advice needed; how to warn others not to move to my old yard?

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sophiebailey

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Hiya, just about to move from a rented field (private rented, not a livery yard) and the man who rents the field is a total tyrant.

He demands money from me every month (in addition to my rent) for excess use of water, repairs to gates, repairs to the track etc etc, throughout the winter he turns off my water supply (november-march time) he takes my things (tools, petrol, fencing etc) and hides them in his workshop and he constantly moves the horses into a paddock they're not meant to be in by chasing them with empty feed sacks and then shuts them into the paddock with no water.

I am leaving in 2 weeks but really want to warn people not to go there as it is horrible. How can I go about putting a warning on facebook without sounding slanderous?

If I put something like 'if you're offered grazing + stable in ****** area please contact me for 101 reasons you shouldn't take it, I will provide full details via PM'

If I don't mention his name, only the location of the field, I'm not falling foul of anything am I?

Advice welcomed :) wouldn't wish that man on ANYONE so want to make sure no-one else is lured in like I was. Waited 1 year for a contract/grazing agreement and he wouldn't sign it, now I know why, so he can try and extort more money from me each month. He told me to 'shut the eff up' last night - couldn't believe it!

Thanks HHO :)
 
Have to agree with Thatsmygirl, just go and don't look back. Dont' invite any trouble by posting anything on line. Word of mouth will do just fine I'm sure, it doesn't usually take long for people to find out locally, but stay out of any conflict or gossip - all the best in your new place, sounds like you've been through hell. x
 
I doubt any warnings would be very effective, tbh.

If anyone you know is thinking of moving there, then obviously you would warn them. But any strangers reading your warning wouldn't know if you just had a grudge against the man. Sadly you can't stop others making the same mistake as you did.

It sounds like a horrendous situation. Move your horses and draw a line under it. :)
 
Ok fair enough, just feel very sorry for anyone that may move there, the stress of being there and worrying about your horse is horrible :( don't want other people to have to deal with him but I suppose I might just sound bitter if I post online :(
 
sophiebailey said:
Ok fair enough, just feel very sorry for anyone that may move there, the stress of being there and worrying about your horse is horrible :( don't want other people to have to deal with him but I suppose I might just sound bitter if I post online :(
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It's very caring of you to be so concerned, but sadly there's nothing you can do. It's not your responsibility.

Try not to think about it. you've had enough stress, give yourself a break now. ;) I hope you have a lovely place in mind for you and your horses? Enjoy your time with them there. :)
 
I can completely understand why you would want to try to warn others. If I were you I would also want to do my best to help others avoid the inevitable grief BUT in today's litigious society you could end up in trouble.

Get yourself and your horses away and sleep well at night in the knowledge that you and yours are now OK. You cannot protect everyone else, upsetting I know. Hope everything's much better once you've moved.
 
Thanks FionaM :) I've lucked out where I'm moving too, beautiful quiet 3 acre field rented from a lovely old couple who are charging me a small rent just because the old man used to work with shires + cobs on his farm, and he'd like to be around them again!

Really looking forward to moving :)
 
If you want to put something on Facebook, stick to the facts, forget opinions etc. The defence against libel or slander is that it is the truth, so stick to what you know to be true and can back up if necessary with evidence (witnesses etc). You could give an approximate location and invite people to contact you to find out full details. Then he has no come back and you will feel you have spared anyone else a similar experience, especially if they are tempted to leave an okay place for it
 
Walk away and chalk it up to experience. I wouldn't go trying to warn anyone away if I were you. Why make possible trouble for yourself?
The new people might get on better with him or (not being sexist) might be male that farmer feels he can't bully as much...
 
sophiebailey said:
Ok fair enough, just feel very sorry for anyone that may move there, the stress of being there and worrying about your horse is horrible :( don't want other people to have to deal with him but I suppose I might just sound bitter if I post online :(
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Welldone for trying to warn people, but to benefit yourself I would just leave it! If you get worried and the field is local drive down there once in a while and see if anyones taken it over and if they have you could warn them that way?
 
Hi. I have PM'd you about it. I agree with the general theme of all the posts and and wish you all the best, I know exactly how you are feeling right now.
 
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