Stamford Horses

Just an after thought.....we are all thankful to Andy, but he has not posted on here since alerting everyone so won't have seen the thanks he is getting.
Anyway we can make sure he gets the praise deserved?
 
I could make him a facebook page?
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yes i hope Andy has been well thanked as well and thanks Lee for your response on here and at the site. it is a pity we cant all do more in these cases so offering moral support is the least we can do and thanks afterwards. x
 
Assuming as we all hope, that these horses pull through fit and well in the end and assuming that they are not returned to their owner, by which I do not mean to pre-judge any outcome - all innocent until proved guilty after all -(and neither is that intended to spark a debate, it's just fact - gosh, you have to be so careful) could not these two chaps be used as the "face" of a campaign to raise awareness of horse welfare and that if people are willing to keep an eye out and report welfare concerns, then something can and more importantly will be done? I agree it does take some bravery sometimes and the job of animal inspectors, be they RSPCA or local authority under the Animal Welfare Act, WHW field workers etc is not one I'd relish a lot of the time.

We need to raise awareness of not only the positive duty of care under the Animal Welfare Act, but also the duty to act where the welfare of the animal is likely to be compromised if it's environment doesn't change, not only where it has already got to, or beyond, the extremes of what might be just about termed acceptable. This means the public and welfare bodies working together - one to report and the other to provide help the reporter can be confident will be forthcoming. I know it takes a lot in terms of resources, manpower and most important, finances, but it doesn't take much for the public to become disillusioned with what they perceive as at best a delay in reponses to often desperate requests for help and at worst a lack of interest altogether. Yes, there will be many where there is actually no problem, but then there will cases like this one. If the public can see responses then they are more likely to donate money to keep this going. But then I'm probably teaching the welfare societies to suck eggs.

I agree that anyone at Burghley this week should make a point of telling the BHS and the other societies that they have noticed what has been done and that as a result they are making a donation where they might not have before. Can I add my thanks to everyone involved.
 
Lee and everyone, huge thanks for today and for rescuing the Stamford Two. Everyone on the Forum, don't push too hard for updates and pix: this is now almost certainly subjudice and nobody would want to jeopardise the lives of Carrots and Spud.
 
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it is a pity we cant all do more in these cases so offering moral support is the least we can do and thanks afterwards. x

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We can all do more! Most of us are around and about in the country (and closer to town) riding our horses, driving to work, going shopping, whatever! We see things. Sometimes we go past if it's not TOO bad!

It's worth remembering that the BHS only has a small team - headed by Lee - who are salaried. Most of the BHS Welfare work is done via the scores of volunteer welfare volunteers around the country, who will check out reports of neglected or mistreated horses, try to work tactfully with the owners (where ignorance is the problem) and then escalate a case before it gets to the severity of the Stamford 2!

These volunteers do a fantastic job - usually with no publicity or recognition. We could all give a little more help and support - whether it's with time, or money, or just keeping our eyes open a little wider and taking the time to report the not-so-bad cases. The Stamford 2 haven't been in that condition for years - or they wouldn't have lived. They've deteriorated over a period of months. Maybe a low-key friendly visit by a tactful local welfare officer months ago might have prevented this happening - or maybe the owner wouldn't have listened then - who knows!!

What I DO know is that - over MANY years - the BHS has helped thousands of horses (and in many cases their owners too!) This was 'high profile' - so BHS has got the credit. But there are many, MANY more cases where we just don't know how much the BHS welfare volunteers have achieved - with support from the team at Stoneleigh!
 
Thanks for taking the time to post an update on here tonight you must be shattered like evryone else that turned up there today, and a very big thankyou for all youve done
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Debs x
 
Thank you for the update.

I'd just like to point out to people as there is such anti rspca opinion on here that it sounds like it is the rspca doing the investigation and case (if a case is to be brought).

Of all the welfare charities it is only the rspca who pay for prosecutions and because of this the rspca inspector is extremely busy preparing cases (being office bound) and is therefore not always as available as other agency officers. Hence it can take a while to attend jobs ontop of huge areas covered, also the WHW and such like only receive calls about horses. The rspca inspector has to contend with all the calls regarding the horses and every other animal on earth!!

Also the description of a call by the public also has a bearing on when it may be attended, i.e a thin horse complaint would likely be urgent and attended within a day or two, a collapsed horse would be emergency and action would be taken that day whether that be attendance or a vet call out.
 
Hi Lee,

thanks for your post.

Unfortunately, its not the first time 'hands have been tied' by the RSPCA - last time this happened, and i reported it myself, 2 of the horses were in as bad a shape, but like these were declared to be 'not suffering' by the vet. 2 were put down, 1 died due to ragwort poisioning and i have the only one left.

I have to wonder kind of training the inspectors/vets get in equine welfare? it seemed to me that in our case, there was a lot of confusion, especially in part of the inspector.

If you would like to know more, ( and its quite a story ) then please feel free to PM me.
 
Thank you,Lee, for your efficiency and attendance today. It was encouraging and impressive to see someone "at the top end" still in the field and doing such a brilliant job. Thank you for taking the time to update personally - you must be shattered!
By the way....welcome to the Forum.
 
Lee, thank you so much for the update. I think it's amazing what people power can do...the two horses were in desperate need, and thanks to a combined effort are now safe. Can I just ask a teensy favour? Would it be at all possible to have a little progress report on how they're doing in a few weeks time? I appreciate that you're incredibly busy, but i'm sure we'd all love to know how they're getting on. Cheers, Beth.
 
Thank you to the BHS, and on a personal level to Lee, Andy & Chloe and everyone involved in the rescue including those with mobile phones giving us regular, nail biting updates. It just shows what the power of positive energy on a horsey internet forum can do
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You lot rock! x
 
Lee, your actions yesterday followed by this post confirm you to be amongst the rarest of people in positions of 'power'. Some years ago I spoke to you about a welfare case and, having recovered from the shock of getting through directly to you, I got the impression then you had both a heart and a sensible head and were able, were it humanly possible, to get things done.

Having been a BHS Gold member for many years, I am more than satisfied my decision to renew it every time is absolutely worth every penny. So much so that eight years ago I also made my son a member, and renew his membership along with my own. We're very proud members today.

However it pans out, thank you for stepping in here and doing what you did.
 
Lee,
There must be loads of people like me, that have Gold membership for the insurance but had no idea how EFFECTIVE the BHS is. I hope the publicity / exposure of this case encourages more people to become members and donate.
 
Thankyou for taking the time to post after such a long day. You must be exhausted, and can only again thank you, Andy and Chloe (oh and all the nutty HHOers
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) who took the time to care.
 
A huge thank you to Lee and everyone involved. When I read the first post I was in tears for those poor horses.


member of the " I am a BHS gold member and proud of it" club.
 
Thank you for the update, Lee, and - as everyone else has said - thank you for your prompt and bold action yesterday to save the Stamford Two.

I don't know if I am alone in this, but I really didn't think of 'rescues' as being part of the BHS work or remit. Sorry for my ignorance. I was so impressed with what was achieved yesterday.

I have toyed for a while with the idea of joining the BHS and my mind is now made up - I will join today!
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I have been considering joining the BHS for a while now and this has convinced me - I am now a Gold member.

Well done to everyone on getting together to sort this. Lucky, lucky horses. It could have been a very different story.
 
Just another thank-you and well done to all those who got involved yesterday, from the sounds of it, there's been a brilliant outcome and it's great to know your work isn't going un-noticed and these ponies will hopefully live out their days in comfort now.
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