Should I report?

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Alfiepie

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Hi everyone , Id like your thoughts on something I think I know the answer anyway but need some reassurance....
In the paddock next to ours are two ponies owned by 2 friends. The thing is I know the owners of one of the ponies from old and to be hinest they are lazy good for nothing layaboouts and surprisingly enough I hardly ever see them come down to the ponies (feed & water - they have NEVER groomed handled them at all and they also seem to think water comes from no where ie they have a tiny bucket filled every couple of days of they are lucky.) Anyway one of these ponies (with the really lazy owners) had an abscess and has been lame for a few weeks so much so that despite being hungry and thin he couldnt even walk through the 6" mud to a tiny pile of hay thrown in for him. Their friend (owner of other pony) insited they call vet who cut our said abscess and advised box rest - so now he is in a field shelter no mats with shavings - No hay or water has been given for the last 3 days that I know of - albeit Im not there all the time. Im just so worried about his welfare. He's not the nicest of ponies and can be quite nasty so I dont particualrly like him per se however that doesnt mean to say I dont think he should be left to suffer as he is - hes going to be turned out again in the mud tomorrow I just feel for him as there is no way he has had his foot bathed and antibiotics given as per instructions. and I know its an awful thing to say but he would be better of being PTS in my humble opinion or rescuing and given a decent loving home. What would everyone else do??? (also worried that if I report them it would come back and haunt me as our paddocks are remote so little chance of anyone else seeing the state he is in and therefore obvious I reported them???
 
Its worth a call I guess

Dont assume they arent going to see to the pony though, I saw the lady who has the paddock next to mine today for the first time in five months yet her horse is stabled at night so I know she must go up at least twice a day

I expect she would say the same of me! A neighbour commented on me only seeing to my animals once a day yet I am up there twice a day and my husband checks on them once too

Very easy to miss someone especially if they arent riding so arent lingering!
 
they have been up to chuk a handfull of hay in field i have yet to see anything more than 1 builders bucket of water in the field and its always kicked over and empty apparently I was talking to the owner of the other pony today and she said they havent been up for 3 days at all they txt her to tell her to do him (she works 13 hrs a day) they dont work at all! She selling her pony as she has recognised she cant look after him properly. I just wish the other owners would do the same
 
Are you sure they are not visited when you are not there?
Has the pony lost condition? If so, does it look very poor? is it lame (you will see when it gets turned out).

Only asking as I met one of the house owners today from up the lane and he thought I had only just started seeing to mine today for 1st time since mid November :rolleyes:
I gently explained that I was there daily on work days by 6am & again after work & probably my schedule didn't coincide with his or hers... She only goes out from school run time to school pick up in afternoon. He has a 7am/7pm commute past & they are away nearly every weekend at elderly parents. She then said how hungry my 2 looked every afternoon & could she help feed them :eek:
Now, TF is a barrel on legs & has had her muzzle dragged out now, HF has a rug on, but both will stand around from 4pm looking hopeful at any passing car.... :rolleyes: :D

I thanked them both for their concern tho :)
 
I think you do know the answer already. Too many animals suffer because people don't like to speak up & turn a blind eye. Okay, so you may be wrong & the horses may be getting care you don't see, in which case the owners should be happy to show any officer their healthy animals.

The Animal Welfare Act 2007 lists the Five Freedoms - your responsibilities when caring for a pet:

1) Freedom from hunger and thirst by providing fresh water and the right amount of food to keep your pet fit

2) Freedom from discomfort by making sure that your pet has the right kind of environment including shelter and somewhere comfortable to rest

3) Freedom from pain, injury and disease by preventing your pet from getting ill and by making sure that pets are diagnosed and treated rapidly should they fall ill or suffer an accident

4) Freedom to behave normally by making sure that your pet has enough space and proper facilities

5) Freedom from fear and distress by making sure their conditions and treatment avoid mental suffering

From what you say, the owners are failing in at least two of those.
 
Is he in a bad way? Does the other friend look after her pony? You don't know if he has been fed or watered so he could have been? To be honest, not getting a groom, having no mats and not being handled regularly are not reasons to report someone, however, not being fed is. I would be very careful and would want to get my facts spot on before reporting someone. If he is on shavings surely there would be some sort of evidence inside the shelter that hay has been put in and water, can you look in? He would be dehydrated by now. I would personally check all my facts first especially if it may bring trouble your way.
 
both horses have lost condition - especially round hips bum and shoulders they are quite bony neither have had a rug on all winter and have lived out 24/7 which would explain loss of condition. Im more worried about lack of water and feed - their paddock is a mud field 6" deep there is NO grass at all now. they probably get 1 slice of hay a day - I know hes on shavings as the other owner told me she also said he had a tiny hay net chucked over door and a builders bucket for water which is always empty. I've turned my eye away for the last 6 months ut its really getting to me now as he is suffering ie abscess and not having his foot bathed etc. They only got vet out because other owner insisted. - incidentally they owe the other owner £100 in paddock rent this month......... I just think that if the other owners horse is sold this weekend then no one will look out for the little fella - I know they have asked some other owners to look in on the pony as they were "tired" and didnt want to go down. The thing is its not up to other owners to look after this pony its their responsibility. they shouldnt have got him in the first place if they couldnt look after him. I am very lucky in my parents do my horse when Im at work but when Im not working I more than make up for it. Including riding my mums horse whilst she is recouperating from a major op.
 
Apparently there was only one lot of poo in his stable today since being seen to 2 days ago.............. I would think that he clearly hasnt been fed/watered as our 2 poo & wee for england!!!
 
In that case, please do try & get hold of the BHS Welfare dept at HQ, they will contact a local officer, or also try the WHW. (both charities also work together quite freely in making sure one of them will attend)

Please let us know how things go OP
 
Can I report at weekend? - Is just I know I wont be at paddocks all week due to work commitments well Ill have fleeting visits myself just checking and filling water and haylage etc I have a busy week this week and no doubt will put it to back of my mind again - as I have done for the last few months - I posted tonight after spending the last couple of days down the paddocks with our 2 and thought wow ours really dont know how lucky the are ..... and seeing him poking his nose out of the shelter and looking really cheesed off.
 
If you're concerned, then ring, worst that can happen is you are wrong. But, I think you must be missing something. If they didn't have enough to drink in the field, they'd have obvious signs of dehydration after 6mnths. And if one has been in the stable for 3 days with no water at all, it will be clearly dehydrated at the very least, if not worse.
 
Im Going to ring on Monday am - Yes I agree that I am probably not in posession of all the facts of this pony but I do know the family from my previous job and they honestly are Lazy layabouts - the owners have done a good job at getting other people to look in on the pony - in fact he subletted off another owner at paddocks but she got hacked off with their lack of attention she booted them off .....I also recognise that My knowing the family from previous employment also clouds my judgement somewhat however the fact i this horse definately didnt have any water for the last 2 days so yes he is dehydrated - ( our 2 have 4 large buckets and a massive blue tub of water in their bit of the paddock filled every day whether need or not) there was one SMALL haynet empty in the field shelter - loose not hung up or anything and could be dangerous if he got his legs tie up in it. I think the owners have traded in on our sympathy in doing a bit for the horse ( chucking in haylage and water) and sees it as an excuse not to do for it herself. They are just a dodgy family so I wouldnt want repercussions on us and our horses....... I certainly wouldnt put it past them .... as I said I know them from previous employment and it wast in a nice way unfortunately.
 
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