Welfare converns

[PeterNatt]

I don't know if anyone else has noticed how in many cases of the equine welfare cases which have been reported in the equestrian, national and local press that the owners of the horse(s) concerned are elderly people. Is there a genuine issue with elderley owners that needs to be addressed so as to safeguard their horses?

 

[touchstone]

I think that this is a very valid point Peter. I know that elderly people often struggle to look after themselves let alone their animals due to failing health, isolation and sometimes finances, and they might also have outdated information on the best way to manage their animals.

Rather than persecuting them though I feel they should be supported as many of them will have had their much loved animals for many years, I know that there are charities that will look after cats/dogs while the owners are in hospital whereas with horses it is so much more difficult to arrange anything.

The underlying problem will be the financing, time and expertise to offer help to them I would think. Maybe we need something like a Pony Club for OAP's where they could socialise.

 

[Littlelegs]

Very good point. I'm not saying its always the case, but some people have dementia in these cases so maybe that needs addressing. & some have just always been cruel & got away with it till now. A friend of mine lost her elderly horse age 70 & has said she'll only part loan in future for fear that in 20 years time she wouldn't cope.

 

[Spudlet]

Just because someone is old does not make them a sweet little old granny. Some people are just nasty, regardless of age. I have firsthand experience of what dementia can do... But not every horrible older person is ill. Some are just horrible!

 

[Goldenstar]

I was in involved with one case some years ago without going into too much detail it was quickly clear that the horses elderly owner had some form of dementia and simply had lost all perception of quanties .
IMO the fault lay with his family who had allowed this to continue it was very sad I persuaded him to sign them over both were in their twenties he organised his day around them .
Despite being extremely thin ,teeth done and fed hay both quickly recovered one was rehomed as a companion and the other became a magic first pony for a older child learning to ride I saw it four years after at a small show looking brilliant.

 

[Spudlet]

I actually find it ageist to suggest that every old person will struggle, too! I know plenty of fully independent older people who certainly do not need some do-gooder bothering them.

Don't be too quick to look for excuses for cruelty. Looking at the case that I suspect prompted this - custodial sentences for animal welfare cases are still pretty rare. The court would have taken any mitigating circumstances into account in sentencing. The fact that this guy got 16 weeks should therefore tell you something IMO.

 

[Goldenstar]

I actually find it ageist to suggest that every old person will struggle, too! I know plenty of fully independent older people who certainly do not need some do-gooder bothering them.

Don't be too quick to look for excuses for cruelty. Looking at the case that I suspect prompted this - custodial sentences for animal welfare cases are still pretty rare. The court would have taken any mitigating circumstances into account in sentencing. The fact that this guy got 16 weeks should therefore tell you something IMO.

I am not being ageist I saw this with my own eyes .

 

[neelie OAP]

To me there is no excuse for neglect , these things do not happen over night, surely neighbours could be more aware in these cases and most probably go a long way to prevent these situations!

 

[Rose Folly]

I think you he a valid point, Peter. I am heading into that age group, and I'm very well aware that when I'm 80 my cob will be 'only' 23 - no age for these days. My horse, my dogs, my other animals and my liveries are the breath of life to me. But my OH isn't horsy - and he's also older than me - and I do worry sometimes about what would happen if I got dementia or some other ailment. Friends and neighbours would tend, I think, to take the kindly view (too kindly) based on the irrelevant fact that in my younger days I have looked after my animals with great love and care. I hope my son, also an animal lover, would keep me right.

So, God forbid, I hope that if welfare ever became an issue, someone will step in to protect my animals.

On the other hand, it isn't just oldies that are at fault. There's a battle going on locally at the moment over a young couple who look after (or fail to look after) their horses appallingly. They can't claim old age and dementia.

But well done for bringing the issue up.

 

[touchstone]

I actually find it ageist to suggest that every old person will struggle, too! I know plenty of fully independent older people who certainly do not need some do-gooder bothering them.

Don't be too quick to look for excuses for cruelty. Looking at the case that I suspect prompted this - custodial sentences for animal welfare cases are still pretty rare. The court would have taken any mitigating circumstances into account in sentencing. The fact that this guy got 16 weeks should therefore tell you something IMO.

I don't think it ageist at all to realise that there are people who struggle as they get older, my dad is in his seventies and still does his own horses, but it certainly isn't as easy as it was in his thirties. If people are managing fine then great! Nobody has said that every old person needs help, just some that do. Some older folk grew up with never using a dentist etc for their horse and are probably unaware that they even exist; I know how many things have changed over my lifetime of looking after horses.

Of course there will always be those who don't care or are happy to be left to their own devices, but I think we could support those who do want/need help more.

I also don't look for excuses for cruelty, but cruelty happens by all ages of people, not just the elderly, and it is far more likely that an elderly person will struggle with the physical aspects of horse ownership than a younger person, not agesist, just fact. I think it is those situations that support could make a huge difference to welfare.

Dementia is another issue of course where a horse will probably need alternative care arrangements at some point.

When you look at horse societies it is often those who compete, breed, or are still out riding regularly that are catered for. Once horses and owners are retired there seems to be little point to mainitaining membership for some owners - although I do realise that it is often the older members of some societies who add a wealth of experience and organise things for the benefit of others.