Access to good quality turnout is a must where equines are concerned. However, if you keep your horses in a field with a public footpath or bridleway, you may have a few apprehensions.

“These range from inappropriate feeding and even harm from the public, to concern regarding the risk to walkers should the horse be aggressive,” remarks Naomi Newell, Senior Associate in the Property Disputes Team at Birketts LLP.

So, what risks are horses in a field with a public footpath exposed to? H&H spoke to Naomi and to Mark Weston, Director of Access at the British Horse Society (BHS). We asked what owners need to consider and got practical advice for safeguarding yourself, your horse and the wider public.

Horses in a field with a public footpath: what to bear in mind

Security

Owners with horses in a field with a public footpath must ensure that gates are secure enough to contain their livestock while giving easy access to the public. Naomi says to install any gates with the local highway authority’s consent, and to ensure nothing obstructs the route.

If you wish to fence either side of the route, Naomi has more pointers.

“Electric fencing next to a public right of way is only acceptable if insulated, and there are regular warning signs for the public,” she says. “The width of a public path may or may not be recorded on the Council’s legal records. Therefore, you should discuss the width of a fenced route with the local rights of way officer.”

“The BHS recommends putting up polite notices to remind people to leave gates as they find them or follow instructions on signs,” adds Mark. “This aligns with the Countryside Code.”

Appropriate fieldmates

Horse owners must consider their own duty to the public.

“Owners have the important responsibility not to keep a horse known to be potentially dangerous in a field crossed by a right of way,” warns Naomi. “This could result in a prosecution and is a serious responsibility.”

Mark of the BHS adds: “We strongly recommend against keeping stallions in a field through which rights of way pass, especially if unfamiliar horses access your land.”

Public feeding

Horse & Hound has reported widely on public feeding, which remains an issue even for horses who don’t share turnout with a public right of way.

“While many people act with no malicious intent, they’re often unaware of the risks,” explains Mark. “As we know, certain foods, such as grass cuttings, can cause illness for horses and feeding can lead to fighting within a herd.”

Owners and carers can erect polite signs requesting people not to feed the horses, with an explanation as to why.

“If you’re concerned the public is feeding your horses, you can contact the BHS Horse Care and Welfare Helpline on 02476 840517,” adds Mark. The charity can offer guidance and advice, as well as a range of English and Welsh signs at bhs.org.uk/behorseaware.

Dogs

Naturally, walkers who neglect to control their dogs can pose a threat to all livestock.

“Unfortunately, negative incidents involving horses and dogs can happen far too often,” says Mark. “The BHS continues to advise and educate dog walkers. We urge them to keep their dog under control, ideally on a lead, around horses.

“If your horse has been involved in an incident with a dog, report it to the police and record it through the BHS Horse i app. This helps give us a greater understanding of the scale of this issue, and lobby for greater change.”

Trespassing

Even if you keep horses in a field with a public footpath, individuals can still trespass.

“A user who is not on the line of the public right of way is trespassing over private land,” says Naomi. “Similarly, if the person is entering onto your private land or leaning over a boundary feature (like a fence, hedge or gate) into your private land, that person is likely to be trespassing.”

Some instances of trespass can be a criminal offence, and you should contact the police. However, it may also carry civil liability that you should take legal advice on.

“Bringing trespass proceedings in the civil courts is often an expensive exercise,” remarks Naomi. “So, it will be very important to keep that in mind depending upon the persistence and severity of the trespass,” advises Naomi. “Ultimately, you would end up with an order that you could look to enforce against the third party if necessary.

What if you’re not the landowner and someone trespasses on your horse’s field?

“You may have a contractual claim against your landlord if they are subject to obligations within your agreement to protect the land or horses from interference,” says Naomi. “You should ask a solicitor to check the terms of your agreement to see whether this avenue could be pursued.

Above all, it is best for all concerned if the landowner clearly signposts rights of way. The signs must adhere to the path’s true alignment and observe the legal width of the route.

“Define the route on the land if necessary to avoid confusion over where the public can pass,” advises Naomi. “Seek help from the local rights of way officer with this.”

What happens if my horse injures someone?

According to Naomi, if your horse causes a person harm or damage, you may be found liable in negligence.

“This means you owed a duty of care and failed in that duty.”

Naomi adds that you may also be held liable under the Animals Act 1971. This states that animal owners carry strict liability if a third party is injured by the animal.

“The Act is widely considered to be poorly drafted and there are some defences available under the Act. It’s very important to take prompt legal advice if a claim is brought against you,” she adds.

Additionally, if you feel your horse has caused damage to a third party as a result of their disturbance of him, it would be difficult to prove that they should, in fact, have primary liability.

“These sorts of proceedings are often complicated, and you should take legal advice.”

The BHS urges anyone who owns or looks after a horse to carry public liability insurance cover.

“BHS Gold members receive public liability insurance cover, up to £30 million,” explains Mark. “This helps to give financial peace of mind should your horse injure a member of the public on a public right of way.”

What happens if someone’s actions cause injury to my horse?

Firstly, you should enquire with your insurer.

“Can the policy pay out for vet bills? Do you have legal expenses cover? Additionally, what’s the impact on your insurance premium going forward? The latter point may well be the extent of the responsible person’s liability to repay you,” says Naomi.

Secondly, while the law may offer some recourse, there may be other difficulties. These include:

• Identifying the person responsible for causing the injury to your horse.
• Finding an address for that person to serve legal proceedings.
• Proving causation.

“Assuming for a moment that you identify and track the person responsible, they will put you firmly to proof on why it was their actions that caused the horse’s injury,” adds Naomi.

“Undoubtedly, you will need expert evidence to help you prove at court that your horse was injured directly as a result of the person’s actions.”

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The British Horse Society (BHS) has issued a further appeal to the public to stop feeding horses after a foal suffered a bout of colic when he was fed by passers-by.

Samson, whose field bordered a public footpath, presented with “severe abdominal pain” after he was fed what was suspected to be human food.

“I was terrified that we would lose Samson. He was only a foal and in so much pain; it was heartbreaking,” said his owner Rachel.

“He was dripping in sweat, shaking, rolling, and critically, getting cast against the stable walls. He was treated at home but did not improve, so the decision was made to take him into the hospital in case he needed surgery.

