RSPCA seasonal "advice"

I hope they also advise that a rug is removed to prevent overheating as well. That is just as cruel. They should be clearer that only some horses need rugging. Not all. I passed a field full of little black and white hardy types in cambs yesterday and they looked nice and fluffy. Happy and warm!

Rugging works the other way as well ie like the horse I stroked the other day ...sweaty under waterproof heavy rug and cob! Fluffy feathers etc. Cruel.

I will email the RSPCA to ask why they give such incorrect advice. I need to read the whole article though I dont like abstracts?? If it is one.
 
nicolenlolly said:
So one of the mums at school who thinks I am cruel for not rugging my horses sent me this link via email and on Facebook...

http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutani.../details/-/article/ENQ_Seasonal_Advice_Winter
She then had highlighted the bit about horses:
"We advise that if horses and ponies are kept outside during the winter they must have access to shelter at all times.

They also need a constant supply of fresh water (check that ice hasn’t formed on it) and a rug to protect them against the cold and wet. Extra food will be needed too, as winter grazing provides very little nourishment."

So I don't have a problem with food and water, I can do that!! They have natural shelter but how on earth can they state it needs a rug without herding up and "rescuing" all the moors ponies, mountain ponies etc etc?!? Ridiculous!
Click to expand...

I HAVE BEEN ON THEIR WEBSITE AND CANNOT FIND THE BIT ABOUT RUGS CAN YOU COPY AND PASTE IT TO ME. INDEED THEIR PICTURE SHOWS HORSES ON LIGHT SNOW WITHOUT RUGS. i JUST CANOT SEE THIS ABOUT RUGS???? PLEASE ADVISE ME. THANKS

sORRY HAVE SEEN IT BUT IF YOU GO TO THE MAIN SECTOIN NO MENTION OF RUGS. i THINK THIS IS AN OVER REACTION AND ANOTHER LETS GET AT RSPCA AGAIN. PERHAPS A CHANGE TO THEIR WORDING. IF YOU CONTINUE THE REST OF THEIR ADVICE IS SPOT ON. NO FURTHER MENTION OF RUGS! AT ALL. ONLY ONE WORD. TELL THE MOTHER TO READ THE REST OF THE SITE.
 
Last edited:
The first section is all many people will see. The advice there needs to be general but not make sweeping statements.

Then again there is a lot of money in people calling at PREMIUM RATE if they are concerned.
 
lachlanandmarcus said:
But the advice is wrong from a welfare perspective unless qualified to say that without shelter many horses will need rugs unless they are used to living out without them and have a thick winter coat/native type.

It isnt like some random person giving out crap advice by being simplistic. They are supposed to be the experts and based on this advice more and more horses will suffer by being overweight and overheated and more and more people will have RSPCA inspectors turning up because neighbours read this sort of stuff and think - those poor horses with no rugs and report them.

More horses suffer from being overhot than from being a bit cool. They are designed to live outside with no rugs (as long as they do it habitually and have plenty of food)!

Poor show.
Click to expand...

I think that the issue is that, 'in the wild' horses do live out without rugs in harsh conditions, but in their natural habitats they have natural shelter that they can seek out. All horses should have some form of shelter. There are many variables which will affect the need for rugging a horse, do you think it would be more responsible to say 'horses don't need rugs?'

I do however think that DEFRAs guidelines go into far more detail with regards to horse care and rugging (well, in face all horse care) and are more appropriate.

http://adlib.everysite.co.uk/resources/000/263/388/PB13334.pdf[/url See section 1.22 for rugging
 
Queen bee I can't see the link as yet as I am on my phone however, I think as EstherYoung said, to say horses may need rugs or some horses need rugs would be more accurate.

I am not a trouble maker nor do I have a problem with the RSPCA what I have a problem with is that this was circulated on FB as a specific link titled seasonal advice that she shared. Why worries me is that all the do gooders out there will now be reporting perfectly happy creatures because the RSPCA weren't more careful with the wording of their literature which people will take at face value!
 
nicolenlolly said:
Queen bee I can't see the link as yet as I am on my phone however, I think as EstherYoung said, to say horses may need rugs or some horses need rugs would be more accurate.

