Photos. Would you ride this horse ?

[exracehorse]

Would you ride this horse. 7 hours a day. For 5 days ? My friend has returned From a riding holiday in south of France from hell. It was a birthday year treat to herself. I had amazing help and advice from another HH member privately. As a recap. Friend who rides my horses. Booked a holiday through a travel riding company. She used them previously for a trip with horses in Mongolia. Arrived. Seven horses. Ridden all week for 7 hours a day. A lot of cantering up and down hills. And not cheap either ! Horses were in a bad way. Two thin. But ok ish. Others not good. Welfare cases. Saddle sores. Two had lymes disease. One was lame all round. Was told it’s ok when it gets going. Horse she was given was 19. And a mess. She refused to participate. Complained to chap in charge. He horrid. You’re a spoilt princess. You know nothing. They are marathon horses. She obviously called the company. He said ….. unless the animal welfare shut the place down, them there was nothing wrong. And therefore she would receive zero amount of any refund. Company ignoring her. Friend is French. Has Lived here for many years. She joined her friend who lives there. It was two hours from her parents place. So with flights and the trip. An expensive cost. And felt so bad for the horses. This is the place she went to. https://www.unerandoenardeche.com/ This is the agency who is refusing refund https://www.cavaliers-du-monde.com/randonnee-equestre-france/les+hauts-plateaux+d'ardeche/259

 

[teapot]

Good god, no.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

oh crikey absolutely not

 

[SEL]

I'd be contacting a solicitor!

Poor horse. That place needs shutting down.

I've ridden in many, many countries and you do have to adjust your eye after seeing fat horses in the UK, but that one isn't fit for purpose.

 

[Roasted Chestnuts]

Actual F&c£ing hell how disgusting! I’d be posting that far and wide!!! Destroy their business!!

 

[scats]

That’s absolutely horrific.

 

[Surbie]

No. Just no.

 

[Kunoichi73]

That's a big no! That's dreadful. Poor horse.

 

[IrishMilo]

I really wish I hadn’t seen this… what is the name of the company? Name and shame them. Seriously plaster it everywhere.

 

[lynz88]

Omg!!!!!! I would be calling a lawyer perhaps. That is so unbelievably sad and what's worse is the operator that she booked through doesn't see a problem!!! So sad for the horses. They look like solid PTS cases for me

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

No way!

They need shutting down there is a welfare organisation in France.

I know because someone I know found a horse she once owned that ended up in France and they helped her get him back.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

Omg!!!!!! I would be calling a lawyer perhaps. That is so unbelievably sad and what's worse is the operator that she booked through doesn't see a problem!!! So sad for the horses. They look like solid PTS cases for me

not pts....careful slow nutritional rehabilitation under a vet though and certainly not working

 

[exracehorse]

not pts....careful slow nutritional rehabilitation under a vet though and certainly not working

Think they are all ex trotters

 

[lynz88]

I think if the horse was younger, then yes most definitely. But at 19, I would be hesitant.

 

[FieldOrnaments]

oh good lord i missed that it was 19

 

[exracehorse]

I really wish I hadn’t seen this… what is the name of the company? Name and shame them. Seriously plaster it everywhere.

The agency is owned by Christophe lesourd and the guide who owned the horses is hubert jung

 

[FieldOrnaments]

get your friend to leave google reviews and also contact any travel agents endorsing/working with them & contact WHW

 

[exracehorse]

I really wish I hadn’t seen this… what is the name of the company? Name and shame them. Seriously plaster it everywhere.

The agency is owned by Christophe lesourd and the guide who owned the horses is hubert jung

 

[ester]

nope, that's a hell of a lot worse than I was imagining from your previous post.

 

[Glitter's fun]

La Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA) 39 boulevard Berthier 75847 PARIS CEDEX 17 Tél : 01 43 80 40 66 Email : contact@la-spa.fr www.la-spa.fr La Société Protectrice des Animaux (SPA)

 

[Somewhat Off The Way]

Please contact World Horse Welfare. If there's even a slim chance they can talk to the relevant authorities in France it's worth a try

 

[helffrich]

Would you ride this horse. 7 hours a day. For 7 days ? I did post last week but not photos as waited for my friend to return. Met up with her today. From a riding holiday in south of France from hell. It was a birthday year treat to herself. I had amazing help and advice from another HH member privately. As a recap. Friend who rides my horses. Booked a holiday through a travel riding company. She used them previously for a trip with horses in Mongolia. Arrived. Seven horses. Ridden all week for 7 hours a day. A lot of cantering up and down hills. And not cheap either ! Horses were in a bad way. All very very thin. Welfare cases. Saddle sores. Two had lymes disease. One was lame all round. Was told it’s ok when it gets going. Horse she was given was 19. And a mess. She refused to participate. Complained to chap in charge. He horrid. You’re a spoilt princess. You know nothing. They are marathon horses. She obviously called the company. He said ….. unless the animal welfare shut the place down, them there was nothing wrong. And therefore she would receive zero amount of any refund. Company ignoring her. Friend is French. Has Lived here for five years. She joined her friend who lives there. It was two hours from her parents place. So with flights and the trip. An expensive cost. And felt so bad for the horses

I live in France and the photos you posted show that the predicament of these poor horses should be reported immediately.
There are multiple organizations, foundations and associations dealing with animal and equine welfare that are competent to handle such cases.
I don't know which part of France you were in, but if you can't report yourself, please let me know where/who (by mp) and I'll see what I can do from this end.

 

[silv]

I really wish I hadn’t seen this… what is the name of the company? Name and shame them. Seriously plaster it everywhere.

I agree, poor poor horses, that is awful.

 

[Squeak]

That is terrible and far worse than I'd expected from your previous post.

Just to double check - the company is French not an English one? Just clarifying as my mind had gone straight to English ones.

 

[horsimous]

God no,horrific

 

[exracehorse]

That is terrible and far worse than I'd expected from your previous post.

Just to double check - the company is French not an English one? Just clarifying as my mind had gone straight to English ones.

Yes. French. and organise horse trips around the world

 

[sunnyone]

It would seem that this is the company to which OP is referring: https://www.cheval-daventure.com/vo...pes/a-cheval-en-terres-ardechoises-48093.html.

 

[Cloball]

Their responsible travel guide doesn't seem to concern horse welfare.

In contrast I was worried when I went to Mongolia as it's a long way to go to refuse to ride and our ponies were positively fat and so shiny considering they live out in the mountains all year round in up to minus 40. If people can't manage to maintain proper horse welfare in France what hope is there!

 

[Peglo]

That makes me so sad! Those poor horses. How could anyone think it was ok!
I did think the pictures would be bad from your first post but that is so much worse. I hope your friend manages to report the company to someone who will take action.

 

[SantaVera]

Needs reporting to whoever regulates riding holidays over there and the firm you booked with.