******WELFARE REPORT FOR SOUTH EAST WALES ***** by Ellie Griffiths ,regional welfare officer BHS tel 07977 542314 or BHS Welfare 02476 840517 Another busy year ,in South east Wales where we have been able to help more than 300 horses, ponies and donkeys . The whole of Great Britain is in the throes of an equine welfare crisis,and it has been estimated that there is some 7000 equines in need of help . In the SE Wales area the focus has moved away from the fly grazing problems (of which we have been the victim for many years ) to more shocking and upsetting problems of ignorance, neglect and starvation . Two of the most shocking cases that spring to mind are of a gypsy cob yearling that was reported to me as being tied by a tether to a fence without fodder or water ,and tied so tightly that it could not move. When I got there I found a young terrified yearling ,not only tethered so tightly to the fence he could not move ,but his head was also tied to his front legs ,touching his knees .The bit was tied tightly into his mouth with blue nylon rope that was cutting into his flesh . I was able to find the owner and after a discussion,it was agreed that I could cut him loose , the poor thing was so shocked it just stood there trembling and shaking . The second case was of two ponies that were reported to us as being starved and neglected .Investigation showed that these were two young colts being kept on a patch of land that it would have been a compliment to call a mud patch .Both ponies had a condition score of minus 2 , which means that their ribs,hips and spine were sticking out . The horses were listless and depressed ,although still showing an interest in hay .The saving grace about this patch of land was that it did have a spring which meant the ponies had water . Initial contact with the owner was promising and within 24 hours the ponies had hay ,which they rapidly ate. The promising start faltered however,as time after time when visiting these two there would be no forage and at one time these ponies went 15 days without food of any sort . I was able to find homes for these two ,although the owner refused to give them over ,because he loved them too much to part with them Other agencies were contacted ,but they could do nothing to help ,so I continued to text and phone the owner daily and checked the ponies two or three times a week.The owner eventually conceded and homes were found for the ponies . These are just two instances or cruelty where the owners did not see that their actions were causing their horses to suffer .The hard part is trying to educate this sort of owner ,who can see no wrong in their actions. The BHS has been working with the Welsh Assembly looking at the plight of the of ponies on Welsh Commons , and we have worked with Natural Resources Wales to publish information about floods and precautions that might be needed to ensure the safety and well being in areas that are prone or likely to flood . We continue our association with Penclawdd ponies and have been invited to a meeting of a new group that call themselves The Friends of Swansea Horses ( FOSH). This group has been very proactive providing funds for the re-homing of horses and ponies taken into Swansea pound we have also helped and advised on the fly grazing issues on Llantrisant and Manmoel Commons . While the rain fell last winter ,and we all worried about mud fever,rainscald and shoes coming off ,the hot weather brought its own problems ..... lack of water . In the course of of one day I had reported to me six separate instances of horses in fields without running water and none in the water containers .So please remember that horses can drink 10-15 gallons of water in a 24 hour period .... so in ALL weather it is important to provide enough clean.fresh water.Horses are not clean drinkers and can quickly foul any water container,so check that their water supply is uncontaminated and plentiful at all times . Ragwort has again been an ongoing problem and there were only two cases where no action was taken . BHS SE Wales Welfare would like to thank all the members of the British Horse Society that have contacted us with concerns about horses .Without their diligence we would not have been able to help these needy and neglected horses . If you are aware of any horses that you feel need our help then please contact .
Posted on: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 20:18:41 +0000
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