How would you define Equine neglect ?

Question

How do you recognize whether an Equine is neglected ?

Answer 1

Understanding Abuse Versus Neglect

In order to better understand the dynamics of horse neglect and abuse, it is entirely relevant that we understand the vast difference between the two.

Horse abuse, simply put, translates into the intentional physical abuse of an equine animal. Actual horse abuse cases account for less than 5% of cases, horse neglect cases comprise more than 95% of cases of Equine Abuse & Neglect investigators. This information, in and of itself, tells us a great deal of information.

The fact that neglect cases outpace abuse cases by such a staggering number suggests that our emphasis in terms of education and prevention be placed on neglect intervention first, and then abuse intervention. Ironically, even though abuse cases account for less than 5% of the overall incidents reported, they garner far more attention from the media, subsequently creating the impression with the viewing public that abuse cases are more common than neglect.

Training or Abuse?

The intentional physical abuse of an equine animal can occur in any number of settings. The most common and hard to define being during the training process. How do we determine what constitutes abuse versus training? Who is in a position to say that what looks like training to one person is abuse to another? This dilemma has been the center of many hot debates and a political time bomb among various equine professionals. The courts are hard pressed to separate the two. Seasoned abuse and neglect investigators have struggled to maintain continuity on this issue.

Various animal rights factions argue over this issue. Is there a pat answer? Legitimate training involves acceptable methods and mechanisms that gradually influence and modify a horse's behavior to the extent that it receives positive rather than negative reinforcement. Acceptable training includes devices and methods which do not inflict prolonged and/or substantial discomfort. Training which constitutes abuse that rises to the level of morally unacceptable behavior includes devices and/or methods which cause prolonged stress, discomfort, fear and/or anxiety to the detriment of the horse. Training which rises to the level of criminal wrongdoing would include any device, practice or method that inflicts intentional injury, scarring, wounds and/or deprivation of necessary foodstuffs, water and care. More specifically, depriving a horse of food or water as a leverage mechanism during the training process is criminally actionable. Inflicting physical cuts, bruises and abrasions during training is legally unacceptable.

There has been a complaint where a "cowboy" would tie up the horse, throw him down and urinate on him as part of the training process. The cowboy would contend that this was a long established practice handed down from generation to generation. It was contended later in court that this is an unacceptable form of abuse handed down from one idiot to the next.

We have learned through the countless books, videos and clinicians, that there is gentler and kinder way to condition your horse. The old excuse that "my granddad did it that way" no longer holds water in my opinion. If we were to subscribe to that philosophy where it came to the way we treat people, we would still be "bleeding" sick people out in order to rid them of most illness. The point being this: As we evolve we learn new, more progressive methods of training. These methods are designed to support, strengthen and enhance the relationship between human and horse. It is therefore incumbent upon us to implement any new method or practice that provided the maximum amount of benefit to the horse, with the least amount of stress, injury, discomfort and fatigue.

Other Common Forms of Physical Abuse

Next to training, loading seems to be the most common platform for physical abuse of equine animals. The horse and the human ego often collide when there are spectators present. Have you ever seen someone attempting to load a reluctant horse? Obviously, any one of us who have been around horses for any length of time has encountered this scenario.

When we are asking a horse to walk into a small, often dimly lit enclosure, we are asking him to do something that goes against every instinct he has developed in order to survive. While most of us exercise great care and patience during the loading process, there are those who turn the event into a traumatic ordeal for the horse. It is during these events that the seeds are planted, and often cultivated into physical abuse. Quiet voices and quiet hands during the loading and unloading process are key. On more than one occasion, I have been gently coaxing a reluctant horse into a trailer only to be approached by some well intentioned "cowboys" who strut up and boldly announce something like, "Hey, I'll load that sunofabitch for you." Naturally, I always decline these offers of assistance. Nonetheless, many of you have found yourself in this situation and not wanting to be rude, have accepted the help of a stranger only to be confronted by a bully trying to show off for onlookers. You can see physical abuse during the loading process on many occasions. IHorses have actually been killed through mishandling during the loading process. In both cases, physical abuse was the key element leading to the death of the horse in question.

