Problem....

[Serenity]

My friend boards her horses at this private barn and there is another guy there with his two horses. He is not a very nice guy. He doesn't have a farrier come out and the horses hooves are terrible, they are flattening out and curling up. The one horse has a lump on his back and it's fat...he is so overweight. The horses stalls are never cleaned out....they are standing in about 2 1/2 feet of their own fecies (sp?). My friend has tried to talk to the owner, she has offered to work with the horses, help them out, groom (as they have rain rot as well) and he won't let her he says she just thinks she knows everything. He says he has had horses for 30 years and his horses are fine. It's outrageous! I go up there with my friend and these 2 other horses are so sad looking....I don't know what to do! The one horse is an appy, he's very handsome and broke...and he doesn't get ridden, he's going to go lame soon with the shape his feet are in and this guy won't do anything about it and he won't let us help. He also says he can't afford the farrier....but if you can't afford to keep your horses healthy, why have them! My friend has even offered to pay for the farrier...and he won't have it! What can we do!?!?

[Dee22]

Call the Humane Society or Animal Control, people like this don't deserve to have horse IMO <edited><editID>Dee22</editID><editDate>38393.4250462963</editDate></edited>

[jax]

I would do that also - unfortunately if the horses have water then the HS won't do much, but an officer could at least speak to him.&nbsp; If he won't take any help from your friend, maybe an officer would put the fear into him.
Do the horses go out at all?
If it were me, but keep in mind I'm a bit of a grouch when it comes to stupid people, I would give him an option - either he smartens up and starts taking care of the horses, or the HS is going to pay a visit.&nbsp; Then I would tell him that either he gets a farrier out or the next time mine comes out, he will do the horses, no ifs ands or buts about it.&nbsp; I would also offer the owner cash for the horses - somewhere around meat price - and then find them better homes.&nbsp; If he is not using them for anything and cannot afford to keep them, and they used to be in good shape, then there is maybe something going on in his life.&nbsp; That is no excuse, of course.&nbsp; But I would get a backbone for the horse's sake and lay down the law.
Is it like a co-op, where the horse owners have to clean the stalls, or is it the barn owner?

[Andy]

The barn owner needs to take part of the responsiblity for this situation. If a border is neglecting their horses they could claim that it's the BO job to look after the horses, that what I pay board for.
As a BO myself I would never let this happen. If any horse was abused or neglected like this I would be the first one to call the authories and confiscate the horse. This is a legal right and obligation

[Xenasaur]

Mabey the barn owner could raise the price a little for this guy and then just start having the horses feet trimmed herself, and doing the stall and grooming herself.... Or charge the extra amount and hire a kid to muck out and brush the horses.
Or perhaps she should take a stronger authorize stand and say, "ok, you are going to have to start doing this because I am not running a barn like this" and make him do It or leave...
Me, If I had a boarding stable? I would not accept this... It not only looks bad on the owner of the horses, but on the barn owner too. I would probly give the guy the options, if he didnt want that I would probly buy the horses and re-sell them after some training and cleaning up. Or if that didnt work I would simply as the person to leave.

[Serenity]

Well maybe I should talk to my friend about calling the Humane Society but if the officer won't do much....what good would that be? I can be a grouch when it comes to neglect like that too...and I will tell him exactly where to go....which isn't always the best solution, but I can't stand to see these horses like that. Also...about the board and barn owners. The barn owners know NOTHING about horses. They bought the house and it came with the property and barn (which used to be a cattle ranch) and my friend and this other guy asked if they could keep their horses there. The barn owners said sure, and they are charging $100/month for using their property. They are very nice people, but like I said, know nothing about horses and have nothing to do with the boarders. My friend and the other guy, have to clean the stalls, feed the horses, turn them out ect. by themselves...that was the deal. So the barn owners arn't even involved in this. I think I am going to call the HS myself....this is just unfair. We are thinking about having people sign a petition (sp?) or do a write up or something because my friend, her coach, her farrier and myself have all seen these horses and agree they are not looked after and not in good health. One of the guys horses is also very rude...biting ect. and has had bo handling in a while and he bit my friend and the guy says...oh well you shouldn't be so close to him them and he lets the horse get away with it. My friend was just turning the horses out though, which is what he asked.....this is so messed up...

