At wit's end with hunt disruption..

H

henryhorn

Well-Known Member
Joined
23 October 2003
Messages
10,500
Location
Devon UK
www.narramorehorses.blogspot.com
Normally I would post this in the HF but really need other people's opinions please.
We have received three hunt meets around our stud farm within ten days.
The first one the Master warned us and we only lost a shoe from a horse flying about, but also a day's work on the horses as they were buzzing round from 10am until 4pm all day, and you can't clip/shoe/school in those conditions. We kept in two horses receiving treatment fromthe vet for lamenesses.
Last week a different hunt appeared and we had mayhem. We lost two shoes, a day's work yet again and my OH almost got injured when a horse he was leading in went ape after the entire herd took off at the sight of the hounds just 500 yards away.
Today the original hunt appear having warned us last night they were meeting up the road..
The farrier had been booked for months and he came to replace the lost shoes from last week, plus do others. He had to abandon doing one four year old who's eyes were on stalks, another who is exceptionally good to shoe was potty too, and clipping the stallion ready for this weekends Equine Fair was abandoned too when they hung round our area until late afternoon yet again.
Tonight we brough two more horses in to discover they had also lost shoes and one had jumped into the deer park over a huge fence in pursuit of the rest of the herd. They get shod every six weeks so not the farrier's fault.
At this rate they are going to cost me my livelihood when a promising horse gets injured. It's not possible to bring inside 40 plus horses, and I really don't know what to do.
This afternoon when I drove home there were loads of hunt foot followers wandering around our fields, I feel our privacy has been invaded, and really don't want this happening every time they hunt round here.
Sadly all our gates may have to be padlocked next time (that's if we get warned, one hunt doesn't bother telling us) and every possible stable utilised to keep the horses calm.
My point is why the hell should we be forced into doing this? I previously agreed the hunt staff could come on, but no-one else on a horse, and it's only because the local Master is such a nice chap we agreed to that..
To stand them in all day costs us bedding and feed, plus the manpower to muck out, I feel really fed up they keep coming round us.
I am going to write to the Master (a polite letter pointing out how much inconvenience they are causing us) but we are in a strong pro hunting area, no doubt the locals feel we shouldn't be living here if we don't fully support hunting.
I do, but not to the point of having our lives disrupted when they hunt round here!
Can anyone suggest anything please, as I said , I am at a loss what to do next..
 
As your horses are reacting in such a manner I think you are going to have to write to all of the hunts and explain that you cannot tolerate the situation. On the plus side you shouldn't see any of them for a while if they have all been around recently
smirk.gif
 
Its very sad that this has happened to you, hunt staff should have contacted you, I know sometimes this isn't always possible but you have a lot of livestock at risk. Please don't think all hunts are like this, I'm very sorry the ones near you are so bad mannered, up here things work very differently, our hunt knows all to well that landowners must at ALL costs be kept on side. There should be no way the hunt should ride on your land as it is, cows and sheep are very different matter but hunts should try to avoid horses all together as they are just so easily wound up. I would write to the masters of each hunt as you say and state your worries and how much disruption they have already caused to you, and that you expect them to tread far more carefully. I think its disgusting hunts should act like this when hunting lies as it is. If things do not clear up HH I wouldn't hesitate to padlock paddocks to keep them out, hunting on owned land is an honour and people should have far more respect for eachother, I hope you manage to peacefully resolve things.
 
Is it possible they dont realise how much disruption they are causing, I would definitely speak to the Master, you say he is a nice chap so hopefully he will understand, like you say, this is affecting your work.
 
You could phone up the hunt chairman (if you know who it is) and complain to him. You may get a more sympathetic reaction than speaking directly to the Master. The chairman is head of the committee that run the hunt and as such employ the hunt staff. That is assuming the hunt is run by a committee - ours is.
 
A letter? I think they would be recieving a very sh*tty phone call and the farriers bill in the post if it were me!
 
I would probably start off with a letter.

