My tethered friend wasn’t there on Monday evening when I drove by. There were two flattened, grazed rings where he had exhausted the grass on that steep slope near the A1. Part of me was grateful he’d gone; another part worried where he’d gone to.So, imagine my surprise when I finally – a number of weeks after my original report – received a phone call from an RSPCA inspector last night. Unfortunately, I was out, so he left a long answer phone message and there was no opportunity to ask questions.
I was even more surprised to hear that the black horse I reported was “bodily fine” and there was nothing to worry about. The horse I reported has gone.
Apparently, horses are tethered so close to busy roads to get them used to heavy traffic because they will be broken to harness and expected to drive among it. Oh, so that’s all right then.
There are often no buckets because the owners come twice a day to water their horses. To disprove this, said Mr RSPCA man, they would be obliged to stake out a tethered horse for 24 hours. I think that would be a day well spent if it meant a horse didn’t get dehydrated.
I look at our horses here, living in herds as nature intended, with freedom to graze and interact with their friends, and soppy humans to satisfy their every whim; then I look at their tethered cousins who drew the short straw, and I sigh.
I wish I’d spirited that black cob away. Alas, life’s not like Follyfoot.
14 comments:
Great blog - thought provoking and entertaining!
Have you seen the memorial in London to the animals that 'served' their country in wartime? I think it's on Park Lane. It's a very poignant reminder of how we use animals for our own, often selfish needs with scant consideration for their sensibilities. There must be better way of accustoming a horse to heavy traffic than a tether on one of the busiest roadside in the country.
And is 'bodily fine' good enough?
I can't abide cruelty to animals, let alone neglect of this kind. In fac, the opposite should be true - you can only come near an animal if you are going to care for it.
I think I'm right in saying that horses like this one, and travellers horses are always black and white.
Well of course THIS ONE is black and white, hehe, what I mean is horses you see tethered to the side of the road are of this type.
You did what you could- you stood up and said something and contacted the authorities- well done to you!!
So are they going to watch the horse or not? And why do they just take the owner's word for it?
:o(
well done for trying.
Freddie is being horrible to Suze - what can I do??
ps - good ole Frankie!
Welcome and thankyou, Minoritymum..
Mountainear, I agree. My sister said the same as you about 'bodily fine'.. I mean, what about the animal's mental health. I suppoe at best, it would be depressed.
James, this is true. I think people should not be allowed animals unless they have the ability and the facilities to keep them.
Brom, I think I get your gist...
Thankyou Gill, but sometimes I don't think the authorities are good enough ...
Omega, my message says the isnpectors 'regualary visit the tethered horses' but as I got the message on Thurs, and the horse disappeared as of Mon, goodness knows ...
Oh, Zig, I bet he'll calm down when he's had time to get used to her...
Frankie and Authorize were sheer perfection ...
I'm glad I didn't see the poor horse. I reported a grey pony a few years ago which looked extremely depressed in a clarky field. What did they do about it? Bugger all. The pony wasn't there, however, the next time I drove past but I very much doubt the RSPCA had anything to do with it. I've heard a few bad reports about them of late. Well done to you for reporting it.
eminem, just catching up after being away in Wales, where there seem to be foals aplenty in the fields now that it is springing into summer. Very surprised that Follyfoot is not out on DVD, considering that another TV classic, Flambards, is now available to purchase. Surely they could put it out - or are the actors rightly worried that they wouldn't get to see any of the dosh, since very often their contracts in those days didn't include such things as repeat fees.
What a strange ordeal.
we get a lot of qypsy ponies tethered up on Woldgate, again no water. As far as l'm aware, no one checks they're ok. On the other hand you find that people who decided to do the horsey thing, over do the kindness bit in the other way, feeding the kid's pony with a complete feed that contans maize & beans = high protein / energy feed. l think that there are just too many horses about now, with many people not having the experince or time to look after them properly.
Sometimes I feel like a tethered horse myself and I am not referring to my culinary preferences.
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