Pony freezes to death

I don't think there's enough information to comment. It doesn't actually say that these ponies were not being cared for properly. I believe I read elsewhere that the one that died was in it's 30's, so would be much less able to recover. Very sad.
 
I'd say it sounds like a horrible accident. It's extremely sad though.

I don't like that the RSPCA had to mention about tethering horses. I can't believe people would even consider that in this weather!
 
king_of_diamonds said:
I don't like that the RSPCA had to mention about tethering horses. I can't believe people would even consider that in this weather!
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some people have no choice but to tether no matter what the weather, our girl is currently tethered as she has taken to trashing EVERY fencing we have put up & in this freezing fog car drivers dont stand a chance of seeing her in time when she gets out.


if done correctly & checked regually tethering is no different to keeping a horse stabled 24/7. (& i am not willing to get into an arguement over it its time for peace not arguements)
 
The RSPCA rep said
“Owners need to ensure that they provide plenty of hay or haylage(corr) and supplementary food, an ice-free water supply, and access to a shelter.”
So I wonder what they'd have to say about my horses? Last year they had access to a big shelter, but wouldn't use it, even when hay was in there. I think because when it's windy for example they like to be able to be out and seeing what is going on. The field was on a hill and quite exposed, so they were out in some horrible weather. This year they are in a field that doesn't have a shelter. However, it is sheltered on 3 sides by tall trees and hedging, and on the fourth side by the slope of the hill, so it's actually a much warmer and nicer area for them to live in.
On the fact of it, this was just a horrible accident, there is nothing in the article that says directly that the poor horses involved weren't being cared for properly.
 
If it was a hill pony then there's not much that can be done to stop them getting themselves into trouble. If it was an owned pony in a fenced field then the owners should have fenced off the pond and supplied a proper water source.
 
Tinypony said:
The RSPCA rep said
“Owners need to ensure that they provide plenty of hay or haylage(corr) and supplementary food, an ice-free water supply, and access to a shelter.”
So I wonder what they'd have to say about my horses? Last year they had access to a big shelter, but wouldn't use it, even when hay was in there. I think because when it's windy for example they like to be able to be out and seeing what is going on. The field was on a hill and quite exposed, so they were out in some horrible weather. This year they are in a field that doesn't have a shelter. However, it is sheltered on 3 sides by tall trees and hedging, and on the fourth side by the slope of the hill, so it's actually a much warmer and nicer area for them to live in.
On the fact of it, this was just a horrible accident, there is nothing in the article that says directly that the poor horses involved weren't being cared for properly.
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Just to point out, the rspca say 'access to shelter' if your field is surrounded on 3 sides with trees and hedging then this is shelter, it is natural shelter, they don't make a distinction that it needs to be a man made shelter. Horses as nature intended will huddle along hedgerows and under trees etc to keep the worst of the weather off them. Yes there are tethered horses in all weathers, I will not go down the debate route of this, but as long as they have access to a hedge/windbreak to put their bum against/under OR are rugged and given protection that way then they also have their needs catered for. The most important thing here is to ensure a horse has enough forage to sustain itself and that hazards such as an iced over pond, are removed/minimised. As said this pony could well have been an older pony, there isn't enough information to say much else, I'd say this is more a reminder to those who may not check their stock daily that in the weather we've had that they must ensure daily checks are carried out etc. and to check for new hazards that may arise.
 
They said "access to a shelter", in the first sentence, I copied and pasted it LOL!

This is also something an RSPCA inspector mentioned to me recently, which was pretty stupid really as access to a shelter for the horses I was talking to him about was the least of their worries.
 
Not really our place to comments, there is no information on the situation other than it was stuck in a pond. it doesnt suggest neglect or such other than poor management. Horses die from hypothermia, the same as any animal. Its a shame, but unfortuantly it is 'natural'

Lou x
 
Tinypony said:
They said "access to a shelter", in the first sentence, I copied and pasted it LOL!

.
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lol I took it off the bottom quote here copied and pasted:
“And they do need access to shelter"

Either way this is just a wake up call to ensure people check their horses and animals daily and try to avoid access to hazards.
 
The horses in the article are not looked after....I know because I`m from the area and everyone knows who owns them but will not report him because he`s a thug, even the police know who owns them...! The horses (mainly gypsy cobs) are bought from sales, covered every year and then foals sold on etc.... It seems to be the done thing in this area (Swansea, Penclawdd, llanelli area) to buy a horse and either tether it or let them roam around the streets, the ones in question are kept on an estuary and it floods...alot, the estuary is open land so the horses often get on the main road, the amount of times I`ve nearly hit one in the dark is quite scary!.
I know of people who tether their horses to busy roundabout to get them used to traffic
 
That's really sad Ayla, shame they didn't mention that in the article. There are ponies and horses in similar bad conditions in my area, but nothing gets done about it.

Yes, a good reminder to everyone. I'll go check mine now :-) (Sun is shining, and it makes you thankful doesn't it?).
 
This is also a problem in dudley and brierley hill area, horses are just left to roam the streets, grazing on any green area they can, running across main roads etc. The council even employed horse baliffs to deal with the problem but they despite being paid seem to pass the buck all the time!!!!..... The RSPCA have removed a few but that last couple after having to board them etc until a court order gave permission to rehome them, ended up costing the charity £5K! Councils really need to clamp down on this sort of thing. If the owners knew that their horses would be caught and removed and the costs involved be payable by them I'm sure they'd soon stop! There'd be no profit to them if all their horses get taken! The councils have (or should have!!) a dog warden service to remove stray dogs from the streets as this is a public safety issue, where is the difference with regard to stray horses, there is even more risk to the public!
 
competitiondiva said:
This is also a problem in dudley and brierley hill area, horses are just left to roam the streets, grazing on any green area they can, running across main roads etc. The council even employed horse baliffs to deal with the problem but they despite being paid seem to pass the buck all the time!!!!..... The RSPCA have removed a few but that last couple after having to board them etc until a court order gave permission to rehome them, ended up costing the charity £5K! Councils really need to clamp down on this sort of thing. If the owners knew that their horses would be caught and removed and the costs involved be payable by them I'm sure they'd soon stop! There'd be no profit to them if all their horses get taken! The councils have (or should have!!) a dog warden service to remove stray dogs from the streets as this is a public safety issue, where is the difference with regard to stray horses, there is even more risk to the public!
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I remember my council doing this over ten years ago! There was a section in the local paper where stray horses were rounded up and caught and then auctioned off...
 
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