems the way the world Western type is going.:(
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Whaaaaaaaat are you talking about. I cant believe your post at all!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
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Ive seen worse!! I know its terribly hard keeping weight on oldies once they start losing it! I cant blame the public for reporting her, to an average non horsey person she just looks thin!!
But i wouldnt worry, at least you know your doing everything you can to help her :)
x
 
johnrobert said:
for an old lady she looks grand(
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I'm sorry but what!

I think she is thin and especially at this time of year I would like to see more weight on her. A pony at my yard was 42 when he got pts last year (because he trod on a nail of all things and we decided it was time for him to go and not go through the treatment), and he looked a lot better than this mare. He had no teeth and a long coat which we had to clip, he lived off mashes and sugarbeet etc, and on a condition score of 1 to 9 with 5 being ideal, he was about a 4...which is not bad for his age!!!

If I was a non horsey member of the public I would have been worried about her, but as a horsey person so long as I could see enough grass, water and feed buckets obviously having been used then I don't think I would have called the RSCPA. We all know how hard it is to keep weight on some horses!
 
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I think the OP is being sensible tbh by giving her till the end of summer to live out and decide the important decision then.
Nothing else you can really do other than keep feeding her and keeping her comfortable as you can, which is what you're trying from what'sbeen posted.

I know she means a lot to you like any of our horses do and have to do what's in her best interest, be it a hard decision or not.
I don't think it's fair comparing horses, as no two horses are identical regardless of age and how well they keep etc.

I hope it's a good turnaround once she's had a summer full of grass and all the best x x
 
Binky01 said:
I hope it's a good turnaround once she's had a summer full of grass and all the best x x
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Agree, I hope things do turn out well. But if things do not go as planned and you decide to give the mare the summer then pts before she may start to feel the effects of the winter, then you have done the right thing by your mare.

I haven't read all the replies, did the RSCPA come out to see your mare?
And can you put up a sign to try to stop the public reporting you?
 
johnrobert said:
The History of the London Horse Cab by Trevor May. Very good read may broaden some people minds a bit.
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I'm sorry, but fascinating as this subject is (and I am heavily into genealogy and many of my ancestors were actually London cab drivers, of the horse variety) this relates to 100 years ago. If I was still living by these standards my 7 year old son would probably be up a chimney as we speak.
 
johnrobert said:
for an old lady she looks grand.:)
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Dont be silly. She does not look grand. Many people including me have horses in their 30s and 40s who do not look in the same poor condition as the OPs horse. Yes I have seen a lot worse too but that is irrelevant and should not take away from the FACT that the OPs horse is not *grand*.
 
So how would you feel if somebody reported you to the RSPCA?? MissElle looks after her mare and to me for a 28year old mare she does look good for her age. I've youngsters thinner than her.
 
If I personally ever got reported...I'd be very worried about what must be that obvious for joe public to feel the need to report me tbh.

Not linking that to this thread or the mare or OP or anything. Just answering the question if it was me and how I'd feel.
 
johnrobert said:
So how would you feel if somebody reported you to the RSPCA?? MissElle looks after her mare and to me for a 28year old mare she does look good for her age. I've youngsters thinner than her.
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I would be absolutely mortified. And the reason for this is that I would feel I had let my horse down. I don't dispute that the OP is doing her best and is also happy to listen to what others have to say. What I disagree with is you saying that the horse 'looks grand'.
 
johnrobert said:
So how would you feel if somebody reported you to the RSPCA?? MissElle looks after her mare and to me for a 28year old mare she does look good for her age. I've youngsters thinner than her.
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:eek: I wouldn't be admitting to that fact!!

I've no doubt that Mrs Elle loves Ellie very much and wants to do the best for her, but no way can her current condition be described as 'grand' or anything like it.

This is my 24 year old, of the same size. She is not a very good doer, and is not allowed more than minimal grazing due to suffering from cushings.

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I'm sorry, I think she looks appalling which is in spite of the care the OP is lavishing on her so I wouldn't hesitate to call it a day now; I feel while the sentiment is good it is unrealistic in this case and the 'give her the summer' brigade are wanting to give her far too many days for far too long out of pity to the OP, not the horse herself. Sorry, I agree with Pastie, amongst others, although it's not our decision to make of course.
 