“Taking him to the hospital, and not knowing if he would make it, was horrendous.”

Samson made a full recovery, and ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend the BHS is calling for members of the public not to feed horses they may encounter while out and about.

“This comes as the charity has been made aware of incidents where horses have been left seriously injured, made extremely ill or in some cases died due to the public feeding a horse or through actions such as leaving gates open,” said a BHS spokesman.

The BHS spokesman added that incidents like Samson’s are a “stark reminder” of the suffering that horses can go through as a result of inappropriate feeding. The society’s #BeHorseAware campaign aims to raise awareness and provide advice to the public about why they should not feed horses – and recommendations to owners about putting signage up.

Gabrielle Madders, BHS horse care and welfare project and partnership lead, said the BHS believes many people “act with no malicious intent” and that members of the public may think they are helping a horse.

“However, they will be unaware of the timings at which owners feed their horses and the risks that certain foods or grass cuttings can pose,” she said.

“We strongly urge members of the public to consider this and the devastating real-life heartache that has been a reality for many horse owners. If anyone does see a horse that they feel is being mistreated or underfed, we would ask them to contact the BHS horse care and welfare helpline for advice.”

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Horses who have suffered and died as a result of unauthorised feeding appear in a new video warning the public about the possible consequences of their actions.

As part of the #BeHorseAware campaign, the British Horse Society (BHS) and the University of Bristol have created the film explaining why people should not feed anything to horses without the owners’ permission.

It shows a couple and two children who, en route to a picnic, ask another walker not to feed their dog, but then after lunch, empty their leftover food into a horse’s field.

Later scenes show a vet’s arrival — and the devastated owner after her horse has been lost.

The #BeHorseAware campaign was launched in response to research carried out by the University of Bristol, which found that hundreds of horses had been ill or injured after they were fed without their owners’ permission.

BHS welfare director Gemma Stanford said: “This short film, which has been released today on #WelfareWednesday, takes you through the devastating real-life emotion and heartache that has been a reality for many horse owners.

“Although we believe many people are simply unaware of the risks that certain foods pose, we encourage members of the public not to feed horses without the owners’ permission. If members of the public feel that a horse is being mistreated or underfed, we would ask them to contact the BHS horse care and welfare helpline for advice.”

The video also includes pictures of some of those horses who have suffered, including Pie, who had life-threatening choke after he was fed bred and cereal, and Flash, who was badly injured when a fight broke out among horses being fed by passers-by.

Jo Hockenhull, senior research associate at the University of Bristol Vet School, said: “We are pleased to be working with the BHS on their #BeHorseAware campaign to help raise awareness of the harm that can be caused by feeding horses without permission.

“Our findings indicated this is a widespread problem that can have serious consequences for the horses involved. Whilst people are generally not acting maliciously, they are often unaware of an individual animal’s circumstances and the potential consequences of their actions. We urge people not to feed horses they meet; it is simply not worth the risk.”

The BHS has produced signs for horse owners to place around their fields asking the public not to feed their horses. These are available for download on the BHS website.

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Updates to the Countryside Code have been welcomed, as it is hoped the guidance will remind the public and landowners of their responsibilities.

This month, Natural England published revised guidance advising landowners that public rights of way must not be blocked and surfaces should be restored, where cultivation is carried out. Where there is public access, “gaps or accessible self-closing gates” should be installed instead of stiles if possible and advice has been provided to help landowners tackle “anti-social behaviour” and issues with dogs.

The guidance asks the public to be considerate to those living in, working in and enjoying the countryside. Visitors should “give wild animals, livestock and horses plenty of space” and should not feed them. Riders and cyclists should “respect walkers’ safety” but walkers should “take care not to obstruct or endanger them”.

Countryside Alliance head of policy Sarah Lee said the pandemic led to more people enjoying the countryside, which was “to be welcomed”, but said there were numerous reports of people littering beauty spots and reports of horses and livestock being spooked by dogs.

“It is important to remind visitors that each of us has a personal responsibility to abide by rights of way and respect that the countryside is a full-time place of work for many,” she said. “This new guidance for landowners provides many welcome additions, such as advice on reporting anti-social behaviour and how to report fly-tipping, as well as reminding the public not to feed horses and stressing the importance of keeping your dog on a lead or in sight.

“However, the guidance also puts an onus on landowners to replace stiles with gates. Stiles have multiple uses, from providing a stock-proof barrier while allowing people to move freely, and it should be up to individual farmers what works best for their farm while welcoming visitors.

“We would also be concerned over the cost to the farmer of changing field access points. It might be the case that money will be available through the new farming schemes to make land more accessible, but that is not clear at this stage.”

British Horse Society’s (BHS) director of access Mark Weston, said the BHS “welcomes the revisions” to the code.

“Access to the countryside is so important for everyone’s health and wellbeing. It is imperative that rights of way users and landowners know what their respective responsibilities are,” he said.

Marian Spain, chief executive of Natural England, said the “refreshed advice” has never been more important in helping to ensure everyone works together to protect outdoor spaces.

“I urge all land managers to follow this new advice and continue to help make nature accessible to everyone, so people of all ages and backgrounds can enjoy the invaluable health and wellbeing benefits that nature offers, while giving it the respect it deserves,” she said.

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An owner who had said her goodbyes to her horse, thinking he would not survive choke brought on by someone feeding him bread and cereal, wants to prevent anyone else suffering a similar experience.

Sarah Jennings’ eight-year-old part-bred Welsh gelding Pie was saved, thanks to an “amazing” vet and a “real team effort”, but Sarah knows things could have been far worse.

She told H&H she went to her field last Tuesday morning (13 July) with her six-year-old granddaughter Gracie to check Pie, her other horse Flynn and Gracie’s pony Buddy.

“I pulled up outside the gate and straight away noticed bread; what looked like the crusts of a bloomer, crumbs, and what looked like muesli and cereal,” she said. “It looked like someone had just emptied cereal packets over the fence.

“I cleared it up and threw it away, hoping the horses hadn’t seen it, went out into the field, and that’s when I saw Pie and thought ‘oh my god’.”

Pie was frothing from the nose and mouth, Sarah said, chewing and stretching his neck, and in distress.

