A post on a Facebook page called “The Aging Horsewoman” drew dozens of responsible horsewomen who have had well-meaning (clueless) non-horsem*n call the SPCA or other authorities for supposed "neglect" of their horses.
I am here to set the record straight and provide some education. (And do support your local SPCA and rescues!)
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Dear concerned (but clueless) non-horseman:
We appreciate your concern for all creatures great and small, but…
- Horses are naturally weatherproof. Snow can accumulate on their backs; their winter coat is insulated like a Yupik hunter's parka. When they eat grass or hay, digestion creates heat. They will stand outside in all kinds of weather because horses evolved on open grasslands. Wind, wet and cold is more dangerous and can create hypothermia if they do not have at least a three-sided shelter (with roof). In the wild, they'd find their own shelter. In a pasture, we give them run-ins and barns. They are smart enough to know when they need to go to shelter.
- Horses do not need blankies and heated barns. A simple shelter and buddies, and access to a pasture is what they love and need. Blankies and heated barns are for show horses who may have clipped coats so they're shiny in the show ring – or for horses with special physical needs. Blankets can actually mess with a horse's thermoregulation. Also, they tend to rip them off and use them as chew toys.
- Horses will often lie on the snow like a huge lap dog in the sun. They're insulated – and fine. Sometimes they will lie flat on their sides if they feel safe. Often, one horse will stand guard.
- Horses do need water. Most horsem*n use a big tank with a heater in it. Some go the more classic route and carry water multiple times a day or chop ice off the water. Horses need water regularly; they can colic and die without it.
- Horses need forage: hay or grass. The average 1,000-pound horse will eat about half a bale of hay a day. We feed several times a day.
- A pasture or paddock without much or any visible grass is a dry lot. Most ponies and some fuel-efficient horses (also horses with thyroid issues) cannot live in lush grass; it will kill them with colic or founder or Cushings. You may also see a horse in a grazing muzzle, to limit the amount of grass they are eating. Grazing muzzles come off part of the day when the horse is in a dry lot eating hay.
- A few ribs visible is probably a lean healthy horse. Most people are used to looking at overly fat pets. A horse with a back like a knife blade and hips protruding needs immediate intervention. Do not feed an emaciated horse yourself; you can kill it. Call the experts. You can Google what a neglected horse looks like.
- Never, ever feed a horse you do not know treats. Always ask the horseman what treats the horse is allowed; the wrong food can kill it.
- In summer, you will see horses with fly masks on their faces. They can see out just fine.
- Yes, there's mud, and my horse is covered in it. They love it. There should, however, be a dry spot (run-in, or part of the pasture) where they can go. Mud is temporary. Poop is also a fact of horse life. Parts of pastures will have poop piles, it's like their litterbox. Most of us break that up and spread it with tractors. Also, see dung beetles, go dung beetles! Chickens are nice too, except I have hawks.
- Horses should have neat, round hooves. If you see very long hooves, beginning to curl like rocking horse rockers, that is the time to call in the experts! No foot, no horse! An otherwise healthy looking horse that is limping probably has a temporary lameness.
Teanna Byerts lives in Dover.
Also of interest, a gallery of photos below:
