Advice needed re horses and dogs

xemonsus

Well-Known Member
Joined
8 March 2009
Messages
57
Location
Warks
Visit site
Want to see what you all think to our situation,

We own our own land and have it fenced with post and stock proof wires, with an inside fence of electric tape and wooden posts.

Our neighbour uses their patch of land to exercise their many dogs (about 8 ) at last count.

They are constantly complaining about one of our youngsters getting under the electric fence to eat the grass inbetween the two fences and of course leaning over and munching what they can reach the other side of the fence, which i know is not ideal.

What i wondered is, are there any regulations as to the conduct of people exercising that many dogs in closer proxcimity to livestock (we also have goats their kids and poultry) as her dogs charge up and down the fence line yapping at anything and everything. The land is all surpossed to be agricultural land which im sure does not cover exercising dogs, please tell me if im wrong?

Thanks for reading all the way down, it just appears what ever i do isnt enough seperate her precious dogs from our stock. Should add that our stock has never breached our fence through to her side but have on numerous occassions been spooked by her dogs antics at the fence line.

sorry to ramble advice appreciated.
 
Of course you can let your dogs run free on your own land.

I'd plant a hedge between you and your neighbour if there are some issues. Then the horse won't be able to lean over and your animals won't be able to see the dogs.

You both sound as though you need to live and let live a bit TBH, sorry!
 
No idea about any rules dogs exercising on agricultural land, sorry.
Its a land owners responsibility to maintain their boundaries to keep stock retained.

I'm having a nightmare with next doors horse trashing MY fences - leaning over the top, chewing posts etc & eating electric tape if not on (when mine are not in those fields) - and their dogs escaping into my fields through their baggy sheep netting. Mine is 5 strands of taut barbed wire with tape inside & I want to replace the barbed on that side as have done everywhere else, but don't dare to fork out for more to be trashed.

I have mine fenced 4 ft back in from my 5ft 6" boundary so they cannot get bitten etc when in fields on that side. I now have to electrify the top of the big fence at all times to keep theirs off. Their fence is a mix of sheep netting & barbed wire, none of which is over 3ft tall & horse is over 17hh :mad:

Sorry, not a good eve for me as had very old Fuzzy once again being harrassed by yapping dogs this afternoon :mad:
 
Last edited:
I would either move the secondary fence in a bit, or make it higher, if your horses leanng over is a problem.
Be very careful of starting a 'war' wth your neighbours :( Also be careful re agricultural use, as for some purposes horses are not classed as livestock.
 
I agree with about, plant hedged or block fencing so horses can't get their heads through and hopefully dogs can't see horses.
You like your horses, goats etc, they like their dogs, try to get along.
 
put a line of elec fencing a few feet from her fence. I wouldn't start getting all legal as surely it is better to get on with the neighbours or at least to try not antagonise each other. I am sure she will be allowed to exercise her dogs on her own land anyway. Just think of it as something else your horses won't be scared of.
 
Im very happy to live and let live i wouldnt complain but for the fact that no matter what i do is not enough for this woman!

She isnt the land owner she just has some agreement with the owners to exercise her dogs on the land.

We already have a strip of our land fenced off (about 6ft) with the electric to make her happier that our horses cant lean on my boundry fence but still she complains that my horse gets under this to walk up and down the fence were her dogs are. Her dogs are allowed to run and yap all they like and as im feeling annoyed they do get on my nerves i just wondered if she is at any liablity with so many dogs running loose, if im honest i just want her to shut up!!

My horse has never broke through to their side so i dont understand what her issue is!

As i said we had to get change of use for our horses just wondered if it would be the same for dogs??

Sorry im just exasperated by the whole thing :(
 
Dont think im explaining it very well, i dont want to get in a war with them she is not the land owner, they have brought a strip of land about 1/4 of an acre to run their dogs on, this is agricultural land, we have no problem with te actual owners just their friend with her dogs who is constantly moaning to them about the horses being up against the fence, we have put an inner fence in to keep the peace but the youngster app gets under it from time to time to eat the grass!
We planted and hedge about 1 1/2 yrs ago but it is going to take time to grow in the mean time i need a way to shut her up!! She is driving me mad i could understand if the horses where getting to their side but the havent and never have. Her dogs do telly and i just think she is a little precious over them nad their yappy behaviour along side our livestock means nothing to her!

Im off to have a drink hopefully be less annoyed in the morning sorry to go on and thanks for your replies. :()
 
oh yeah, you said about the leccy fencing, oops. Some people are just moaning complaining pains in the butt. Try just blanking her even if she speaks to you, she will get bored if she gets no reaction.
 
So the woman who owns the dogs owns the land? If not I would contact the land owner and explain. If dog person does own the land I would ask her exactly what her problem is. Is she scared of horses or scared that little tricksie woo will get eaten bythe horses?
 
Ahh i think you have got me to the crux of this problem, she never talks to any of us, not even a passing hello on a nice sunny day!!she goes to lovely land owner neighbours and gets them to call us about our nasty neds!! Hence we dont want to upset them as they are lovely, i perhaps should just get hold of her and see what her problem is!! Or not!! lol
 
My horses couldnt care less about dogs - I would imagine that if the dogs were hidden behind a hedge and then jumped out barking they would spook but as long as they have seen the dogs they dont care what they are doing.

Personally, I would sort out my fencing so my horses couldnt get over the boundary fence and then I would ignore her.
 
Ahh i think you have got me to the crux of this problem, she never talks to any of us, not even a passing hello on a nice sunny day!!she goes to lovely land owner neighbours and gets them to call us about our nasty neds!! Hence we dont want to upset them as they are lovely, i perhaps should just get hold of her and see what her problem is!! Or not!! lol

The land owners neighbours call you?? It's hard to imagine why anyone would get involved in an issue that's not theirs especially if they're nice people. I would suggest next call you get from them you ask them to ask her to come speak to you herself. If they are lovely maybe a quiet word asking them not to get involved.politely, can't imagine they're involvement helps and bet she wouldn't face you herself. Just ignore her.
 
I'd possibly put electric wire across the top of your post and wire fence using extended insulators to try and stop youngster leaning over and politely point out to the landowner that you have made a lot of effort to try and accomodate them- your stockproof outer boundary fence, inner eleccy fence and planting a hedge. If you can prevent your youngster from leaning over then you are entirely 'in the right' and then if they still want your horses further away they can erect their own boundary fence or similar. After all fencing isnt cheap! As for the landuse unless the dogs are getting in the field/ continually harassing and/or chasing the horses I'd leave it alone as you dont want to antagonise your neighbours. Good luck :).
 
Just to clarify...
Your neighbour lets their friend exercise friend's dogs on the neighbour's land?
The dog exercising friend whinges about your horse poking it's head over the fence after it's limbo'd under the inner electric fencing?
The horse has never breached the fencing onto your neighbour's land and can't get to the neighbour's grass when poking its head over?

If I've got the gist of it... I'm kinda failing to see what the dog exercising friend can complain about even if the horse bazzes his way up and down the fence line in time with the dogs...:confused:

I think I'd just have a word with the neighbours (you say they're lovely) and just nicely state you've done what you can, all's secure, horses aren't breaking out, you've no idea why dog walking friend is getting in a knot and by the way, it's great having such pleasant neighbours... :)

I'd probably tape the top of the fixed fence (possibly not if neighbour/dog walker might zap themselves) or add another row to the inner fencing to keep agile horse inside when you can... And a set of ear plugs or mp3 player to skip some of the yapping and totally ignore dog exercising battleaxe... :)
 
WTF! Is she for real? If she wants you to keep your horses away from the fence line in your field then I would demand the same for her dogs in her field, bloody cheak if you ask me. Its your field, do what you want with it!
 
So your horse is just getting passed your inner fence but staying within your boundary? If that’s right then I would just ignore her and not waste anymore of my time stressing. There are always bigger fish to fry and she is not one of them! In all honesty I don't understand what all the fuss is about. Your horses are in your field. Her dogs are in hers. What each of you do in your own patch is up to you.
 
Top