Stating what has happened to your horses (with their shoes or any injuries etc) State some criteria that you would be happy with (i.e Hunt can come through on one weekend a month between the times of 2pm & 4pm) and then state what will happen if they don't follow through with this (i.e Padlocks on gates) At the end i would ask for a response.

Perhaps you could put somewhere about wanting to support the hunt, but obviously not at your horses welfare or your expense.

They don't sound very grateful, I'm afraid the hunts in our area tend to keep on the right side of landowners because it is a privilege to hunt on owned land not a right, i think if you haven't spoken to them already they obviously think that it is ok to do what they are doing. Good Luck
 
Sorry you are having a hard time with the hunts.Just my opinion but maybe because you havent kicked up abit of fuss about your horses looning around,losing shoes and them causing you total disruption that they think all is well and carry on with the hunting in/on your land.I will go back to my decorating now.
 
this happened to us at our livery yard, horses got lose and ran around, shoes were lost, and all the horses generally went nuts, so in the end the livery yard owner rang up and told the hunt to stay away, a long way away!
what else can you do? your horses welfare is at risk. No one is anti hunting on our yard, but it was the only practical thing to do.
 
If the hunt is on land they are allowed to be on, unfortunately I do not think you can blame them. Your horses behaviour is causing you problem, therefore it is up to you to solve it, or deal with it.

If I drove Chitty Chitty Bang Bang past your farm, and the horses did not like the sound of it, you can hardly ask me not to drive it!!
 
HH - Really feel for you - I'm very pro-hunt but would be feeling equally peeved (if not more so) in your position. Its great fun while you out hunting but a pain in the butt when your on the yard and they are going past!!

Personally we had a similar situation and I have to confess that I think the proximity to the moor compounds the problem, they used to use our fields as a short cut back to the village/copse. Also they can get very close without going over other peoples land.

I found that a strong but polite letter followed by a phone call (try to call the day after the letter would be received, that way you can start with 'have you received my letter....') worked really well.
And the line ... 'I would hate to have to toatally withdraw access'!

Sorry, not hugely helpful
confused.gif
 
Surely they will respond positively to your letter. All hunts depend on landowners/farmers and here in East Anglia relationships are generally good. It's just the townie incomers who fall out with them and I so hope the Master does the right thing
 
Hmmm. They do seem to be taking the pish somewhat, as this is the third time this has happened. In your place, I'd be tempted to ask (tell) them to steer clear of your land for this season, and take stock next year. Hunting has only just started for the year, and already it has caused problems. You are running a business, and if they cannot understand and respect that then they really don't deserve access to your land. Unless you are plagued by foxes it isn't doing you any favours at all! Sorry, obviously I mean socks, not foxes. Trouble is, will it lead to problems within your community? Maybe you could bring the mares and foals in or nearer the house (assuming you are given sufficient warning) and leave the liveries out? I really don't know what the answer is, but feel your frustration.
 
It is awful this has happened to you, our Master always comes over to our house the day before and if we don't want them here they won't come. I'd write a letter explaining everything, including how much all those lost shoes are going to cost!
 
FFS! I am pro-hunt but things like this really get on my nerves!
mad.gif
(Can you tell?...
wink.gif
)When we were farmers and had a livery yard a few years ago the hunt were okay with us, always making sure it was okay to cross our land (but on the other side of the coin - they didn't give a toss about any livery disruption.) They phoned us up beforehand but only because they needed to cross the land.

BUT now we have moved yards and my horse is at livery on a tenant farmers land they are no so polite. They NEVER send them a hunt card (even when they are asked) and cross the land even though they are asked not too as like you, there are 40 or so horses there, they breed and have valuable competition horses as well. They cannot bring them all in, even if they had a phone call beforehand. I'm sorry, but I can totally see why hunts are getting a bad name, particularly in the rural community and I really think you may need to get err.... more than assertive with them and ban them from coming on your land at all.. you are running a business and by the sounds of things they didn't stick to the agreement you had previously made with them ....
mad.gif
 
It's precisely this sort of thing that has turned people against hunting. I had the same problem at a yard I was at. We would turn up to get the horses in and find injuries and shredded rugs, and completely uncontrollable horses. (they'd all been hunting in their lives) Some of the huntspeople were also incredibly rude to the pro-hunt landowner. In the end, she had a word with the master who provided us with a hunt card so we at least knew when they were around. I'm not convinced that the horses behave any better if they're stabled anyway - they just get het up in a more confined space.