Sarah called the vet, Albert Mestres Aldavo of Murrell Equine, who sedated Pie and tubed him, in an attempt to clear the blockage.

“It was awful,” Sarah said. “He did it about four times, Pie got a nosebleed, and we had to stop and give him [muscle relaxant] buscopan because his neck had got so tight where he was trying to shift the blockage himself. He had painkillers and the vet said we had to leave him, hoping he’d cleared some of it, and he’d come back in the morning.”

Sarah spent that night checking Pie, who seemed better at midnight, but this may have been down to the medication he had had, as by 4am, his condition had worsened.

“It was horrendous,” Sarah said. “I got a call to say the vet was en route, and that we needed to talk about options. I said when Albert got here that if the tubing didn’t work, we couldn’t let him suffer because it was so awful, but he got out of the car with a steely determination, and said ‘I’m here to save your horse’.”

Albert tubed Pie again, with a smaller tube, and Sarah’s husband operated a pump to get as much water in as possible.

“It was so traumatic to see, all that water going in, and water and mucus coming out of his nose and mouth; you think ‘How is he still breathing?’” Sarah said.

“Then, after probably half an hour, Pie’s head went low and this explosion of blockage, bread and cereal, came flying out. We were encouraging him, flushing it again, and then Albert said ‘I’m in his stomach’. My husband was crying his eyes out and I was just elated; if it hadn’t been for Covid, I’d have jumped on the vet and given him a big hug!”

Albert warned of the risks of infection caused by possible inhalation of fluid, or the blockage material, into Pie’s lungs, and said any scarring of his gullet could mean he is more prone to choke in future. But a week on, having had antibiotics, painkillers and steroids, Pie is back to himself, other than being slightly headshy.

“We can’t thank the vet enough,” Sarah said. “He was absolutely amazing. We were in awe of him and I think it was that determination; we’re indebted to our supervet.”

Sarah put pictures and videos of Pie on Facebook to try to highlight to people that actions they see as kindness can have horrific consequences.

Her post has been shared 2,000 times, and been seen nearly 30,000 times. Sarah has also been interviewed by her local paper, in touch with councils that are spreading the word on social media, and spoken to local rural police teams, who will also help get the message out.

“I don’t harbour any hatred for the person who did it, because they didn’t know; I think it was lack of knowledge, not being malicious,” she said. “People don’t understand the issues they can cause, and I’m sure if they found out how it had affected the horses, they’d be absolutely mortified. Maybe people think horse owners are prissy in not wanting them fed, but come and talk to us and we’ll explain.”

With people now on summer holidays, and more likely to be in the countryside, Sarah has also put her message in local and mums’ social media groups. She would like to put posters in supermarkets, and is adding fencing so her own horses cannot access the gate, on which she plans to post pictures of Pie when he was ill, to hit the message home.

“I’ve had nothing but love and support,” she added. “I’ve had nearly 700 messages; about 400 from people who aren’t horsey, saying they never knew, and now they’re never going to feed horses again, which is really lovely. I won’t say that makes it worth it, because nothing would be worth going through that, but it’s so heartwarming to hear people saying ‘you’ve changed my mind’.”

Sarah added that she had recorded one more video, which she did not share.

“I was crying, saying to the person who had done it ‘I hope it was worth it’,” she said. “I’d said my goodbyes to him before the vet came, because I thought that was it.

“But thank god, I’ve got my boy back. I can’t bear the thought of anyone else or any other horse having to go through this when it was avoidable, but awareness is key, and knowledge is power, and now I’ve changed people’s minds — or Pie has.”

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National radio station Radio 5 Live has been praised for helping to educate the public on why they should not feed horses after misleading comments were made on air.

H&H reported last week that a guest on the breakfast show told the presenter she fed leftover fruit and vegetables to horses near her home.

He responded: “Sounds like a plan!” to the consternation of many of those who have been trying to promote why feeding horses without owners’ permission is not acceptable.

Having been contacted by people and organisations including the British Horse Society (BHS) and H&H, presenter Chris Warburton said he was “very happy” to correct the advice, during his breakfast show on Saturday (17 July).

He and co-host Eleanor Oldroyd welcomed BHS welfare education officer Emmeline Hannelly on to the programme.

Chris introduced the issue by describing the comment and adding that feeding others’ horses is “not a good idea actually”.

“We just wanted to clarify what should happen,” he said, adding that many listeners had been in touch that morning to say they were heading into the countryside that day, and might then encounter horses.

Emmeline told listeners: “Although feeding horses may seem harmless, your kindness could kill.”

She explained many of the risks, including colic, choke and the fact some healthy-looking horses may have health issues and be on restricted diets, and in response to the presenter’s question on whether nothing at all should be fed, even grass, she said: “We would ask people not to feed horses at all. We’d ask you to admire them in the field as they are, please do not feed them.”

She pointed out other risks; last week a fight broke out in a group of horses being fed over the fence; one was kicked and suffered an arterial bleed.

Chris said when the comment was made, he remembered walking past horses recently and saw signs warning people not to feed them.

Asked how aware the public was of the issues, Emmeline pointed out that those who do feed others’ horses may think they have suffered no ill effects but this could be down to luck, or there might have been issues as a result that they were unaware of.

“If you feed horses, you’re putting them at risk,” she said. “Please don’t ignore the signs and even if there aren’t any signs, please don’t feed the horses. If owners lose their horses because someone else has fed them, that’s absolutely tragic.”

Chris added: “Absolutely. Stand there and admire them. Beautiful beasts, let’s keep them safe.”

Emmeline told H&H after the show the BHS very much appreciated the chance to be on air.

“I know they have their schedules and times set in advance so it was great,” she said. “I had four or five minutes, which meant I could highlight a number of points.”

She added that she believes many people who feed others’ horses without permission do so out of kindness and a lack of education, so the opportunity to get the right message out was a good one.

The BHS is also working on a video on the issue aimed at the general public, and Emmeline added that the key is getting the message across in the right way.

“In this case, the radio station listened to the equestrian industry and took steps to make sure the comment was corrected, so I think that’s a very positive step,” she said. “They were very good to get us on so quickly and we appreciate it.”

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An item on the BBC 5 Live breakfast show has caused uproar among equestrians as a reporter “encouraged” feeding past-its-best fruit and veg to others’ horses.