I would implore those of you who are trailering horses to become well versed in this process. There are several excellent videos and publications, which offer solid, common sense methods to safe, stress free loading. Each of these methods has one common thread: patience and quiet voices and body language. Waving arms and cracking whips are an invitation to an accident or injury.

Intentional Physical Abuse

This is the most uncommon yet unpleasant form of equine abuse one encounters. Intentional physical abuse, unlike training or loading, is a deliberate act intended to inflict torture, injury and even death upon a horse. These cases typically involve an elevated form of domestic violence. In other words, someone uses the horse as a leverage mechanism during an ongoing cycle of family violence and then follows through on their threats. Other cases not involving domestic violence usually involve some form of chemical addiction such as methamphetemine use.

A case in Durango, Colorado involved a man, who found his estranged wife dancing with another party in a local tavern. His response was to drive to where she kept her horses and systematically kill them. These cases involve the most dangerous type of perpetrator and should always be reported immediately.

In summary the physical abuse of an equine animal is the most unacceptable and preventable form of mistreatment leveled against today's modern horse. There is no valid excuse, reason or even mitigating circumstance to support the abuse of a horse. Subsequently, as equine professionals, owners, enthusiasts and admirers, we are compelled to educate, prevent and report such events.

Neglect

Neglect is far and away the most common issue we handle. Neglect involves a wide scope of situations. Owner ignorance is the leading cause of horse neglect. Financial setbacks are another. Apathy is a third cause and chemical dependency is yet another.

Owner ignorance accounts for the vast majority of horse neglect cases. These cases simply involve folks who are in over there head. Many people, searching for the country life, relocate from the city looking for freedom. Once they set up house in a rural area, they acquire a horse with the best of intentions. Unfortunately, we have become an instant gratification society and so, the person who has never owned a horse before, upon deciding to acquire one, will do so in short order and without making the necessary preparations in advance. It has been my experience that owner ignorance cases are the most simple to resolve.

When we encounter a horse owner who lacks the education and resources to care for the horses properly, our first reaction as a knowledgeable equine professional should be to render assistance to the horse owner. This assistance should come in the form of an easy to understand "grocery list" of things the horse owner needs to do, in order of importance, to get his or her horses back on the road to good health.

Perhaps one of the most frustrating things I have witnessed are poorly educated animal welfare officers citing, or even seizing, when all that was needed was a little education. Granted, there are cases where seizure and even arrest have been warranted. Nonetheless, there have been many times more cases where a little education and follow up would have far greater results for everyone involved. Once you have seized the horse, you have set a series of events into motion for which there is no turning back. Lengthy court battles, staggering animal care expenses for the agency seizing the horses, and lives ruined are the end result.

As a rule of thumb and my advice to neighbor and animal welfare officer alike is simple: If you can educate and assist, always do so first and foremost. Use the criminal justice system only after you have exhausted other conventional means.

Naturally there are exceptions. Exigent seizure cases involving an animal's immediate ability to survive as a result of severe neglect or mistreatment, require fast action and cool heads. Some other common definitions of neglect.

Environmental Neglect

Once the transplanted city person decides they want a horse, there is usually a great rush to obtain one without much thought to housing requirements. Subsequently, we find scores of horses living without adequate shelter or any shelter at all. We see hastily thrown up fences made of everything from bailing twine to bubblegum. Horses injure themselves on debris, fallen wire, poorly erected fences and other hazards. This constitutes environmental neglect.

In cases of environmental neglect, the goal is to provide the horse owner with a list of remedies and a reasonable time frame within which to accomplish them. The construction of a common windbreak, the addition of elevated feeders, and/or secure, safe fencing, may be all that is required. Indeed, there have been a great many debates around the country about what constitutes adequate shelter for the horse. The answer to that is simple: It depends on where you live. Climate and geography have everything to do with shelter requirements. Horses all need shelter from wind, cold, heat and the elements so it is fair to say that no matter where you live, the most basic form of adequate shelter involves some place where your horse has free access to shelter from the changing elements.

Diet and Adequate Food/Water

Certainly the type of neglect most often reported is a lack of adequate food and/or water resulting in the textbook "skinny" horse complaint. I should mention an ironic side note at this point: While the "skinny" horse generates the vast majority of citizen complaints to animal welfare officers, it is the hoof of the horse that is the most unreported form of horse neglect. Translation: People most often report "skinny" horses because the skinny horse is the most visible form of neglect to the passing motorist or pedestrian. It has been my observation that in reality there are four to five times more hoof neglect cases that are never reported. Ironically, it is the hoof that is the very foundation of the equine animal.