In the first instance, I think I would send a very strongly worded letter to all the local hunt masters requesting that they show some consideration to your livestock and provide you with notice that they will be passing or riding on your land. If this doesn't work, then maybe get legal advice. Your horses are your livelihood, just like the hunt is the hunt staff's livelihood, and you are entitled to be treated with respect.

(Be prepared to be called a Labour voting townie, though!!!)
wink.gif
 
So are they on your land or on land around your farm??

I agree with GT that if they are on someone else's land then you might have a problem. Write to the masters or call them up, try and be nice but tell them how much grief it is giving you and hope they understand.
confused.gif
If they know how much bother they are causing even if they are near they might walk past your horses instead of gallop!
smirk.gif


Good luck!! I hope you get something sorted!
smile.gif
 
not only is this costing you valuable time when the dark nights are now here but it is also upsetting horses and yes you are right one of them could injure themselves or worse....its plainly not on!! I would write to all the hunting yards in the area..through email pref as then you have a copy and also your local parish council about the problems...this way you are covered if the hunt deny the issues or will not pay for damage...
They are also trespassing which Im sure you can deal with if they were not upsetting the horses and just wandering where they are meant to....again if they are off the track and causing upset which they are...thats not on!! How would they like it!!
I would just state that you are trying to run a business and this is really causing problems.....
You sound like you have been sympathic...I think its prob time now to bend some ears....hunting is a pleasure but this is your livelyhood that they are disrupting and thats not fair...
 
I agree with Rosie, MasterBronze and Co; this is disgraceful behaviour from your local hunts.

You must name and shame them Sue, even if it is only on here.
I would suggest you write very strong letters to all of them (as someone said, the Chairman would be best; if you need help finding out who they are PM me and I'll get them for you) I would insist that none of them step one foot on your land from now. If they are doing things properly then their trail layer has absolutely no need to go on your land, end of story; if they're disregarding all rules, then they need to be named and shamed, why should they disrupt life for anyone? I also suggest you send a copy of your letters to the MFHA (Masters of Foxhunting Association) at The Old School, Bagendon, Cirencester, Glos. GL7 7DU as they will not be best pleased with those hunts if they are flaunting the rules. It might not be a bad idea to threaten each hunt with a letter to the editor to your local paper either; that is not the publicity they will want.
This might sound harsh coming from a hunt supporter secretary but I am fed up with stupid hunts thinking they can ride roughshod over anyone and thinking they won't mind; it behoves everyone who hunts to tow the line and show respect to all others, especially non hunting landowners and motorists. We sometimes are our own worst enemy!
blush.gif
frown.gif
 