As part of a feature on eating more sustainably on yesterday morning’s (14 July) programme, reporter Chris Warburton was in Leeds, looking at environmentally friendly ways of eating.

Near the end of the show, he and his guests, including two local women, were talking about minimising food waste, and the reporter said to one of the women: “You have a good method for… you’ve got horses down the end of your road, haven’t you?”

She answered: “Yes, when we buy fresh fruit and veg, when it’s just about to go out of date, we cross over the road, take the children and feed the horses.”

The reporter laughed and said: “Sounds like a plan!”

Natalie Munir is part of the campaign group Stop Feeding Our Horses, set up in response to the huge number of incidents of public feeding causing colic, severe injuries and death to horses across the country.

She told H&H it was “extremely frustrating” to hear the comments, after all the work the group has done on getting the message out that it is unacceptable to feed horses without the owners’ permission, and why.

“Such a few words could have such a big effect,” she said. “If the reporter had said ‘Oh no, you can’t do that, it’s really dangerous’, that might have been it over but instead he said that, which encourages other people to feed horses, and is really damaging.”

H&H understands the BBC is not responsible for what guests say on air, but as Natalie pointed out, the reporter’s comment made it clear the subject had previously been raised off air.

“It’s obviously something she does regularly to get rid of her old fruit and veg, and it encourages every listener to do the same thing,” she said.

The British Horse Society tweeted the reporter, pointing out that feeding horses in this way can cause serious health problems and death, and he replied: “Yes it’s a v fair point and one taken. Thanks for added info.”

He has since told H&H, in response to whether he could correct the advice: “Yes, I am going to say something on air on Saturday morning, which is the next time I’m on the radio. I’m obviously very happy to do so.”

Continues below…

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Pony fed raw potato by walkers suffocates within minutes

“Lightning gave me the impetus to get out of my wheelchair and walk again. I will always walk with a

‘Enough is enough’: riders join forces to stop the public from feeding horses

“I do get it; people haven’t got anything to do and they think it’s nice to feed the pony but

“I want them to know that this is a really big deal,” Natalie said. “Horses and ponies are suffering and dying, and what they’ve done is tell everyone listening that this is an acceptable thing to do. That not only undermines all our campaign, it makes everything so much worse.

“I’d love them to speak to some owners who have lost horses through feeding, and maybe then they’d get it.”

A spokesman for 5 Live told H&H: “These comments were made live on air. We understand the concerns raised and have made our production team aware.”

What’s your opinion on this incident, and the response to it? Email hhletters@futurenet.com for your chance to be featured on our letters page. The letter of the week wins a bottle of Champagne Taittinger.

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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The owner of a miniature Shetland pony who needed major surgery after he was given a roast dinner by an unknown person said she cannot understand the attitude of those who feed other people’s horses.

Gail Hunter-Warburton found a plate of chicken, bones, roast potatoes, Yorkshire pudding, sprouts and gravy in the field shared by her six-year-old gelding Hamish and 12-year-old mare Siran on 3 March.

She told H&H she went to the field to check the horses, having dropped her foster sons at school that morning.

“My girl always gallops over and whinnies, and Hamish isn’t usually far behind, but that day he wasn’t,” she said.

“I stood there and thought ‘he’s not moving’. By the time I opened the gate, he’d come over but he didn’t look right. He put his head on my shoulder and collapsed. By the time the vet got there, she looked at me as if to say ‘I’m sorry, he hasn’t made it’.”

Then Hamish twitched. The vet tubed him and told Gail to monitor him, so she sat with him all afternoon.

“He was on his feet but just standing there like a zombie,” she said. “I wasn’t prepared to leave him like that so I phoned for a horsebox. He was in intensive care for two days and the vets said they would have to operate.”

During the colic surgery, vets found a “huge” mass of hard, impacted food.

“It was never going to move,” Gail said. “If I hadn’t gone down there when I did, I’d have found him dead in the field.”

Hamish is still not back to normal, but has been turned out and has had a gallop, and a few bucks. Gail is hopeful he will recover fully, and that her insurance company will cover the bill, which is approaching £6,000 in total.

She has since moved both horses from their field, as people are ignoring her large sign asking them not to feed the horses, not to mention another sign saying they are on CCTV, and “don’t feed” headcollars on the horses.

“I’ve done everything I can think of and it still hasn’t worked,” she said.

“What really got me was, after Hamish had gone, a lady walked up with a big bag of cooking apples, and one of carrots, walked up to my mare and got them out.

“I said ‘excuse me’, and she looked at me as if to say ‘how dare you?’ She said she’d seen the pony lying down and was he ok, and I said ‘no, because someone fed him’. She said she gives the mare four carrots and two apples every day and I said ‘Can you not see the massive sign?’

“She said ‘I’ve always fed horses and I always will’, and walked off in a huff.”

Gail said she struggles to understand the entitled attitude that allows people to ignore signs, headcollars and a horse owner asking them specifically not to feed.

“Where does that arrogance come from?” she said. “Why do people believe they’ve got that right? I’ve had it said to my face by people, that it’s their enjoyment to feed my horses, and I’m spoiling their fun. Until we get the message out there, people will keep on doing it.”

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Pony fed raw potato by walkers suffocates within minutes

“Lightning gave me the impetus to get out of my wheelchair and walk again. I will always walk with a

‘Enough is enough’: riders join forces to stop the public from feeding horses

“I do get it; people haven’t got anything to do and they think it’s nice to feed the pony but

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Gail wants to get across the message that nothing, not even food seen as suitable for horses, should be fed without owners’ permission.

“The woman’s argument was ‘It’s just a few carrots and apples’, and what Hamish had was different because it was a roast dinner, but if she gives them one, and everyone else gives them one, what then? What can you do when someone’s standing in front of you arguing that it’s their right?

“I started a campaign last year but it didn’t get very far. Now I’ll do anything I can to push it, and if it saves one life, that’s good, but I think people need to be prosecuted for this.

“This was the most expensive roast dinner ever made.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

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A police force has issued a strong message urging people not to feed horses without owners’ permission, warning that their actions could kill.

Nottingham Police’s East Bassetlaw rural beat manager and wildlife officer Gareth Mitchell said he wanted to increase awareness about the risks of feeding other people’s equines.

