very young foal in the paddock without shelter!

Hello,

I am hoping somebody might be able to give advice: near where I live is a paddock with few horses,amongs them very young foal. The horses don't have any shelter, only trees on the edge of paddock. I am concern about the young foal as it is so young that needs to rest a lot, and this time of the year, and winter coming, seems to be too cruel to keep it outside all the time without shelter. I tried to contact RSPCA, but they do not seem to be doing much. Just wanted to ask whether there is any horse protection charity I can contact?Somebody should really check whether the conditions are appropriate...These are heavy horses, but still, I do think that such young foal should have some shelter to be protected from harsh weather. Can somebody help please?many thanks in advance. This is near Sandhurst, Berkshire.

I think you should mind your own business. Horses are ideally suited to living outside in all weather conditions without shelter.

Thank came off a bit rude Kevin, but I do agree horses arre adapted to being outdoors. But also, I live in central Texas and my neighbors colt got very very sick from being in a paddock with only a roof. A young horse really

Needs something to at lest break harsh winds because they are more prone to sickness. I wouldn't really consider it aany form of abuse, maybe talk to the owners if you rreally want something donee, offerr to build a shelter or buy a blanket maybe. That's all you can do.
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Thank you for your kind advice lovesMyDunnBoy, I will try to contact the owners..its really only thing I can do...still will try to contact a horse protection charity..

Regardin Kevinshorses rude message - I will not mind my business because I do care about animals, and I do not want to see them suffer.
I did asked nicely about advice and did not expect such unfriendly reply!

Maja, although Kevin was a little blunt, he is correct. While you may care deeply for animals, not knowing enough about them is a dangerous combination. Horses are born in all kinds of weather and conditions. Having a shelter more then trees are not really necessary depending on where you are. If you are in Alaska, that may be a necessity, if you are in SC, then not so much.

I think you are way over reacting. I've seen this so many times when someone drives by a farm and reports the owner for something or another without really knowing if there is a real problem. If the authorities don't see a problem, then there may not be one.

Unless there is signs of neglect, a protection agency won't and can't do much. If I understand you right, you say they are heavy horses, meaning they have a good amount of weight on them? If so, it would look like they are being cared for.

What one person considers cruel, another may think it's normal. Leaving a horse outdoors even in the winter is not cruel. It's natural for them. Because a horse shivers doesn't mean that they need to have a blanket put on and/or be put inside. Some will disagree. It may make it nicer for them but also can have negative effects. I've had a horse shiver at 45 F in the fall. If I blanketed him, he would not adjust to the colder weather and be able to handle the below zero temps in winter. So I guess I was cruel and made him suffer through it. However, about a month later when the temps got close to freezing, he wasn't shivering. Why? Because he adjusted the the colder weather. If I would have blanketed him, I would have had to keep increasing his blankets to heavier ones throughout the winter.

God made horses with very thick hide on their rumps, to protect the horse. That is why horse's turn their rumps to inclement weather. Biting flies are what a horse needs to escape, rarely the weather. Horses have a waxy dander that clings amongst the hairs next to their sking. This is their water proofing. Shetlands have an incredible amount, while arabs much less, being desert horses originally.

Oh for heaven's sake, Kevin is exactly right -- and there wasn't anything rude about his response....some people don't care to sugarcoat the truth.

Actually Kevin is not exactly right, and it did sound a touch harsh in the delivery.

If the weather is dry, and the trees around the field are providing a windbreak and some shade if needed, then you are worrying about nothing.

You need to look at the overall picture:

Are the horses of a good weight?

Do they have plenty of grazing and or hay available to them?

Is there a clean and plentiful supply of water?

Is the foal healthy and lively?

If yes to all of these questions then there is no issue.

If however you are talking about a bunch of skinny horses, knee deep in mud, no grass and no hay, then there is an issue that needs to be addressed.

My foal, 6 weeks old, is currently out on pasture with only trees and a small shelter, but the weather is still dry, the hesr have plenty of grass left and I've also started putting out hay. She is healthy and happy living in her natural environment, and sleeping on the grass.

If and when the rain comes I will bring her and her mum up to the barn, but until then she will live in a good healthy outdoor environment.

Different folks care for their horses differently. I like to toss mine out on pasture as long as it isn't hailing, lightning or pouring rain. I bring them in if it's too freakin cold (like -15F) and I put them into stalls in the barn when the weather is really ugly.

I have friends who live in Canada whose horses never see the inside of a barn and they do just fine.

I have a friend who thinks leaving a horse out over night in the summer time when it's warm is just utterly cruel because she believes they should be kept stalled unless being actively worked.

We're all right according to our own beliefs and we're all wrong according to our different friends beliefs. As long as the horses look happy and aren't malnourished, I'm inclined to leave well enough alone.