I must make it clear the first hunt always without exception let us know when they are near and ask if it's ok.. as we don't want to spoil their day we have said yes to the Hunt Staff and hounds accesing our hundred odd acres, but no field members , as once they get in with the horses chaos ensues.
The Master is a very good one and that's part of the problem..this is probably the most pro hunting area in the whole country, they hunt three days a week and we are right on the borderline of two hunts, so we get more than our fair share of local meets.
Gts says we should control the horses, well would you like to tell me how? We have ten boxes in total with the new stables, yet 40 plus horses most of who, live out with access to barns. Whenever the hunt are in the vicinity, the out horses all go mental at the sight of the hounds and sound of the horn. Charging about doesn't do them that much harm, but they are more likely to injure each other when they kick out etc. Some of the youngsters are in different fields as are the competition horses, those that are shod have to be brought in or their rugs removed, as they too get in a muck sweat. Today some were inside awaiting the farrier but by the time he arrived they were dripping with sweat and in one case unshoeable, (just backed youngster on his second pair of shoes) Rather than stress him they just decided to leave him.
It's not an option ot shut them in the barns either, they definitely will get hurt doing that.
My gripe is I think they visit this particular area of their country too often.. Plus I am sure they neither know or are that bothered by the disruption we get.
I followed one rider today as her horse bounced all over the narrow lane as a car reversed backwards out of her way.. She looked over her shoulder at me twice (I was well back) glared but didn't at any point even acknowledge me! She was I admit struggling to ride her horse but a smiling sort of grimace would have been something..
The financial aspect is getting to us too, when a horse goes charging round the fields and loses a shoe or two, it's us who have to pay to get them back on, when had the hunt not been around, there is no way it would have done more than graze quietly.
I had already written to the Master of last week's hunt, and will ring the local one later, and ask for a meeting. he is such a nice chap I have put off saying anything much before, but with one horse recently vauled at a five figure sum I can't afford to keep quiet any longer. I am loathe to be seen as anti -hunting but feel I must at least try and make them see how difficult they are making our working lives, in the hope they might stay away a bit oftener.
GTS do tell me your solution, I could probably ride a few of our horses past your chitty chitty bang bang machine head on, but not when someone blows a hunting horn! It isn't the speed they pass either, it's the hound music and the horn...
Plus thirty odd riders trotting backwards and forwards up and down the lane is guaranteed to wind ours up..
 
HH you sound like you have been very reasonable so far so I'm sure you'll go about things the right way.

Good luck and I'm sure nothing bad will happen.
smile.gif
 
Did as suggested and rang the Master..
as always very reasonable chap and in this case, not guilty..
Today they went past us as they are of course entitled to do, but didn't come on the farm.
The last occasion when we assumed it was the other hunt turns out to be a shooting party with lots of dogs, the person who saw them must have assumed they were hounds..(not a doggy type I have to admit..) Apparently there were gunshots heard but the horn also carries a long way so the two were connected together when in actuallity were a long way apart.. To our friend a group of dogs in the vicinity and the sound of a horn were though to be the same thing...
blush.gif

I put our case very honestly to the Master, he says he has stationed someone on the road to prevent any hounds going onto our land (true, I recognised a neighbour doing that myself) and he has only visited our country twice in this month, 5th Nov and today..
I don't think the problem is going to be resolvable we are just going to have to try and keep whatever horses we can inside and deal with it.
They are doing what they are entitled to and living here we will have to put up with it.. though if any more of the horses get injured I doubt my husband will take that quietly.
The Master has promised to send a meet card and ring as he usually does the evening before. I can then fit our farrier and vet appointments round those dates though part of me resents having to organise our lives round something that is nothing to do with us..
The bad news is they are meeting again just three fields away soon..
I now have to write an apologetic letter to the other hunt as it seems they were not to blame for the last time. However as I am wrong I have to apologise..
Living in the wilds means you have to try and get along with your neighbours, though sometimes I wish they would try and see how hounds running can cause people problems.
That Master is the Hunt's secret weapon I'm afraid, he is so reasonable, so pleasant you feel guilty for ever ringing, yet we're the ones with the lamer and shoeless horses... I do however feel he will do his utmost to stay as far away as he can knowing the trouble it causes... but as he isn't chasing a sock, there's not a lot of chance of that..
wink.gif
 
I thought of you HH last week when I read a hunt report from the South Devon, raving about what a fantastic relationship the hunt has with it's landowners... very ironic & timely.
I would specify the financial recompense you require and stop being so polite, assuming they are following a trail then they should lay it away from your farm anyway!
Although I hunt I do think hunts behave in an appaling way a lot of the time
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Hmmm. They do seem to be taking the pish somewhat, as this is the third time this has happened.

[/ QUOTE ]

It is 3 separate hunts, not the same one (I think!)

[/ QUOTE ]

Two hunts, three incidents.
smile.gif
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top