5 MYTHS AND MISUNDERSTANDINGS

During my years in equine rescue, I’ve heard a number of complaints that are based on misunderstandings. Here are a few cases that are not considered neglect or abuse:

1. It’s not necessarily neglect when someone else’s horse-care practices differ from yours.

Example: Your own horses may have a run-in shed and plenty of shade in their pasture, but not all states require that horses have shelter.

2. If horses haven’t been removed after you called in a complaint, it doesn’t mean law enforcement is ignoring the case.

Example: Horses may remain on a property weeks after you filed a complaint for several reasons: An officer may have investigated and confirmed the owner’s story that the horse in question is receiving proper care, or the officer may be giving the owner time to improve conditions on his own.

3. Not all skinny horses are neglected.

Example: Horses may lose a great deal of weight when ill or injured, and the owner may be working with a veterinarian to treat the horse and put weight back on him. Or the owner may have acquired the horse only recently and is rehabilitating him.

4. Failing to ride a horse regularly is not abuse.

Example: We hear many complaints about horses who are being neglected because they’re not being ridden. The horses may be retired, too young or not broke to ride. The owner may ride when you aren’t around.

5. Training procedures you don’t like are not automatically abusive.

Example: You may not like to use crops, spurs or harsher bits, but if they’re used properly, many trainers consider them aids. If the horse is not being injured, the law will not consider him abused.

Not all skinny horses are neglected.