Hi

I know a bit about horses - but not enough to deal with something thats playing on my mind.
In a field in my village there are a couple of horses - medium weight TBX types. The field they live in was a mud bath - until it totally froze over - and now half of the field is an ice skating rink. These horses are in rugs, but I am not sure if they are rugged up enough, because they look like just the one layer and the horses are not your hardy cob types. Also, when the field melts they will be up to their knees in mud (as they were before it froze over). Theres no shelter, although I know they are checked daily because a couple of girls go to them - although I never seem to see any hay in the field...

It just doesn't feel right - would you ask the RSPCA to check up on it? Or is this normal for living out horses?
Advice please!
Thanks
Chloe

Hi Chloe,

I have got hardy *Tinker* cobs but I wouldn't even dream of leaving a TB or TBx out in the winter, rugged or not. I am sure the Equine Protection League can give you help there.

Taylor

Im affraid I agree with taylor. my "hardy" welsh cob is in with 4 quilts and a hood on! :D but unfortunately this sort of thing is very common. Not to say it is right just happens alot. Unless they are about to drop dead I dont think you will have much joy with the RSPCA etc. :( poor things
Emma

Most Tb types, even if they are unclipped/rugged, would probably be a bit cold if they are out overnight in this. Having said that, mine would stay out 24/7 whatever the weather!
Might be worth a call to the ILPH....as long as there is some grazing/water then probably not much will be done.

There's grazing, but the field itself is like an ice rink - I'd say 75percent of it is solid ice...and they were literally up to their knees in mud before it froze over.

I think I will call the ILPH - they're unclipped, but they only seem to have a single New Zealand rug on - whereas I would have thought a bit more was needed :(

Cheers
Chloe

Honestly the lack of blankets doesn't concern me as much as lack of shelter, hay, and all that ice!! Not only are they probably quite hungry, they could easily slip and fall, breaking something. Our Arabs are out with no blankets, but they do have wind blocks and a shed to go into. They do need a fair amount of hay/grain to burn to keep body temp up and stay healthy. I personally would call the authorities. The amount of mud they were/will be in is a health hazard to them, could cause hoof problems, like thrush, and a horse without good hooves is dogfood!!!

QT

Yes,
I would call someone, if i were you. I know at the moment my mates cobs, adn the gypsy's cobs near me arent rugged up, but they all have field shelters, and plenty to eat, and somewhere to stand out of the mud.
Another thing that would be worrying me is whether they have fresh water? or has it frozen up????

Definately keep an eye on them, and call someone!

Em

what fabulous looking horses arabs are, lucky you !

Yes, aren't they precious! (Arabs) They are so cheap here... dirt cheap as far as horses go. The most expensive one we have was only $350 (US dollars). And that is a Nebiel granddaughter!! We also have her half brother. Also had a little gelding just given to us because the owners knew we would care for him and many Arabs if taken to the sales go for dogfood! :( :( :( He is a sweety and well bred, Frezon and Ibn El Neufous (probably spelt that wrong). Such a shame!!! Most around here want Quarter Horses, since that is what is winning in the shows now. I have even had a few judges turn their back on me and talk to someone outside of the ring when I go in for a class, makes me sooooo angry!! I am looking for a Fresian now though, it has always been my dream, since childhood, to own one of those beauties! They are expensive though, not very common round here at all!
QT

i remember watching a film years ago about a kid and his quater horse-he took on a race horse in a marathon , all different events and races-the adult was a "BADDIE" and nobbled him-!!!! but against all odds the kid won :) great heavy horses, huge rear ends on them?
as for a fresian, i thought that only came wrapped on a cow

Hehe, no Frisians are great horses whos ancestors carried knight around. Very common in Germany.

Taylor

I like Frisian horses. Haven't been able to find many here in the UK mind! I think they are beautiful.
Bec

Chloe

My boy has been in for the last 3 days due to the ice and the field being frozen. Not that he minds. But i have one on lease in the UK and am worried about him in this weather. Horses shouldnt be out in these conditions without shelter and ad lib hay. Thing is, it mightwell be that the people who own them work and they go to them before and after work. But if they are not stabled for whatever reason (maybe they have dust alergies and cant be stabled overnight)., they there should be a shelter somewhere. What part of England are they in..out of interest??

natasha

Chloe my TB is not only stabled and rugged up but also has additional rugs put on early evening so he feels the benefit during the night when the temp really drops. It is not impossible for a TBx to live out as there could be a very good reason however I would be concerned if there was no evidence of fresh water/hay and also the lack of shelter. Also one rug left on permanently and not bulked up when it gets colder or changed it if gets soaked is about as much use to the horse as an ashtray on a motorbike.

