I wouldn't be so quick to jump on that one, as not really knowing the people and or whats going on. The owners might already know that the horse is sick and already be under a Vets care. Driving by doesn't tell the whole story and only lead to assume what is!!!
I would tread lightly.
You might just want to stop one day and ask the person as to what is the whole story. Then for sure you would have first hand facts to act or not to act on!
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JMHO
Very good point, I worked at a barn and a lesson horse was cast and injured in his stall and his legs were quite swollen and he was very stiff and cut up - the veterinarian had medicated him, gave us instruction on his care and she wanted the horse turned out as much as possible so he could move his stiff muscles and start healing. He walked very slowly, with a limp and he looked sore.
Two women visiting the park where the stable was came up to me inbetween lessons when he was out grazing and moving with a limp and they were just short of telling me how cruel it was to let him out there... "he was in pain, he couldn't walk normally, yadda yadda yadda." I told them he was under a veterinarian's care, was on medications and the veterinarian wanted him turned out so he did not swell more and run a risk of colic for being in his stall where he would not have been moving around. (They gave me the "deer in the headlights" look.) It made no difference to these two ladies... in their minds, it was "cruel" for him to be out.
In Mother Nature's mind, it was healthier for the horse to be out so he could move and get on with healing as in the wild, a horse that cannot move is a certain meal for a predator. In my mind, the veterinarian was caring for the horse and gave educated instructions to support his care. The horse recovered, although I was waiting for someone to come out and check on our "abuse" of this horse. He is the pet of a young lady now and is fine.
I am not sure I would approach the owners myself but I would have law enforcement investigate - preferably an officer who has some experience with animals...or give law enforcement some background from a
veterinarian regarding what might be wrong with the horse (beans, infection, etc - but I would think this has to come from a licensed veterinarian, not a concerned citizen) - granted the veterinary info is not applicable to
this horse as he has not been examined but it will document what COULD be wrong and if the horse is not under veterinary care, the officer can then make his recommendations that the horse be examined by a veterinarian within a period of time or it then becomes documented neglect.
I am not a veterinarian or a lawyer...just my opinion on what could be done to help the horse if he truly needs it.
In the case of the lesson horse, if animal control had come out to check on us, we had written veterinary instructions, prescription medications and a dated bill that the horse had been seen and was under veterinary care.
Denise
Silversong Farm