Tethered horses...what can i do?

[Buds_mum]

Wow, congratulations, the award for uneducated sweeping statement goes to you.

Let's tar all gypsies with the underfed, unformed, unwatered, cares not met and tethered
brush.

Sorry but where did I say ALL gypsies keep there horses in this way?! You merely presume I mean that...

Some however do. Around my area alot are kept dismally, one guy keeps his like 5* eventers.

But if you dare mention that not ALL gypsies are the best horseman you get told you are ''tarring everyone with the same brush'' and making sweeping statements.

proving my point

 

[YorkshireRider]

Wowzer, I must admit commenting on here scares the crap out of me Those of you that put themselves out there - kudos!!

Here, here DorianGrey!

Delicious_D good for you, I drive past some tethered horses and worry about them. They actually look healthy but I don't agree with tethering horses, horses should be allowed to move around, following their instinct as a herd animal. Would you like to be tethered up every day and night? Is that any life for such an active animal?

 

[justabob]

Sorry but where did I say ALL gypsies keep there horses in this way?! You merely presume I mean that...

Some however do. Around my area alot are kept dismally, one guy keeps his like 5* eventers.

But if you dare mention that not ALL gypsies are the best horseman you get told you are ''tarring everyone with the same brush'' and making sweeping statements.

proving my point

Here here Bus_mum, there are some lovely visions of horsemanship here at Appleby Fair in june......... all I can presume is that all the good horsemen must stay away

 

[Littlelegs]

Tethering is a lot more natural than stabling imo. So I hardly think we can condemn tethering as bad in itself unless we also condemn anyone who ever stables a horse? The two seen regularly tethered in a village not far from me (well cared for, only there in summer) live a life far preferable to lots of horses on yards nearby who are in stables year round with maybe 8hrs turnout in a dry summer. Ops issue isn't the tethering, its the standard of care. Which of course applies to any form of management or owner.

 

[Charley657]

Well, its been reported and wil call BHS in the morning....

Good for you!

I'm not sure if its the fact that the horses belong to gypsies or if you are really unpopular on this forum but I am shocked at how rude people have been in this thread.

None of you have seen the condition of the horses or witnessed how much food and water they have access to or how long or short their tethered ropes are. OP has witnessed this and not being a complete novice has cause for concern.

It doesn't matter who the owners are, surely its better to have them checked out to make sure they are okay?

 

[Delicious_D]

I would hope im not that unpopular! Ive done nothing to warrent it.... not that i give two hoots

I couldnt care less if they are owned by the Queen of Sheba....i am concerned and have ummed and ahhed for a few days about what to do. I am not a novice, i have owned several horses, the latest a highly strung warmblood who i've had the pleasure of owning for the last 8 years. I have an equine science degree and worked on a number of top yards as a show groom. Ive also competed to a reasonable level at affiliated and unaffiliated shows.

Had i known my CV would need to be supplied with my OP i would have beefed it up a litte. But as i am working on my development plan for work's pEx system, its not quite ready for critical review yet

 

[Orangehorse]

The worst thing about tethering is that the pony can't get out of the weather, so if it is hot and sunny it has no shade and if windy and wet it can't get behind shelter. However, plenty are tethered and they survive.

As for watering once a day - well the owners are probably up at dawn and see them before dark as well, so no-one would see how often they are watered.

 

[Delicious_D]

Typically, i am at work at 7am and dont leave till 7-8pm...

 

[Charley657]

I was just shocked at how many were quick to jump down your throat and tell you to mind your own business.

If the horses collapsed next week would you have been chastised for not doing anything I wonder?

 

[Delicious_D]

Probably...cant do right for wrong on this forum at times

At the end of the day, as long as the horses are safe and cared for, my conscience is clear

 

[maccachic]

Here, here DorianGrey!

Delicious_D good for you, I drive past some tethered horses and worry about them. They actually look healthy but I don't agree with tethering horses, horses should be allowed to move around, following their instinct as a herd animal. Would you like to be tethered up every day and night? Is that any life for such an active animal?

Its not much different to keeping at horse in a stable/ yard /small paddock, not that I would do either. But if a horse is used to it and can graze constantly and is well provided for , then there are worse fates for an animal.

