Would you complain to rescue?

[Melandmary]

Thankyou for all the advice, the next time she messages I am going to mention as someone advised that they should check the rest for mites and mudfever but not rock the boat. I think i am going to have to get another come spring and save myself the worry of leaving her.

 

[Gloi]

I think you should rock the boat. These sort of places rely on those who get horses off them not complaining and so get away with the poor care.

 

[Chinchilla]

I agree with gloi. Too many dubious "rescues" making massive buck in the world off what is, in effect, hoarding. It's worth speaking up about.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I understand you dilema, OP but I don't see how you can ignore this. Could you involve BHS/WHW, raising your concerns but asking them to maintain your anonymity?

 

[cauda equina]

TBH someone who takes in horses and rehomes them for a fee without sorting out any problems first sounds more like a dealer than a rescuer

 

[AmyMay]

Are they a registered charity OP?

 

[Melandmary]

Yes they have recently got charity status but have been going for 4 years. I genuinly believe their hearts are in the right place but their knowledge on horse management and rehoming is lacking, it isn't deliberate neglect. I went up a few times to visit. The fields were quagmire but they were sorting drainage issues. Worming and farrier are upto date. There shelters were clean and fields poo picked. It is just that they aren't handled so I think the mite issue and mudfever have gone u noticed. I am going to take pics, I have my vet bills and I am just going to mention that they should check the rest of them.

 

[Melody Grey]

I genuinly believe their hearts are in the right place but their knowledge on horse management and rehoming is lacking,

....It is just that they aren't handled so I think the mite issue and mudfever have gone u noticed. I am going to take pics, I have my vet bills and I am just going to mention that they should check the rest of them.

I understand your sentiment OP in not wanting to cause issues for them, but I think you need to report them if this is the case. The horses shouldn’t be unhandled and if they’re missing mud fever and mites, what else are they missing?

ignorance is no excuse, particularly if you’re a charity and things won’t improve unless something is said.

 

[FinnishLapphund]

So 6 weeks ago you got a horse from a small local rescue, but when you suggested they come, and do a home check at your place, they said they're too busy to do a home check. Who needs to use the "We're too busy" excuse in these Coronavirus times, when they could just say "Due to the Coronavirus...

4 years ago the mare that is now your new companion, her foals, and a stallion was the first horses the charity rescued. So she was old enough to have had more than one foal 4 years ago, but she's still both unhandled, and unbroken? So what have the people running this charity been doing all these 4 years?
In 4 years I would have expected the people running this charity to learn more than how to keep shelters clean, poo pick fields, and start to drain some fields.

You said that for the most part it is run by non horsey volunteers, but you think the horses are wormed, and vaccinated. Since your new companion hadn't been vaccinated since 2018, I would be more inclined to suspect their other horses aren't vaccinated either.

When you told them about the mites, and separation anxiety, you say that they didn't seem that concerned. So basically they shrugged their shoulders at having sent you not only a horse that turned out to be unsuitable for what you need, without also one with mites, who's unvaccinated since 2018.

Yet, you think they do a great job rescuing, and that they simply need to focus more on their rehoming program if they want more successful outcomes in that department. And you're worried about complaining too much, in case the charity take back the unsuitable companion they've loaned out to you. But presumably your horse could get used to another horse companion.

Someone have agreed to help you with the companion, in exchange for their boy being allowed to ride the companion once she's backed. But are they expecting the boy simply being lead around in walk level of riding, or are they expecting the boy really learning to ride on his own, in walk, trot etc level? If it's the later, I presume that in general it takes a bit of time before a newly backed horse becomes a horse suitable for learning beginners to ride properly on. If I'm right about that, is the Helper aware about the potential time frames?

 

[Melandmary]

FL yes for the most part that is correct but I did not say they did a Great job. On the surface it looked like their basis needs were met. Food, water, shelter, companionship. There was alot of mud but there were workman there digging and putting drainage in. This is a small local charity that has kept going through local donations, no staff, just volunteers. The ponies looked more content than many owned horses standing in stables 24/7. I know one of them had previously been owned by Romanian gypsies and was tied to a fence for months. I know this because a workmate asked the rescue to help and they did which is why I approached them for a pony. But I did not realise that they weren't handling them until I got mine home. I believe they are well meaning and that most things are being done eg farrier, castration, teeth and worming ( she declined my offer of purchasing the wormer prior to picking her up as she had just been done). Op that is why I posted, was for advise on whether to tell them that the pony's health and behaviour falls below expectation because I don't want to lose her now. I have spent Alot of time getting her to the point where she comes in alone for grooms and 1-1 attention and let's my other ponio do the same. She is actually a good sort and no, I am not willing to upset my ridden pony having to lose and then readjust to a new friend in such a short space of time. The rescue has a long way to go before I would class them as good but they have done all this with selling raffle tickets, local businesses donating prizes and money to provide what they need. Oh, and she did follow us when pony was dropped off with passport etc, just she had to cancel the home visit we had planned because she was trying to sort funding, charity status

 

[Melandmary]

Oh yes and the lady who previously had her own horses is fully aware of everything. Until the pony is able to be ridden, just lead rein at walk, her little boy will come and muck out and groom etc. She just wants him to have the chance to be round horses. I did offer to pay or to ride my pony on alternate times but she is new to the area and just happy to be meeting new people and giving her boy oppurtunity to spend time with a pony. And yes, I believe she is safe for that and yes insurance has been discussed ?