“Throughout the last 12 months many of us have been enjoying the outdoors and when people encounter equines in fields they are tempted to feed them treats. These treats range from sweets, vegetables, fruit and even grass cuttings but I need to stress how dangerous this can be to them,” he said.

“I believe many people act with no malicious intent and are simply unaware of the risks certain foods or grass cuttings can pose to the animals but I am urging people to stop feeding any equine that does not belong to them as this can cause serious illness and be potentially life-threatening.”

PC Mitchell explained to those who do not know that horses are unable to vomit.

“This means that any food ingested has to pass through the animal and the risk of choking is high,” he said.

“The owners of these animals keep them on a diet suitable for their health and well-being, and sudden over-feeding can lead to colic, bowel obstructions and even death as well as other health complications,”

“If you do not own the animal, or have permission of the owner, then do not feed it. Most of these animals are kept as pets and used for pleasure, rather than work, and I am sure most of us have a pet at home so I request that people think about this; how would you feel if someone fed your pet something which could potentially lead to the animal being put to sleep?”

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Police Facebook post on road riding two abreast goes viral

The force issued the reminder to drivers on its Facebook page in a post that has been shared more than

Campaign to stop public feeding horses gathers momentum

“People mean well and are trying to be kind, so we’ve got to go about it the right way”

Newark Police, North and South Wheatley Parish Council, Bassetlaw councillor Lynne Schuller and Retford West Ward councillor Helen Tamblyn are among those to share the post on social media

“Something to keep in mind if out for a walk,” said Ms Tamblyn.

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The manufacturer of field-safe headcollars with “Do not feed” printed on the nosebands hopes they will help educate the public after a series of cases of horses dying or becoming ill.

Erin Blyth, of Blyth Equestrian, was inspired to create the range from her own experiences in the first lockdown.

“Our horses had to be out as long as possible, and my horse’s field was on a footpath,” she said. “There were a lot of people walking past and I couldn’t be there all the time to check whether the horses were being fed.

“We think a family fed them one day as there was a fight, and one of the horses was really badly injured.”

Erin said there were signs up warning against feeding the horses but the field is a big one, so people could say they had not seen them, while some of the signs fell down.

“I thought I had to do something, and this way people literally couldn’t miss it,” she said.

“They’re field-safe headcollars, because I know people worry about leaving things on in the field, and I tried to make them as simple as possible.”

The headcollars have proved very popular, Erin said, so she sold out and has restocked, and she has had good feedback from customers.

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Pony fed raw potato by walkers suffocates within minutes

“Lightning gave me the impetus to get out of my wheelchair and walk again. I will always walk with a

Dam of foal who died after sandwiches found in her field lost to colic days later

“I’ve made laminated pictures of Chicco dead in the field, saying ‘This is what you’ve caused; you did this’”

“People have said they’ve watched people go up to the horses, read the headcollar and walk off,” she said. “We’re going to get the same message on fly veils too, to try to do as much as we can but keep it as simple as possible.

“I’ve caught someone taking a loaf of bread to the horses’ field on the way to feed the ducks and it scares me. We considered a few different messages but thought this was the best way forwards.”

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A freelance groom who also runs a horse rescue has been so shocked by the scale of damage caused by the public feeding horses during lockdown that she is encouraging others to educate their local communities about the issue.

Seranna Barnett was first prompted to tackle the problem after two Shetland ponies she had placed in a foster home were made so ill by public feeding that one nearly had to be put down. The bill for their care came to £1,900.

“They’ve been in that home for the past four years, in the same routine, and we got a call from the people fostering them to say that one of them was ill, so we went down there immediately,” Seranna told H&H.

“The pony was lethargic and not eating, so we called the vet, suspecting colic. While the vet was there, the other pony also went downhill.”

While piebald Jenny rallied after three days, 12-year-old Sally required round-the-clock care and vets thought it was unlikely she would survive.

“There’s a footpath that runs along the top of the field and the vets suspected she had been fed something that was either poisonous or had caused her an allergic reaction,” Seranna said.

“She had what looked like chemical burns to her tongue and oesophagus and her whole digestive track was inflamed. She even had stomach lining come out, which is when the vets thought it might be over.

“As they were able to control her pain we let them continue treating her and within 10 days she pulled through. We will never know what she was fed.”

Seranna added that “everyone in the village was amazing”, putting up new fences to keep walkers well away from the ponies and raising money to help with the vets’ bill.

“While all this was happening, and we’d put it out on social media, I had other people contact me to say they had experienced the same thing. It just snowballed — up until that point I hadn’t realised the scale of what was happening.”

Seranna also works a freelance groom covering large areas of Warwickshire and Worcestershire and said she is witnessing yards near public rights of way suffering continued problems.

“We’re picking things out of people’s fields all the time,” she said. “I don’t even recognise some of the vegetables people have been putting in there.

“I can understand finding apples and carrots but there are marrows, sprouts, cauliflowers, rotten veg and rotten loaves of bread. Why would you even think you could go and feed that to horses?”

While a lot of equestrians are now rallying to spread the word, and organisations like the British Horse Society are producing posters to educate the public, some walkers are still behaving with a sense of entitlement.

“Owners put signs up and people ignore them, it’s a difficult situation,” Seranna said. “People don’t like thinking they’re being told what to do, so you have to try and educate them.

“One thing we have been doing is asking neighbours to be vigilant where there are footpaths and to give owners a call if they spot people feeding the animals.”

Funding to promote the countryside code has been minimal in recent decades and Seranna believes that being able to get the message through to children is the way forwards.

“I work for a couple of teachers and they have added information about the countryside code and feeding livestock into their lessons,” she said.

“I think the important thing is that even when lockdown lifts, we don’t let the baton drop.

“I have been running a rescue for 18 years and we are in the process of registering as a charity. We’ve run pony days in the past and when Covid restrictions allow, hopefully we can start them again and use the opportunity to educate people into what goes into owning and caring for a horse and what can cause them to have problems.

“I’d like to be able to leave my phone number at the field gate and say ‘you can’t feed them, but why don’t you arrange for the children to come and meet the ponies and learn about them instead?’”

