Most people that own a horse are responsible and conscientious owners who take care of their animals to the best of their ability. Sometimes, though, we may see animals in a condition or in stabling that might make us wonder.
Be responsible - Report equine abuse
Without phone calls from the concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhoods, we wouldn't know about most instances of animal abuse.
ASPCA Supervisory Special Investigator Annemarie Lucas, whom you may have seen in action on Animal Planet's Animal Precinct reports that "Without phone calls from the concerned citizens who report cruelty in their neighborhoods, we wouldn't know about most instances of animal abuse."
Do you know where and how to report cruelty in your town? ASPCA FAQ provides information on recognizing and reporting animal cruelty, as well as cruelty laws and how to talk to children about this important issue.
imagine if you were a horse suffering from abuse. No voice. No recourse. No way out. Don’t let anything stand in your way of reporting animal abuse. The five minutes it takes to file a report could mean the difference between life and death for a horse.
The Human Society of the United States also provides guidelines that cover everything you need to know about reporting animal abuse and the process that follows.
According to People Helping Horses, determining whether a horse is suffering from starvation and neglect can be difficult. For some such as Thoroughbreds, a leaner body mass is healthy. The same does not hold true for drafts. The differences from breed to breed makes identifying a dangerous situation challenging—but not impossible.
Signs of Neglect - Tips for determining whether a horse is in need
- Weight: The Henneke System is an objective evaluation of a horse’s body condition. Developed in 1983 by Don R. Henneke, Ph.D., of Tarleton State Texas University, it is based on both visual appraisal and palpable fat cover of the six major points of the horse that are most responsive to changes in body fat.
- Hooves: Horses, like humans and our feet, support their entire body mass with their hooves. Healthy hooves make for a happy horse, while unhealthy hooves can—and quite frequently do—lead to life-threatening medical issues. In general, horses should receive farrier care every six to twelve weeks depending on the horse and the environment they’re kept in. Disconcerting signs in a hoof include chips, cracks, and overgrowth.
- Wounds: Any wound gone untreated can cause serious health risks in a horse due to the risk of infection and further celluloid deterioration. Wounds are quite common and are to be expected. It is the untreated wound that raises a red flag. Signs of festering, discharge, or bleeding are grounds for concern.
Environment:
The following must be present on any property where horses are kept:
- Reliable clean water source,
- Safe and secure fencing that is of sufficient strength and dimensions to safely contain equines and limit direct contact between the general public and the horses,
- Safe and secure shelter where horses may take refuge from the elements without danger of being injured,
- In a barn setting, stalls that are large enough to allow the horse to turn and lay down comfortably
Dig deeperTM
http://equimed.com/health-centers/nutrition/horse-body-scoring-explained