[twh]

At the barn I am currently boarding at, the BO is in the habit of chaining her horses to the wall in their stalls on a pretty short chain, and then just leaving them like that all day, even when she goes out.

It's not that she's tacking or washing or grooming... she just has them standing there chained all day. These horses never get turned out because "they're showhorses".

I have never seen a barn do this sort of thing to any horse.

Opinions? Ideas?

 

[ridergirl23]

thats really weird and cant be good for the horses. having 'horse time' is the best thing you can do for a show horse,or any kind of horse.
do your horses get turned out at tha barn? or is it only her horses she does that too? I personally would move barns because it doesnt really sound like i would agree with this persons opinions on horses, haha but im a picky person.

 

[twh]

She only does this to her own horses. My horse gets all day turnout, and there isn't even a chain in his stall. She's actually been taking pretty good care of my horse.

 

[eventerdrew]

I would move barns. I personally wouldn't support a business of someone who is abusive to their horses like that.

 

[twh]

Do you think I should report her? It seems like animal abuse.

 

[eventerdrew]

I don't know. I wouldn't be able to give you that kind of advice without knowing exactly what's going on and knowing the extent of the abuse. There is no doubt in my mind that it IS abuse though.

It is ultimately up to you if you report her or not but I would definitely move out before doing it. You don't want that to blow up when you're there.

Other things to think about:
are the horses thin?
are they living in bad conditions? (i am assuming no to this answer since you board there)
do they have any open sores as a result of being chained up?

If none of that is applicable, I don't know that the animal control people could do anything. But then again, I don't have any experience with animal control

Good luck

 

[twh]

Of course I would move my horse out before doing anything!

She feeds them well and keeps their stalls clean. I haven't noticed any sores or injuries. They're just a bit lethargic, which isn't surprising since they never go out.

 

[Honeysuga]

What about their mental soundness? Their overall soundness? Do they get really stiff and unwilling to move after being chained? Do they seem dull and unhappy? Is the bedding sufficient to provide cushioning for them to be standing in one spot?

I advise you to take pictures and videos, as much as you can get if you think it is an abuse case. Take them to the humane society or what ever animal control is available in your local area and see what they say, they have to investigate if there is a complaint and you can request to remain anonymous to prevent retaliation from your bo. The worst they can say is that they do not see any abuse...

That has to be a terrible life, chained in one spot all day day after day...

 

[starlinestables]

I mean this in the politest way possible but if she is abiding by her contract with you then you need to mind your own business. She may have a reason for keeping them tied like.. ummmmm teaching them to stand patiently. I had three horses tied in stalls today for probably 3 hours until I could get to them one by one... Not going to kill them... they just stand there patiently until I take them out.

 

[kevinshorses]

I mean this in the politest way possible but if she is abiding by her contract with you then you need to mind your own business. She may have a reason for keeping them tied like.. ummmmm teaching them to stand patiently. I had three horses tied in stalls today for probably 3 hours until I could get to them one by one... Not going to kill them... they just stand there patiently until I take them out.

Exactly!!! Mind your own business. She is not hurting them. You should keep an open mind and see if you can learn why she is doing it. I certainly wouldn't call it abuse and if you report her you should be ashamed of yourself. I have kept horses tied up and saddled for several hours because I felt like they needed to be able to do that.

 

[Honeysuga]

If she takes photos to the humane assoc. she is not hurting anyone, but it would help to educate her if they decided that it was not abuse, and if they do decide it is benign then no action will be taken toward the horses owner and everything is right with the world. If they decide it is then she just helped the horses, no lose situation.

If everyone minded their own business how would anyone who is suffering be helped? It is you two who should be ashamed of yourselves by telling her to mind her own business, shame on you. She is not comfortable with what she sees, so she either needs to be educated about it or decide for herself that no one is being harmed.

 

[MIEventer]

When they are chained up, are they able to eat and drink?

 

[twh]

Starline and Kevin, bear in mind that she keeps them chained up like that all day, every day. And these horses do not ever get turned out — I don't think she even turns them out in the indoor ring.

They do seem stiff and dull, and one in particular gets very frustrated. I will check the bedding tomorrow.

 

[twh]

When they are chained up, are they able to eat and drink?

No. The chain is so short that they can't lower their heads.

 

[MIEventer]

Then I would contact the Police and the Human Society. Simple as that. If you don't, then you are just as bad as the person commiting the act.

 

[kevinshorses]

She said herself that the horses are well cared for other than this possible abuse. If she takes photos to the humane society and some bleeding heart that doesn't know horse biscuits from shineola decides it's abuse she has brought all kinds of hassle down on someone that takes good care of the op's horse and is not abusing her own.

Are you at the barn all day or are you just assuming alot? If they are chained ALL day as in 12 hours or more then I think you may have a case there and you may want to move your horse and tell her why you are moving. If at any time the horses are allowed to get food and water and they are in decent condition the humane society will do nothing about it. Do you think they will confiscate her horses because they don't get enough exercise?

 

[MIEventer]

I'd do it anyways. If it goes against your concience, and if something in the back of your head says "This isn't right" then stand up for the horses - be their voice.

Can't hurt to report, if the authoraties deem the situation is perfectly acceptable - at least you know you did your best

 

[Honeysuga]

She said they are well fed and their stalls are clean, in no way does than mean they are well cared for.

If the horses suffer physical pain and mental distress as a result of being tied all day and are not allowed food or water and cannot lower their heads then it is most likely abuse.

And Kevin, I'm sorry, not trying to attack you but just because you do not like the Humane association in your area and think they are not qualified does not mean you need to tell someone to mind her own business and not report what she sees, not everyone is a bleeding heart or horse ignorant, some people are actually horse wise and feel the need to report obvious abuse, there is a difference in being a empathetic or caring person and a bleeding heart: education.

 

[kevinshorses]

Before you report it you better have a place to move your horse because if it was my barn and I got reported I would find out who it was (and there is no such thing as anonymous) and give them the boot and then put the word out to all other barns about what they did.

 

[MIEventer]

And I would let everyone know how one treats their horses and would inform them to not board at a facility such as that.