What are trading standards powers?

Mare Stare

Mare Stare

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I've been told by the BHS legal helpline to write a letter to the lady that has left a horse I gave her on my land. (Full detals on my other thread "What do I do?" ) I was advised to write her a letter stating that if she didn't contact me within 48 hours that I'd have to leave an Abandonment Notice on the gate.

This was on Monday. I thought I'd give the lady another day or two before starting to threaten her. She hasn't contacted me at all.

Anyway, just after drafting my letter ready to post in the morning (thought I'd post it via registered post so that she can't say she hadn't got it) I found she had left a bucket in my field (she hadn't refilled his water though which only had a couple of inches of water in it). So clearly she is still coming to see him, so I probably can't accuse her of abandoning him.

Is it worth me contacting trading standards? I know they mostly deal with transport issues but this horse is on land that I rent. I am not allowed to sublet this land and she does not have permission to keep him there. Would they have the powers to remove the horse in a case like this?

I don't want him removed. I'm hoping she'll transfer ownership back to me because I don't think she's going to have the means to look after him. I just don't want to make threats that she can ignore.

Edit - the horse has been microchipped and had passport details taken (not sent though as far as I know) in her name (yes, I know. I was stupid to let her do it. Hindsight is great.). This is why things are more complicated than they need to be.
 
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Trading standards are great! I don't know exactly what their powers amass to but I have had success with them on both occasions that I've called them in to help. In your situation I can't see what they could do though. I don't think this is a problem that has anything to do with trading standards.
 
I just thought that they may see it as an animal welfare issue as the lady obviously has nowhere to put the horse. I know they are a bit more proactive than the RSPCA.

I'll give them a ring in the morning and see what they say. I just thought maybe someone on here might know.
 
TBH from the limited info on this thread the part that seems to be missing is any 'trading' for the trading standards to concern themselves with. Difficult to know what to do unless you are v friendly with landowner and could ask them to write a letter requesting rent or similar?
 
Tickles said:
TBH from the limited info on this thread the part that seems to be missing is any 'trading' for the trading standards to concern themselves with. Difficult to know what to do unless you are v friendly with landowner and could ask them to write a letter requesting rent or similar?
Click to expand...

Well, I used to think that trading standards were just for traders. That was until somebody kept maliciously calling the RSPCA and Trading Standards out on my mare and foal a few years back. I wasn't trading. Never have traded. Not interested in trading. Yet they were a thorn in my side right up until I moved my horses over the county border. They warned me that my county's TS would be checking up on me. They never did though and nobody has reported me since even though one of my fields is surrounded by houses on three sides and I'm sure if I was mistreating them I'd have been reported.

But tbh I think there was something going on behind the scenes as the Trading Standards officer had the lady I thought was reporting me in her phone and seemed to know her very well. So I'm confused as to what their role actually is.

I know in cases of neglected and abandoned horses they do come out to inspect them even though there is no evidence of business.

:confused:
 
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You need to leave notice for her to quit. If she ignores that you go to court and get an eviction order. If that is ignored you call the bailiffs in and they can remove the animal for you.
 
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