Campers urged not to feed horses dangerous foods

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

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

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-0old 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."

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 said she was relieved top 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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