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Why we like Whistle-blowers Without these courageous people so much neglect and cruelty would carry on unchecked and ignored. It's a sad fact that there are too many horses and ponies owned by people who have little or no interest in their happiness or welfare. These sad creatures can be found everywhere and anywhere in DIY livery yards and on plots of land totally unsuitable for horses and ponies. Many of these plots are owned by people who live a distance away and do not bother to visit them on a regular basis. Some owners have no income, no knowledge and no interest. Why, we ask ourselves, do they bother to get a horse in the first place? We all know of sad little ponies that live alone, of horses or ponies kept in and never let out for exercise; their owners simply rushing in and out spending the minimum time only to make sure that their animal is alive.
There are so many kind people who, despite the abused animal not being theirs, are taking care of the animal providing care and feed which the owners don't. Thank heavens these dedicated people refuse to stand by and ignore the situation. The question we are constantly asked under these circumstances is, “What can I do?” To these people we offer practical help and advice, visiting where necessary and explaining all options available. Sometimes neglect and cruelty can be ended by helping the offending owners to realise that it would be better if they sold or loaned the animal or even enter into a share arrangement. Brownbread has a well-established rehoming scheme and a register of potential loanees. Others are open to offers of help or advice. Some owners will reject all attempts to improve conditions which frustrate those who have to watch the neglect taking place. These are more difficult cases and other methods have to be deployed. We have to be thankful that these indifferent owners may choose to keep their horses in yards where other people can see them rather than hiding them away in isolated locations. Some would-be whistleblowers may be too afraid to speak up for fear of being turned out of their yard and we often come across instances where neglect has been kept quiet for this very reason. A few mercenary yard owners just want the money and turn a blind eye to such abuse. We urge anyone who is living with cruelty near by and needs advice or support to call us in confidence. It is easier to sleep with a clear conscience knowing that you have done the right thing rather that keep brooding over what you ought to do. If you wish to get directly involved we are recruiting field officers in the South East due to an overwhelming demand.
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Winter Chores Early in the year several inches of snow transformed the fields into a contrasting wonderland of beauty. Of course, coupled with the beauty comes the demands of feeding horses in distant fields; principally it's a matter of physically getting the half-tonne bales to them.
Dinty uses a pitchfork to toss hay over the hedge Fortunately, using the tractor spike, Martyn had ensured that most of the fields had hay nearby prior to the snow arriving. In quite deep snow Reuben managed to take one small bale down by hand to two ponies in a distant field. One of our long-term residents, “Hannah”, shown below, seemed to enjoy the snow and, with her companion, was quite frisky in her coat when Dinty came to put the hay out
Frisky “Hannah” enjoyed the frolicking in the snow with her companion The winter was otherwise quite mild and, despite the snow, there has been a lack of winter rainfall. Consequently the local reservoirs are currently threateningly low portending the likelihood of a summer drought. We are blessed with a couple of springs on the farm where the water has never yet failed in 33 years.
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