Alan Hiscox, Director of Welfare at The British Horse Society said:
“The BHS is urging members of the public not to feed horses in fields as this can cause serious illness and be potentially life threatening. We believe many people act with no malicious intent and are simply unaware of the risks that certain foods or grass cuttings can pose to horses. We encourage horse owners to download signs the BHS has produced warning the public not to feed their horse. The greater the awareness of the issue, the more likely people are to change their behaviour in the future.”
The BHS is offering the following advice to the public:
Although feeding horses may seem harmless, it is important not to due to the following reasons:
Any type of food, grass cuttings or any other plants can cause horses to become extremely unwell or even kill them
Fighting between horses could break out and cause an injury
Horses may mistake your fingers for food and accidentally nip them
If you cross land with a right of way where horses are kept, the above points will be applicable but also ensure you:
Leave gates and property as you find them
Keep to the right of way
Take your litter home
Keep your dog on a lead and bag and bin your dog’s mess
Give horses lots of a space and avoid coming between mothers and their young
If you see a horse in distress, alert the nearest farm/yard or check for a sign with owner’s detail on.
The BHS has produced signs for horse owners to place around their fields warning the public not to feed their horses. These are available to download HERE