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‘We’re in bits’: mare’s death likely caused by walkers feeding her 

‘I just want to get the word out there: please don’t feed horses. However nice you think you’re being, this

‘Enough is enough’: riders join forces to stop the public from feeding horses

“I do get it; people haven’t got anything to do and they think it’s nice to feed the pony but

Seranna is also planning to leaflet local villages with information about feeding livestock and the heartbreak it has caused across the country.

“If everyone tried to do this in their local area, we might be able to get the message to go mainstream,” she said.

“As things are at the moment, it’s hard not to get paranoid about it. It can be difficult enough to keep horses in one piece at the best of times, without added worries from outsiders. I can’t believe how large the problem has become.”

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A campaign aiming to educate the public on the dangers of feeding equids without owners’ permission is gathering force at local and national levels.

H&H reported last month that a Facebook group had been set up with the aim of spreading the word, after a large number of incidents of horses and ponies suffering illness and injury, and dying, after they were fed by members of the public.

Group admin Natalie Munir told H&H that within a few weeks of its creation, the group Stop feeding our horses has grown to 6,600 members. Two petitions have been started campaigning for changes to the law, while members have succeeded in securing coverage on local newspapers, radio stations and websites.

“The number of people who have come forward is terrifying,” former groom Natalie said.

“There are horses in my village, right next to a footpath, and there are big signs up saying not to touch them because of Covid, and please don’t feed them, but there are always people there, touching them, and they gather round the gate.

“People think it’s a nice thing to do – they mean well, but they just don’t know the dangers.”

Natalie said the two petitions, to Change.org and the Government, are both attracting attention, while the media coverage is increasing. Group members have also been contacting local police forces and their MPs to highlight the issue.

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Pony fed raw potato by walkers suffocates within minutes

“Lightning gave me the impetus to get out of my wheelchair and walk again. I will always walk with a

‘Enough is enough’: riders join forces to stop the public from feeding horses

“I do get it; people haven’t got anything to do and they think it’s nice to feed the pony but

“I’ve put up a link so people can find their MPs, and will put up a demo letter, if that helps,” she said. “A lot of group members have also been educating people in local groups; sharing comments from people who said they hadn’t known grass cuttings were poisonous, or that they shouldn’t feed horses, but they won’t do it again. They’re definitely listening and reacting, which is great.”

Natalie said the group’s attitude is zero tolerance, of any feeding horses without owners’ permission, but that the message has to be put out in the right way.

“It’s about raising awareness in a friendly way,” she said. “There are of course some really emotive responses but that’s not the way to go about it. People mean well and are trying to be kind, so we’ve got to go about it the right way.”

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Hundreds of horses are being fed without their owners’ permission, research indicates, 35 of whom have lost their lives as a result.

Preliminary results of research led by the University of Bristol show that 788 of 1,017 people surveyed suspected or had evidence of their horses’ being fed without their permission. More than half of these respondents said the feeding had become more frequent since the first lockdown.

It was found that 220 horses were ill or injured as a result of the feeding, 109 of whom needed veterinary treatment. Of this number, 81 did not make a full recovery, including 35 who died or were put down. Of the people feeding, 82.7% were families.

The university is backing the British Horse Society’s (BHS) #BeHorseAware campaign, which was launched last year aiming to educate the public on the effects of feeding horses and ponies without permission.

“With more people taking to the countryside during the third lockdown, the BHS has been made aware of instances where horses have been seriously injured, made extremely ill or in some cases have died as a result of the public feeding the horse or through actions such as leaving gates open,” a BHS spokesman said.

The society is advising walkers not to feed horses at all, to leave gates and property as you find them and to keep dogs on leads. It has also produced signs warning against feeding, which owners can download and put on display in and around their fields.

BHS director of welfare Gemma Stanford said: “We believe many people act with no malicious intent and at this time of year members of the public think that they are helping a hungry horse. However, they are unaware of the timings at which owners feed their horses and the risks that certain foods or grass cuttings can pose.

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Pony fed raw potato by walkers suffocates within minutes

“Lightning gave me the impetus to get out of my wheelchair and walk again. I will always walk with a

‘Enough is enough’: riders join forces to stop the public from feeding horses

“I do get it; people haven’t got anything to do and they think it’s nice to feed the pony but

“We encourage horse owners to download the free signs; the greater the awareness of the issue, the more likely people are to change their behaviour.”

Jo Hockenhull, senior research associate at the University of Bristol Vet School, said: “It is important to recognise that in many of the cases reported in our survey, horses and ponies are being fed household vegetables and items [people] would think are safe like grass, apples and carrots. Even if you think it is harmless, the horses might have underlying health issues or allergies. Our research shows that the consequences of feeding horses anything without permission can be very serious or even fatal.”

The full report will be published in March.

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Riders who are sick of the heartbreak caused by members of the public thoughtlessly feeding horses and ponies are doing their best to take action.

The creators of the “Stop feeding our horses” Facebook group hope first to attract as many people as possible, and then together to come up with ideas that might help spread the word.

H&H has reported on countless devastating cases of horses’ suffering as a result of being fed by walkers, who often ignore signs expressly asking them not to do so. During both lockdowns, it has appeared that the number of cases has risen while more people are out in the countryside.

Facebook group creator Hannah Johnstone told H&H the story of Welsh gelding Lightning, who died after he was fed a raw potato, prompted her to act.

“I’m sick of people having to go through this,” she said.

“I thought it would be good to have people from across the country, and brainstorm ways to get the word out.”

Hannah, who has always ridden but lost her own horse in 2019, said she has not personally experienced unwanted feeding of a horse.

“But I’ve had friends in bits because their horses are choking, and I’ve seen all the posts on Facebook; I thought enough is enough.

“I do get it; people haven’t got anything to do and they think it’s nice to feed the pony but it’s part of the countryside code, like keeping your dog on a lead and picking up its mess. We need to welcome people but educate them; come to the countryside, by all means, but don’t do anything silly.

Continued below… 

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Two horses die after lockdown walkers picnic in their field

Pony fed raw potato by walkers suffocates within minutes

“Lightning gave me the impetus to get out of my wheelchair and walk again. I will always walk with a

“I was trying to educate someone on a local page the other day; you can get bitten, cause horses to lean over the fence and then escape; there are so may reasons not to feed them, and all he said was ‘one carrot won’t do any harm’. But that’s not how it works.”

