'Fly Grazing' warning to farmers
CLA Wales has responded to the 'fly grazing' problem, whereby horses are left to graze for extended periods on private land without the permission of the landowner, by issuing guidance to Welsh farmers. This advice has included reminders on the availability of bailiffs specialising in such cases in event of landowners having concerns about reprisals by the owners of the horses in question.
Commenting, Director of CLA Wales Ben Underwood said “Once the horses are on the land they are often left for extended periods of time and without knowing who the owner is the landowner can be left in a difficult position. It is best to try and prevent the problem in the first place. Keeping field gates locked, especially those with access on to a public highway, may help to deter an unscrupulous horse owner. It may also be worth fencing off particularly vulnerable areas, but you should not put up anything likely to cause injury or that may block a right of way.”
It is recommended that a landowner's response to the appearance of a horse on private land without prior permission should be to contact the police so that it can be determined if the horse has previously been stolen. Furthermore, the Animals Act 1971 mandates that an Abandonment Notice can be displayed for a period of not less than 14 days before further measures can be taken.
With Strangles Awareness Week just around the corner (5-11 May), vets are being encouraged to share a survey about the disease with their horse-owning clients.