It is a fact that a lack of adequate food and/or water triggers the majority of all neglect complaints. A lack of food and water might be the result of a deeper, pre-existing problem within the home. Perhaps the person responsible for providing has been laid off from work or has experienced a physical setback. When you help people in these unfortunate situations, they return later as better horse owners and big supporters of the Equine Rescue Agency. In some cases, if the illness or financial setback is significant enough to rule out a speedy recovery, you can help the parties disperse their horses through a sale to a pre-approved home. Later, if the person gets back on their feet they are in a better position to revisit horse ownership.

Make it a practice to render aid and education first. If you encounter someone who is neglecting their horses and refuses your advice or assistance to the continued detriment of the horses involved, drop the hammer and have the horses removed legally. Anyone who resists legitimate aid, education and assistance to the extent that their horses continue to suffer has demonstrated a level of intent. Remember, when someone intentionally harms their horse, it is no longer a case for charity. It is a case for the criminal justice system.

Apathy

There is no doubt about it, we have become an "instant gratification" society. When we want something we want it now. Instant credit, instant home loans, cars, jewelry and yes, even the instant acquisition of animals are all staples of modern culture. The unfortunate backlash to instant gratification is instant divestiture. Easy come, easy go. We are likely to divorce ourselves from anyone or anything that does not bring us constant pleasure. This includes wives, children and even companion animals.

Many novice horse owners will encounter some unpleasant experience on the trail that they do not fully understand, or perhaps they are even frightened by the event. A horse balking at a stream or bridge or even bucking are common examples. Subsequently, when the horse does something that displeases us, we divest ourselves. The horse is relegated to the barn or back pasture. Feeding becomes a chore. Worming, floating teeth, hoof care and other routine health maintenance issues become too burdensome. The end result is a horse neglect case born out of apathy.

There are few remedies for this sort of neglect. The bottom line is, you will either love and care for your horse, or you need to find a better home for your horse. One answer to apathy related neglect is to have the person resolve the issue (if one exists) that caused the distance in the first place. Go to a riding instructor who will mend the gap between you and your horse. Get enthused again. In any event, apathy caused neglect is a lazy person's excuse for not caring properly for their horse.

Conclusion

There is no way possible to cover or even adequately convey the scope of the neglect and abuse issue in this text. One can only attempt to convey a cursory overview of a very large and complex issue.

Simple Overview:

The reasons that owners neglect horses can be placed into five general categories:

- ignorance (the owner does not know the needs of horses)
- apathy (the owner does not care about the needs of horses)
- lifestyle change (owner does not provide proper care due to financial or other problems)
- intentional (the owner can provide proper care but does not want to)
- mentally ill (e.g., the owner is a hoarder or collector).

What is Equine Neglect ?

Simply put, it is the withholding of basic needs from a horse: food, water, shelter, and veterinary care when needed. Some complaints of equine neglect are based on seeing an animal with burrs, covered in or standing in mud, with dangerous equipment in its pasture, or being kept within inadequate fencing. The owners of these horses may be "neglecting" to groom their horse or maintain their pastures and fences. However, these observations should serve as red flags that this horse may become truly neglected in the future, because its owner may not spend sufficient time, may not have sufficient funds, or may not be knowledgeable enough to maintain the horse.

What does true Equine Neglect look like ?

The most common appearance of a horse that is not having its basic needs met is weight loss. Horses that are not receiving appropriate food or water, that lack shelter from wind and precipitation during cold months, that are not receiving dental care, or that are not being dewormed properly may all be underweight. Some of these situations may also cause poor hair coats and lethargy. Horses with diseases or injuries that are not receiving veterinary care may also exhibit weight loss in addition to their primary condition. Overgrown hooves are another sign of neglect.

Neglect and Abuse

The pictures would break your heart. They're scared. They're sometimes wild and sometimes sick. Old horses, young horses, and always skinny horses, when they're found. It is difficult to comprehend the long-term neglect and surrounding situation that produce such a devastated, depressed creature as a starved horse. The bones are so prominent that the skeleton appears to belong to a larger horse, the head is disproportionately large compared with the body, and the tail is always low and motionless. But the low hanging head tells it all. The ears barely move to any sounds in the environment, no extra energy is spent interacting with herd mates. The eyes are dull, without expression, without expectations...

