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Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - SteveA (2nd Oct 2016 - 08:29:43) If anyone knows how to contact the owner of the horse, can you let them know that there's a letter for them from the RSPCA which I think requires their action. The letter was yesterday tacked to the wooden structure just by the gate on the footpath which leads to Allees Meadow.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Rachel (7th Oct 2016 - 22:37:17) Today I walked by the horse (Lucky) and was appalled by the state of his mane, tail and feathers. All were totally mattered with burdock buds and looked awful poor boy!

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Richard (8th Oct 2016 - 07:46:17) And as we all know that while the RSPCA acts with good intentions...the road to hell is paved with such www.telegraph.co.uk/...

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Al (8th Oct 2016 - 21:06:29) We felt so sorry for the horse. The owners should be ashamed of themselves. Is action going to be taken?

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - SteveA (9th Oct 2016 - 17:39:28) The notice was still there this morning which doesn't bode well.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - A (9th Oct 2016 - 20:43:05) Would anyone be interested in going down with me and trying to sort his mane and tail out? I have kept horses and rode for several years but not recently so have no brushes etc of my own anymore!

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Pat (10th Oct 2016 - 08:16:20) I was talking to a lady who lives in Witley, a couple of months ago, she told me that the horse belongs to travellers. It has been there for about 14 years and she goes there three times a week and takes food.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Steve (10th Oct 2016 - 08:44:13) Hi as far as I know it's owned by Mr Light at malthouse meadows. He has lived there for years, his house is by the big grass roundabout nearly opposite Oliver car hire. Hope that helps

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Kat B (10th Oct 2016 - 10:20:42) Take care when approaching Lucky. He is prone to biting and will strike out.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Dawn Hoskins (10th Oct 2016 - 16:44:43) Does the owner know that someone else has been feeding his horse for the last . .....years?

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Lizzy (10th Oct 2016 - 20:29:36) I think this thread is a continuation of the thread titled " What about this horse" dated 31.12.2010. If this is the case then it's awful that nothing's been done to help the horse ironically named "Lucky".

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - AM (10th Oct 2016 - 21:20:15) As much as I feel VERY sorry for the horse and wish it wasn't being kept in this state, I would personally stay a safe distance away from it. It bit me VERY hard on my upper arm earlier this year through 3 layers of clothing and it still left a large mouth shaped bruise approx. 10cm diameter which lasted for several week...and I am used to horses after riding for many years. I think all that can be done is constant harassing of the RSPCA and horse welfare people until something is done by the 'experts'.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - m (11th Oct 2016 - 08:08:09) Unfortuantly it will go round in circles because people are feeding him and giving him water they will not do much. Its so stupid. The only thing they will do is come do his feet when they get bad and come with a vet to sedate him. They have contacted the owner many times and have said about not coping and taking him away but the owner refused and because people are feeding him and giving him water they cant legally take lucky or do anything to help him properly.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Paul Robinson (11th Oct 2016 - 16:45:26) Perhaps Green Construct, the owners of the land that Lucky is kept on, could be prevailed upon to improve his conditions. They stated in their most recent flyer that a new home would be found for the horse if and when planning approval were to be given to their application for houses on the land. Paul Robinson

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Lizzy (11th Oct 2016 - 18:15:02) Hi Paul I think that's a great idea. I haven't seen Green Construct's flyer, but do you think that someone who has their details could contact them and suggest, subtly, that it may improve their chances if they find a new home, locally, for Lucky. However, would that improve his care and would his owner allow this?

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - MRE (11th Oct 2016 - 18:33:43) Taking the horse if you are not the owner surely could be construed as theft. Why should the developers be responsible for the horse when it is not theirs! The owner should be responsible! Unfortunately as much as we all feel sorry for the horse, if we do anything to improve his living conditions then the RSPCA definitely will do nothing to help. Providing the horse is not too thin and has water to drink they will not remove him from this field. It is a sad fact of life that we will have to watch him in his terrible, and I think dangerous conditions until he is rescued. He is a stallion with the temperament to go with it so he isn't going to be friendly and approachable, but that doesn't mean to say he should suffer as he does. The field has no edible grass, dangerous weeds, dangerous shelter and the winter is coming with the cold, wet and mud! I think the best we can all do is to keep pestering the RSPCA and the Blue Cross in the hope that one day they will come and take him away and find him a new home.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Lucy (11th Oct 2016 - 22:03:52) Hi I do not think Green Construct will actually buy the land unless they get the planning permission through. The land has constraints such as being in the flood plain and outside the settlement boundary for starters and also probably contaminated land. They will wait until they get permission to build. If they own the land ow surely they would have got a handle on the situation to look good at least!

