The Poultry Keeper

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

A friend has rented some land attached to his home to a girl ( relative of a friend of his ) who put a horse there some six months ago but has not been seen at all for the last 3 months.

My friend is worried about this horse, he thinks it is a connemara gelding - no other details known. His land gets really bleak this time of year, catching the wind and snow etc.

He keeps a fell pony and a shetland, both used for carriage driving. They are hardy and well used to the weather there.

He has moved all horses to fresh grass this week, it has been rested for 12 months so is good grazing, he's left access to old field as there is a field shelter there but the horses don't tend to use it.

He's tried to get in touch with the owner of the connemara without success, she's not returning calls from him or her relative.

He's worried the horse won't stand the weather conditions,. let alone being neglected - shoeing etc. It's broken his head collar already.

I've read up and believe the breed is quite hardy and will manage with little or no additional food if not worked.

I went to look at it today and it's about 15hh, (long legged short body!) and gelded with a good coat, but isn't carrying excess weight .

It's not confident so unable to get close to check teeth to get some idea of age

Can anyone advise about this breed and if extra food is needed what you suggest please.

I'll take on the responsibility of looking after it rather than the poor thing suffer.

I've had my own horse many years ago so know the basics but with all the new food stuffs around i'm at a loss plus as I don't really know the age / history of the horse any advice would be welcome.

I'll try and get a photo and post.

thank you

[/img]http://gallery.thepoultrykeeper.co.uk/d/33857-2/HORSE

debcat · Posted: Sat Dec 06, 2008 10:50 pm Post subject:

I had someone do that to me a couple of years ago, in the end I phoned the SSPCA.
It turned out that they where looking for the 2 horses as the owner had a history of dumping them on other people

What does the owners relative say?

Itsybitsy · Joined: 11 Feb 2006 Posts: 1452 Location: Leicestershire

Well I have a pony, who lives out all year and I don't rug, he is in a fairly small area but has the electric fence moved twice a day so he get fresh green grass - not that there's much goodness in it now, so it is just bulk. As a native pony your Connemara will live out very well, if you are worried why not buy some hay and give him a net or equivalent every day? make sure he has access to fresh water, feet shouldn't be a problem, if he was shod the hoof will grow and mud will pull the loose shoes off - not ideal but he will be better once they are off. If you start feeding a little hay each day he will soon get to know you and you'll be able to handle him - food is a great tamer.

Itsybitsy

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Thanks to everyone who has replied / pm'd.

I can take him from field with some food to encourage to the yard to groom etc to work with him.

As i'm not sure of the requirements of the breed it's good to know he won't need special treatment.

the relative is quite nonchalont about the situation- only got his word he's spoken to her.

If there's no sign of owner by end of month i'll go to her house myself and post letter asking her to sign over with threat of reporting and see what affect that has.

Oh well, guess where i'll be tomorrow Laughing

I just can't stand by and watch him abandoned, every animal deserves a loving pat / stroke.

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2671 Location: South Cumbria

I had a Connemara cross with a cart horse he had'nt much of a coat and though he had a field shelter and later a stable we had a NZ rug on him he had a least 1 net of hay a day 2 when really cold plus nuts when ridden though he had plenty of room his hooves were light coloured and so needed trimming and looking after. Thank goodness there are other animals there so he always has water poor thing Sad

Forgot to say we lived at Ambleside at the time we had Bill, and we are not positive about the breed as he came in on a boat from Ireland just what the Vet thought and he was very horsey Smile

scottish vamps · Posted: Sun Dec 07, 2008 7:09 pm Post subject:

The breed can require some extra food but i don't know who would pay for it. probably best with hay or haylage really. they are hardy beasts and should be fine down your way. Smile

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Friend mentioned the horse when he realised the owner hadn't been near him for months.

The owner tended to turn up and spend more time drinking tea than actually being with the horse, apparently she only rode it once ........and that was in the field!

Fortunately my mate has his own horses there which he checks daily so is able to monitor him (we don't even know his name) but as his are hardy natives they don't get much supplemented food, ( they look like little teddy bears )but rather than see the poor thing loose condition i'll get some nuts and mollichop (thanks Scottish vamps). ..all new stuff out now, when i had my pony all that was around was pony nuts, oats and bran mashes for which I would take flasks of hot water to make up fresh so he was warm at night.!!!

Gillyc, it's hooves are light coloured but it does have a good coat but it may have been rugged in previous home because present owener only bought him this summer!!!

I'll update you all when I get some news Rolling Eyes

milkmaid · Joined: 19 Apr 2005 Posts: 7424 Location: isle of lewis

it'd be lovely to see some pics ,i know the horse situation is not good as the credit crunch is starting to have an effect on how much the charities are getting in in less money and the number of horses is going up ,so dusty i think you'd be doing a good thing Very Happy

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Thanks MM, I don't know how people can abandoned any animal.

I went to the farm supply place by me yesterday Rolling Eyes

just to have a look you understand Laughing

The range of food and supplements is mind boggling.

I'll go and get a photo tomorrow. Laughing

debcat · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:26 pm Post subject:

just seen your pics
he'll be a right stunner with a bit of looking after
your right about him carrying no weight,
from the look of him he should be carrying a load more weight than he is - not a good start to the winter

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Thanks debcat, it's amazing what a few carrots will do, i've been up over the last few days with some carrots which he's taken at arms reach but tonight he let me stroke his head.........he wants to be friends.

Ill go to the owners house and try and speak with her.

Meanwhile I think some pony nuts and chop are in order.

Also saw a bran mix so may look at this with some hot water.

scottish vamps · Posted: Tue Dec 09, 2008 10:48 pm Post subject:

don't worry about the different food just stick with what you know, maybe stick some more weight on.
he's stunning with a little more weight, dad says can we have? there's is a real kindness in thoese eyes. he's a good'in that just needs some one to love him like he deserves. good luck dusty he's a lucky horsey!!!!!!!

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2671 Location: South Cumbria

he looks lovely but oh so thin Sad

hope you can make her see sense fingers crossed

Dusty · Joined: 07 Jan 2008 Posts: 1042 Location: St. Asaph

Was told today that she isn't in North Wales at the moment and no idea when or if she plans to return!!!!

Gilly C · Joined: 22 Jun 2006 Posts: 2671 Location: South Cumbria

some people Evil or Very Mad