Welfare concern - what to do?

hairycob

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I moved my horses from my old yard a few months ago for 2 reasons - lack of maintenance & a couldn't care less attitude to welfare.
About 3 weeks ago I went for a walk that included the footpath through the old field. Pony that belongs to YO have 3 raw patches on his face that looked like he had rubbed. He had one similar last year that I kept clean until it healed. (YO put sudocreme on it once & then left it)
Son went past the field yesterday & told me his face looks a right mess so I went along the footpath this morning to have a look. It's horrendous - one side of his face is a raw mess, not just surface rawness but deep & it looks infected. It's about 3" by 4" & the rest of his face & ears are covered with bald patches. Someone has slapped what looks like sudocreme on it which has stuck dust to the wound. The pony is also extremely obese but that's not new. Think Section B in 14 acres with 1 other horse, only comes out of the field twice a year - if that - to have his feet trimmed & you'll guess just how fat.
I'm not comfortable about approaching YO as we had strong words about welfare issues before I left when the Vet said my horse with an infected leg needed to stay in but she didn't see it was necessary & he would be fine walking through deep mud to get to the field. I am trying to get hold of someone I know whose horse is still there to find out what is going on. If I find out he hasn't been seen by a Vet I will report it & I would prefer to contact ILPH but their phone line is only open weekdays & it's unlikely that I will be able to phone Monday because of work commitments which means Tuesday. Their website says they prefer phone calls, but if I email them I could perhaps get a photo to send. RSPCA hotline is 24 hour so could contact them anytime but would it be better to wait.
I'm getting myself in a right state about it & would appreciate some calm rational advice.
 
ring the RSPCA right away. Explain that the pony is BLEEDING . This will trigger an urgent visit. stress they must visit today if possible pony is in need of urgent veterinary attention.
Please let us know how you get on. You can always try the WHW [ILPH} email too.
 
It's not actually bleeding though - it's raw, inflamed & weepy. I've managed to get hold of other owners husband & left a message for her to call me urgently as soon as she gets in. If she tells me Vet has been out I will just keep an eye on the situation. If, as I suspect, Vet has not been called I will phone RSPCA straight away.
 
Photos really help welfare charities, even if you ring now and send the photo in later
smile.gif
 
I managed to speak to the lady I know & she had a right go at them a few days ago - same thing as last year & she had been keeping it clean but it wasn't getting better. Then a few days ago she went up & he had obviously been rubbing against something sharp or hard & she said it looked like he'd been in a car crash. They have now told her that the Vet has been & he is on antibiotics so we are keeping an eye on the situation. If she is not happy it's being dealt with she will let me know & I will call ILPH (the joys of yard politics!). We are both convinced it's an allergy & he will have the same problem each summer unless the root cause is found. It looks like bad sweet itch but it's only on his face & ears.
 
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