Please Help! She WON'T take care of her horse!

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Lisa G

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I apologise if this is in the wrong place, but I'm new here and desperately need some advise!:o

I am very fortunate in that I own a smallholding with ten acres of grazing for my four horses.

Several weeks ago, a young lady I know, who was in equestrian college with my daughter, approached me with a view to renting some grazing. She explained that, although her mother, who lives about a mile and a half away, has grazing, they had a pony who was on loan. The young lady had bought an ex race horse that she was going to keep at her mothers once the loan pony had been collected by the owners, but that since they didn't have a firm date for when it was being collected, or when the TB was arriving, could she rent some land short term in the event of a crossover??

I explained that, as the ground is so dry at the moment, there was just enough grass for my own horses, and that I couldn't rent her any grazing. I did however, say that she could keep the horse here for a short while as a favour, but that she would have to promise to take care of it herself every day, and that she would have to provide feed and haylage herself if there wasn't enough grass. I had also broken my leg the previous week and was looking at four months in a full cast, so I explained that I couldn't take on the responsibility of looking after another horse since taking care of my own was a major undertaking (I never asked her at any point to help lift so much as a bucket for my horses.) She had to promise to see to her horse every day, on the understanding that if she didn't, she would have to move the horse to her mothers.

Well, in the five weeks that her horse has been here, she has visited it eight times. Not once has she, or her boyfriend filled so much as it's water trough.

I have since found out that she has moved in with her boyfriend and that the story about the loan pony was rubbish and she no longer has access to the grazing at her mothers. Her boyfriend has a car and drives to work past my smallholding every day.

I have tried several times to get her to come and care for her horse, and she promises to do so and then doesn't turn up. My husband, who works abroad and isn't home for weeks at a time, asked her to come and feed her horse, since it wasn't fair expecting me to do it. She just said 'move my horse out of the field while yours are being fed'!!

Three weeks ago, I noticed a cut on her horses' leg. It isn't too serious, but does need keeping clean and fly-free. I managed to persuade her boyfriend that she really needed to come an check this. They came at 9.45 as it was going dark, put some Green Oil gel on it and haven't been since. I've had to do it since.

This horse is an older animal (23) and is very stiff on it's forelegs. This girl has commented herself that it was looking lame, but despite me telling her on several occasions that it needs a vet, she won't call one out.

I have a scheduled appointment with the vet on wednesday for my mare and although I'll get saddled with the bill, I don't feel I've got any choice but to get the vet to see her horse at the same time.

If the horse is sound, I'd be tempted to walk it to her mothers house and leave it there (Although doing so on crutches would be, erm, challenging!!)

I finally reached the end of my patience a few days ago and telephoned her to tell her to move the horse off my property. I got a sob story about how she hadn't been to see the horse because she didn't have the bus fair (She and her boyfriend live about 4 miles away), the boyfriend had been too busy at work to bring her over (She doesn't work and has finished college now) She doesn't have anywhere to put the horse ( I know for a fact that she was offered grazing last week, next to where she lives with her boyfriend, but she doesn't want to pay £15/per week. Well, why would she when she can graze her horse for free, and have someone else look after it??) She didn't know anybody with a trailer who could move it for her. Truly Pathetic.:mad:

Since I told her that she must move the horse, she has been ignoring my phone calls and text messages asking her to let me know what she intends to do and when. She still hasn't bothered to come and see the horse.:(

I am going away in a few days for a fortnight and whilst I have someone who will very kindly come and look after my horses, I am loathe to ask them to look after hers as well, particularly if it's not sound. I'm also going to have to move all the horses to another field in the next couple of days as the grass is getting low. There's enough grazing to keep my horses going until I get back, but not for hers as well, and I won't be here to organise haylage if they need it. But I can't let her horse go hungry.

Any advice about what I can do now would be very much appreciated. I'm worn out all ways round dealing with this!

Thanks,

Lisa.
 
Write her a letter, recorded delivery, explaining that you believe the horse has been abandoned on your land, if it is not removed within a week then it will be sold. Or inform one of the welfare organisations that you have an abandoned horse on your land.
 
Taking the p*ss me thinks!
Are you letting her graze at your's for free? If someone was doing me that kind of favour I would be doing my upmost to help them out as a way of a thank you.
And this on top of a broken leg! You poor thing :(
Can you contact the mother and see if she will take the horse and keep it at hers for a while, just until the girl get's herself together (give her the benifit of the doubt)
Really not fair on you.
Hope it works out without too much drama.
 
