Fly grazing — leaving horses on others' land without permission — is a significant welfare problem in Britain that leaves horses vulnerable to starvation and lack of veterinary care.
Fly grazing horses face welfare failures across multiple domains simultaneously: inadequate nutrition as inappropriate grazing is overstocked; no veterinary care for injuries, dental disease, or illness; overgrown hooves causing lameness; and complete absence of owner care or responsibility. The legal complexity of removing horses from others' land without owner consent historically delayed intervention, allowing welfare deterioration to continue for months. The 2015 legislation improved response times but welfare problems associated with fly grazing remain significant in parts of England, Wales, and Scotland.