[Chester]

I have to feel for my poor horses.

They have no shelters, apart from the trees. They don't get exercised often if they arent competition horses, they are left to amuse themselves and exercise each other playing.

They don't get grain, just hay and pellets.

Only the competition horses are shod, the others just get rasped when they need it, not just cause it is 5 weeks from the last one.

They don't get their water trough cleaned, they don't even have one. They have to drink from the dam and get their feet muddy doing so.

There are no rugs, except the show ponies ones.

Their gear is all mismatched, except the show stuff.

The poor things really are neglected arent they? They just get to be horses, not pets as such.

Just because a person chooses to keep their horse one way, eg barns and rugs, full feed they don't need, doesn't make it neglect really when others choose not to.

This thought came to me from reading rescue threads where the horse seems to be receiving the basics, just not the extras.

[madvoice]

Very well said. I know all about the paddock monsters with no 'shelter' other than trees, the ones that get left (like Pepper) to be ridden occasionally as she's in semi retirement. Horses don't get rugged as theres no need for it etc.

I think your horses get what they need. Just like ours. Just because they're not stabled, rugged or fed grain doesn't meen they're neglected

[PeggySue]

somebody actually called Animal COntrol on this



said she was too think LOL Animal Control was not pleased to know they had wasted their time

[purplestar]

Milo has never been rugged, he stays out thro the summer, and in the winter comes in some evening if its cold or heavy rain as there is no trees to shelter him, I feed him hay if he comes in or if there is no grass, and chaff! I have recently been moving him to different yards and felt uncomfortable, but he is fine and is used to it, he is 4 now and still alive so hasnt harmed him in anyway. We are moving him to his own field in April till november, so will be abit easier asnd wont be being watched.

[jacksydneyellen]

I have a boarding barn where I put blankets on the boarders, feed them grain and bring them in each night and watch my horses living outside with a run in shelter, no blankets and just hay, no grain.
But I know which horses are happier and have less issues. Horses are meant to be left as natural as possible, they like to live together and certainly don't care how often they are ridden.
I used to feel guilty when I boarded my horse and didn't ride as often as everyone else until someone pointed out that my horse didn't know or think that he was missing out on anything just because he wasn't being taken to shows etc. He was happy just being a horse!!

[madvoice]

Originally Posted by PeggySue

somebody actually called Animal COntrol on this



said she was too think LOL Animal Control was not pleased to know they had wasted their time

Dirtmonster? yes... Neglected?? Definitely not

[Stormyheart6160]

Agreed! My horses don't get all those "frills"! They just get to be horses!! As long as they are happy, healthy, and well loved.....that's what's important!!! Gosh, if that's abuse or neglect, because they don't have all those "extras", then I don't need to be rescuing horses!!!

I think the people that can afford that big pretty barn, and that expensive fencing, or that custom made tack, ect,......GREAT for them! But, I honestly don't think the horse could careless! LOL

[katylynn06]

If your horse is happy and healthy with what it has or lack there of yea for you and your horse. That doesn't mean you love it any less or are neglectfull. Horses that are pampered are used to it. Horses that are not don't know what they don't have. I don't know if that makes sense. Again is your horse healthy and happy with what you have? Yea for both of you.

[Arabians Rule!!]

i don't think that is neglect, shelter from natural places is more what is in their history, the dam is close enough to drinking out of ponds. As for trimming i think horses do need their feet trimmed. Excercise...it depends on how big their paddock is. Mismatched tack...who cares.

I think it is more about the horses health than anything else.

[kellidahorsegirl]

Well dang Chester,,,,,I guess you're on to me too then??? I have 4 'neglected' horses here. 3 jumpers (no shoes) 1 working quarter horse (no shoes). they get trimmed by me when they need it. There is a barn, but I only open it up if its a blizzard. They only were blanketed when it dropped below 0F this winter....I don't clean their water trough,,,but the fish do Sometimes I only say hi in the morn and thats it. Oh and they only get hay too......and then have to entertain themselves in a LARGE paddock..... I'll miss them when AC takes them away

AHHA I thank you for bringing this thread up. I would actually be more inclined to call AC on one of those poor horses wearing a full blanket in a HEATED barn when its only 40 outside!