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I'd write her a letter telling her she has to move the horse immediately or a) you will start charging full livery at £100 per week from the date of the letter, payable in advance, and that unpaid livery bills will be pursued through the small claims court, and b) if the horse still isn't moved after 28 days you will be contacting the RSPCA to advise the horse has been abandoned and they will collect it and pursue the owner themselves. Keep a copy. She just might get her backside into gear when she sees that you aren't prepared to be taken for a sucker any longer. Of course, she might not so you need to have a plan B - get a friend to walk the horse round to the mother's. Tie it somewhere safe or pop it in a safe field. Not your problem. Make sure you padlock your own fields for a few weeks. This behaviour is totally unacceptable but the me-me-me's of this world will always try to pluck at the heartstrings of the selfless. Be firm. You've got enough on your own plate at the moment.
 
This girl has taken the complete p*ss, if I were you I'd make her face reality.

I would whack a big stake in the ground outside my property, tie her horse to it and inform her to get it or you will be contacting the authorities and reporting it abandoned.
And I would follow through.

This may seem a bit unsympathetic to the horse, but the horse isn't your responsibility and only in doing something so drastic will the owner be forced to take some kind of responsibility for it. She knows you're a horse lover and she's a freeloader and she will continue until you take drastic measures - people like that dont have a conscience, nor care what anyone thinks as they are completely selfish types.
Evidence of this is her not seeing to her horse, hell if I had my horse somewhere free not only would I see to it, but I'd offer to help out in return for the favour. 4 miles is not much to walk, if she cared about her horse she would do it.

Alternatively, if you're prepared to take the horse on as you're own, then give her the option to give the horse to you and you will release her of any future responsibility.
Poor horse, I feel so sorry for it, but at the same time I'd not let anyone take the p*ss out of me like that out of principal x
 
Write her a formal letter telling her you will be charging her livery for her horse and will charging full livery for the days that she does not come and see the horse herself. Something like £25 a week for grass livery and £10 a day (£70 a week) for full livery.

Tell her that if she doesn't pay you will taking her through the small claims court/selling the horse to recoup payment/claiming the horse as yours for payment (and having it PTS as it's lame).

Give her a short time to either start paying in (grass livery due a month in advance, full livery will be charged at the end of each week) or to move the horse.

make it offical and formal. If you have a lawer friend, ask them for help with it.

OR contact the RSPCA then put the horse in a small paddock with very little grass and with no water. They HAVE to take action if the animal has no water. You can offer it a backet of water as often as you can but take it away again so there doesn't look there is any when the RSPCA officer arrives. A horse is perfectly fine with water offered 3times a day. They have to respond withit 2days (i think it is).
 
Indiently, there is nothing at all the RSPCA can do about an adandoned horse if it's being care for by someone else. I had this problem a couple of years ago:

I sold my standardbred to a girl and she decided to keep it at the same yard. After a month or so she stopped coming down to see him and I could not get ahold of her. Didn't have any contact details or anything. Tried eveything imaginable to find her. Eventually I started to care for him myself (he was quite skinny by then) and contacted the RSPCA. They didn't have a clue what to do - the horse was being care for by someone and they didn't have any way of getting ahold of the owner.

Eventually (after 6months) i just got him passported back in my name (couldn't remember the orginal passport company so no joy there) and sold him on to a good home.
 
Thanks for all the quick replies!

I have sent her a message telling her that I'll be charging her on a daily basis from now on for horse care, that got no response either, I'm also not sure about the legalities of changing what was a verbal contract and charging her, even though she has broken the terms on her side.

I've also been told, that since I'm the person apparently caring for the horse, that I'd be liable for the horses' welfare and held liable for any neglect if I contact the welfare organisations. :(

I really don't want the responsibility of another, ageing horse and all the health problems it entails (I've just lost my beautiful old man at the age of 32, it was a true labour of love looking after him in his final years, and I don't begrudge one tiny second of it, but it WAS hard work.) I want this horse gone, I don't want to bond with it and I don't want this girl to just shrug and wash her hands of it and for me to end up with the horse by default, but I also don't want to see it go uncared for whilst it's here, I really couldn't let it go hungry.

I have a horrible feeling that this is going to end up being a very expensive favour that isn't going to be resolved without legal help, and I have a sinking feeling that no matter what the outcome, I'm going to be unhappy about this poor old mares' wefare. :(

Walking it to her mothers (It's actually her foster mother, but all her brothers and sisters still live there) seems to be the best option at the moment, as long as she's sound enough to be walked.
 