The group has more than 600 members already, and options being discussed include contacting rural police teams and starting petitions.

“I think people are getting so fed up with it, and want to do something,” Hannah said.

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The heartbroken owner of a pony who was suffocated by a whole raw potato fed to him by lockdown walkers wants to ensure no other owners have to feel her devastation.

Sarra Mackenzie-Pilot’s 12-year-old Welsh section A gelding Lightning ran into a fence in panic on Sunday (17 January) and died moments later.

“I’m empty, broken,” she told H&H. “He was the most beautiful pony I’ve ever known, with the sweetest nature. From his first breath to his last, he was the love of my life.”

Sarra said a neighbour called her on Sunday afternoon to say Lightning had run into the fence.

“She thought he was stuck, but then saw he couldn’t breathe,” she said. “We ran straight over but didn’t get to him in time. He collapsed as we went across the field, and had died before we got to him.“He had a whole raw potato stuck in his throat.”

Sarra said a single-track road runs alongside the field in which she keeps her herd, including Lightning’s dam Sophie, who she has owned for 22 years.

“She’s got equine metabolic syndrome and is prone to laminitis,” she said. “We’ve got that well under control but are paranoid about people feeding her so we’ve had signs up for years by the road, saying not to feed the horses.

“The people who fed Lightning would have been three metres away from one of the signs. And he would have been choking pretty much straight away, they’d have seen him. But rather than alert anyone, they just left him to die.”

Sarra bred Lightning for her daughter, to move on to when she grew out of Sophie.But this did not happen, and as Sarra is also under 5’ tall, Lightning became her riding pony.

“I broke my spine and shattered my leg four years ago, and couldn’t walk for two years,” she said. “Every day, Lightning would be at the gate waiting for me.

“When I got the all-clear from the doctor, my husband tacked Lightning up and I walked him round the field. He’d never walked in his life, as he was such a whizzy pony, but, he went so slowly and carefully; it was like he knew I needed him to be different.

“Lightning gave me the impetus to get out of my wheelchair and walk again. My legs are different sizes and I will always walk with a limp, but he made me feel like I could fly.”

Lightning and Sarra competed in concours d’elegance with great success, qualifying for national championships and winning a roomful of rosettes.

“It doesn’t feel right now,” she said. “The whole herd is shuffling around, looking for him. We’ve got his mum and his sister and brother; they’ve been a herd and they don’t understand where he is. His mum was standing over him while he died and I had to take her away; she’s devastated.”

Sarra said the number of walkers shot up last lockdown, and again this time.

“There’s never been so much footfall, so we put more signs up,” she said. “But they were being pulled down, we’ve found people in the field trying to get closer to the horses.

“It’s this entitled belief that they’ve got some god-given right to do it, and if you confront them, they say ‘it’s only feeding them’, or ‘it’s only a bit of fun’. But look what feeding Lightning did; I had to drag his body away across the field.”

Sarra said she had been sharing social media posts about other horses and ponies who had been made ill or killed by the actions of walkers, and that she has had more than 800 messages since she shared her own story; many from people who have undergone similar experiences.

She is now working on a campaign, Lightning’s Legacy, and raising money through a fundraising page. She wants to provide stark warning signs, possibly with pictures of what feeding horses and ponies can do, to warn walkers off.

“This needs to be out there,” she said. “It’s not your god-given right to feed ponies. The pictures might be a horrible shock tactic but maybe people need to see them.

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Walkers urged to ‘use common sense’ after opened gates lead to serious wounds

If this makes even one person think twice, that’s a good thing.

Two horses die after lockdown walkers picnic in their field

“It might make them walk away, and if it saves one pony, it’s worth it. It won’t bring him back, but it’s a reason to keep going.”

Sarra wants to raise awareness — one person commented on her post to say he had not realised potatoes were “poisonous” — and also to keep Lightning’s memory alive.

“Lightning was everyone’s friend; everyone loved him,” she said. “Someone wanted to feed the ponies on their nice Sunday walk, now every Sunday for the rest of my life is ruined.

“He was my angel, and if I can stop this happening to anyone else, that’s all I can ask; that no one ever has to feel like this because I wouldn’t wish it on my worst enemy.”

Horse & Hound magazine, out every Thursday, is packed with all the latest news and reports, as well as interviews, specials, nostalgia, vet and training advice. Find how you can enjoy the magazine delivered to your door every week, plus options to upgrade to access our H&H Plus online service which brings you breaking news as it happens as well as other benefits.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now

A researcher looking into the feeding of horses by members of the public hopes to raise awareness of the issue, and help prevent future equine illnesses or fatalities.

Amelia Cameron has launched an online questionnaire, aiming to find out more about the issue, having become aware of a number of incidents this year.

The research masters student at the University of Bristol, who is preparing to start a PhD in equine welfare at the University of Nottingham, wants to find out in which situations horses are at most risk of becoming ill as a result of being fed by members of the public.

Take the survey here

She told H&H that as part of her thesis into grazing restriction, she heard from people whose ponies’ grazing muzzles had been removed, or cut off.

“Then I saw a number of H&H articles, and social media posts, about horses’ being fed without the owners’ permission, and getting ill,” Amelia said.

“During and after lockdown, there seemed to be so many more reports of horses’ becoming really ill; I guess with people using footpaths more, and it seemed to be becoming more of an issue.”

The questionnaire, which went live on 13 August, asks respondents’ locations and their experiences. It covers issues such as signs, whether they have been put up in response to incidents or not, whether they have had any effect, and the behaviour of anyone confronted while feeding other people’s horses.

Amelia said her aim is to publish the research in a scientific journal.

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Two horses die after lockdown walkers picnic in their field

‘My world’s turned upside down’: horse dies after grass cuttings tipped into his field

‘If anything comes from this, it would be nice if Frank could save other horses’ lives”

“The more respondents my questionnaire gets, the higher the chances are that I will be able to produce high-quality research that can be used towards raising awareness and preventing future cases of horses becoming unwell or dying due to being fed inappropriately by members of the public,” she said.

Amelia added that she is also asking people’s opinions on whether the Countryside Code should be updated to specifically state that no animals should be fed without owners’ permission.

“That’s something I think should be included,” she said. “It would be good to spread awareness to as many people as possible.

“Hopefully we can prevent horses from suffering unnecessarily.”

