WWYD if you saw a hopping lame horse in a field?

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Lolo

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As in properly hopping, not weight-bearing at all lame. I gasped when I saw it move.

You know or definite the owner hasn't called the vet as she knows he's lame (?).

I hate interfering people and don't wish to become one, but this horse is so lame that it's painful to watch :/
 
Our neighbour, a dairy farmer had a visit from the RSPCA, apparently he had a cow in the field with a broken leg. It had actually trapped a nerve when calving and was better in the field than indoors. (we had a visit from them too, obviously an over zealous joe public)
Do you know for a fact it hasn't seen the vet or farrier? If you know the owner well enough you could ask about the horse in a nonjudgemental way? Otherwise keep an eye on it for a day or two, if things don't change ring the BHS welfare people, they are really good and helpful.
 
My neighbour's horse was hopping a few weeks ago. I immediately thought 'Oh dear he's obviously got an abscess'. Sure enough, he was sound again about a week later. I didn't bother to check that neighbour had called the vet. I just presumed that she had.
How do you know that the owner hasn't called the vet?
 
Long term lameness that's been progressively worsening. Owner won't ring the vet yet as she 'knows he's lame'... (spoken to her) Livery yard is DIY with an owner, but it's up to us to do as we will, she doesn't get involved in any of it.
 
I noticed one of the horses in a field near to mine couldn't bear any weight on one of its legs at all so I asked around if anyone knew who owned it. The owner was actually very grateful once we tracked her down (turned out the mare had stood on a nasty thorn type thing). I'd also be grateful if I was informed if someone noticed my horse was lame but if you say the owner already knows informing him/her would be of little use. Hopefully its being dealt with in some way :/
 
My friends ancient lad was hoping lame with a nasty abcess that kept sealing and re-blowing. He couldnt be stabled and we poulticed him for over 2 weeks before he came right. Anyone who didnt know would have said that we werent doing anything, but we made sure that we changed the colour of the vetwrap we used each time, so that people walking past (on a footpath) could see day to day that he was being looked after.
If you are certain, as in 100% sure, that no one has been called and that the owner is aware, then WHW or BHS would be my 1st call....

I sound suspicious, but how can you be so sure no one is doing anything for the horse?

Edit - Ahh, I see, sorry, that makes things much more clear. Definately WHW then x
 
It depends... My horse is lame, looks much worse in trot but I monitor him very closely. He is on various supplements but when the time comes and he's not coping he'll be PTS.

Someone who doesn't know him or the situation could easily mis-judge it.

Maybe speak to the owner and ask if their horse is ok. But try not to jump to the conclusion that they aren't receiving vet treatment etc...
 
milesjess said:
It depends... My horse is lame, looks much worse in trot but I monitor him very closely. He is on various supplements but when the time comes and he's not coping he'll be PTS.

Someone who doesn't know him or the situation could easily mis-judge it.

Maybe speak to the owner and ask if their horse is ok. But try not to jump to the conclusion that they aren't receiving vet treatment etc...
Click to expand...

Same here. Luckily it has poured with rain for the last two days so my horse's lameness is much improved. How do you know the horse isn't under the vet though? Not everybody broadcasts every vet visit to all and sundry.
 
sorry but how do you not know your horse is lame. horses need checking evein if living ot at leats once a day,therefore you would know. If it isnt your horse then i would say keep out of it. I have had hopping lame horses who are better off out in the field to keep walking and loose.
 
Sorry, if you've spoken to owner and know horse has not received vet treatment etc then get the yo to call rspca/bhs/whw. A lame horse is one in pain unless a vet has diagnosed it as mechanical, and therefore any treatment/management should be made between owner and vet.
 
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I'm not one to interfere either but it's non weight bearing :confused:

Non weight bearing is not the sort of thing I would ignore lightly. If it is still the same in a week then I'd be calling the authorities frankly. There is no excuse for anything to be non weight bearing for more than a few days that I can think of.
 
Ours was non-weight bearing for a bit at one stage - honestly was as if he'd broken his leg. He had a horrible abcess but, although we had treated it a bit with some success it came back with a vengeance! The vet was called though so horse was only non-weight bearing for one day and we sectioned him off in his own paddock as the others had started attacking him. One day may seem too long for some people but i guess you know your own horse don't you. There is no way he'd have been left for any longer than that though. We knew what the problem was so i suppose that makes a difference.
 
This happened on our yard with a horse in my field, I told yard manager, we rang owner & good job as horse had fractured its shoulder.
 
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