 

[Delicious_D]

The cruelest thing in life is ignorance. I will say i know nothing of teathering, its not something i would do persoanlly, i have never had a need. But its no different to a riding school horse stood in the stals all day waiting to be used. MY objection is the worry over the lack of water....

 

[Delicious_D]

So I've heard back from WHW. Unfortunately they have no field officer available until next week for this area and advises I contact either the RSPCA or the local council. The horses have been moved closer to the road today, there feet look like they could do with a trim but I've seen worse, but definetly no water.

 

[Goldenstar]

So I've heard back from WHW. Unfortunately they have no field officer available until next week for this area and advises I contact either the RSPCA or the local council. The horses have been moved closer to the road today, there feet look like they could do with a trim but I've seen worse, but definetly no water.

If they have been moved it's likely they have watered them I am not saying its a nice way for them to live but they would die if they where getting none .
Have you rung the BHS they might have someone who would look quicker.
It's not usual to leave buckets with these horses the owners are too concerned they became tangled in them.

 

[tessybear]

Good good, I know it would be difficult for you to see but the Gypsys near us only water and feed at 11pm/12am every night, they also only move them in the dark of night. They could be coming round every night which would make it difficult for rspca etc. to do much about it.

 

[Goldenstar]

Good good, I know it would be difficult for you to see but the Gypsys near us only water and feed at 11pm/12am every night, they also only move them in the dark of night. They could be coming round every night which would make it difficult for rspca etc. to do much about it.

When I had to see tethered ponies / horses we would do a pinch test watch them move to check they where bright and happy to move around. Check for sores on the neck if there body score was fine where would leave contact details attached to the tether.
We would check the surrounding area for evidence of them being moved regularily and for any not so healthy ones tucked away out of plain view.
There was not much else we could do.

 

[hayinamanger]

D_D I would be very concerned, too. There are no circumstances where water should be witheld, other than under veterinary direction. I would ring the BHS, you are more likely to get some action from them.

 

[YasandCrystal]

Good for you!

I'm not sure if its the fact that the horses belong to gypsies or if you are really unpopular on this forum but I am shocked at how rude people have been in this thread.

None of you have seen the condition of the horses or witnessed how much food and water they have access to or how long or short their tethered ropes are. OP has witnessed this and not being a complete novice has cause for concern.

It doesn't matter who the owners are, surely its better to have them checked out to make sure they are okay?

I agree with this. It begs the question to me at just how old some of these rude posters must be; it is very childish. I also worry for the welfare of their own horses if they think it acceptable that a horse is only given limited water.

 

[Goldenstar]

D_D I would be very concerned, too. There are no circumstances where water should be witheld, other than under veterinary direction. I would ring the BHS, you are more likely to get some action from them.

That's a management judgement not the law .
All over the country thousands of tethered horses are kept by watering them at intervals.
We might not like it but we can't stop it a BHS officer will not be able to require the owner to leave the bucket with the horse.( even if they can find the owner.)

 

[Dubsie]

Don't forget grass is about 80-85% water - especially with all the rain we've been having.
Daughter used to ride a pony that was kept up the road, we'd go and get her at 8am, go to a show all day and come back. Despite being offered water, even on a really hot day and going through a variety of coloured buckets and containers she wouldn't drink ANY water till she got home and could drink from the blue bin at her home. We used to hand graze her on verges between classes if it was hot because you couldn't make her drink.

 

[AmyMay]

They're obviously doing well on 1 bucket of water a day... they haven't died yet!

Sadly, for the majority of busy bodies, tethering horses is not illegal and, given that most tethered ponies will knock over water buckets (mine would do it without being tethered...) I think they're being very dilligent taking fresh water to them every day.

So hows about you spend your 10 hours at work working and leave them be? Just saying...

OP concerned about the welfare of tethered horses (and rightly so) and you go in for the attack.

Nice!

 

[Mongoose11]

Have thoroughly enjoyed this thread from start to finish, we had pages 1-1.5 full of Bandwagon Bandits and then the next few pages of Backtracking Bitchers

OP is right to be concerned. There are guidelines that state free access to water etc so what is there to like about horses being without water, regularly, for 10 hours or more. OP didn't say she was 100% or that the situation was dire, she did say that she was concerned.



Good on you OP, glad that someone is looking out for the tethered beasties of your neck of the woods. They may not be having an awful time of it but the fact is that it could be made btter by free access to water.

