So what exactly are the RSPCA/ILPH here for????

lexiedhb

lexiedhb

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Last week as one of the girls from the yard drove home she noticed 2 horses in a field she passes, tethered, then had to brake hard as a 3rd horse escaped out of the same field. She managed to get said horse back into field. Called the police who said as the pony was now back in its field they didnt want to know!!

She knows the man who owns this field, and so phoned him to ask about these horses. He said he didnt know anything about the horses, and they had obviously been dumped.

Now noone saw these horses being delivered, they have NO access to water or shelter as they are tethered, and the field is really rather lacking in grass (its a hay field).

So the girl from my yard has been taking them hay and water, (they are not in the best condition, to say the very least). She also phoned the RSPCA as noone has seen an owner, and without the girl from my yard the horses would have been without water for at least 7 days by now. The RSPCA said to stop feeding them, and giving them water, and if the owner hasnt turned up in 3 weeks they will come out"!! WTF

So we phoned the ILPH, who said that because the RSPCA has been called they cant do anything as they dont want tread on anyones toes, oh and by the way they also said "we break up on friday and wont be back until 3rd Jan, so dont call then as noone will be here" again WTF????

So on the advise of these 2 organisations we should
a) stop feeding and watering these 3 ponies
b) let one escape onto the road, and then call the police
c) just remove them (not exactly sure to where!)

Fractionately peeved!!!!!!!!! What are these organisations doing!!
 
If you feed them I believe its becomes you who are responsible for them - someone correct me if Im wrong.

Its not the organisations fault - its the laws they have to abide by - so dont blame them to much.
 
No I wouldn't. But thats not what the point is here - there are reasons for them saying what they have - Im sure the organisations are not wanton horse neglecters themselves. But certain things have to happen in order for them to be able to act.

Yes the law needs changing. Thats a fact.
 
This is crazy- poor things! I really hope you can sort this situation out - before they suffer anymore than they have already.

Good luck :-)
 
I've come up against both the RSPCA & the ILPH for a similar situation involving a field full of mares with foals at foot in a bad way. I had a major strop at several different horse rescue centres and eventually the ILPH DID get involved - but only because my vet is an ILPH vet and he intervened at my request. One of the foals had to be put down and it was touch & go with a couple of others as they were all in such a bad state. Like you, I had starting to feed them hay & put water out as I was so worried for their welfare.

What angers me is that at the end of the day it is the horses that suffer. If you were to remove the horses to a 'safe' place, there is always the possiblity that you can be done for theft.
 
Yeah we thought that about removing them.... the ILPH also said we could get sued for feeding them hay (which they obviously desperately need)......... I just cant understand why there is a law which allows horses to be without food and water for three weeks..........
 
I dont think anyone can, writing to your local MPs and whatnot is the best idea, so that hopefully one day they RSPCA etc will be able to act before an animal suffers and not after it has.
There we some significant changes earlier this year but obviously not enough.
I dont think anyone sets up a organisation like this in order to fail animals - but unfortunately they are constricted by the law, and the law in a lot of cases is an ass.
 
I believe it is the land owner who is legally responsible for animals left on his land....technically even if he/she is unaware of them...
Why don't you contact the British Horse Society and ask for their welfare department to help you? They also have a legal helpline...so if you are a member you could find out the legal position which may inform your actions?
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PS Could they have been stolen and dumped?
 
I would just like to say something positive about the RSPCA!!

Me and a friend were hacking out a fortnight ago, and seen a cob stuck with legs either side of a fence and the rail digging into its belly (the top rail was gone off the fence). We seen it on the way from the yard and agreed to phone RSPCA if it was still stuck when we were on our way back (private land and secure). As it was still there we rang and they were out within 20 mins, horse freed. We knew which yard it wes from but no one was there (private and they dont live there), the next week when we passed fence was repaired and all sorted.

Hope this shows that they are not all bad, and the cruelty/suffering line was very helpful.
 
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I would just like to say something positive about the RSPCA!!

Me and a friend were hacking out a fortnight ago, and seen a cob stuck with legs either side of a fence and the rail digging into its belly (the top rail was gone off the fence). We seen it on the way from the yard and agreed to phone RSPCA if it was still stuck when we were on our way back (private land and secure). As it was still there we rang and they were out within 20 mins, horse freed. We knew which yard it wes from but no one was there (private and they dont live there), the next week when we passed fence was repaired and all sorted.

Hope this shows that they are not all bad, and the cruelty/suffering line was very helpful.

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I think you are the exception to the rule. I am sure the RSPCA have good intentions, but their horse knowledge sucks.
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May well of been stolen and dumped.... strange that they went to the trouble of tethering 2 of them though!!

The landowner also phoned the RSPCA etc to be told the same thing, shall contact the BHS.... see what they have to say, although I think the girl who first found them is on about going to the local press!
 
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^^ You left it there stuck in the fence when you went out riding?!!

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I did think that a bit harsh lol

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I'm harsh saying that?
 
Maybe, but what's all this cobblers about treading on the RSPCA's toes...... horse abandoned should be their first priority, not bloody politics!
 
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^^ You left it there stuck in the fence when you went out riding?!!

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It was a decision we had to make - didnt want to be to premature and ring in case the owners had came to find it. Besides its quite a busy country lane - so we werent the only people seeing it!!!!

(Plus it was only about 1/2 hour)
 
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^^ You left it there stuck in the fence when you went out riding?!!

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I did think that a bit harsh lol

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I'm harsh saying that?

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No they were a bit harsh leaving it while out on a jolly ride lol
 
I think if the owners had come to find you'd already untangled their horse they would be nothing but grateful! I certainly would be. I would be less impressed if I knew you'd seen my horse stuck there and not helped and in the course of you leaving he'd ripped his belly open. Sorry sounds horrid but it could happen.
 
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One person hold them one person do the helping? if there was an 8ft hedge how could you see the horse?

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I was just gonna ask that.......... but anyway no harm done to mr stuck horse so all ok in the end!!
 
Have you called your local trading standards dept, they have an animal welfare section who should respond immediately.
 
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Long live Giles.....He married a horse for the money.....God among men

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I'm surprised Admin haven't done a bit of Giles hunting for their winter entertainment....how fast do you reckon he can run?
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Who did you speak to at the RSPCA - if it was one of the 'regulars' on the phone - you need to go higher.

The council would also be a good place to contact.
 
This is just getting silly now! The situation we were in we thought we did the best - we hacked round to yard (which even thou field was were it was, the yards enterance was a mile and a half away, couldnt gain access to the field because of hedge with barbed wire - friends horse is only four and not good in hand when out (type that doesnt like to stand still etc. so that would have been unsafe holding).

Dont know YOs very well so didnt know if they would have liked us going on land, i think an extra 1/2 hour was reasonable as if we hadnt reported then it might not have been found at all. I personally thought we did a good deed!

In situations like that you have to keep everyone safe - oh and to free it the fence would have had to been cut down (post and rail) - i dont normally keep a saw in my pocket when hacking ..............
 
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