THE general public was warned against the possible fatal consequences of feeding unsuitable food to horses and ponies in fields, a problem horse owners say has become more prevalent during lockdowns.

Horse owner Dianne Ritchie was devastated to find one of her horses dead of colic in his Co Westmeath field last Friday, despite putting up signs asking the public not to feed her horses.

Everything from old vegetables, including brocoli and potato peelings, cakes, bread and even meat, are being thrown into her fields by members of the public.

Dianne Ritchie told The Irish Field: “I want to make the public aware that they should not feed other people’s horses and ponies – this can kill them. I have now lost Romeo, who was on a special diet, as a result of this. I have 12 horses who are fed and checked every day. He was my top competition horse and was only seven.

“This problem of the public feeding my horses was always there in my area (Moate) but has got worse during lockdowns. It is mad, my horses are fed and minded, some in stables, some in fields. I have put up signs asking people not to feed them and some were ripped down. A hole was even cut in a hedge so that someone can get in to throw their old food into them.

“I have picked up everything thrown into the fields from meat, old grass clippings, cauliflower, potato peelings, cakes and muffins. In the first lockdown, Romeo colicked on this type of rubbish and we saved him but the vet bill was €700. This time, he seemed fine in the morning, was checked again in the afternoon only to be found dead.

“It’s a terrible loss for me, coming on top of the loss of my father in November – now this. I did not find what Romeo ate. This public feeding of other people’s horses is happening more and more, I’m in a Facebook group now on this and it’s a big problem that is causing stress, injury and death to other people’s horses.

“I have three fields for my horses and while they may look as if they have no grass at this time of the year, they get hay and feed three times a day. They are not starving, but I cannot get through to people to don’t go feeding my horses.

“Romeo used to walk the competitions he was in. He was a class horse. The colicking was an ongoing issue with him and he was on a special diet with limited hay,” said Dianne who is originally from South Africa.

(See page 82 on this issue).