AS a local resident, I am delighted the Daily Echo has highlighted the conditions of the 40 or so horses and ponies chained up on the disused Hamble Airfield.

Something has to be done.

After the high temperatures and lack of rain, there is hardly any grass for them to eat. The plant that IS growing all around them is yellow ragwort which is poisonous to horses.

And they are eating it because they are hungry and no one seems to remove it.

These animals are being fly-grazed on private land owned by Persimmon Homes.

If the RSPCA says is not illegal to tether horses or leave them without a continuous supply of water, is it not illegal to chain them on someone else’s land?

On the airfield lots of the horses are underweight, some are very skinny and really need help from local people.

A healthy horse’s ribs are not visible.

I guess to try to get owners to look after their horses, the RSPCA has to be politically correct and the present welfare laws are very weak.

Last year they removed about ten severely neglected horses from here and with pressure from the public, they and other horse welfare organisations will have to act.

I would ask concerned people to visit Hamble Airfield to see for themselves how these animals exist 365 days a year.

Do ring the RSPCA cruelty Line 0300 123 4999 and set up an account ‘MY RSPCA’ where you can email the charity directly if you have an incident to report. Just be precise about times and location of the animal concerned as they will ask for this.

You can also put pressure on your local councillors, MP, your local authority Animal Welfare Officer (Environmental Health) and other animal welfare organisation to press for changes to outlaw tethering and to legislate for responsible ownership.

If we work together for change, anything is achievable.

It would be great if enough local people were prepared to get involved to help alleviate the conditions of the Hamble Airfield horses, either with practical help or by campaigning.

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