Was I harsh today?

J

Janah

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Lady on yard has 3 ponies, two small ones and a cob. She has been to yard twice in last month. YM poo picks as wasn't happening, at extra cost. Has made clear DIY.

Both small ones have laminitis. Took four days for owner to respond to tel calls. Ponies brought in and stabled by YM. Vet eventually called and treatment suggested. Vets wouldn't come out to YM calls as not owner. Owner showed up when threatened with RSPCA.

All three ponies have been more or less abandoned for winter. Feet and coats in real bad state. All with lice and big one with mites. Owner told me today that bigger pony had 'allowed' her to lead around field and put a brush on him. I told her if she did that every day, as in regular handling, things would be much easier for her. Bigger pony can be nasty (I don't altogether blame him as gets shouted at all the time) and she is scared of him. Owner said that leaving him for so long 'taught him a lesson'. I suggested that if she handled him every day and a regular routine would be far better for them and her. I was greeted with a glare and 'I do that every day' when I know for a fact that she rarely visits. The laminitics weren't visited 'til 2 pm today.

I really want to shake this owner by the throat.
 
OMG :( how sad for the horse and ponies.

I dont think you were being harsh. Your concern is for the well being of her horse and ponies.
 
Call WHW - maybe they can talk some sense into this person.

Why on earth bother having animals if you aren't going to take care of them?:mad:
 
We have tried to give good advice without sounding judgemental but I AM SERIOUSLY ABOUT TO LOSE IT WITH HER.
 
IMO it is really the YM or YO responsibility that animals kept on their property is looked after properly and within the law.

I dont think you were harsh, I dont think I would have been able to stop myself saying more.
 
Problem being I am happy where I am and don't want to make waves. YM is on the case and is losing it also.

She left her last yard because of treatment, or lack of treatment to ponies.

She doesn't even seem to like them. I really, really don't know why she has them.

She thinks I am soppy to visit twice a day. and groom,and ride often and talk to my boy. She can't understand why he is so good to handle and when I say it is 'cos I am consistant and he knows what is going to happen next, she walks away.
 
the trouble with people like this is they see horse owning as some sort of one upmanship (but only when it suits). With this type of owner you have to be blunt because it is all they understand. They never last long on a yard once they get "sussed" out. My one and only ex livery did the same thing, tried to kid on she came up to her horse at 5 am before we were up. Once it was turned out in a field she didnt look at it for weeks (but again tried to tell us she checked it daily). She hadnt ridden it this year and last year it was ridden about ten times when she would take it into the middle of a run down scheme where she had her lovely abode to show it off to the neighbours. A few home truths about horse care expectations had her running to the hills. We were her fifth yard in a year.
 
I had this problem at my last yard, it was truly awful. Gypsy owners, no help at all from YO, I had to feed sugarbeet to keep them going, and break the ice every day. persuaded my vet to come down (for free), and she bodyscored them at 1, and said it was very serious. YO still not interested, in fact started screaming at me for interfereing. I was tearing my hair out, so left the yard. It was an awful time.

When I left, I called the BHS - got a call back from the welfare officer saying the grass would be thru soon and "thank you for your concern". NOT impressed, but she knew the YO.

There were other things that I could have done, but was aware of the risk of "reprisals".

I hope to god those ponies are ok. :(
 
The Animal Welfare Act puts a Duty of Care on both the owner and keeper. A keeper is defined as someone who has control over an animal, even on a temporary basis, i.e a haulier. This would also include your YM as they are putting themselves forward to assist in the care of these horses.

The duty of care covers the five freedoms,
its need for a suitable environment
its need for a suitable diet
its need to be able to exhibit normal behaviour patterns
any need it has to be housed with, or apart from, other animals, and
its need to be protected from pain, suffering, injury and disease

all animals must be checked at least once a day.

Do you/she have a contract for your DIY livery? Ideally this should include a section as to what action would be taken by the YO or YM if it was felt an owner was failing in their duty of care to their horses.

Would definately contact the WHW, when it comes to horses, they have much more experience and are not so easy to fob off as the RSPCA

Hope this helps, you certainly aren't being to harsh, to many people will look the other way
 
Stop losing your temper and getting worked up about it - report her to the RSPCA for neglect :)

My yard are having a major ordeal with a handful of liveries and the police are now involved. CUt to the chase and call the RSPCA - these sort of people don't respond to tact and polite.
 
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