Nevermind...Issue resolved, Thanks

[Lil Chickie Mama]

Hmm. I like the idea of saying "Oh I just happened to win this from a raffle. Thought it might come in handy for you." I don't really have much extra money but I'll see what I can do. Maybe a thing of dewormer, some of those medicine treat things, and a bag of grain won't look suspicious... What kind of grain is best? If I got a bale of hay too, what hay do I get? The grass has been growing since around late November but really came in in December. These are the only three in the pasture. I don't think they own any other animals.

My husband wants me to butt out and I don't want to cause problems, so I'll try a few nice approaches before resorting to AC and asking them to educate them. I would hate for AC to take them away, I'm sure they are full of animals with the way things are. Hopefully if it comes to that then they will just give them a lecture as you said.

 

[KinderKorner]

This is a hard thing.

The mare does look pretty bad. Her body don't body me but the way her back bone is sticking up so far is just awful.

But I also know for a fact, that my gelding whom I love dearly. Only scores a 3 on the chart. He used to be a fat little paint. But in the past few years his condition especially in the winter has dropped off. He looks awful. I'm ashamed. But after having a vet look at him, and after giving him grain and weight gain I don't know what else to do. He's wormed, and fed lots of food. His pasture buddies are all obease. I'm not sure what is wrong with him. It really saddens me, but it's defiently not neglect. We haven even left 800 pound round bales out for free choice. And 3 horses ate them down in 2 weeks. He still didn't put on weight.

I also saved a rescue and she looked like that for months until I brought her weight up.

It's hard to say if it's neglect or not. I would say if the other horses in the pasture look good it's probably not. But it would be a good idea to maybe knock on their door and just mention she is kind of skinny. And maybe offer to buy her some hay or grain.

Note: It also looks like there is nice grass starting to grow. So I wouldn't really call it neglect, because there is food there. But they is for sure something wrong.

 

[freemotion]

I seriously doubt AC would take them away. I also wonder if these people would know what to do with a tube of paste wormer, and how to safely introduce grain. AC would work to educate them first.

Even if they won't take anonymous reports, they are supposed to keep your identity from the person you report on.

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

I seriously doubt AC would take them away. I also wonder if these people would know what to do with a tube of paste wormer, and how to safely introduce grain. AC would work to educate them first.

Even if they won't take anonymous reports, they are supposed to keep your identity from the person you report on.

Well that's comforting! I don't want to be a bad neighbor and them end up hating us, but if they can get a little education I'd feel better. I'd walk over there and talk to them myself if I had a clue what I was talking about. I'll find a way to help. Thank you for all the suggestions.

 

[big brown horse]

Yup, I've had to call animal control on a man who kept his horses in the same stables as me. (It was an inner-city Sanford and Son's-type of stable that was only self care and a terrible manager. 99% of the horse owners took very good care of their horses, but there is always "that one".)

His horses were two doors down from mine. The horses stayed locked away in a couple of dark, back stalls that weren't easily seen from the aisleway. He let his horses wither away to skeletons after he lost his job and couldn't afford to feed them anymore. He was a dark, nasty man and for a second I was afraid to call due to retaliation...I did it anyway and took my chances. I couldn't NOT do it. As soon as I saw those poor horses I ran to my car and called.

Animal control did show up and I was so afraid he would find out it was me who called them. He never did. He was given so many days to show the horse's improvement and clean up the stalls (which were knee deep in manure and mud) etc. He did get his act together believe it or not. The horses never did look 100%, but they looked much better.

 

[dianneS]

If you don't know your neighbors well, you won't know if they are neglectful on purpose, or because of ignorance.

I would like to think it's ignorance and not a lack of concern for an animals real needs. I had spoken to the wife shortly after they moved in (don't remember her name) and she had mentioned that they were "city" people and she was not happy about the move. "He thinks he's a country guy just because his uncle lived in the country" or something I forget exactly what she said. Basically they didn't know what they were doing.

Sounds to me like a case of ignorance. I wish people would educate themselves better on how to care for and raise livestock before they move to the country and try it! Livestock are not pets! They're not like cats and dogs. Its only the animals that end up suffering as these people learn by trial and error! It drives me crazy! I did live in the city for a while when I was young and stupid, but thank God I'm from farming country folk background on both sides of my family for generations. Farming and country living is just in your blood some times.

I hope these people can get some education on proper care for their animals or come to the realization that they just bit off more than they can chew and let some animals go to better homes and care for the ones they can handle. Let us know how it works out.

 

[LauraM]

Please don't give them a bag of grain. It has to be introduced gradually and carefully, or can cause colic. Sounds like these people would be more likely to just dump several pounds into a bucket and let her have at it. That would cause far more problems.

 

[freemotion]

That mare is in deplorable condition. The picture shows more than just unthriftiness after foaling and the demands of a nursing foal. I define "deplorable condition" as severe muscle loss. I define the latter as a little ribby and loss of fat. That mare is metabolizing her own flesh to feed that baby. She is in danger.

I have been a horse professional for all of my adult life (several decades) and I stand by that opinion. It is not a humble opinion.

Only the OP knows that neighbor. I have had neighbors that I would have a conversation with, and neighbors that I would secretly make a phone call on. Only the OP knows. I suspect that most who replied recognize that we have limited knowledge of the situation. The problem is, how can the OP have a conversation about horse care when she admits that she knows nothing about horses?

She knows enough to recognize skinny, though, and I applaud her for coming here before jumping to conclusions. I still say she needs to make a phone call and let the experts handle educating the owner.

 

[Lil Chickie Mama]

Sorry to sound like a gossip when I'm trying to determine if any intervention is even necessary. I'd rather offend some person on the board and possibly help this animal, now that it has been determined that she needs help. Had everyone said that she was fine and looked normal I would have left it alone. Also, as far as neighbors go, the few dealings I've had with them were less than pleasant. These aren't the kind of people you ask for a cup of sugar or to keep an eye on your place if you leave for a day. These aren't the kind of people who say "hi" when you pass them in the market. I'm sure they are nice people but either have different mannerisms or have found a reason to dislike me. Either way, I can't stand by if I suspect an animal is in distress. I didn't want to go sticking my nose in their door when I wouldn't know the first thing about horses. I came here to ask people who DO know what good and bad condition is to determine IF I should do anything and if they said yes, then what I should do. I feel that I was given many helpful replies and that I now have a reason and a way to walk over there and have some aid. By the same token I wouldn't just assume someone's dog was overly skinny or something, some dogs just look very thin but realistically they are just bred to be streamlined I guess. I didn't want to walk over and say "Hey your horse has issues" when I didn't know if that was legitimate. Thanks to the wonderful responses I am going over there today with a bucket of goodies including wormer and a print out on how to use it and on proper condition of a horse and I just pray it is well received and the horse improves. I don't want to sound snarky or rude to the person who called me a gossip, I am just stating the facts.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Lets stay on track here, the OP stated she did not know horses and has not approached the owners YET. No one is jumping to conclusions about why the mare is in that condition.

I had 2 mares and foals in that condition in my place 3 years ago. I resucued them in much worse shape, and mid pregnancy. While they did gain prior to foaling they lost big time again afterward and all I could do was support them best I could while the recovered. They came from starvation and neglect and were just 2 of 103 that were taken on in a big effort by many. I was proud to be a part of it, but honestly embarrased that they looked like that for so long. You can only do so much, feeding too much can hurt too.

Please approach these people carefully and respectfully. I'm sure your intentions are good and if they are caring they will see your intent. Best to go with someone just in case they are not as friendly as we hope.

Good luck.