Instructions
Know that horse abuse is a serious allegation. What one person considers abusive behavior may only be punishment to someone else, and the law is only capable of handling instances of severe abuse. According to the Humane Society (see Resources below), abuse is defined as "knowingly depriving an animal of food, water, shelter, socialization, or veterinary care or maliciously torturing, maiming, mutilating, or killing an animal." The occasional swat for bad behavior might be unethical, but not illegal.
Look for physical signs of horse abuse. These may include open sores, lacerations, swelling, welts, burns or broken bones. Animal abuse is usually considered a pattern of abusive behavior, and a horse that never seems to heal may be a victim.
Watch how the horse owner handles his animals. Does he use whips, chains or other instruments to hit the horse? Does he intentionally deprive the animal of food and water? These are all signs of horse abuse, and can prove deadly if allowed to continue.
Spend time with the horse. An abused animal will be distrustful of humans, quick to shy away from a gentle hand. Alternatively, the horse might be "mean" when approached by a human, kicking or biting to fend off the attack before it can start. This doesn't mean that the horse is "bad", but that he has learned from experience to expect violence.
Know that causing intentional injury to a horse is considered abuse. For example, an owner who kicks her horse in the stomach or whips the horse repeatedly is probably committing abuse. This is especially true if it happens frequently.
Ask if the horse has been seen by a veterinarian. Even if an injury is not caused intentionally, the failure to treat the injury is considered abuse.
Watch for signs of aggression when the owner rides the horse. Horse abuse is often inflicted when an owner is frustrated during a ride, and takes out his frustration physically. Dismounting to beat a horse, for example, would be considered abuse.
How to Identify Horse Abuse
If you believe that a horse at your stable or in your community is being abused, it is important to contact the appropriate authorities to report the situation. Horse abuse occurs in every corner of the world, and can present itself in many different forms. The faster you are able to identify horse abuse, the more lives you will save.