Poor Horse - I could have cried.

[Lakesidelil]

Not my usual thing, but I decided to go and have a look around Henley Horse Market today. No idea why I did it. I know what it's like there and know the heart ache it can cause.

There was a bay gelding, around 16 to 16.2hh tied to the rails. He went to rub his head against someone and was told to F**k off. I went over to the poor old boy who was as thin as a rake, his tail had been rubbed raw, but worst of all he could hardly put weight on one of his front legs. From the back it looked like his leg had litterally been broken off and put back in totally the wrong place. His whole leg and shoulder shook when he tried to move.

I went to find someone in authority, but when I came back the horse had gone. I searched around the car parks and can only assume he'd been hidden in a lorry.

I came away feeling I'd let that poor boy down. There were no Vets or RSPCA there at the market and so I'd decided I'd buy him to have him put to sleep if I had too. The only thing I came away with was a parking ticket as I'd parked on the grass verge in the car park as there were no spaces - what a day!

 

[kerrylou123]

i don't dare go to henley anymore. I'd end up coming home with all of them if i had the money, or the space. Its just so sad seeing all those poor horses! plus its full of weird pervy men!

 

[Illegal]

OMG how heart breaking, I would not be able to go to a horse sales. My friend went to one and saw a little girl put her pony in the sales, it was bought by a meat man and when he was loading it the girl said does he want his rug as it is cold? the man replied he will not need that where he is going. I could have sobbed when she told me.

 

[kerilli]

poor poor horse, this is why i can't go to the sales, it breaks my heart. some people are unbelievable, i have mine pts rather than risk them ending up god-knows-where if they go through the sales.
if his leg was that bad i hope he's on his way to heaven tbh, and i really really hope someone kind gives him a scratch and a cuddle before he's sent on his way.

 

[Lakesidelil]

I keep thinking about him today. I just have a feeling he was loaded up and taken home at the end of the sale or even worse and went to the meat man.

With all this rain I hope he's not been dumped in a field somewhere with no rug or shelter.

Goodness knows why I've done this to myself as I know what Henley is like.

 

[Spyda]

TBH, a swift trip to the abbatoir might be best for the poor soul. God, poor boy. What a way to end up. Some human's should be shot.

 

[miss_bird]

I hate the sales for this reason and i do end up bringing the worst cases home and spending far too much money on them, but unfortunately we cant save them all unless we had money like the beckhams.
But 1 or 2 saved here and there does help, but the ones that are not helped breaks my heart

 

[Cuffey]

Please write a short un-emotional report to your local Trading Standards Dept and ask politely if the Animal Health Officer could attend future sales as you considered this horse was not fit for transport but you were unable to establish who owned it.

Sometimes Animal Welfare people do allow ''unfit'' horses to be sold because there is a greater chance they will find a better home than the one they came from or hopefully as suggested above get to abattoir quickly.

 

[Lakesidelil]

Good idea Cuffey. I will make sure I do this.

Some time ago Henley Maket always used to have an RSPCA officer or Vet in attendance, but there didn't seem to be anyone watching this time.

 

[sleepingdragon10]

And that is why I stay away from sales! Poor chap, by the sounds of it he'd have been better off being pts than being sold on

 

[rascal]

I was there but i didnt see the horse you were talking about. There is a vet at Henley but he often doesnt stay long. The rspca used to go and things did improve but they dont go anymore and its rapidly going downhill again. That place should be closed down. As for parking............GRRRRRRRR!