I've also been told, that since I'm the person apparently caring for the horse, that I'd be liable for the horses' welfare and held liable for any neglect if I contact the welfare organisations.
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Nope, you're not. Call the RSPCA, shove her in a paddock with no water and grass and they will take her away.
 
if she has it on loan can't you ring its owner and ask them to come take it back. otherwise by law you have to put a notice on the gate stating that if it hasn't been collect within 14 days the animal becomes your property and you will sell it to recoup cost.
 
Blimey dont this story make you think 20 times before doing anyone a favour!

All youve done and now this stress and heartache on top. Some good advice given, hope you get it resolved.

If it was me in her position you certainly wouldnt be lifting a thing whilst your leg is as it is. I would have been eternally grateful for your very, very kind offer of help.
 
Sounds like the stupid sefish little bitch needs to grow up.. I dont see why you or the horse should suffer, maybe if you play your cards right you can get her prosicuted for neglect
which would do horses in general a favour as it seems despite going to collage and having a horsey mum she is happy to neglect her horse so a ban on keeping animals would be a result ... or you could just say you will sort it out if she dosent within 14 days then ether rehome or have PTS ... I would doubt she has any money so giving her bills would be a waste of time but her mum might be a better bet !!!
 
I know it's too late for this but a 'signed something' at the start would have been some proof she has well and truly stuffed you. Poor horse. Call the authorities and report her for abandoment. How awful you have been screwed over by this toad of a person. You only have to see what LauraWheeler goes through for her pony to see what 'effort' truly is. I hope she is enjoying her (well-deserved) holiday!
 
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As the horse isn't sellable - and she knows this, get someone to walk it around to the mothers and pop it in a safe field - legally you have no written contract so you cannot sell it anyway, BUT you do have a right to remove it from your land - even if it means tying it up in her garden - which is what I would do.
 
moses06 said:
As the horse isn't sellable - and she knows this, get someone to walk it around to the mothers and pop it in a safe field - legally you have no written contract so you cannot sell it anyway, BUT you do have a right to remove it from your land - even if it means tying it up in her garden - which is what I would do.
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I second this - get it off your land asap if you can, make sure the horse is safe, then walk away - don't even bother to text her anymore, just do it. Once it is off your land, you are no longer responsible.
 
I think you need to contact the ILPH (or whatever they are called now). There are several problems with what various people have advised so far.

1) removing the horse from your land & Quote "Once it is off your land, you are no longer responsible."...wrong, you would be abandoning the horse & you would be responsible. Additionally whose land would you dump the horse on? You'd be really popular with that land owner wouldn't you. You would be doing exactly what has been done to you.

2) Taking the horse to the girl's mothers & leaving the horse there..... wrong, I presume the girl is an adult (just left college?) & her mother is not responsible for her or her actions. You could talk to the mother & hopefully she may volunteer to take the horse but she is under no obligation to. If the girl is still a minor then this would put a whole new complexion on the matter & the mother would be under an obligation.

3) Sell the horse to recoup your costs...... this is possible however as the horse is elderly & has issues in the front legs it would possibly go for meat...would you want that?

4) Court?...... possibly, ILPH would be able to give you the best advice & they wouldn't charge you for the advice.

Good Luck with whatever you do to sort out this problem.
 
I've also been told, that since I'm the person apparently caring for the horse, that I'd be liable for the horses' welfare and held liable for any neglect if I contact the welfare organisations.
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Correct. You have a duty of care to ensure this animal is fit, well and healthy.

Phone the BHS for some advice, they are great. But I'd also contact mother - and get her to try and sort the problem out..
 
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I've also been told, that since I'm the person apparently caring for the horse, that I'd be liable for the horses' welfare and held liable for any neglect if I contact the welfare organisations.
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Nope, you're not. Call the RSPCA, shove her in a paddock with no water and grass and they will take her away.
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Kallibear - this is totally incorrect. And whilst the OP, I'm sure, would enver do what you have suggested, this is totally irresponsible advice. Apart from animal abuse, it is also advice that could end up leaving the OP in very hot water indeed.

There is a duty of care that is expected of anyone who has any animal on their land. The law does not differentiate necessarily between the owner, the keeper, the caretaker, or the land owner.
 
amymay said:
Kallibear - this is totally incorrect. And whilst the OP, I'm sure, would enver do what you have suggested, this is totally irresponsible advice. Apart from animal abuse, it is also advice that could end up leaving the OP in very hot water indeed.

