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Campers urged not to feed horses dangerous foods

Jade TaylorsonNorth West
Rachel Black and white horse lying down in a field with its eyes closedRachel
This photo was posted on Facebook to help find the collapsed horse's owner

A horse nearly died after being fed dangerous foods by campers near a farm, prompting a warning from the animal's owner.

Julie Kershaw said people had been throwing unsuitable food into her field on Syke Moors in Rochdale over the summer, including chicken bones, red onions, and lemons.

She is now warning people about the dangers after her horse, Frank, collapsed.

"Just please don't do it because you're causing a lot of distress to the owners and the animals, and it's a lot of money – and if you can't get them right, then you've lost your pet," Julie said.

Thirteen‑year-old Freya and her mother Rachel were out walking when they spotted the horse in trouble.

"He just literally collapsed to the floor then went on to his side," Rachel told BBC Radio Manchester.

"His breathing was really heavy and you could see his whole body shaking."

Rachel Frank the horse lying on the floor with Freya set beside him, surrounded by three other horses and another person standing in the field Rachel
Freya has been around horses from a young age so knew how to comfort Frank

Freya sat and comforted the animal before asking her mother to put an appeal on Facebook to help alert the owner.

"I'm really proud of her. Within 10 minutes, Julie was on her way," Rachel said.

Julie said she was "totally distressed" when she arrived.

She said she was told by a vet that her horse had colitis, an inflammation of the colon, which could have spread and been fatal.

"It was the worst thing. He could actually have died," she said.

Freya standing beside Frank in front of a metal gate in the field, wearing a pink sweater, brown rimmed glasses and long brown curly hair
Julie thanked Freya for alerting her and for staying with Frank until she arrived

Freya said she was relieved to hear the horse later recovered.

"I was worried and upset about him. No-one wants to see a horse in that type of state. I'm very glad that he's alright," she said.

Patsy, who owns horses kept in the same area, said food being thrown into the field had been a particular problem with campers over the busy summer months.

"It's been really bad this summer because it's been so warm. I've seen people standing by the horses with a chicken kebab and a naan bread," she said.

"I've come to the field before and found tomatoes, red onions, lemons. Depending on what they eat, it can be really toxic to them."

Julie said people think they are being kind but they should to aware that inappropriate food can make horses unwell - as can large amounts of even edible items.

"It's alright to give them apples and carrots, but if 30 people come to look at the horses and they each give them an apple a day," she said.

"Especially if they're overweight, it's not a good thing to do."

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