Charity's plea for Wigan walkers not to feed horses

More people have been heading to the countryside during the Covid-19 pandemic, enjoying the great outdoors and time with their loved ones.

But the British Horse Society (BHS) says it has been made aware of instances where horses have been seriously injured, made extremely ill or even died due to being fed by members of the public or actions such as gates being left open.

It has led the BHS to speak out in a bid to protect more animals.

Alan Hiscox, director of welfare at the charity, 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 has provided advice for people who see horses while out walking to help protect them.

Although feeding horses may seem harmless, the charity says it is important not to for the following reasons:

Any type of food, grass cuttings or 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.

For people who cross land with a right of way where horses are kept, the BHS says they should:

Leave gates and property as they find them;

Keep to the right of way;

Take 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 for download at bhs.org.uk/behorseaware.

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