Suspected abandoned pony

kathantoinette

kathantoinette

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Hi all
I work in Bradford (West Yorkshire) one day per week - I live 80 miles from Bradford. A young pony/horse was tethered (council land) very near the place I work last Tuesday - reported to me by a guy who works there every day. I got there Thursday morning, had a look at him; pretty good condition, young, tethered with pin securely into the ground, a bit around for him to eat, no evidence of being watered. We gave him a drink. My guy had given him water Tuesday and Wednesday.
Thursday late afternoon, one of the workers met a guy seeing to him - the guy said he'd bought him for £50 and was going to move him along, hoping for another £50.
Monday morning - pony been moved off the secure pin, chain now attached to a tree in a hedge row a little further along from where he was previously.
I arrived Thursday (yesterday), pony cant eat in a full circle, taffled around the trees, untaffled pony, gave him a drink, area pretty bare where he's tethered, not been moved since Monday.
Spoke to my guy at work this morning - pony still in same place, he gave him a drink.
As we don't have clear evidence that no-one is seeing to him, RSPCA can't do anything (I called them). I'm suspicious as pony is not on the proper tether anymore.
My guy at work has given him water a couple of times each day since last Tuesday.
Any ideas for my next move? No-one there over the weekend. It's obviously on my mind...
 
If horse in question doesn't have any water then it needs to be sorted. I've never had any luck with the RSPCA but world horse welfare (used to be ILPH) have always been much more helpful. They have been to see and subsequently resolved some of the issues ive rang them about when the RSPCA said there was nothing they could do. Maybe give them a go? From their website - Worried about a horse? 08000 480 180
 
The council should have Animal Welfare Officers that can deal with this. They generally get the RSPCA involved but they seem to have more influence with them.
 
(I suggest getting in touch with the BHS Welfare Officer for your area. They will always respond to requests and are very helpful and discrete.
 
Definitely call some sort of authority, preferably an animal welfare one. Tethering isn't illegal but must be done properly, which doesn't seem the case here.
 
Having been a contact for abandoned horses, I don't think you will have any luck here.

1. The horse is in good condition generally.
2. The owner is visiting, and has been spoken to, and has moved the horse.
3. It has water (yes, the authorities will count that as watered even if you are the ones doing it, but probably the owner is watering daily).


I would call the council, update the RSPCA, even the BHS and WHW (although they tend to not be interested once the RSPCA has been informed) just to put your mind at rest, but I doubt they will do anything.
 
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