‘He’s not dead, just lazy’: Owner is forced to post on social media about her horse after tourists repeatedly reported her to animal welfare charities when they saw it lying in field
- Photos show ‘Custard’, the Guernsey horse lying lifeless on the ground
- Owner Alex Tielles used social media to clarify the welfare of the animal after messages from concerned passers-by
A horse owner from Guernsey has been forced to confirm on social media that her horse is not sick or even dead, just an ‘incredibly lazy’ baby.
Alex Tielles posted on a local Facebook group called Guernsey People Have Your Say! to explain that her horse, named Custard, who often lies on the ground, is “just a baby” and therefore “sleeps a lot and maybe even snores and grunts as if he can’t breathe.”
The photo shows the horse lying with its head on the ground while wearing a blue-gray coat and looking lifeless.
The owner, Alex, has been inundated with calls and messages from tourists concerned about the welfare of the Guernsey horse.
However, she assured islanders that the animal was “absolutely fine.”
Guernsey horse named Custard lies on the ground and warns passers-by about his well-being
Owner Alex Tielles made it clear via Facebook that the horse was not sick or dead, but just ‘incredibly lazy’
The full message read: ‘Hello everyone. This is my horse Custard who lives with his friends in the Ville Baudu.
‘I’ve had a number of calls and messages about people concerned that he was sick or dead at times. He is not. He’s just a baby and is incredibly lazy!!
‘He sleeps a lot and can even snore and grunt as if he can’t breathe. He’s honestly completely fine.
“I check on him at least three times a day and he gets unlimited hay and is fed at least twice a day. I need to make some signs for the gate to let people know.
“If anyone has any concerns about him, feel free to message me.”
Four separate people have contacted her in the past two days about Custard’s well-being.
She added that this is a common occurrence and that the GSPCA is also aware of it, as her horse is often reported to the charity by concerned islanders.
The owner later updated her Facebook post to ask people to stop bringing treats for her horses as snacks.
She added: ‘Please never feed them, they are very well fed and any extras can cause them to bite or fight and can make them seriously ill or kill them through choking or abdominal pain.’