I am not a trouble maker nor do I have a problem with the RSPCA what I have a problem with is that this was circulated on FB as a specific link titled seasonal advice that she shared. Why worries me is that all the do gooders out there will now be reporting perfectly happy creatures because the RSPCA weren't more careful with the wording of their literature which people will take at face value!
Click to expand...


It's pretty much what they say on the defra link although they go into much more detail re what may and may not constitute a rugging need... It is actually quite an impressive little guide :)
 
Beans2000 said:
Another dig at RSPCA :yawn:

I agree horses should be rugged anyway....nothing worse than muddy horses!
Click to expand...

I don't think the OP was making a dig specifically at the RSPCA, but the fact that their incorrect information is leading to her being told by non-horsey people that she isn't looking after her own properly..
 
Thank you dark prince-it seems some people read some of the posts and not all in order to try and make trouble-as I already said I wasn't trying to have a dig at them just the fact that the advice is questionable and can cause trouble when in the wrong hands! But it is like banging your head against a brick wall, some people just don't want to listen, see the title and have a pop, that wasn't what this thread was for.

Queen bee I have read it now and yes you are right, much more sensible advice, shame they couldn't all double up and save money?! :)
 
I can't quite believe this thread has gone on! Over a slight wording issue which may be misinterpreted! I am quite sure if this was some other organisation this thread wouldn't have made it past a few posts!
 
I cant be bothered to read back

I have my own opinions about the RSPCA but even I am sick of the sights of all the threads about them

#giveitarest

Anyway your going to give Moomin1 a peanut butter overdose if you keep on!!! :p
 
Has the OP told us what type her horses are? Maybe the school mum who highlighted the rugging issue is an experienced horse owner and can see that the OP's horses do indeed require rugging? Maybe she thought that the RSPCA link was the only way to get the message across?
 
I have two mega hairy welsh section a's and a hairy cob who looks more like a yak! School mum does know about horses but is a welfare fanatic, she writes hate mail to anyone of eBay selling fur etc etc.

Moomin I think you have issues, you repeatedly miss the point that I couldn't give a rats rear end who published the info, it is still flawed but hey Jo, if peanut butter is what makes you happy, knock yourself out, I on the other hand intend to build snowmen and drink hot chocolate :)
 
What does type of horse mean Liz? I've a tb out without a rug atm, breed means nothing. It's the indivdual and the way it's been kept (allowed to get a coat, good forage and shelter etc) which means more.
 
a horse only needs a rug for 4 reasons.
1 they dont get a good thick natural winter coat, very few horses dont, most get good natural coats.
2 they have skin problems e.g rain scald ect
3 they are rugged so there back is dry for there owner to ride.
4 if there clipped

none of mine is rugged, they over heat and one is like magic he can get out of it even when its all buckled up, hates them. also only had one on my stallion as he had sweet itch, but horses or ponies do not need them unless the above reasons. all my horses get really thick natural winter coats and have a choice of shelter or stable and loads of trees but never go in to them as they prefer the field like most natural horses do.
 
Last edited:
Moomin I think you have issues, you repeatedly miss the point that I couldn't give a rats rear end who published the info, it is still flawed but hey Jo, if peanut butter is what makes you happy, knock yourself out, I on the other hand intend to build snowmen and drink hot chocolate

Calm down, I was merely pointing out that this thread has gone on far too long over such a silly issue, not sure why you are being so defensive. Get over it and move on! ;-)
 
What a shame they couldn't be bothered to get someone who knew what they were writing about in the first place! I note they still have the rubbish about not getting horses sweated up in the afternoon (presumably it is fine in the morning?)
 
The trouble is there are some people that probably do all the fluffy stuff so they just took their word for it? Lots of rug cruelty out there but plenty of folk think that plod needs to be wrapped up like a snug baby. So who do they listen to. At least they amended it.
 
Nicolenlolly, just do what someone else said give her the WHW site and ask her to read also tell her that a lot of horses don't need rugging as if they overheat they can get lice. My lot aren't rugged as I no longer clip and they have nice thick coats, my late tb I use to as she was very thinskinned and her winter coat was like others summer.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top