New appeal to the public to stop feeding horses after foal suffers life-threatening illness

The British Horse Society (BHS) has issued a further appeal to the public to stop feeding horses after a foal suffered a bout of colic when he was fed by passers-by.

Samson, whose field bordered a public footpath, presented with “severe abdominal pain” after he was fed what was suspected to be human food.

Samson made a full recovery, and ahead of the Easter bank holiday weekend the BHS is calling for members of the public not to feed horses they may encounter while out and about.

The BHS spokesman added that incidents like Samson’s are a “stark reminder” of the suffering that horses can go through as a result of inappropriate feeding. The society’s #BeHorseAware campaign aims to raise awareness and provide advice to the public about why they should not feed horses – and recommendations to owners about putting signage up.