Remarkably, horses can lose 30 percent or more of their body weight and still survive, but horses in an abused, starved condition have very little muscle mass remaining and are very weak. They need attention and lots of TLC to restore trust, and a sound nutrition program to get them back into proper body condition. Bringing a starved horse to normal body condition will take three to six months, depending on the severity of weight loss.

Cases of neglect and abuse occur more often than one would think, often in your own community. It can involve a complete stranger, but more often than not it involves a friend, a neighbor, or a coworker, and contrary to popular belief it does involve "nice people".

Often a case involves laziness or a lack of understanding of what is involved in owning and caring for a horse. Horses are a lot of work (just ask our volunteers) and can get very expensive. They need access to clean water, should be fed an adequately nutritious diet and given daily exercise; their hooves need to be trimmed on a regular basis, they need regular veterinary care including vaccinations, all in addition to the TLC and attention they adore.

Neglect occurs when, for whatever reason an owner forgoes one or all of the above. We often hear "I am too busy", "I don't have the money this month", "She's doesn't behave for me", "I thought so and so was taking care of her", or worse yet "Give me a break, she's just a horse".

Neglect cases if allowed to continue can develop into abusive conditions. We often see cases of horses several hundred pounds underweight, with hooves so grotesquely misshapen you can barely identify them.

Most people understand the difference between an undernourished horse and one that looks plump. But what
about cases that fall between these extremes? Where does one draw the line between normal weight and a horse that's too thin? Since opinions vary and animal welfare practitioners and the legal system need an agreed upon standard, we need a simple way to define various stages of body condition.

First developed at Texas A&M University and published in 1983 in a veterinarian trade journal, Henneke's system has become perhaps the most widely accepted procedure for evaluating body condition of horses.

When evaluating a horse for it's condition and the subsequent requirement for intervention, it is general practice to have an official assessment performed by an equine vet using the Henneke chart. This expert witness opinion can be taken into court, should legal action be necessary. It's also recommended that whenever possible, the horse be evaluated by palpation to achieve a higher degree of accuracy in scoring since bone structure can be masked by longer hair.

When evaluating horses, the condition (amount of body fat) that horses are kept in will depend on the sex and age of the animal, as well as the owner's plans for that animal.

For brood mares, a minimum body condition score (BCS) of 5 is recommended for dry mares entering the breeding season, and BCS's ranging from 6.5 to 7.5 are recommended for mares that are entering lactation (foaling). The mares that tend to produce more milk and that are easily drawn down (i.e. those that lose condition easily) need to be in a fatter state at the time of foaling. Mares should be expected to lose some condition while nursing and to be near a BCS of 5 at time of weaning. The stored body fat serves as an energy reserve to help meet the high energy needs of milk production. Otherwise, the average horse should fall within the middle of the scoring range, neither too fat nor too thin.

Be sure to know and understand any possible medical conditions the horse you are evaluating may be dealing with. For instance, veterinarians often recommend a foundered horse be kept on the thinner side of average. The same can be true with some horses with respiratory or heat regulation irregularities during summer months. There are several conditions that might make a horse's weight more acceptable on the thin side of average, so keep your eyes and ears open and be sure to fully know what is happening with the horse before taking action against a thin horse's owner.

Body Conditions:

1. Poor
Animal extremely emaciated; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae (hip joints), and ischia (lower pelvic bones) projecting prominently; bone structure of withers, shoulders, and neck easily noticeable; no fatty tissue can be felt.

2. Very Thin
Animal emaciated; slight fat covering over base of spinous processes, transverse processes of lumbar vertebrae feel rounded; spinous processes, ribs, tailhead, tuber coxae (hip joints) and ischia (lower pelvic bones) prominent; withers, shoulders, and neck structure faintly discernable.

3. Thin
Fat buildup about halfway on spinous processes; transverse processes cannot be felt; slight fat cover over ribs; spinous processes and ribs easily discernable; tailhead prominent, but individual vertebrae cannot be identified visually; tuber coxae (hip joints), appear rounded but easily discernable; tuber ischia (lower pelvic bones) not distinguishable; withers, shoulders and neck accentuated.

