Welfare                                                                                                                               Helen Evans

Horse Droppings

In today’s world, where it seems that everyone has an opinion  which, however misinformed, they try and thrust upon others, we are in danger of losing something we value if we don’t speak up for our cause.

A case in point is the growing number of vociferous complaints I have been hearing and reading about, of the “dangers” posed by horse droppings, to the extent that there is some strong anti-horse feelings in semi-rural/rural villages, with calls to bring in by-laws or worse, to prohibit horses from certain roads or lanes in those areas.

I feel that riders are being victimised by people who have little knowledge of the subject, with their main concern  being that it smells, and they or their children may catch something nasty by associating with it. I think it is very important that we as riders nip this in the bud.

There have been studies by scientists who have stated that there is no inherent risk of disease from horse dung. Horses are herbivores, they do not carry parasites that are dangerous to humans, the droppings are bio-degradable and will wash off the road with the first rainfall, and it is very good for the garden!

It is impractical to find the owner of the depositing horse to make them clear up, and there is no legal obligation for horse owners to do so. However, I must suggest that you try not to let your horse or pony stale on the pavement, (you should not be riding on the path anyway!) or on the immaculate grassed area outside a house. I did try to explain to one irate house-holder that no, my horse wasn’t caught short, he just did as nature intended.

When arguing your case, stay away from words like “excrement”, “fouling”, “s---“, and use the terms “droppings” “staling” and “dung”. Hundreds of children have spent years in manure, and it hasn’t done them any harm.  Horse riding is a healthy activity – we must promote the benefits, and the fact that if people live in the country, they are going to encounter country pursuits.

Dog Attacks

I am concerned about the increase in the number of ridden horses being worried or actually attacked by dogs. The BHS has a report form available for you to record any  such incidents on their Safety page.  It is very frightening to go from a quiet hack one minute to trying to control a frightened horse, and keep the offending dog at bay, whilst communicating calmly(!) with the owner to call the animal off.

Sometimes the owner does not care at all and just walks off. If you can find out the owner’s details, you can ask for an Area Beat Officer to go and have a quiet word. The Police do not record an attack as a crime as horses are not considered to be livestock, therefore it is “animal on animal” incident, but if the horse gets loose, or the horse or rider is injured, then it should be up to the dog’s owners to pay for vet’s fees, under damage to property. However, if the owner is unreasonable, or compensation is required, it may become a civil matter for the courts to decide.

The same applies if a dog attacks your horse in the field. If a footpath crosses your horse’s field, the dog should be kept on a lead.  Ponies in particular who have been chased by dogs may decide that the best form of defence is attack, and my pony was very adept at clearing his field of loose dogs! Politely ask owners to put their dog on a lead, explaining the reasons why. For stray dogs that cause problems, contact your local Dog Warden, who should be able to help.

If you are in the unfortunate position of being attacked by a dog whilst riding, try to stay calm, as panicking will only upset your horse.  Get the dog’s owner to get it under control.  If all else fails, try and whack the dog across the nose with your whip. If you run, the dog will probably chase you, but try and get away from it at the earliest opportunity. A dog that gets kicked  will normally leave  off and stop the attack.

The best course of action is to try and prevent the situation from developing. If you see a loose dog, stop, and try and get the owner’s attention, to see if the dog is all right with horses. If you have to ride past a garden where dogs run and jump at the fence, or maybe escape, have a word with the property owner, to see if the situation can be improved. It would be a sad day if our rides were curtailed by a small number of irresponsible dog owners. 

Donations for the Amersham Horses                                      Helen Evans

 I have received several items of tack to sell, proceeds to go to Horse Trust to help with the huge vet’s bills for the rescued horses.

1 med/narrow GP saddle, 17”

1 narrow dressage saddle 17”

1 Barnsby jumping saddle, wide brown 171/2”

These saddles are old but have many years of wear left.

Other items available, for details contact me

07967 202651.

If anyone would like to donate unwanted, useable items, I may consider holding a sale in a village hall if we get enough, as my garage is full to bursting!