[Serenity]

I just called the Humane Society and I am waiting for them to return my call. Also, Jax, you said if they have water...the HS won't do much.....well the only reason they do have water is becasue my friend gives it to them....when I go up with her....they're water buckets are empty....and dry...I mean dry, indicating they haven't had water in a while. So we fill their buckets up. The guy comes up once in a while, let's his horses in or out and gives them a hay cube now and then and uses my friends hay to feed his horses....he doesn't provide his own feed.

[Dee22]

Serenity, I would make sure to tell the Humane Society ALL of that, tell them that if it weren't for your friend that the horses would have no water and tell them that they doesn't feed them, except for taking your friends hay. Basically, tell them everything you just told us. Maybe they can't actually DO anything but once you call in they have to go and check it out themselves... so maybe by them going by and talking to him will knock some sense into him or scare him into changing his ways.? Good luck! Keep us updated!

[stephanie1]

I personally would&nbsp;just start taking care of the horse myself.(not that I could afford it) but I wouldnt be able to sit and watch that happen.
It cost only what like 20 bucks at the most to get a trim(at least that is what my farrier charges)&nbsp;I would just pay for the horse to get its feet done so it dosent go lame.
Question? How is the horse so over weight if the owner dosent feed them???????Does he steal feed?

[jax]

Absolutely tell the HS everything.&nbsp; If it is his responsibility to feed and water and he is not doing that, then they may be able to do more.&nbsp; In any event they can inspect the conditions and talk to the guy, give him a kick in the butt.
I have had the HS out for horses before, and unfortunately nothing was done because the horse had water and "access to hay"...meaning there was hay in the barn that COULD be fed to them.&nbsp; However, if he has no hay of his own in the barn, that is a good thing as far as getting the HS to do something.
Keeping our fingers crossed!

[Emerald]

Serenity,&nbsp;
Make sure you have your facts straight before you post on behalf of someone else's situation. Some of the details you have you have written are incorrect. <strong>He does come to the Barn atleast once a day, he gives his horses water, with a large water trough inside the barn. the manure in the barn stall area he is renting is only a foot deep as a couple of months ago I got so PISSED OFF!!! I scraped it out . For doing this cleaning I was insulted by him and told that it was cow manure from previous property owner. Needless to say , it has not been cleaned since then. His idea of cleaning a stall is putting Straw on top of the manure. </strong>
<IMG src="smileys/smiley7.gif" border="0">&nbsp;But you know , I am thinking of printing out this entire topic and giving a copy to the property owner and the horse owner.
One more error, is the price is greater than $100.00 a month, because the price is based on the entire area we have access and use of .&nbsp;Property owner offered the&nbsp;part of barn rental to this "man" as he was kicked out of another boarding barn, for not paying. and for the price&nbsp;of the gas he is paying driving up to the stable and supplies (he does feed his horses the cheapest feed he can find)&nbsp;he could afford to keep them at a full care facility. But who would want the guy <IMG src="smileys/smiley7.gif" border="0">&nbsp;. the horses do not have excessive rain rot maybe a little. They are never brushed.
I am trying to get other people to come and look at the horses, and voice their opinion to both the property &amp; the horse&nbsp;owner.
and Sadly enough the Appy who looks at me with the most pitiful sad eyes begging for attention is only worth meat price now. I really want to save him but can not afford to keep another horse .
One more thing , I have already posted this problem a couple of months ago. I wish you would contact HCW for some ideas and getting ALL YOUR FACTS STRAIGHT!!!!!!!!!!
Everyone reading this post please note , The property owner have tried to help this guy offering his horses a place. The property owners have made sure to snow plough so that access is easy including a clear path to manure pile outside which only I use&nbsp; as you see why.

[Andy]

<SPAN class=bold>Emerald
</SPAN>
Serenity was not&nbsp;to far off after reading your post!