4. Moderately Thin
Slight ridge along back; faint outline of ribs discernible; tailhead prominence depends on conformation, fat can be felt around it; tuber coxae (hip joints) not discernable; withers, shoulders and neck not obviously thin.

5. Moderate
Back is flat (no crease or ridge); ribs not visually distinguishable but easily felt; fat around tailhead beginning to feel spongy; withers appear rounded over spinous processes; shoulders and neck blend smoothly into body.

6. Moderately Fleshy
May have slight crease down back; fat over ribs spongy; fat around tailhead soft; fat beginning to be deposited along the side of withers, behind shoulders, and along sides of neck.

7. Fleshy
May have slight crease down back; individual ribs can be felt, but noticeable filling between ribs with fat; fat around tailhead soft; fat deposited along withers, behind shoulders,and along neck.

8. Fat
Crease down back; difficult to feel ribs, fat around tailhead very soft; fat area along withers filled with fat, area behind shoulder filled with fat, noticeable thickening of neck; fat deposited along inner thighs.

9. Extremely Fat
Obvious crease down back; patchy fat appearing over ribs, bulging fat around tailhead; along withers, behind shoulders and along neck, fat along inner thighs may rub together; flank filled with fat.

** If you fear an equine might be abused and/or neglected, contact the Equine Rescue Organization in your State (there are Equine Rescue Orgs in almost every State). They are trained in verifying abuse/neglect and will take the necessary steps to ensure the animal's welfare, either working with the owner or co-ordinating with Law Enforcement / Animal Control the seizure of the animals (depending on the type of neglect and the responsiveness of the owner), whereafter Rescue Orgs. will place them into rehabilitative care **

Answer 2

Other signs (asides from malnurishment, being underweight and having untreated sores) can be the hooves. If they are overgrown and not taken care of they can become sore and sometimes rather painful looking. :(

Also watch when the horse walks, if it is limping or walking differently it may be in pain or have untreated injuries.

Look for illnesses, how do the eyes look? Are the ears ok? Check the nose and look at the fur. If the horse doesn't have a healthy sheen it could be sick.

This website has a few good tips on checking out the overall health of a horse, with tips on when to call a vet. In this case, if you suspect neglect definitely call the local Humane Society or SPCA and get them to check it out.

http://horses.about.com/od/basiccare/a/healthcheck.htm

Answer 3

the horse will not have clean water, or hay they need hay or grass constantly for their system to work right. Dull hair coat. Sunk in above eyes no emotion in eyes shoulders back hips and ribs showing or run your hand along ribs if you feel them the horse is poor. Also not the right kind of feed. and If they spill when they eat their teeth need floating being legartic feet flat peeling and need of a trim. Check with owner when the last time the horse had visited a vet.
Should be checked twice a year complete vet exam and what vaccination are they current on. Coggins is good for a year and it is a law they have one. The horse might be neglected due to owner not knowing about health problems this should be reported to the ASPCA they can evaluate and instruct the owner of the horse. Good luck

Answer 4

When a horse is not given her basic needs. Food, fresh water, clean bedding, up to date vaccinations, and the monthly farrier visit are examples of physical needs. Then there's the mental and emotional needs of the living being. The need to be needed, wanted, and loved. Dogs get kennel shy, horses get stable sour, it's basically the same problem. If we, as humans, were to get everything we needed to stay alive and healthy, but were denied meaningful relationships, I know that I would be sad. Some people would get angry. Others would be perfectly content to sit in solitude the rest of their lives. My point is that we have different requirements in the mental and emotional half of us. If that requirement is not met, we act differently than we would normally. Same goes for any other living being. I can tell when my animals need more time with me. They act differently. It would be an act of neglect if I denied them.

Answer 5

The best way is to check the horse out. For a good horse you should be able to feel its ribs and not see them. Any open sores that seem to have not been treated would be a sign as well. A Veterinarian or a Tech should make that decision. But if you feel it is really neglected contact your law enforcement agency and they should check it out.

Answer 6

if in doubt call animal control and let them check it out

Answer 7

lack of feed, water, obvious health problems (swelling, nasal discharge, too thin, etc.), not groomed