There is a duty of care that is expected of anyone who has any animal on their land. The law does not differentiate necessarily between the owner, the keeper, the caretaker, or the land owner.
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Amymay is correct, sorry OP but once you allowed the animal onto your land, you accepted some measure of responsibility under the law.:(

I would advise talking to WHW for their advice on what can be done.
 
I'd be writing to her to explain unless she removes the horse from your property it will be PTS, (obviously not) but it might kick her the kick up the bum she needs, having said that, by the sounds of things, might be better off if it was in some ways, she's obviously not going to care about the poor old creatire even if it goes somewhere else, very sad indeed. :(

I hope things are sorted out quickly for both you and the horse.
 
flirtygerty said:
I second above, give her a week to move the horse, in the meantime contact RSPCA giving them the girls contact details, but you have to mean what you say, otherwise it's pointless
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I agree,if you tell the rspca that its not your animal and the owner wont care for it.
They could take it and care for it or this might scare the girl into looking after it or finding it another home with someone that will look after it!
 
I probably sound heartless but the poor old thing seems to have been discarded like an old toy, and the best thing is if a welfare place could take it away and rehome or pts as at least it would have a secure end.

I can't believe this girl, she needs a real kick up the rear end about the reality of life and taking responsibility for her actions. If she didn't want the horse, she should have it pts at that age.

I would contact the WHW for advice as the best way to resolve the situation as my first place of call.

Hope you recover soon and get the situation resolved quickly.
 
Please get in touch with the WHW, 'www.worldhorsewelfare.org' there is a contact number on the homepage. They will arrange for someone to come out and assess the horse and make arrangements from there. Believe it or not they have more powers than the RSPCA. Having four horses yourself, do you really want to dump it with her/her mother knowing that this girl isn't going to care for it? Give this agency her number/address/college address everything you have. If they can prove neglect they'll ban her from owning horses all together. I have used this agency on several occasions and they have followed through everytime.

I hate to think that there are stupid, irresponsible, cruel people out there that pray on the selfless, kind individuals like you. She should have bent over backwards to help you.
 
qr- do you know where her mothers grazing is? Can yo not bundle horse into transport and drop it off at her mums?- Thats what I would do, along with a letter sating that this is what you had done to the girl and a convo with the mother.....
 
What a selfish ignorant ungrateful bitch! Another reason for cleansing the gene pool.
Poor horse for having a owner like that.
I would be so greatful if someone did this for me that I'd be volunteering to do whatever I could in return (especially with you having a broken leg).
Sorry can't offer any advice as I am out of touch with the rules and regulations in England. Although you have been given plenty of advice by the others. I absolutely agree with checking with one of the welfare authorities as to what they can do. Not the RSPCA but one of the dedicated horse welfare groups.
I hope you get it sorted out one way or another and that is has a good outcome for you and the horse.
Good luck.
 
My husband has had horses 'dumped' on land at work before and the procedure is to pin a notice up on the gate to inform them that if the animal isn't removed within a certain time frame (I *think* it's three weeks but would need to check), then the landowner can legally claim/sell the horse. I think you need a court order, but you could find out from a solicitor. Surprisingly the horses are always removed before the deadline is up. I know it is an unwanted horse, but I think that this may be the way to go. As awful as it sounds I think the poor animal may be better off going for meat instead of being neglected. It won't lead to a prosecution for the girl, but may well be the quickest way to sort the problem for yourself.

We had a spate of loose horses near me and my father's advice was to stay well clear, once you get hold of the leadrope you are stuck with the problem. I also got stuck with a loose welsh stallion for a few weeks with an in- season mare it was great fun:rolleyes:

This girl obviously couldn't give two hoots about her horse's welfare and it is a problem you certainly don't need to deal with. I'd be ringing the BHS legal helpline if you are a member or certainly seeking legal advice at the very least.
 
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the procedure is to pin a notice up on the gate to inform them that if the animal isn't removed within a certain time frame (I *think* it's three weeks but would need to check), then the landowner can legally claim/sell the horse.
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This wouldn't apply in this situation - as this is a fee paying livery, and the horse has not been dumped.

As said previously - the best people to speak to in this instance would be the BHS - but also send a letter recorded delivery giving her notice to quite, and by what date.
 
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