Welfare issue/horses left without water

[Maybe?]

There are some new horses in a paddock on a footpath where I walk my dog. I noticed their arrival on Sunday and upon closer inspection it became apparent they had no accessible source of water. On Tuesday, water still had not been provided and one of the horses was struggling to stand for any amount of time before collapsing back down. The others were stood around the trough waiting for water.
I was walking back home over the footpath to fetch them some water myself when I met an RSPCA inspector who said the horses looked in reasonable condition, turned out on lush grass and he was happy to leave them. I pointed out their lack of water and he investigated further, calling a vet for the one which was down (very old and emaciated) and sending for some water. I believe they contacted and met the owner.
The horses are still in the field today and have since run out of the water provided by the RSPCA. They are stood around their trough again waiting and show signs of dehydration. Most of them also have very long overgrown feet (one so much that they are beginning to curl over) and one is very underweight with an injury. a lady in a house neighboring the field called the rspca again while I was there and they won’t come out for another 4 days..... as the horses seemed in good enough condition when they last visited 😡
are there any further actions I can take? I don’t think these horses can take 4 more days of dehydration in this heat. The lady who rang the rspca is offering them drinks of water from her garden tap. It’s infuriating that nothing is being done for these horses!! 😢

 

[Sandstone1]

There are some new horses in a paddock on a footpath where I walk my dog. I noticed their arrival on Sunday and upon closer inspection it became apparent they had no accessible source of water. On Tuesday, water still had not been provided and one of the horses was struggling to stand for any amount of time before collapsing back down. The others were stood around the trough waiting for water.
I was walking back home over the footpath to fetch them some water myself when I met an RSPCA inspector who said the horses looked in reasonable condition, turned out on lush grass and he was happy to leave them. I pointed out their lack of water and he investigated further, calling a vet for the one which was down (very old and emaciated) and sending for some water. I believe they contacted and met the owner.
The horses are still in the field today and have since run out of the water provided by the RSPCA. They are stood around their trough again waiting and show signs of dehydration. Most of them also have very long overgrown feet (one so much that they are beginning to curl over) and one is very underweight with an injury. a lady in a house neighboring the field called the rspca again while I was there and they won’t come out for another 4 days..... as the horses seemed in good enough condition when they last visited ��
are there any further actions I can take? I don’t think these horses can take 4 more days of dehydration in this heat. The lady who rang the rspca is offering them drinks of water from her garden tap. It’s infuriating that nothing is being done for these horses!! ��

Try world horse rescue or redwings

 

[Nari]

I'd chase the RSPCA, say you have photos of the situation & if they don't send an inspector who knows about horses today then you will be contacting the local press about both the horses & the RSPCA's inappropriate lack of action. You could also try contacting the BHS or WHW, but I don't know if they can take action or only advise.

 

[stencilface]

Try world horse rescue or redwings

This. In the meantime please arrange something so they've always got water. Although it's meant to tip it down where I am tomorrow it's going to be over the weekend

 

[pixie27]

I'd chase the RSPCA, say you have photos of the situation & if they don't send an inspector who knows about horses today then you will be contacting the local press about both the horses & the RSPCA's inappropriate lack of action. You could also try contacting the BHS or WHW, but I don't know if they can take action or only advise.

Agree with saying you'll go to the press - Horse & Hound might pick up a story like that. I remember years ago people used to say call WHW over RSPCA for horses? Or do you have any local horse rescues that could intervene/put pressure on the RSPCA?

When I was about 12/13, a friend and I found horses dumped in a field in very similar circumstances to what you describe. RSPCA said they knew who owned the horses and wouldn't come out. We later got shouted at for interfering by two older men in a van. Didn't stop us taking water down and pestering the RSPCA (with the tenacity that horse mad kids have).

 

[The Fuzzy Furry]

Whw, BHS welfare, both have excellent field officers x

 

[Maybe?]

Thank you everyone. I have since been in touch with WHW and they are looking over photographs I have sent them. Hopefully they will be more effective than the rspca ��

 

[Pinkvboots]

Thank you everyone. I have since been in touch with WHW and they are looking over photographs I have sent them. Hopefully they will be more effective than the rspca ��

That's good to hear I was going to suggest taking some pictures I hope they sort it out

 

[AmyMay]

Whw, BHS welfare, both have excellent field officers x

This. Bit don't mention the RSPCA involvement.

It was BHS welfare who were responsible for taking some very swift action to help save the life of two horses that the RSPCA weren't overly concerned about (big story on here a few years ago).

 

[Chuffy99]

And this sadly is why when the RSPCA door canvasser knocked on Monday I said not a chance, we’d had a case in the village like this a couple of years ago and they were useless, he said he’d not had one person sign up!

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

I'd contact the BHS. I had good results with a dumped pony a few months back, they got it sorted out promptly

 

[Nari]

OP have you had any luck helping these horses?

 

[Keith_Beef]

I met an RSPCA inspector who said the horses looked in reasonable condition, turned out on lush grass and he was happy to leave them. I pointed out their lack of water and he investigated further, calling a vet for the one which was down (very old and emaciated) and sending for some water. I believe they contacted and met the owner.
...
a lady in a house neighboring the field called the rspca again while I was there and they won’t come out for another 4 days..... as the horses seemed in good enough condition when they last visited

What the other posters said: tip off the local press, local BBC radio and TV.

Also, suggest that both the RSPCA inspector and the Vet take a trip to the optician's...

 

[Reacher]

What the other posters said: tip off the local press, local BBC radio and TV.

Also, suggest that both the RSPCA inspector and the Vet take a trip to the optician's...

Agree with first paragraph, sniggered at second....:lol:

 

[Quigleyandme]

Don't have much respect for the RSPCA as an organisation. Too much emphasis on pursuing spurious prosecutions against hunts operating within the law and too little on animal welfare. We found a very rare bat on the floor of the cellar where I worked. Their advice to the receptionist was to put it outside and maybe a cat would get it. My farrier referred two severely laminitic and untreated ponies to RSPCA. They congratulated the keeper on the fine, fat condition the ponies were in. I would only phone WHW or BHS with concerns and give the RSPCA a big swerve.

 

[Follysmum]

This is why I will not support the rspca any longer. Atrocious attitude when I reported a very ill foal many years ago. Useless

 

[TheMule]

I didn't have much luck with WHW when I reported some very skinny horses either, the guy seemed to believe the clap trap story given and told me he was satisfied with how they were cared for.