Thats what I thought - when it was muddy the rugs were wet.
Its two youngish girls who go to see them, and I know they are there every day and I know they are being ridden... my concern is that they are not getting enough food to meet the exercise levels (one of the girls is a little on the larger side).
I am going to ring the ILPH and see if they can go and have a chat with them - its probably just advice thats needed... but the fact that there is no shelter and so much of the field is frozen, and the possiblity if hoof problems when it thaws and turns into a quagmire is worrying the hell outta me!!

In the Midlands Natasha - you can email me if you like: chloe@iscario.com

Chloe wereabouts in the Mids - general area as thats where I live. Also whilst you say they are being checked on everyday is it a through check as in inspecting legs, taking rug off to check for sores etc , putting hay down, breaking the ice on the water, fencing secure etc...... or is it just a quick look ever the gate to see the horses are still in the field and not escaped. Their idea of checking might not be the same as most peoples.

I don't know to the extent they are checked - I've just seen people there when I've been past, and I have seen them tacked up. But the fact that they are still in the same wet rugs leads me to believe that its sheer ignorance of what is required to look after these horses that keeps them in the same conditions - if you see what I mean. I don't think they *mean* to be cruel or neglectful - they are just young girls
:(

Nat it goes without saying as your boy is only down the round (literally) from mine if you ever want me to pop accross and see him, mail you piccies etc you only have to ask.

Oh thanks Lisa., I forgot you were in the same area !!! I still miss him terribly. Ive been told he's well rugged up, but cant help thinking that most of his "thick winter" rugs have been put to use on other horses too...not that i mind, but when you are talking about £130 per rug !!!!!!

Thanks for the offer and i will keep it in mind...

Nat

Oooooooooh Fresians, Lovely!!!!!!!!
I used to work for a lady who had about 6 of them, some that she had bred her self, lovely beasts, she used them for carriage work, (though i have to say, most people who want wedding carriages dont want blacks, they want greys). and she also had two taht would pull canal boats, as well as good for hunting adn hacking!!!!!!!

Em

wellllllllllll I didn't know what one was (thought it was a black and white cow too ;) ) so I've done a search and found this great site for any interested

FHAGBI - Friesian Horse Association of Great Britain & Ireland

Now I've seen the pictures I realise they are horses I've always liked but never known the breed :D

SaraW :)

Thanks for that Sara I've been looking for a UK based society for these horses for ages!
Bec :D

Oh my!!! You all thought I ment HOLSTEINS????? That is if you ment a big black and white cow used for dairy production. I guess here in the states we have a different name for them, though I have heard Fresian used to describe them before. LOL, me looking for a lovely beast and you all though I ment one of those! Please, I don't want anymore of those!! (unless someone else will milk em and send me the check :D :D) I've been looking at the rears of these cows for as long as I can recall. Grew up with them and have been milking everyday since I was 13....... Just realized that is TEN years!!!

No, Holsteins and Friesians are both cattle breeds in UK (I've seen them both at the Royal Show) though I believe they are both called Holsteins in the US.

They are simply named after the Fresian region....thats all. You can get fresian poultry too.

Those poor horses! My TB died a couple of years ago but she needed stabling every night in the winter, with two rugs as she was clipped. She was fed morning and night, always with plenty of extra good quality hay to munch on in between meals.

I can't believe they've got no hay to eat! Horses are 24 hour grazers and must have something to work their jaws on if there is no grass available. Otherwise they will develop awful dangerous habits such as crib biting and windsucking out of sheer boredom.

TB's are notorious for having bad feet anyway, so all that mud will help to rot away the hooves unless the farrier is out to check and re-shoe them every six weeks. I bet you these girls can't get hold of any extra grazing for these horses so they're stuck in that field until spring and will only get moved then if they're lucky. When it thaws, all that mud can pull off a shoe and then you've got lots of nails sticking out that can cause other, more serious injuries.

I hope the authorities manage to have words with these girls.

Keep us updated.

Lady G

Hi Chloe,

any update on that yet?

Taylor

Hi Taylor
At the moment, the horses have 2 rugs on. The ground has thawed and they are grazing.
As soon as it freezes over again though I shall call - as I need the ILPH to see them in those conditions.
Chloe