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Boris (13th Oct 2016 - 16:47:55) As mentioned on another discussion on this site regarding the horse, the owner of Lucky will not move the horse because to do so would cancel his continual use of this land and negate any claim he is trying to establish.The bottom line is that the horse is his means to an end, and the welfare of the horse is not his concern. People feeding and caring for the horse only play into the hands of the owner. The prospective developers of the site will have a difficult time trying to get the horse removed.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Joyce Williams (13th Oct 2016 - 18:46:19) If someone wants to move him to make a big fat profit from a housing development it could easily Happen. He will be bundled off in a midnight horse box and turned into pet food or beef dinners like many other poor horses are. If there is no development on this land he will continue living peacefully on the field as he had done so theses past 15 years.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Elizabeth (13th Oct 2016 - 23:17:15) Just wondered what has happened each autumn with the beech cobs. Does someone eventually come and sort him out?

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Diane (15th Oct 2016 - 18:41:09) Please stop complaining about the RSPCA. They are well aware of Lucky and have been for years. They moniter him and do what they can. To do anything with him he would have to be sedated . His owner and his family look after and feed Lucky and they refuse all offers of help. The RSPCA can do no more.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Emma (19th Oct 2016 - 21:08:53) Ok.  The reality of the situation is that if the landowner serves the ‘abandonment notice’ (as per Control of Horses Act 2015) and Lucky’s owner does not remove him within the 4 day notice period, the land owner then becomes the legal owner of the horse.   Would they want that?  If Lucky’s owner moved him within the notice period - where would he go? Perhaps to a smaller ‘invisible’ field where he wouldn’t be monitored or fed by locals. The RSPCA can be called and their local animal warden could visit - but if the horse has food and water and the ability to move, then there isn’t much they can do within the law - he’d have to be in poor health to be removed on welfare grounds. We are not immediately local, so could not easily visit, but could call the land owners to let them know their legal rights and options in this situation.   Let me know if you’d like us to progress that path. Following the vast amount of understandable concern for poor Lucky I contacted a different horse rescue organisation explaining Luckys story. What do those of you that have been caring for Lucky think ? I'm not convinced that their intervention would guarantee a positive move for this poor old boy. I won't contact them again until I get some local feedback from the people who know Lucky and his life the best. He's had it tough enough already.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - liz (20th Oct 2016 - 11:40:05) None of the horse welfare organisations can do anything about Lucky. Although his living conditions are far from ideal he is adequately fed, watered and his feet are not overgrown. I also was told that the RSPCA trim his feet fairly regularly. He is, apparently, a 15 year old stallion who has never known anything else or, it would seem, been handled very much. You have to wonder just how much distress moving him would cause?

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Emma (20th Oct 2016 - 14:49:25) Liz, thats exactly my concern or worse still that if the owner is told that Lucky will no longer belong to him after 4 days once the order is served what is he likely to do with him ? Could he end up somewhere even worse. Ive spoken to the organisation again today and they have said that if the order is served and he becomes the property of the landowner on day 5 they will liase with all rescue and rehab centres to get him a safe haven. Thats the happy ending but what if the current owner just moves him instead. That can only add to Lucky's unhappiness.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - liz (20th Oct 2016 - 15:54:46) That's good Emma. I don't think moving him would be a straightforward operation. Let's hope he can be 'rescued', if necessary, by the professionals and rehabilitated.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Emma (20th Oct 2016 - 16:58:58) Liz, the problem is that if they go ahead and the current owners removes Lucky to goodness knows where are we willing to risk that by letting the rescue centre getting involved ?

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - liz (21st Oct 2016 - 08:50:48) Hi Emma. Sorry your last post isn't very clear I'm not sure quite what you mean. I was responding to your comment "If the order is served.......they will liaise with all the rescue and rehoming centres to get him a safe haven"

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Emma (21st Oct 2016 - 12:49:33) Hi Liz. Sorry for the confusion. They have to serve a notice which gives the current owner 4 days to move Lucky. If he doesnt then and only then can the rehab/rescue take him and get him suitably placed. If however within those 4 days Luckys current owner decides to move him the rescue can do nothing and poor Lucky could be goodness knows where.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Elizabeth (30th Oct 2016 - 17:53:20) RSPCA have attended Lucky this week and sedated him to remove some of the things in his mane. Otherwise, he is in good condition and those things won't harm him. He is fed at least twice a day and given fresh water. Plently of other people stop by and feed him too. This week John replaced the water butt with a new one. John has been given some conditions to fulfil but has been unwell and in hospital. He needs to replace the roof on his shed and has said he will try to get his nephews to help him. He is quite an ill man at the moment.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Michael (30th Oct 2016 - 20:02:53) Maybe if John is not well enough to 'look after' his horse he should arrange for it to be re-homed rather than live in squalid conditions...

