Welfare Issue? - WWYD??

Irishdan

Irishdan

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For the last five years I have kept my horses at a local farm five mins from my home. Its an ideal situation for me but unfortunately there is another woman who keeps her horses at the same farm and she is a complete nightmare. Wont go into too much detail but she really is awful, trust me!
So, this woman has a big ID, probably around 17.2, on loan from WHW. The first Winter she shut her horse into a teeny paddock (and stabled in a teeny 10 x 12 stable overnight) which bordered onto one of mine. He was given next to no hay and I was constantly having to repair the separating electric fence as he was trying to break through to my side for forage. I gave in and started throwing hay into him as he was so hungry. I eventually got in touch with the WHW and spoke to the field officer. He admitted that the woman was an 'awkward customer' and that he hadnt actually checked under the horses rug on his last visit. He said he would speak to her and get back to me but I never heard from him again. A few days later the horse was given access to a larger field and appeared to get more hay, so I can only assume he did pay a visit. The following Summer the horses hooves became so long he was stuggling to walk. I videod it and sent it to the WHW and within two days the farrier was out - result again.
Now, I dont want to come across as an interfering busybody but when you have to witness this day in day out it really starts to get me down. The horse just never looks right. Totally lacks any muscle tone, dull coat and very lifeless all year round. He is a big lad with massive amount of bone and to my mind should be really well covered. He is ridden perhaps 8 times a year when the mood takes her and she then takes him out for hours. He had a bad fall on the road a few years back and has done damage to his hind quarters resulting in severe muscle wastage and now walks sideways.
So the usual Winter routine for this poor animal is in full swing and Ive seriously had enough of it. He is put in his teeny stable at around 5 pm. Fed a pile of haylage in the corner of his stable - lets just say I would feed my donkey more. He is bedded down on a minimal amount of barley straw. So by 9pm (when I am back along feeding mine) there is nothing in his stable as he has eaten it all, straw included. There is absolutely no routine in the mornings. It can be as late as 1pm before he is let out his stable and given another pitiful amount of haylage. I think he does get a hard feed at night but certainly nothing in the morning. TBH I think its the fact he eats his bedding that keeps him going. It makes me mad to think of that big horse standing for 15/16 hours with nothing to eat.
So just looking for opinions really. My OH thinks I should take photos and get back to WHW but am kind of put off as feel like they will think Im just wanting to cause trouble, given that she still actually has the horse in her care and they are happy with it. The woman is totally unapproachable so thats not an option for me!
 
e-mail Lee Hacket at WHW, tell him the same as you have us. If you put it in writing (obviously including the name of the owner and the location) then you have a record of your complaint, I would also ask for feedback.
 
It sounds like WHW have got through to this lady in the past and are probably your best bet.

And they will take horses back if they have to, but in the current climate (particularly if he isn't sound) it might be difficult for them to loan him again.

As he isn't hers you probably can't really offer to take him on even if you wanted to... but it might be worth checking that you can't keep an eye/share?
 
*hic* said:
And the YO says what about it? After all it's his business, not yours!
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The yard owner is a farmer who knows SFA about horses and basically doesnt get involved with us at all apart from moving poop and gathering rent. So do you think I should be taking the blind eye approach??
 
FestiveG said:
e-mail Lee Hacket at WHW, tell him the same as you have us. If you put it in writing (obviously including the name of the owner and the location) then you have a record of your complaint, I would also ask for feedback.
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Thank you, that is v helpful. Think I will take some photos tonight as evidence and send these also:)
 
I couldn't take the blind eye approach, I would be writing to WHW on a weekly basis I should think! Poor old boy, he would be better off dead than that.
 
Clodagh said:
I couldn't take the blind eye approach, I would be writing to WHW on a weekly basis I should think! Poor old boy, he would be better off dead than that.
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Thats exactly how I feel Clodagh. He is almost 20 and so deserves better than this:/
 
Lee Hackett is BHS.

Yo has to be involved - the law says so.

You need to speak to the adoption part of the WHW and let them know again what is going on, and demand they take immediate and swift action.
 
Whw need to take this more seriously.
they should be doing proper regular checks


don't feel like you are nagging.
they horses need us to look out for them ass charities can't act if they arnt informed
 
blucanoo1990 said:
Whw need to take this more seriously.
they should be doing proper regular checks


don't feel like you are nagging.
they horses need us to look out for them ass charities can't act if they arnt informed
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Im really not that sure how often they do checks. I think having spoken to the Field Officer the last time, he too finds her unapproachable and difficult. From the story he gave me I also think he went ''all out ' to get her this horse as she already had a Shetland from them and had just lost her own old horse. Also she previously worked for the RSPCA and a local horse rescue so he probably thought it was an ideal home. With this in mind I do wonder if he feels he has to let her keep the horse after sticking his neck out for her and possibly going above the heads of others in the organisation. She can certainly turn on the charm when she has too but really has no idea at all of keeping a horse of this size:/
 
Took this tonight at back of 10. He will stand like this until let out stable tomorrow anytime from 9am to 1pm. Dont suppose there will be any straw left. It makes me mad to think that this was a rescue horse originally and should now be free of suffering. Kind of shines a new light on WHW too:/

Picture-1_zps91090f5e.jpg
 
Is this a case of should know better or won't? Either way it needs dealing with.... Poor boy spending a night with no bed..... Mine would be on the phone himself...
 
