By Lisa Peterson

and

Adria Henderson

Driving around our lovely countryside dotted with horse farms and bucolic settings all looks well to the untrained eye. We however sometimes see a different reality. We see horses hanging their heads low in small muddy paddocks with a faraway look in their eyes. We see horses kept as pets not as horses.

Horses are magnificent, intelligent, gifted creatures of exquisite beauty. They do not deserve to stand around bored in dirty paddocks or stalls wondering what their life is all about. They need to be properly fed, cared for and stimulated mentally and physically. There are too many horses just kicking around for no good reason. Some folks get horses and then realize how expensive and time-consuming the task of daily care is.

Because there is no government agency to oversee commercial riding facilities to license and inspect them, there is even less to protect the lone backyard horse from neglect and abuse.

Unfortunately for the horses, the laws are not on their side. If you find an abused or neglected animal, first you must get permission from the property owner to come on the property for inspection. If you don’t have consent, you must get a search warrant and that needs probable cause. And then you must convince a state’s attorney that you have a prosecutable case. To prove abuse you must have a vet’s statement that the animal abuse has existed and resulted in medical difficulties in the horse. What a Catch-22!

Connecticut Humane Society President Richard Johnson said so far this year the private non-profit organization has investigated more than 40 horse abuse cases. In a single year he said he’s lucky to get four or five cases that make it to the arrest stage with maybe one conviction. Most persons arrested for cruelty to animals can opt out for accelerated rehabilitation rather than a conviction.

“Animals have their own emotional and security needs,” Johnson said. “They need companionship and to be involved in an active life. Otherwise they have no life at all.” 

Organizations like the humane society - granted a charter in 1881 complete with arrest powers - are bound by the state statutes before an arrest can be made. The statutes are vague about shelter, food and water for all animals and doesn’t offer any definitions specific to horses.

“The statues are too general. What is proper food and water to one owner may be considered inadequate to the rest of us,” Johnson said.

Before you decide to put a horse in your backyard because you think it’s cute or a status symbol consider what you are getting into. Also, if you have a horse, review these basic needs to see if you are unintentionally neglecting your animal. So let’s take a look at what we consider to be the minimum for adequate care.

Food - For example, a 1,100 pound horse should be getting approximately 15 pounds of hay and five pounds of grain per day. Annually your costs might run from $500 to $1,000 for hay depending on quality and $400 for basic commercially prepared grain. Don’t forget to feed them on time to prevent illness such as colic or injury from anxious waiting horses. Horses have built-in time clocks in their stomachs. They know when their next meal is due, even if you have forgotten or didn’t plan to be home for them. If you plan to feed them on grass alone, allow one acre per horse.

Water – Horses need fresh, clean water at all times. They can drink upwards of 15 gallons per day. That is three full large buckets daily. Keep a trough in the field or at least two filled buckets in his stall at all times. Dump old water and clean buckets daily. Secure the buckets so they don’t spill over. Don’t rely on stagnant ponds to provide necessary water.

Shelter – A run in shed with at least three sides and a roof with the open side not facing North. Horses are indifferent to rain but do need to get out of the wind and sun. Make sure your horse has adequate room to roam. Otherwise he will quickly turn a grass turnout into a mud hole. Better yet, have two paddocks so that you can rotate to save the land.

Shoes – An average of $100 every 6 weeks will cost about $800 per year. Some ponies and horses not ridden can go barefoot, but still need their hooves trimmed. Don’t forget to pick out their hooves daily.

Teeth – Should be checked once a year by a vet or equine dentist – Approximately $75 annually. Poorly maintained teeth can be painful and contribute to digestive disorders.

Worming – Parasites are a major health risk for horses. Either a daily wormer at $300 per year or a rotation schedule with pastes at $40 annually. Worms cause more problems than any other single factor.

Manure Removal – The average horse produces 50 pounds of manure daily! That’s many tons a year. It has to go somewhere. Daily removal from stalls and shed are a must, small paddocks once a week and larger fields can be spread. Letting your horse stand in filth invites hoof disease, a parasite and fly population explosion as well as an odor. Some neighbors don’t like it as much as you do.

Riding – Ride your horse! Unless injury or age prevents it, riding gives the horse the needed physical exercise it craves. As a bonus, training provides mental stimulation. Plus, it’s great for the rider too. If you do not ride your horse ask yourself why do I have him?  Remember horses aren’t lawn ornaments. 

Really, if you don’t have access to a decent trail or riding ring near your home, keep him at a barn. Keeping them at barns where they will be properly cared for and given the opportunity to be ridden is a better choice for both of you. Do check barn conditions before you move in.

Take a look in your backyard and ask yourself what do you see? A healthy happy horse, that is challenged both physically and mentally, a horse whose coat gleams in Springtime with dapples and has a sparkle in his eye. Or a horse bored to tears with a dull coat and that faraway look in this eye. Hopefully you won’t be ashamed of yourself.

Question And Answer

Q: I_recently adopted a neutered adult male mix breed dog, Jake. Before the adoption, my household consisted of a five-year-old neutered male mixed breed, Pal, and a two-year-old spayed female Lab, Carrie. Jake and Al are constantly fighting with each other, usually over food. What can I do to stop these fights? Will they ever get along?

A: Like their wolf ancestors, dogs are pack animals. In the wild, a dominant male - or Alpha Wolf - controls a wolf pack. All other wolves in the pack are below him in rank and submit to the Alpha’s control. In the home setting, the family takes the place of the pack for the pet dog. If there is more than one mature male dog in the home, one male dog will try to take control, using the same types of behavior seen in the wild - like growling, mouthing, and sometimes aggression. Sometimes this type of behavior is directed toward family members wgo are unable to control a dominant adult male dog. In your case, Al was the dominant male dog in your “dog family” and had established his position prior to Jake’s arrival. When Jake came on the secene, the balance of power within the “artificial” pack was altered. Jake and Al are now acting out their dominant/submissive behaviors. In most cases, these behaviors dissipate with time as the more dominant male establishes his position. Unless your dogs are injuring each other or are mismatched in size, allow them to voice and posture. The behavior is natural.

Animal Lifestyles invites readers to submit photos of their pets for publication in our column. Send photos with descriptions to Animal Lifestyles, P.O. Box 427, Botsford, CT 06404. E-mail questions to animallifebodycopy@usa.net.

 

Adria Henderson and Lisa Peterson are owners/operators of Safe At Home, LLC, a Newtown-based pet sitting service.