What can I do? (Stallion covering foal/yearling)

TommyTwoShoes

TommyTwoShoes

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Bit of background: where I keep my horse there are a large number of fields down a private track that are all privately owned/rented. No one really seems to talk to anyone else and everyone just minds their own business, which is usually lovely.

HOWEVER, a few months ago some 'travellers' (I don't like to label people but their horses are coloured cobs, tethered, and they drive them in sulkies) moved into the field next door but one from me. With them they brought about 5 horses, might be more but I can't really see, including a stallion (which is tethered) and mare and foal (which are kept in a separate field and the foal must now be nearly a yearling).

Until now there's been no problem, I don't agree with the tethering but all the horses have access to food and water, they look in good condition, and the people are up there every day.

That was until today. I was stood at the top of my field with my horse waiting for the vet which meant I had a full view of them and their horses. What I saw was completely shocking. They had the stallion still tethered and they were getting the foal/yearling to stand for the stallion.

The poor thing was squealing, kicking out, and really didn't want to be there. Having worked in the stud industry I know when a mare wants to be covered and this one definitely didn't! They took it back to the stallion twice and both times he covered it. It can't even be old enough to be coming into season properly so I don't know what they were trying to achieve.

I'm ashamed to say, and prepared for a flaming, that I didn't go over there and stop it. I was with my non-horsey Dad and to be honest the people looked like they would have punched me as soon as look at me. I also don't want them to take revenge on my horses as we're the only ones up there so there's no one to keep an eye on them for me.

My question is - what can I do to stop them if I see them do it again? They kept looking over tonight so they knew we were watching and could see what they were doing so they obviously have no shame.
 
Sadly, it is not an unusual occurrence for them to put very young fillys in foal (I have seen them as young as 15 months). Call me cynical but I believe that it is all financial reasons.
I don't know what you can do about it, as they could claim that the filly is older than she is.
Not a nice thing that happens at all, really sad
 
It was awful to watch. Even my completely non-horsey Dad knew that what they were doing wasn't right. I feel really ashamed that I didn't go over there but I don't think they would have listened. I think they'd be more likely to get violent or take it out on my horses.
 
There's nothing you can do I'm afraid I agree with the others :(

I wouldn't put yourself in harms way saying something either, they will carry on regardless. :(
 
TommyTwoShoes said:
Bit of background: where I keep my horse there are a large number of fields down a private track that are all privately owned/rented. No one really seems to talk to anyone else and everyone just minds their own business, which is usually lovely.

HOWEVER, a few months ago some 'travellers' (I don't like to label people but their horses are coloured cobs, tethered, and they drive them in sulkies) moved into the field next door but one from me. With them they brought about 5 horses, might be more but I can't really see, including a stallion (which is tethered) and mare and foal (which are kept in a separate field and the foal must now be nearly a yearling).

Until now there's been no problem, I don't agree with the tethering but all the horses have access to food and water, they look in good condition, and the people are up there every day.

That was until today. I was stood at the top of my field with my horse waiting for the vet which meant I had a full view of them and their horses. What I saw was completely shocking. They had the stallion still tethered and they were getting the foal/yearling to stand for the stallion.

The poor thing was squealing, kicking out, and really didn't want to be there. Having worked in the stud industry I know when a mare wants to be covered and this one definitely didn't! They took it back to the stallion twice and both times he covered it. It can't even be old enough to be coming into season properly so I don't know what they were trying to achieve.

I'm ashamed to say, and prepared for a flaming, that I didn't go over there and stop it. I was with my non-horsey Dad and to be honest the people looked like they would have punched me as soon as look at me. I also don't want them to take revenge on my horses as we're the only ones up there so there's no one to keep an eye on them for me.

My question is - what can I do to stop them if I see them do it again? They kept looking over tonight so they knew we were watching and could see what they were doing so they obviously have no shame.
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Completely unethical. But I'd struggle to see how you'd prove suffering.... As much as one vet would say it's wrong, another is just as likely to say if the horse is old enough to be having seasons, then it's old enough to breed, as it would be in the wild. I would add though that if the "foal/yearling" wasn't in season, then I can't see how they will get a pregnancy????
 
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