 

[Delicious_D]

Just seen them being watered
As long as they are being looked after, ill keep my nose out of it. my own personal views regarding tethering are neither here nor there, all i care about is that the horses are being looked after

 

[Orls]

At a place I used to work a while ago they tethered horses on a piece of land across the road. I didn't really agree with it but I was only a groom there and not my place to say. However .... The horses were fine. We had very limited grazing and this was the only option to allow the horses to graze. We couldn't leave them with free access to water as they would knock it over or get tangled in buckets. They were only tethered for a couple of hours at a time though and we would bring them water half way through. If the horses look healthy and someone is checking on them (hard to prove they're not unless you're staring out the window for the full 10 hours you are at work) then there's not much that can be done and you'll only be wasting WHW's time.

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

Just seen them being watered
As long as they are being looked after, ill keep my nose out of it. my own personal views regarding tethering are neither here nor there, all i care about is that the horses are being looked after

That's good, perhaps you just missed them being watered before?

As they have been moved closer to the road, why don't you go and have a closer look at them to check on them as the WHW said they can't come out?

 

[YorkshireRider]

Tethering is a lot more natural than stabling imo. So I hardly think we can condemn tethering as bad in itself unless we also condemn anyone who ever stables a horse? The two seen regularly tethered in a village not far from me (well cared for, only there in summer) live a life far preferable to lots of horses on yards nearby who are in stables year round with maybe 8hrs turnout in a dry summer. Ops issue isn't the tethering, its the standard of care. Which of course applies to any form of management or owner.

I see your point LittleLegs and I agree, its not 'natural' to stick horses in stables, but I would say the stabled horse would be happier than a tethered one at least they are out of the sun / elements and there isn't a risk of getting tangled. I know horses have panicked and strangled themselves in the chain / rope before, very sad I don't mean to sound judgmental about it I really don't but I say how I feel, and when I see a tethered horse, my heart sinks. Some people may not feel this way but I do.

 

[Aarrghimpossiblepony]

I see your point LittleLegs and I agree, its not 'natural' to stick horses in stables, but I would say the stabled horse would be happier than a tethered one at least they are out of the sun / elements and there isn't a risk of getting tangled. I know horses have panicked and strangled themselves in the chain / rope before, very sad I don't mean to sound judgmental about it I really don't but I say how I feel, and when I see a tethered horse, my heart sinks. Some people may not feel this way but I do.

I think that's a very anthropomophic view to take.

How many times do you read/hear/see field horses completely shunning their field shelters whatever the weather?
And do we really know if a horse wants a rug rather than a winter coat and sometimes feel the cold?

The tangled incidents are accidents, but so are the bad stable incidents. Do we look at bad accidents happening in the stable and use that as a reason to shun all stabling?

 

[hayinamanger]

That's a management judgement not the law .
All over the country thousands of tethered horses are kept by watering them at intervals.
We might not like it but we can't stop it a BHS officer will not be able to require the owner to leave the bucket with the horse.( even if they can find the owner.)

Did I say it is illegal to withhold water?

 

[Ancient Hacker]

I applaud the OP for the concern. I don't give a damn what anyone else thinks, but I'm a firm believer that all horses should have access to clean water at all times. Yes, some horses may drink less than others, but since we essentially keep them in some sort of confinement (unlike wild horses who will roam and seek water when they want it) we should ensure they have adequate free access to water.
And if the bl**dy bucket gets knocked over, use a tyre to stabilise it. It's not rocket science.

Again, well done OP.

 

[*hic*]

I applaud the OP for the concern. I don't give a damn what anyone else thinks, but I'm a firm believer that all horses should have access to clean water at all times. Yes, some horses may drink less than others, but since we essentially keep them in some sort of confinement (unlike wild horses who will roam and seek water when they want it) we should ensure they have adequate free access to water.
And if the bl**dy bucket gets knocked over, use a tyre to stabilise it. It's not rocket science.

Again, well done OP.

I'm always interested in the statement "access to water at all times". Does this mean that you travel your horse with access to water? How? Perhaps you don't hack for more than, say 15 minutes without finding something for him to drink? What happens if you have an hour long lesson or clinic? or are warming up and then doing a dressage test? Are you happy about your horse having a good drink of water just before going XC or for a fast hack?