If you see a horse lying down in a field, how can you tell if it has collapsed from exhaustion, or is simply taking a rest? How can you tell if a horse is malnourished, or just a little underweight after a long winter?
According to World Horse Welfare, 1,436 welfare concerns were raised by the public in 2018, relating to around 7,500 horses. What are the tell-tale signs that a horse is being mistreated or neglected?
Equine neglect is a complex problem. Very few people take on a horse with the intention of mistreating it; ignorance and irresponsibility are more likely factors than deliberate cruelty.
Some horse owners breed more horses than they can easily care for, believing they can be sold on at a profit.
However, when demand is less than supply, the breeders are left with horses that require time and money to care for properly.
If horse insurance is not purchased, some owners may not be able to afford the right level of vet care to keep a horse healthy.
Other owners may experience physical or mental illness that reduces their ability to care for a horse, or may simply not understand the level of commitment and financial resources needed to keep a horse well.
In times of economic recession, owners may struggle to afford to keep their horses and it also becomes harder to sell a horse.
In the past, the deterrents against mistreating horses were not very strong.
Enforcement of animal welfare law is not prioritised by authorities facing tight budgets, so charities and voluntary groups step in, but here too limited resources make it difficult to be effective.
From October 2020, a law requires all equines (horses, donkeys and ponies) in England, Scotland and Wales to be microchipped, with the owner’s details logged on a central database.
This should reduce mistreatment of horses by increasing accountability.
It’s hard to know where to draw the line between a horse being a bit shabby and where mistreatment begins. If you spot any of these signs, you should contact World Horse Welfare on 08000 480180.
Of course, in many situations you will be able to use your common sense about whether a horse is being cared for appropriately.
A horse that has been dumped by the side of the road, or left in a field with hazardous objects, needs help.
Problems such as lameness, being overweight or underweight, poor grooming and skin conditions or overgrown feet are a cause for concern but might not individually require intervention – if there are multiple issues to build a fuller picture of neglect, this should prompt you to contact the authorities.
If a horse is straying onto the road, this represents a danger to both animal and the public as it could cause a road collision. The police should be contacted urgently to deal with a horse in the road.
Horse insurance is invaluable when this happens accidentally, as the costs involved can be life changing: vet bills, potentially losing a valuable horse and facing a claim from members of the public for injury or death and damage to property.
There are plenty of grey areas where a horse’s care is less than ideal, but not bad enough to warrant a call to World Horse Welfare.
This is a bit like parenting – someone snapping at their child or feeding them lots of junk food is not great, but you shouldn’t call social services every time you see it.
Resources for enforcing horse welfare standards are tight, so avoiding unnecessary calls wherever possible is important – it leaves the professionals free to investigate the worst cases.
Unless a horse seems to be in danger or clear distress, these issues should not be reported:
Horse insurance is an essential part of caring for your horse.
As well as giving your beloved pet the food, shelter and care it needs, you also need to consider how you would afford outgoings like vet costs if your horse becomes ill.
Equine insurance means you hopefully won’t be facing a bill you will struggle to pay.
Riding your horse at night is something even the keenest of equestrians may have never even considered. Whether the idea fills you with excitement or trepidation, there might be times when it’s necessary to ride your equine after dark.
Whether you’re a weekend hacker or a serious competitor, tying a horse safely and securely is an equestrian basic. But there's much more to it than meets the eye. Here at Equesure we’ve got some important tips on how to do it safely and what to avoid.
The tables seem to have turned as to which horse is naughtiest now. Shockingly despite Bob ripping yet another of Autumn’s rugs (think that’s 6 this year already), Autumn has taken on the title as most troublesome! In the last few weeks she has taken on full diva status!
We’ve compiled a list of some of the main things you should be aware of, divided into three categories: horse welfare, horse management, and horse riding.