Sorry I meant I've seen youngsters thinner than that. I know I bought a Welsh Sec D 2 year old that looked 22 years old and now he's a bolshy 4 years old and trying to keep the weight off. Swings and roundabout don't you know. :)
 
johnrobert said:
So how would you feel if somebody reported you to the RSPCA?? MissElle looks after her mare and to me for a 28year old mare she does look good for her age. I've youngsters thinner than her.
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I wouldnt be reported to the RSPCA because none of my 30 and 40 year old horses look anything like MissElles horse. None of my youngsters look like her either and if yours do then you should be shot.
 
JR^
An underfed 2 y/o isn't really anything to do with the horse in question though is it? A 2 y/o's, or any younger horse's, metabolism will be different to an elderly horses - extra energy needed for warmth, internal organs, lack of teeth, difference of body chemicals and building blocks as they have as youngsters etc.

Every horse is different and need to treat them individually, not in comparisons.
My nan isn't underweight and skinny like some elderly nans are in their 90's. Yet others are. It's each down to ones own metabolism at the end of the day.

But again. I wish you well with her this summer. I wouldn't go as far to say she's at deaths door now and past her time, but you know her and are in serious decision makings, so again, I really do wish you both the best as it is the hardest thing to know when to do the kindest thing for them - they'll let you know though. Maybe look at some nice new lush grazing somewhere where she can be turned out all summer and see what that does for her? x x
 
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Well seeing hay is in short supply this summer and prices are going through the roof so to speak. I got quoted £8 per bale yesterday if I wanted to buy in. I'm down 123 bales this year because of the weather and I have 4 horses, luckerly I own my own land, so no livery fees. So come this time next year how many thin horses do you think there will be. But getting back to the point MrsElle was asking how did we rate her mare, most said bad have pts. I said for her age she looked good, what people forget you can stuff them full of grub and they still look thin, just like the human race.
 
If any person can't afford it, then they shouldn't have the horses, end of really.

Haylage here through winter, is £40 a bale and we get through about 5 bales per week abouts. Extortionate yes, but necessary. We have our own hay during the summer which takes costs down a bit, but not many need it as the grazing is in plenty, nitrated and always lush then.

But anywho that's not what the topic is about. I know about having poor-doers and good-doers, and my god I'd choose a good doer over a poor one anyday!
 
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johnrobert said:
Well seeing hay is in short supply this summer and prices are going through the roof so to speak. I got quoted £8 per bale yesterday if I wanted to buy in. I'm down 123 bales this year because of the weather and I have 4 horses, luckerly I own my own land, so no livery fees. So come this time next year how many thin horses do you think there will be. But getting back to the point MrsElle was asking how did we rate her mare, most said bad have pts. I said for her age she looked good, what people forget you can stuff them full of grub and they still look thin, just like the human race.
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Okay Johnrobert if people cannot afford to buy hay for their horses then they should sell those horses to someone who can afford hay for them or have them put down. How many thin horses will there be next year? Certainly none of mine. The only emaciated people you see are those living in areas of the world where starvation is life. I do not see any emaciated people where I live and if you do then where in the world do you live? I also do not see any emaciated horses on my yard and no I dont stuff them full of any old grub, they are fed appropriately to their age and condition. My old horses (some almost double MrsElles horses age) are not all on the same feed programmes because what suits one old horse may do nothing for another old horse. That was what I said in my earlier reply that perhaps MrsElle is giving her horse lots of feed but it obviously isnt the right sort of feed for that horse because the horse looks dreadful. Sometimes it takes a little while to figure out the exact feed pattern for old horses but you can do it if you have the right sort of knowledge.
 
just to stick my oar in,the mare looks so sad- she is painfully thin and looks unkempt. as another poster suggested, why not spend a bit of quality time with her- pull her mane a bit and a bit of a groom- TLC in other words. i have no doubt that the OP is doing her best for Ellie but i fear time is fast running out- i hope i am proved wrong.
 
I would have probably gone in for a closer look but you would be able to see from her face that she was an older horse. I assume her company all look healthy so to a person with horse knowledge it would be obvious the horse was old and being well cared for but just not carrying condition. So no I wouldn't have reported her but the person that did probably knew nothing much about horses. The RSPCA should talk to your vet and hopefully it will go no further (I haven't read your other thread)

People are suggesting feeds that will get condition on but the fact of the matter is her digestion probably won't make much of them. Add to that the fact she's not in work so she's doesn't have the opportunity to develop and maintain muscle and you're pretty much wasting your time. Good grass, good hay and some high fibre feed is the best for the old timers. We have one at our yard that looks significantly worse than this girl. Vet is out every 3 - 4 months to check him over and keep the bute prescription going. He's about 28 and you can see his entire spine, hips and rib cage but he's happy and he's eating so the owner has decided to keep him toddling along.
 
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