From the Hoof

February is the month of Love.  My Mum came to visit at short notice from England. She missed her grandsons and one of them, Joshua, was eight in January and she wanted to wish him Happy Birthday in person.  

 My parents are really thoughtful not just to us but to other people too, and are truly amazing that they make the effort, time and money to visit us. Unfortunately not everyone has a loving nature. For some reason some people cause pain to others, family members and animals. I do not understand why people abuse others.  Just like last month the family of the poor little girl Nix Marie. Abusing their own daughter eventually to death.  People do it to animals too. 

 When I lived in England, at one time there were abusers going around to fields and barns and knifing horses, cutting them on their body, face and even private parts.  The abusers were never caught, and it spread up and down the country, and it was felt that some of the attacks were people being copycats. How sick is that? I haven't heard of any of these attacks taking place recently thank goodness. 

 The latest over there is people stealing other people's horse blankets from horses in fields. Yes, you turn your horse out with a blanket only to find that evening someone came into the field went up to your horse and took its blanket off. As the blanket is nowhere in the field you have to assume its been stolen. People are zip coding their blankets as a deterrent to thieves.

 Some abused animals are eventually rescued and taken to places set up to help these poor creatures. One such place in England is called the International League for the Protection of Horses (ILPH). Horses which are found in a bad state are taken from their owners, who are then prosecuted, and the horses rehabilitated. If the horse makes it, it will be sent on permanent loan to loving family who are checked out by ILPH staff. 

 There are so many cases. One I read about stuck in my mind. It was about a horse called Charlie. Charlie was one of 12 ponies seized from cruel owners. Four ponies, Charlie was one of them, were kept in an 8' x 8' cage in a field. There was no grass in the inside of the cage but on the outside grew lush green grass. In fields next to these cages there were mares and stallions in excellent condition. Close by one pony lay dead in the field and five others were emaciated. These ponies were being selectively starved . . . for what reason?  The article didn't say.  Charlie was in the worst state but with the ILPH's tender loving care he recovered and was loaned and successfully competed in show jumping and eventing - a happy ending.   

 Another rescue case was of a foal alongside its mother beside a traveller's (gypsy) cart.  The poor foal was worm infested, full of lice, emaciated and its fetlocks were bleeding due to being hobbled (rope tied around all its legs to stop it running away) all the time. The vet recommend the foal be put down, but the center decided to give her two weeks to see if she would progress and make it. She did and grew to be 17.2hh, was loaned to a suitable loving home, and became a dream horse even winning the ILPH Horse for the Year Show title. 

 These are success stories but sadly many horses are put down, or even worst not 
even found and continue to be abused. Do people not realize what they are doing? Why have an animal if you cannot take care of it? I have seen cases where people don't have the farrier to trim their horses' hooves regularly. Some owners let their horses go years without being trimmed. I have seen ponies but mostly donkeys with hooves curled  up making it unbearable and difficult for them to walk.

 I have also seen a couple of emaciated cases locally. One case was bought and lives in luxury in Newark Valley with a very caring owner. The owner would be great for setting up an ILPH here . . . and the other case the vet went out and advised the owner to feed the horse. I haven't been back to see if the horse has gained weight but will be doing so shortly. 

 So in this month of love lets think about each other, our horses, our animals, and if you have too many sell them or give them away to a suitable home. But if you know of any animals being abused let the appropriate authorities know. Now go do the right thing.

Above: Me and Monty in England.