[Emerald]

Yess I know Andy, but she should have talked to me about some of the details and before calling the humane society I would gladly have given her the Property Owners phone numbers. Since horse refuses to give me his phone # can't do much there.
Serenity, why don't you write your concerns down!!! Get your parents to sign it and anyone else. I wanted to get my friend/stable owner&nbsp;at the near by facility to come and look at the horses however , she just had surgery and will be home bound for another 6 weeks.

[Dee22]

I'm just wondering? What is this petition for, or writing the concerns down and getting parents to sign it... do you show that to the Humane Society or something? I was pretty sure (but not 100%) that the Humane Society will come out and look and than they decide for themselves... not sure a petition will do any good?

[Emerald]

I was not refering to a petition only that because Serenity is not of age 18 yet, perhaps if her parents also signed the letter it would have more credibility. <IMG src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0">

[rubberman]

Thanks for the clarification Emerald. Unfortunately, the only real concern that the Humane Society could possibly zero in on is the lack of hoof care because it is a mistreatment of the horse (and even that may be a long shot). It is unfortunate that the horses are being neglected (his concept of stall maintenance is more than a little strange and I would worry about when the horses where last dewormed) but in my view there is little action that can be taken if the horses are given water and food regularly and have access to shelter. If this individual is unpleasant now what will he be like after a pointless visit from the Humane Society. Obviously this individual has some personal problems that he must address and unfortunately it is his horses that are paying the price.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<img border="0" src="smileys/smiley5.gif" border="0">

[Dee22]

Oh, okay Emerald, I was just curious, I didn't know how old Serentiy is<IMG src="smileys/smiley14.gif" border="0">.
I also don't think that HS could do much as long as the horses have food, water and shelter... but if they're called than at least this guy might&nbsp;get it into his head&nbsp;that he needs to make some changes... hopefully, that would be the case... it really IS too bad that animals don't have more rights than they do... really, there is so much more to caring for a horse than food, shelter and water.

[chenders01]

I, too, would hope that having the Humane Society visit the farm might put the Fear of God into the guy.&nbsp; I mean, he's obviously ignoring the property owner's pleas to do something about his horses, but maybe someone "official" visiting the property, may cause him to clean up his act a bit and start providing the level of care that his horses need.
Does the property owner not&nbsp;have the right to give the guy an eviction notice?&nbsp; If he won't follow their rules and provide the proper care&nbsp;for his horses, the&nbsp;PO's should have some kind of legal footing to stand on, to get the guy to move his horses elsewhere.&nbsp; And I can't imagine that&nbsp;some other BO would agree to take on a horse owner like him...which would then&nbsp;put him in the position of following the rules where he is, because there really isn't any place else for him to go.&nbsp;
In any event, I feel so sorry for those poor horses!&nbsp; They are definitely being neglected and hopefully the HS will be able to do something to at least force the guy to&nbsp;get their feet trimmed.
&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

[Emerald]

OK, if any one is interested in coming out and looking at these poor horses,!!! and put in writing !!!!!! needs and neglect issues, please pm me and I will arrange a visit, my thought here is perhaps the voice of many will convince this idiot , It will also give the property owner ammunition to hold a shot gun to this guy's head, he keeps telling them I am too fussy, They are very busy this time of year so I don't know when they are home but they have told me they appreciate any input and including an outsider, my horse chiro couldn't sleep for days after seeing these horse last week, he is going to put in writing his concerns.
I really wish I could buy the Appy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I own 2 horses as it is , with a full time job &amp; 1 hour commute I want to keep my head and body and suffering wallet, 2 is enough but I wish I could help.

[Emerald]

<strong>I forgot to mention, I am located near Peterborough, Lindsay, Bowmanville, Oshawa, Newcastle, Port Perry, Newtonville, Kendal, Kirby, pontypool.</strong>
<strong>So if you are interested in helping, anyone out there <IMG src="smileys/smiley19.gif" border="0">&nbsp;pm me and I will give details.</strong>