Stray horses and illegal grazing
We work with the police, the RSPCA, the British Horse Society and neighbouring councils to tackle the problem of stray and illegally tethered horses, but we also need your help to stop horses being left illegally on land.
How to report a horse on council land
If you spot a horse straying onto a road please call the police on 101.
If there is no danger of the horse getting on to the road but you are concerned about it, please:
- call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999
- call us on 0121 569 3911 (24 hour answer phone – please leave a message and it will be investigated and the issue referred to the council’s bailiffs)
- or email horse_line@sandwell.gov.uk
In an emergency dial 999 and ask for the police.
Tackling horses on public land
We have a zero-tolerance approach to horses being grazed illegally on publicly-owned land.
We have no obligation to provide land for people who cannot or will not provide their own facilities for their horses.
We will take action against horse owners who deliberately place their horses illegally on public land at the risk of public safety and the welfare of the horses.
We use an experienced bailiff company who scan the horse for a microchip to identify the registered owner and serves notices near to the horse, instructing the owner to remove the horse immediately.
If the horse is not removed, our bailiffs will remove the horse at the end of the notice period.
At the same time a photograph of the horse is taken which will be displayed on the bailiff’s website to aid its identification and potential recovery by its owner.
We work with welfare organisations to promote responsible horse ownership and we will help them take action against people who mistreat horses using powers in the Animal Welfare Act 2006.