The British Horse Society (BHD) has asked members of the public not to feed horses they encounter when out and about, as what they think is an act of kindness could have devastating consequences for the horse.
According to the University of Bristol Veterinary School, more than three-quarters of horse owners, from professional polo teams to farmers found their horses were fed without their permission. Of those, 83 per cent of the people responsible were families.
Why is this such a problem, particularly given that many families and children mean well for our beloved equine friends?
Being Horse Aware
Most horse owners have particular diets and times in which they feed their horses, which the public is seldom aware of.
Horses have particular foods they need to eat to ensure they are healthy and at peak performance and also can have allergies or health issues that mean they react badly to certain foods.
Most of the cases reported are household vegetables, grass, apples, carrots and items that look harmless but can lead to serious illness or even death in some cases.
The BHS has launched a campaign called #BeHorseAware, which raises public awareness that inappropriate feeding can have dire consequences, even with good intentions.
Along with not feeding horses, the BHS advises that you follow the country code and leave gates and property as you find them, keep your dog on a lead, and alert the nearest farm or look for the owner’s details if you see a horse in distress.