Countryside Alliance warns of the dangers of feeding horses

Covid-19 and the subsequent lockdowns have seen an increase in people visiting the Great British countryside. This is something to be welcomed. While our countryside offers keen explorers a wide range of stunning, picturesque spots that make for a welcome change from being stuck at home all day, it is still important to remember that it is a both a home and place of work to many rural people.

At the Countryside Alliance, we have been made aware of concerns among many horse owners of some walkers feeding horses they find out in the field. Of course, in most cases, the intention to feed a horse is done so with friendly intent. The consequences of feeding a horse or pony can be incredibly dangerous and even fatal.

Just this week, a tragic story broke about a pony dying from suffocation after eating raw potato peels. The 12-year-old Welsh section A gelding named Lightning, ran into a fence in panic on Sunday 17 January and died moments later. Lightning had raw potato stuck in his throat and despite there being a 'Do Not Feed The Horses' sign at the location, the owner believes he had clearly been fed by passing walkers who had ignored the warnings.

The owner is understandably devastated and has spoken publicly of wanting to ensure no other owners have to go through her pain.

We asked Polly Portwin, our Head of Hunting and equine enthusiast, her advice about whether or not people should feed other people's horses.

Polly said: "As a general rule, unless you are aware of the horse and its dietary requirements, you should not feed other people's horses full-stop. Unfortunately, we hear very distressing stories of horses being made incredibly ill and dying from being fed the wrong food by walkers who come across a horse out in the field. It could be easy to assume horses can consume and digest much of the same foods enjoyed by humans or other animals, but that simply isn't the case.

She added: "Aside from dietary considerations, it is well known that a horse's behaviour can change incredibly quickly, especially around food. Competition to get to food and the source, can occasionally lead to some horses reacting aggressively towards other horses that are around them, which could put the person feeding them and those accompanying them such as children or dogs, in a vulnerable position."

A few reasons why people should not feed horses that are not their own or not in their care –

• Many horses are on restricted/specific diets because of ongoing health concerns or allergies;
• A number of plants, vegetables and other natural ingredients are poisonous to horses;
• Some human food stuffs can also be poisonous to horses;
• If not cut up correctly, even food that horses can eat, such as carrots, can get lodged in horses throats and cause them to choke, which can result in extreme distress and lead to fatality;
• Newly mown grass cuttings can be particularly damaging and may cause death or serious health problems;
• If horses are regularly fed tit-bits like carrots or mints, it can make them aggressive towards other horses around them which can put both the horses and people in a particularly vulnerable position;
• Fingers can get accidentally chomped by horses if the food is not presented to them in the correct manner.