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Vivienne (29th Jun 2017 - 11:09:03) Many thanks to the editor for sending me the old threads on the subject of poor Lucky. All dated October 2016. How very sad and frustrating. I am a pensioner and feel so helpless . Where are these wealthy horse lovers in the area (possibly with unused empty fields) who could make an offer to this owner to release this poor animal. Viv

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Megan (29th Jun 2017 - 11:29:54) The issue is , the horse is fed and has water so cant be taken away. Also if the owner thinks he is doing whats best or has a motive for the horse being there, there is nothing anybody can do. Even the "rich" horse owners ( which arnt many) cant do a lot. Moving the horse would be difficult even with the mans consent. Then the vet bills, feed. Not to mention the horse is a stallion and a un social stallion so would cause trouble with people's current animals, children and if they have horses on the.land serious issues with them. It's not black and white.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - liz (29th Jun 2017 - 11:34:40) I think the owner does not want to accept any help. However an application is due, if not already made, to build houses on the land (heaven forbid- it's a flood plain!). So not sure what will happen to poor Lucky. His owner does not own the land, which belongs to a group of investors in Surrey.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - JH (29th Jun 2017 - 20:07:10) I'm aware that the RSPCA were contacted back in January by a friend. At that time the field was just churned up mud with no grass, it was freezing cold and the shack leaking so not providing adequate shelter for the horse and there was inadequate bedding (it was snowing too). However, as he was being fed and wasn't lame there was nothing that could be done apparently. This is a dreadful situation and can't be right in this day and age. Has the owner have no shame to keep a horse in these conditions? Why keep a horse at all if this is how it is being treated. Although the horse himself isn't the friendliest animal around (but why would you if your experience of humans all your life hasn't been that great) he deserves a better life that what he is subjected to. I wish there was something that could be done for it - such a sorrowful animal and all thanks to human-"kind".

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - helen (29th Jun 2017 - 21:18:41) I think the horse is partly being kept there as a bargaining chip? As previous posters have said the land has a housing application, and as lucky has been there for at least 20 years, it could be argued that the law of adverse possession applies.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Ginny Stacpoole (29th Jun 2017 - 21:39:47) Exactly what I think. If someone wants o to build one house in a field, the newts and toads, and grasses and weeds are protected. A horse is a greater sentient being and none of these 'holier than thou' supposed charities will do anything. Unless, of course, it's politically correct so to do....

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Steve Allford (29th Jun 2017 - 22:55:13) At the current time, Lucky is being fed and watered regularly and his stable has been repaired - I know because I walk past him once or twice a day. The owner is there every day, and if people have genuine concerns why not go and talk to him - his name is John and he's a nice chap.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Vivienne (1st Jul 2017 - 13:31:48) Yikes, I feel I have uncovered an old hornet's nest with the subject of Lucky. I take on board everything you all say. Very interesting and warming that so many people care. I'd like to apologise to Megan, of course I realise you can't put a stallion with other horses, I was just remembering this home not far away with 5 empty paddocks with lovely fencing and horses in the stables. It was maybe long ago, and I must have been dreaming of Lucky being shown his first green grass. I also agree with one of you who said Lucky might freak out at being moved, apparently he was born in that field. Next idea is maybe how some kind and able volunteers can help improve the field. I am thinking about seeing if I can get a donation of some shredded wood chippings from a tree cutter which can be dumped over the mud. Also maybe a donation of wood or whatever need to fix Lucky's shelter, he goes in backwards and it only covers his back end. Of course I will try first and talk to John there is no point upsetting the old boy. I often see Lucky as I live round the corner, it is strange he has never bitten me YET, (I will not get complacent,) he is far more interested in what I have in my pocket, I only bring carrots and horse nuts and while he is foraging, I manage to get into his ears to remove those horrible burrs with my fingers. Until the next installment Vivienne

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Boris (24th Dec 2017 - 17:11:18) just bumping this up for Rachel

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Kris (25th Dec 2017 - 14:18:30) I too have fed this horse. Being a horse owner of many years it breaks my heart to see the sad/depressed look on his face, and no - he hasn't bitten me either! Whoever the 'John' is I trust he is warm, well fed and sheltered whilst reclining in a hospital bed. My two were rescues -one from the side of a main road, the other from field full of rubbish and barbed wire. I would not be able to live with myself to let them live like that. Today?? Bright eyed and confident, gorgeous... Lucky?? More like Unlucky seems appropriate...I would be more than willing to get involved.

Re: Horse opposite Radford Park, London Road - Elizabeth (28th Dec 2017 - 21:35:24) When I spoke to John earlier on in the year, he had said it would be helpful if the bush with the burrs on it could be cut down. He had mentioned that his nephews may do it, but obviously haven't. THey did help repair the roof of the shelter I believe. There was a note from the RSPCA recently.

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