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proctorclaire
Silver Member
437 Posts |
 Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 07:53:24 AM
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Just thought i'd start a wee debate here. Should horse owners need a licence? The amount of people I know who have horses that don't know one end from the other and can't afford to care for them correctly is shocking. Also the amount of people nowadays with youngsters who are basically wrecking them cause they don't know what their doing is diabolicle. Horses getting sold from home to home and turning up at people in shocking states physically and mentally or ending up at meat man. What are your views?
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 08:31:55 AM
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Personally I don't feel it would help. The cost of admin would be huge and it would be impossible to police.
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barbara.gregory
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4531 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 09:05:42 AM
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Yet more expense and those who don't care for their horses wouldn't bother to licence them. An emphatic "NO" from me. A licence just allows you to keep the horse. no one checks how you keep it. How much is the licence going to be - £100 per horse and every time the government needs more money it doesn't take a lot of thought to see their eyes light up; rich people have horses, bung another £25 on the licence, we might even get away with taxing the stables separately from the house!!!!
I am going to date myself now but I remember having to licence my dogs. Lots of dogs kicked out all day wandering the streets, not licenced; those of us who loved our dogs did. In general I would say the majority of dogs are better cared for now than they were then.
Barbara |
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 09:25:33 AM
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If the government wanrt extra money they could just tax horses. Don't give them the idea!
As to licensing, certainly it should be considered for breeding purposes, but in general I agree with Barbara that it would be too difficult to police. In my opinion there are as many amatuers who are better at bringing on their own youngsters as professesionals who can also ruin a young horse. |
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Ryu
Bronze Member
62 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 09:42:08 AM
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It would just be like it is with passports. Responsible people will get them and the others still won't bother.
There are thousands of ponies on the mountains in South Wales, I can't see their owners paying for them if they won't even feed the poor things. |
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zaminda1
Bronze Member
177 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 09:55:31 AM
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I would say it would just be a way of taxing those who care, just like passports! Sadly its the same with microchipping all foals too! Those who don't care won't bother
Sally |
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lisa rachel
Gold Member
Wales
831 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 10:06:28 AM
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YES!!
I too remember dog licences,you just bought them from the post office,totally pointless. What we need is a licence in the vein of a driving licence, ie you have to pass a test to show basic knowledge and competence, it must be produced when asked for and could be revoked. If you did a job like mine and saw the hideous things I see you'd feel the same.A lot of the problems that I see are caused by ignorance or are 'excused' by a plea of ignorance, a tested licence would eliminate this.
It will never happen of course and as Barbara says a simple bit of paper means nothing unless it proves at least a basic level of knowledge. |
lisa |
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 10:30:10 AM
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Even with something along the lines of a basic knowledge test wouldn't help, the highest % of car accidents per age group involve those that have recently proved they can drive.
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 1:08:43 PM
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| I agree that only the competent and responsible would bother, the same as with passports, car insurance etc. We have had horses arriving at our yard with owners who can't even put on a bridle, or horses out of training because owners equate 'cheap' with 'suitable for beginner'. Scary. And these are the ones who go to a big yard where advice and help are freely available - what about the ones living in the garden shed? |
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Meggie-Lu
Platinum Member
England
1519 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 1:13:28 PM
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| It's a good idea, but i feel this would be lost in red tape, it wouldn't be policed and how would it effect the younger horse owners like myself aged 20 in august would fine getting a licence difficult. Surely the first port of call is to control over breeding of horses? Just like the over breeding of certain breeds of dogs. |
   Danger Mouse |
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lisa rachel
Gold Member
Wales
831 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 2:38:59 PM
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Of course most accidents happen to new drivers... would you prefer there was no test at all!?
I know that there will never be a licence but I wish there were, if people were aware,and proved themselves to be aware of the basic requirements re nutrition,foot care, parasite control etc there would be less suffering, not none, but less. |
lisa |
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Meggie-Lu
Platinum Member
England
1519 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 2:41:15 PM
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| Maybe this should be the case with all animals, there are so many animals that suffer, it's very sad. |
Danger Mouse |
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Quarabian
Platinum Member
Wales
4340 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 3:22:46 PM
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| That is a good point Meggi Lu. At the moment anyone can set up a farm. They don't have to prove any animal husbandry skills, all they have to do is aply for a small holding number. |
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
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Meggie-Lu
Platinum Member
England
1519 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 7:08:44 PM
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I studied animal care at college and now have a diploma in it. I think if you are truly committed to keeping any animal then you should prove it! With basic knowledge of anatomy, common illness, how to detect ill health and basic care.
The people that want an animal will think this is a good idea the ones that don;t care will hopefully think oh that's to much of a faff |
Danger Mouse |
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 7:24:43 PM
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| Unfortunately the people prepared to put in the effort to show they care don't really need to as it shows it the condition both mentally and physically of their animals, those that think it's too much effort simply won't bother. |
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TAE
Bronze Member
232 Posts |
Posted - 31 Jan 2012 : 8:42:09 PM
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Our pony was a wreck when we got him from a supposed experienced horse person with their own yard who evented.
She must have known that a cob shouldn't be angular with his ribs all showing or that hitting a young horse or whiping it with reins till it's sholders are cut is wrong. Passing a test or buying a licence wouldn't have made any difference.
When people just want to make a quick buck and follow the ethos of show them who's boss and make them do it and don't understand that starting a youngster isn't the same as riding a ready made horse, abuse will not stop.
Unfortunately human nature will always be like this and all animals will continue to be abused especially when we can't even stop the abuse of children. |
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complete novice
Gold Member
831 Posts |
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Centaur
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
237 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2012 : 10:24:00 AM
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In an ideal world I would like to see a licensing system for those who wish to breed horses. Anyone wishing to breeding from a mare should have to be inspected to ensure that the facilities, land and knowledge are available to support & keep potentially large numbers of horses.
Like Lisa rachel I see all too frequently the problems which arise from ignorance. Horses are very collectable and live a long time and it is all to easy to end up with far too many horses to do justice to especially if the unexpected happens.How often do we read on these pages of the welfare problems which result.
Of course it will never happen because of the logistics but it would do so much to improve animal welfare from the roots upwards.
Angela |
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Blue Sonnet
New Member
25 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2012 : 11:27:21 AM
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| I also would like to see a licensing system for breeders of horses and dogs. I'd also like some way of ensuring the ongoing welfare of animals subsequently sold although i accept that would be impossible to police. It is heartbreaking to see any animal being badly treated, whether deliberately or through ignorance or lack of responsibility. |
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mouse
Silver Member
United Kingdom
309 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2012 : 7:18:42 PM
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No! I feel a lot of the people who neglect horses could easily pass a basic equitation test but just choose not to employ the skills they possess through laziness or lack of compassion for the horses in their care.
Also what would happen to the decent, competant horse owners that go to pieces under "test conditions" and "fail" and have to get rid of their well looked after horses? |
    
South Norfolk/Suffolk border |
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basbob
Gold Member
France
1356 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2012 : 09:23:48 AM
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Don't know about a license but references could be asked for - especially if that person has had a large turnover of horses in the past.
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Should you need a licence?
