So yesterday I was coming in late for a doctor's appointment and it was actually daylight on my one hour commute. About 5 miles from home, I saw three skinny horses grazing alongside the road by a bean field. One was "ribby," one was "thin" and one poor little buckskin was so emaciated that I doubt he will be alive in 30 days.
Others were going for the owners to get the horses contained, and I learned how to get to their home.
Hubby says to go drop a 6x round bale in their field and try to talk to them, but how does a person like me, who is, well...perhaps more passionate than diplomatic...approach someone about starving their horses? I realize they probably can't afford hay and feed...but dang it, I'll bet they're eating every night.
There just isn't a nice way to say, "What the #$%#$@ is wrong with you @#$%$ Q%E!$@ people, why the #$^#$ are you starving your horses?!!!"
Calling the overwhelmed Humane society in a huge rural area may not be the best solution.
2007-09-06 07:59:08 · 36 answers · asked by cnsdubie 6 in Pets ➔ Horses
Simply feed the horses? There's nothing simple about feeding horses. Hay alone will cost $120 a month MINIMUM and even a cheap feed will be another $40 - $60. Emaciated horses require frequent small feedings and medical care.
2007-09-06 08:14:17 · update #1
I don't even know what the best advice is on this one, I read some of the posts, you've gotten a lot. I agree that calling the humane society won't do much for the horse that is emaciated, they usually give people 30 days to make changes and that could be detrimental in this situation. I guess, if you have the nerve to try to talk with them (maybe a phone call????) Politely ask them if they would take some free hay for their horses. This potentially would give you a feel for the situation. If they are caring and in trouble I'd think they would be greatfull for the offer, if not then I too bet they will become defensive. Doing this in person could lead to other problems, like trespassing, even if you secretly tried to drop some hay for them and were caught by a jerk. In the event that they were greatfull for the offer, it could get your foot in the door to try to see if there is a way to get them to either sell, give away, or find a way for them to take proper care of the animals, etc. Some people have horses and don't have much access to knowledge about options or where to even start, maybe the are really dumb and don't think they need to feed them anything. LOL, here is a something I was asked once by an owner "do we need to give the horse water in the winter or can it just eat snow". Seriously, some people are this uneducated about horses and shouldn't own one! If the call went sour, then I guess I'd start a huge push in the community, the sheriff and all other groups that have the authority to do something. The vet would be another great place, as stated.
Keep us posted, this strikes a lot of curiousity as I think we'll all be put into this sort of situation. I'm glad your a person that wants to do something rather than turning the other cheek!
Good luck.
2007-09-07 01:03:21 · answer #1 · answered by hhqh01 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
Do try and find out if the horses are really being neglected first. This is very important! My friends horse is an old thoroughbred and in winter he drops weight and also gets rain scald. He looks neglected but is getting the best care possible. The SPCA here has been called a few times about her horse.
If you do find that they are being neglected call your local animal rescue! They'll contact the owners and they have the facilities or know people with the right facilities to rehibilitate the horses. They will also be able to more readily get the help of the police force if things turn ugly.
Also any hay you can give them will be appreciated, as will any treats but be careful not to over do it. You could easily give starving horses colic. If you cant give them food, give them love. Most horses will love a bit of human attention if they are being neglected. Maybe even give them a brush, make them feel loved and wanted.
Good Luck!
2007-09-06 14:23:09 · answer #2 · answered by KatieNZ 1 · 1⤊ 0⤋
DO NOT GIVE ANY FEED TO THE HORSES. The sudden increase in nutrition could do more harm then good. Since you had not seen these horses before, it is possible that the current owner has rescued them and is already taking corrective feeding actions. When I was in NC, I knew a guy that rescued a horse. If you drove by, you saw a skeleton with skin and would have swore he was not caring for the horse, when in actuality he was the one who rescued it from starvation.
Since laws vary by state, you need to contact either your local humane society or sheriff's department and let them handle it. One example of a law I encountered in another state was that if the owner proved he had bought at least one bag of feed per month, the law enforcement officers could not touch the animal. If you go to the humane society, they will not the best ways to handle the situation and the laws for your area. And they know how to be diplomatic. They may also know if the person that has the horses a person that is rescuing the horses, and may be able to tell you on the spot. If that is true, it my help your emotions settle, knowing that they are in caring hands already.
But, PLEASEe, remember, do not feed the horses without permission or knowledge of their current diet.
2007-09-06 08:52:55 · answer #3 · answered by Mark S 4 · 4⤊ 1⤋
there is no EZ answer, with 15 horses of my own and the cost of hay and feed i can understand both side's : the horse owner and you. If your worried enough to want something done about it call animal control in your county. make a report, they'll do a follow up and make sure the horses are in fact not being cared for. their are medical and health issues that would cause a horse to be thin. some horses like ppl also don't put on or keep weight like others would. I would advise you to personally not saying to doing anything....the owner of the horse would most likey get mad and defensive right away. You buying hay for them wouldn't solve much either..ppl have been known to poison horses with feed.....If i saw some sort of food item in my horses pasture i wouldn't allow them to eat it unless i gave it to them personally. Your heart is in the right place, just make sure your actions say what you really want them to. GOOD LUCK, 2U and the horses!