 

[FinnishLapphund]

... though they do a great job rescuing, they need to focus on their rehoming program if they want successful outcomes. Their hearts are in the right place. I will leave it to someone else to point out their failures for the sake of having 2 otherwise content ponies ?

As you can see, you did use the words great job to describe their rescuing. Thanks for the added info, it's nice to hear that the helper have realistic expectations, but I can't say the other info have changed my impression.

Coming for a home visit by following you with the horse already in a trailer/transport on its way to your place, is not what I would call a proper home check. Besides, regardless of what reason she gave for cancelling it, the fact is that the actual home check didn't take place, and neither did she reschedule it.
The rescue might be small, local, and have had to fought a long uphill struggle to get to the position where they currently are, but relying on non horsey volunteers to keep a horse rescue going on a daily basis doesn't sound like a good plan to me.

Add to that, they've sent out a horse on loan, with undisclosed health problems, and a behaviour which doesn't corresponds to the loaner's requirements. Okay, mistakes can happen, but when you've previously tried telling them, they didn't seem concerned. Overall that's not sustainable for a rescue in the long run.
What if you hadn't been able to adjust how often you ride your horse per week, due to your horse needing x amount of exercise per week? What if you neither had been able, nor had the extra time, to do the work the companion needs to become what you actually need...

I definitely think you need to try telling them again that the health, and behaviour of the companion they've loaned you is below expectations. But I presume there's a risk that it could lead to them wanting their horse back, which you don't seem willing to risk.

 

[Shilasdair]

What I would do;
1. Buy a Shetland, put in field with other 2
2. Wait until my mare is friendly with Shetland.
3. Call charity, tell them exactly what is wrong with the pony and ask them to collect her.
4. Report the charity to the Charity Commission, the local council and contact the local BHS welfare person, as well as the local World Horse Welfare person to inform them. Ponies thrive being a bit muddy - but not diseased with mud fever, mites etc.

 

[Kat]

I really think you need to take action this set up sounds like a welfare crisis waiting to happen. Their hearts might be in the right place but they aren't providing adequate care for the horses they "rescue".

I would speak to WHW or BHS Welfare about this rescue and let them intervene. If they are a registered charity speak to the charity commission too.

 

[Chinchilla]

I agree with Kat, shils and FL. This isn't a sustainable set up and animal welfare will suffer for it in the long run if something isn't done. It doesn't matter if "their hearts are in the right place"; unfortunately that, coupled with too little knowledge and money, is a recipe for disaster as they will end up taking on more than they can cope with. In fact I'd go so far as to say they have already done this if animals aren't handled, home checks aren't being done, ponies aren't getting health issues treated, etc.

 

[jofwigby]

Well done and thank you for taking on a rescue pony ! They gave her a chance and sounds like you will too. Definitely bring it up - they might not know as much as they should but can learn. It sounds like youve given her a lovely home.

 

[cauda equina]

People who 'have their hearts in the right place' but little knowledge are part of the reason horses need to be rescued

Your pony is lucky; she ended up with you, and you know what you're doing, but maybe others are passed on to homes who don't?

 

[Melandmary]

Thankyou, just a little update. The vet is coming back out tomorrow as pony is still itchy all over. I rang the rescue owner yesterday to tell her this and asked for the vet she used to forward any notes on the pony to my vet as she will be needing skin scrapes, maybe bloods taken and asked if she had previously been treated for mites and mud fever. She hasn't. She did not apologise for all these vets bills I am runni g up. She just asked me to let her know how it goes. I did tell her that she should check the rest of the herd for signs. When the vet comes I will ask him how long she might have been suffering with these issues. He may be able to tell by the state of her legs. I actually don't thi k there is any point in saying anything more to this person. She doesn't appear to be realising that the pony has come to me with issues that should have been addressed. I plan to keep quiet, keep my pony and ring WHW and ask them to check it out anonymously. I am not sure that from visiting the place they will find any issues, on the face of it the ponies look happy a d well cared for but I don't know how far they go with their checks. I think it is only by speaking to loaners of these ponies they will find out why so many getting returned. Thankyou for all the advice

 

[Melandmary]

Oh yes and I am planning on a new addition in the spring. I will finally own a fluffy shit land of my own. So much for being a 1 horse woman ?

 

[cauda equina]

Shetties don't count!