Horses left outdoors doing just fine

Regarding a recent letter in the Cape Breton Post (“Horses left outdoors prompts concern, Feb. 13), I would like to know where letter writer Ed Hogan received his information.

First of all, he stated that water used by the horses is frozen most of the time and they are forced to lick the ice. Well, he should know that horses need at least five to 10 gallons of water a day? Does he think a horse can get that much water from licking ice?

Does he also know what some signs are for a dehydrated horse? Here are a few:

Fails pinch test (When skin is pinched near base of the horse’s neck for two seconds, then released, it should return to normal immediately.)

Sluggish activity and loss of glossy coat

Muscle spasms and signs of pain

Lack of saliva resulting in decreased feed intake

Impaction colic or constipation

Cardiac arrhythmias

He also stated that food for the horses is outside of the fence and the horses depend on the owners for food. Well, if a horse is kept in a stall how does that horse get its food? Does it depend on its owner to get its food? Should we now question about stalling horses be- cause they depend on their owner for food? Do you know some of the signs of malnourishment in a horse are?

Hooves of a malnourished horse are often cracking or broken with soft hoof walls.

Malnourishment affects the coat very quickly and a horse suffering from it may have missing hair, flaky skin and sores.

Protruding bones are a clear sign of a malnourished horse. You should not be able to see shoulder, rib or hip bones in a well-treated horse. Horses that are severely malnourished may appear as though their skin has been stretched taut over the skeleton.

Look at the mane and then run your hands through it. Malnourished horses may have manes that are discolored from too much sun and not enough nutrients. And though the hair may grow long, mane and tail hair will be brittle and break easily.

Hogan also complains about the electrical wired fence that surrounds the field. Do you know how many farms use electrical fences? Did you know that traditional fencing, like barbed wire or wooden fencing, can be dangerous if a horse or animal runs into or becomes tangled in the fencing?

Electric fencing typically consists of an electric wire, rope or tape, which will not tear up an animal’s legs like barbed wire would. Additionally, the shock an animal will feel when touch- ing an electric fence will create a psychological barrier. This trains the animal to avoid the fence, reducing any chance of the animal being injured by the fence.

He also says there is only two animal inspectors in Nova Scotia. They are actually called Environment Inspection, Compliance and Enforcement. But in Hogan’s letter he says “when I asked why so few the reply was there are not enough complaints to warrant more staff.” I am wondering how he came up with this because the inspectors don’t know where he came up with that statement. Do you feel like your opinion can override the professional opinion of the Environment Inspection, Compliance and Enforcement officer?

I would also like to bring to point out that horses have evolved as a prey animal and its first response to anything scary is flight. Horses understand that their safety relies on their ability to put distance between themselves and something they perceive as dangerous. This is why some horses do not like to be enclosed.

Some horse owners go with what they call a 24-hour turn out. This means the horse has the option to stay out or go into their shelter, which we have by the way. Unless you have owned a horse since it was a foal or colt, you really don’t know what a horse has been through. Did you ever think that the horses choose not to go into their shelter? Margaret Rudderham Reserve Mines