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The owner of a pony who has still not recovered from being fed by walkers two months ago has written an open letter to those responsible.

Sarah Casey hoped that by sharing her mare Petal’s experiences online, it would help raise awareness of the devastating consequences of well-meaning actions.

She explained how she felt at seeing her 16-year-old mare suffer, adding that despite extensive veterinary treatment, Petal’s survival is not guaranteed.

Sarah, who is waiting for an operation as part of treatment for breast cancer, told H&H Arab/Welsh Petal suffered a displaced colon in late March.

She survived that but was put on a restricted diet afterwards to help her recover.

“Then someone was seen feeding her over the fence,” Sarah said.

“I don’t know what it was – it could have been bread, vegetables, sweets; anything.

“When I went down to look at the bridleway at the back of the field, there were fruit and vegetable wrappers, empty bread bags and all sorts. We just don’t know.”

Petal was very unwell, Sarah said, initially with chronic, long-lasting diarrhoea and colic. But even now, and despite a “cocktail of drugs”, she is still unable to tolerate “normal” amounts of food, or her symptoms return.

“The vets said on Monday [15 June] I had three options,” Sarah said. “One was to put her to sleep. The second was to take her to hospital for scans, but they said they wouldn’t find anything as it’s just inflammation of the gut, or try antibiotics and anti-inflammatories, which I’ve done.”

Sarah said there is now more hope for a positive outcome for Petal, but it is not certain, and she will need intense care for months.

Sarah said since lockdown was enforced, the number of people walking near Petal’s field has increased sharply, and that some have climbed the outer fence to feed horses through the electric fence within it.

“It’s so worrying that people think it’s ok to feed other people’s horses,” she said.

“If I could speak to whoever did it, I’d like to explain the impact it’s had; on her life, my life. I can’t work at the moment because I’m waiting for a mastectomy and I’ve got a vet bill for about £3,500.

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Two horses die after lockdown walkers picnic in their field

Top eventer’s dismay as walkers report horse ‘blocking footpath’ – in his own field

People have also been breaking stiles, dropping rubbish and defecating on his property

“She’s a member of my family. I haven’t got kids and she’s the one who’s kept me going through this last year; if I lost her, I think I’d give up.”

In her letter, Sarah wrote: “I don’t hate you. I hate what you’ve done, but I’m hoping you didn’t know any better and it was meant as a nice gesture.

“I am, however, writing this to let you know what you’ve done.

“I’m writing this so others know how feeding horses without the owner’s permission can have some awful consequences. To highlight the heartbreak caused by watching someone (yes someone, not something) you love be so ill and not be able to do anything about it.

“Please let your friends know the consequences of well-meaning actions.”

Friends have set up a fundraising page to help towards Sarah’s vet bill.

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The British Horse Society (BHS) is warning the public not to feed horses, after cases of equine illness, injury and deaths during the coronavirus lockdown, while the countryside code has been updated.

H&H has reported on a number of such cases, in which the actions of people out for their allotted exercise has had serious and even fatal consequences.

“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,” said BHS director of welfare Alan Hiscox.

“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 horses.

“The greater the awareness of the issue, the more likely people are to change their behaviour in future.”

The BHS is offering the following advice to the public:

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

Any type of food, grass cuttings or any 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

If you cross land with a right of way where horses are kept, the above points will be applicable but also ensure you:

Leave gates and property as you find them

Keep to the right of way

Take your 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 the owner’s details on it

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Walkers urged to ‘use common sense’ after opened gates lead to serious wounds

If this makes even one person think twice, that’s a good thing.

Countryside walkers warned not to feed horses after deaths *H&H Plus*

The warning comes as the government has updated its countryside code.

Visitors are asked to respect other people and protect the natural environment while they enjoy the outdoors, with advice including “leave no trace of your visit” and “leave gates and property as you find them”.

We continue to publish Horse & Hound magazine weekly during the coronavirus pandemic, as well as keeping horseandhound.co.uk up to date with all the breaking news, features and more. Click here for info about magazine subscriptions (six issues for £6) and access to our premium H&H Plus content online.

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As an increasing number of people take to the countryside for their daily exercise while lockdown is in place, we seek advice on how to tackle the associated problems from the British Horse Society...

Advice is available to owners concerned that members of the public are feeding their horses during lockdown after a series of injuries, illnesses and fatalities.

H&H has reported online of two horses found dead this month after walkers used their field to picnic in, and an elderly mare and a young gelding who needed emergency vet treatment after they were fed a potato and an unidentified substance respectively. A two-year-old colt suffered serious wounds when gates were left open and a stallion was able to access his field, while another mare – owned by a nurse working 14-hour shifts – was badly injured when her field mates attacked her while walkers were feeding them vegetable peelings.

Owners concerned have reported an increase in footfall as people who do not usually use footpaths, and may not know how to behave in the countryside, are out and about for their daily exercise during lockdown.

“No one’s saying don’t walk but please, have some common sense,” said Carrie Chapple, owner of Teddy who was found tangled in a fence after her gates were left open. “Don’t trespass, don’t feed animals or litter, and shut gates.

“This was totally unnecessary – I’m not employed at the moment either because of the virus and didn’t need the vet’s bill – and I just hope this raises some awareness.

“If it makes even one person think twice, that’s a good thing.”

Rachel Eaton, whose cob colicked after she had seen a number of walkers feeding her horses apples, despite the fact they had been asked not to, is now using a sign sent from her vets and bearing the practice name, explaining that the horses are under veterinary treatment and extra food could kill them.

“I feel this message has got to get out to the public,” she told H&H. “They saw a very muddy field with horses in it who are very friendly but I was trying to manage their weight. All this good work was being undone by the ‘kindness’ of many, many strangers.”

The British Horse Society (BHS) is urging the public not to feed horses, owing to the risk of serious illness and death.

BHS welfare director Alan Hiscox told H&H: “We believe many people act with no malicious intent and are simply unaware of the risks certain foods or grass cuttings can pose for horses. If you are concerned the public are feeding your horse, call the BHS Helpline on 02476 840517 for guidance and advice.

“You may also want to consider polite notices requesting people not to feed the horses with an explanation, as the greater the awareness of the issue, the more likely people are to change behaviour.”

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Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now