Wigan walkers using footpath urged not to feed horses

Now Joanne Cammack, one of the a number of owners of horses and ponies who stable and keep their animals at Forest Fold Farm, is pleading with passers-by to stop.

She says that in some cases food has been dropped into the field from the footpath in plastic bags, which could kill a horse if they attempted to get the treat inside.

The problem is happening because Forest Fold Farm has some of its open space next to a footpath off Miles Lane.

She is begging passers-by getting their exercise during the current period of lockdown not to give the horses anything as their diet is carefully worked out and they could become ill or aggressive if they are routinely fed titbits.

And she says the equine community connected to the facility is becoming increasingly exasperated that warning signs asking the public not to feed the animals are being totally ignored.

Joanne, from Appley Bridge, said: “We’ve had people dropping peelings, small apples and carrots in numerous times.

“It’s food that is totally unsuitable for the horses. People think carrots and apples are fine but not all horses should have them.

“We’ve even had carrots still in plastic bags thrown into the field. It’s obvious horses can’t eat plastic bags. That would kill one if it tried.

“Some of the horses are on special diets and shouldn’t be fed treats at all and some could choke on small treats.

“It also encourages them to come over to the fence and fight over food. Horses could get kicked, the fence could get broken, a child could have their finger bitten.

“That’s the best-case scenario. The worst-case scenario is that a horse could die or choke.

“We’ve had signs up all along the fence and they just get ignored, which is very frustrating. I would advise the public not to give horses anything for a treat.

“I know it’s nice for people to go and see the horses and I would rather they just look at them and then walk on.”

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