I have to say, from that pic, it does look as if the horse is on rubber matting (correct me if I am wrong OP, as it's hard to tell) in which case it is common practice not to put much down. I personally wouldn't do that though. The pic also doesn't show a lot of the stable so hard to tell what forage is in there etc.

But taking your word for everything OP, if what you say is correct, then you really need to continue hounding WHW as it sounds quite concerning given that the horse still belongs to them.:(
 
Moomince Pie said:
I have to say, from that pic, it does look as if the horse is on rubber matting (correct me if I am wrong OP, as it's hard to tell) in which case it is common practice not to put much down. I personally wouldn't do that though. The pic also doesn't show a lot of the stable so hard to tell what forage is in there etc.

But taking your word for everything OP, if what you say is correct, then you really need to continue hounding WHW as it sounds quite concerning given that the horse still belongs to them.:(
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Yes, there is rubber matting down.

Its the lack of forage thats the main concern, what you see in the photo is all there is and he will munch what straw is left.
 
Irishdan said:
Yes, there is rubber matting down.

Its the lack of forage thats the main concern, what you see in the photo is all there is and he will munch what straw is left.
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I fully understand your concerns. I have issues on our yard with a similar situ.

I really do think you need to continue hounding WHW, and if they don't do anything then contact another organisation.
 
Definitely keep in contact with WHW. Why does the woman not feed him more? Is it financial , un-educated ? , laziness? WHW should be keeping tabs on her theirselves and I'd actually expect them to be close to taking the horse off her. Can't believe that's from someone that's worked in animal charities too! :(
 
i would be contacting someone other than the field officer as it sounds as if he is either scared of the woman or was too involved in the original homing and is covering for her lack of care. Go above him and explain to them all you have said to us and see if that gets a result.
 
When I had WHW ponies the FO checked them every 3 months,and they were thorough, looking under rugs etc and one one occasion when I wasn't there leaving me a note to say pony had a slight cough and had a vet seen her (he had).
I would definitely go back to WHW, and voice your concerns, not particularly about the bed as people do sometimes use minimal bed with rubber matting, but the lack of forage, particularly if he is not turned out till 1 pm the next day.
 
holeymoley said:
Definitely keep in contact with WHW. Why does the woman not feed him more? Is it financial , un-educated ? , laziness? WHW should be keeping tabs on her theirselves and I'd actually expect them to be close to taking the horse off her. Can't believe that's from someone that's worked in animal charities too! :(
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The first time I spoke to the Field Officer he did ask me if I thought it was a financial issue! It could be but surely that should have been sorted out way before she was given the horse! To be fair it is not laziness as she is there twice a day - just no routine. Its like she has only ever had experience of looking after small ponies. Without being rude about it I do think there is a real lack of intelligence.:/
 
Ibblebibble said:
i would be contacting someone other than the field officer as it sounds as if he is either scared of the woman or was too involved in the original homing and is covering for her lack of care. Go above him and explain to them all you have said to us and see if that gets a result.
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You have totally it the nail on the head! Thats exactly my thoughts!

Horse currently still stood in his stable, bless him:/ My hands are totally tied here - it is so frustrating!

Have taken more photos this morning and will email WHW today.

Thanks to everyone who has replied and agreed that something has to be done. :)
 
I agree with earlier mention of bhs. Last time I contacted both bhs were actively helping, doing hooves and monitoring hay, whw phoned back to say everything was okay the horses weren't a welfare case (bags of bones) when I said that was beacuse bhs were involved I was told that the horses were fine all along and they'd chatted to owner who'd just chucked the wrong rugs on that week (one week of no rugs leave shetland, Welsh a, cob and something else bones?!)... The horses were later let out onto a main road. I found the customer side of whw brilliant, phoned several times to chat to me, although after horses were let out phoned to tell me they were all still fine in the field (bs), ultimately bhs actually provided the action.
 
PandorasJar said:
I agree with earlier mention of bhs. Last time I contacted both bhs were actively helping, doing hooves and monitoring hay, whw phoned back to say everything was okay the horses weren't a welfare case (bags of bones) when I said that was beacuse bhs were involved I was told that the horses were fine all along and they'd chatted to owner who'd just chucked the wrong rugs on that week (one week of no rugs leave shetland, Welsh a, cob and something else bones?!)... The horses were later let out onto a main road. I found the customer side of whw brilliant, phoned several times to chat to me, although after horses were let out phoned to tell me they were all still fine in the field (bs), ultimately bhs actually provided the action.
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Now thats interesting! I had always held the WHW in high regard until I have had the displeasure to witness this particular horses care over the last five years. Im certain years ago there was a very strict criteria which had to be met when adopting one of their horses but doesnt appear to be so now! Her stable must have been checked and it is way way too small for an animal his size. Not only that but he suffers from COPD and would probably benefit from being out 24/7. It would appear she has had no advise/education from WHW:/
 
Bhs did far more than whw, though I can't comment if that was simply due to them arriving there first. I've always held whw in high regard but was a little disappointed that they seemed more keen on keeping me happy than the horses.
 
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