2007-09-06 08:46:10 · answer #4 · answered by flaxxen_fillie 1 · 3⤊ 0⤋
gosh...please call the people first...make sure these aren't senior horses/or rescued horses that they just got, that they are taking care of...if they are in a pasture eating....it doesn't sound like they are starving them. People please take a chance and talk to a horses owners about what you see first...what if they just rescued these poor animals and are trying to rehabilatate them? Horse when they get old do get ribby and swaybacked...just the way people change when they get old too. Please...take the chance and make the call to the owners first...you might find you are talking to these horses rescuers. If you do call, you could say that you were driving by and was concerned as they looked sick or something, make something up to get them to tell you something. But to just jump on the emotional "that horse is abused cart" isn't always the best choice. My buckskin was skinny for a while and it was just because he was hyper...it took me forever to figure out what feed was best for him, with a lot of help from friends...then I have a arabian mare who is older and she looks like she's on her last legs, which she is...she had a hard life before I got her, my sister picked her up at a sale to bring to me(a week ago)...to see if I could do anything. I don't think I can...the horse has got to be over 25....so I am just doing the best I can and giving her the best care while she is still here. She is also along the roadside pasture and yes, I do get people coming up to the house to ask what is wrong with her...I simply take them out to meet her, cause she is a friendly old girl and loves all the attention she can get, and they can see for themselves that she's just a old lady and didn't age as well as some other horses do because of the poor care she received from past owners. I hope she lives though...she is a loveable girl. She doesn't get put in with the other horses though as I just got her and vaccinated and wormed her and she just seems like she couldn't keep up with my younger horses right now. Best wishes to you. It's great that you noticed something about these 3 horses, now if you could just take that friendly step of talking to the people, even if its through a phone call. Remember, these people could have just rescued these horses.
2007-09-06 08:27:30 · answer #5 · answered by Presto! 5 · 9⤊ 0⤋
Our Humane society doesn't do crap either. A friend reported their neighbor because 20+ horses were very skinny, had unhealthy long hoofs, on a very small plot of land, and one of their stallion broke out and got their mare pregnant, birthing a weird looking foal.
The Humane Society/ Animal Control said if it happen one more time the neighbor was only getting fined, but could keep his horses that were surely neglect. Stories like yours and mine break my heart and also make me angry at the owner. I would at least give the Humane Society/Animal Control a shot. You really shouldn't feed their horses because they aren't yours, even though it sad to see the horse suffer. Like you said hay is very expensive. I would give the owner a small talk about how you feel the horses are being treated- of course in a nice, sensitive manner- tell him about the requirements, trimming hoofs, feeding hay, dewormers, vet-check-ups, etc. If he can't afford this offer to trailer the horses free to the animal shelter- that allows horses. I hope this helps, and Good luck,
Heart-belongs-to-my-horse
2007-09-06 08:31:14 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 1⤋
I knew a barn owner with a 30 yo mare with navicular, she looked AWFUL, like skeletal awful, but she got vet, hoof care, attention and food.
I was going to call on this guy until I asked a boarder and she told me the horse's story and then I saw the guy feeding and interacting with this horse. She was NOT abused or neglected she just looked like it. lol
They could be rescues, they could be really old. Is there grass in the pasture?
You can't automatically assume they are being starved until you talk to the owners and see what is up.
If they are just old you are causing trouble for people who probably have enough issues dealing with senior horses, and creating more work for the humane society that may be unnecessary.
Not saying you are wrong, but please get all the facts before you get angry.
2007-09-06 09:04:04 · answer #7 · answered by PH 1 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Actually, calling the overwhelmed Humane society is the best solution. Press charges if you must.
OR, perhaps you can take the horses off their hands - and place them in a rescuer's.
Here are a few I just grabbed of the 'net
http://www.horsenethorserescue.org/
http://www.adoptahorse.org/
http://www.horsesanctuary.com/
There are more out there - and of course, these folks are always strapped for resources; but maybe someone can help you rehome the sad trio.
As for you and your lack of tact - well, only you can change yourself and learn to be more diplomatic. Now, don't whine "but I can't!!!" That's a spoiled-brat-cop-out and you know it. Deal with it and soon, or you're liable to find your nose broken by someone who won't accept a tirade from a furious woman very nicely. Trust me. Diplomacy is a good shield.
2007-09-06 08:34:49 · answer #8 · answered by Barbara B 7 · 1⤊ 1⤋
First off, I would personally do what hubbie said and get feed to the horses, make sure they have water. Then, go to the people with said hubbie so he can cover your/my mouth when the cuss words start falling out. Try to help them if you can, help them feed them or find homes for them. Calling the humane society won't do a dern thing! Help these people out, you don't know the situation they are in. They might have starving kids who are more important to feed then the horses and they got overwhelmed by it all and don't' know what the heck to do. Then again, they might just be %@%& low lifes but at least you are trying to help the horses. If the people are low lifes then call the sherriff. They have to report it. Let us know what happens! Good luck!
2007-09-06 08:16:42 · answer #9 · answered by texasnascarcowgirl 3 · 3⤊ 1⤋
I think you should drop the hay in the field and contact your local humane society as well. This way, you can get someone who IS diplomatic about it and has authority that is unquestionable bring it to the owners attention. They may not be starved, but might have a problem that needs medical attention right away! Worms and such comes to mind. If you know their address send a letter anonymously and let them know you want to give them a chance to make amends with the horses before you call the authorities. Poor horses! I hope they get the care and attention they deserve soon. Good luck!
2007-09-06 08:10:53 · answer #10 · answered by The Cat 7 · 2⤊ 2⤋