Dogs, footpaths and horses

[VictoriaSponge]

We have a footpath running through our land, it’s not that busy in winter but does still tend to be frequented by a few dog walkers a day as it’s pretty dry. Most dogs are kept on a lead as the field backs onto a main road, but I’d say we have at least two regular visitors who let their dogs roam free in the field.

Although I don’t love the dogs running about the field, it’s not caused any issues yet nor been worth any conflict as I haven’t been using the field for turnout. It’s also not that easy to ask people to as keep their dogs close unless I’m actually in the field at the same time as them, I usually spot them from the house.

I went up this morning to put up some electric fencing to separate the footpath from the rest of the field in preparation to put the horses in there. By chance one of the regular off lead walkers was there at the same time and I very politely told him that it it won’t be a good idea to let dog off lead in the field when the horses are there, for dog nor horse. He was not interested and did not seem to comprehend that just because his dog “likes horses” I still did not want it running around the field with them. I did eventually get through to him but it’s concerning that the other owners may also have this attitude and lack of awareness. What do I do? I can’t patrol it, but nor can I have dogs chasing/getting kicked by horses or running onto the main road.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Put up a sign asking people to keep their dogs on a lead. If owners are silly enough to ignore that and their dog gets kicked it's their own fault. Make sure you have a sign on the electric fence warning that it is live. As for dogs running on the road, that certainly isn’t your responsibility.

 

[Sandstone1]

We have a footpath running through our land, it’s not that busy in winter but does still tend to be frequented by a few dog walkers a day as it’s pretty dry. Most dogs are kept on a lead as the field backs onto a main road, but I’d say we have at least two regular visitors who let their dogs roam free in the field.

Although I don’t love the dogs running about the field, it’s not caused any issues yet nor been worth any conflict as I haven’t been using the field for turnout. It’s also not that easy to ask people to as keep their dogs close unless I’m actually in the field at the same time as them, I usually spot them from the house.

I went up this morning to put up some electric fencing to separate the footpath from the rest of the field in preparation to put the horses in there. By chance one of the regular off lead walkers was there at the same time and I very politely told him that it it won’t be a good idea to let dog off lead in the field when the horses are there, for dog nor horse. He was not interested and did not seem to comprehend that just because his dog “likes horses” I still did not want it running around the field with them. I did eventually get through to him but it’s concerning that the other owners may also have this attitude and lack of awareness. What do I do? I can’t patrol it, but nor can I have dogs chasing/getting kicked by horses or running onto the main road.

Can you put a sign up saying dogs must be leads? Should not be needed but safer for horses.

 

[TheMule]

We have a footpath running through our land, it’s not that busy in winter but does still tend to be frequented by a few dog walkers a day as it’s pretty dry. Most dogs are kept on a lead as the field backs onto a main road, but I’d say we have at least two regular visitors who let their dogs roam free in the field.

Although I don’t love the dogs running about the field, it’s not caused any issues yet nor been worth any conflict as I haven’t been using the field for turnout. It’s also not that easy to ask people to as keep their dogs close unless I’m actually in the field at the same time as them, I usually spot them from the house.

I went up this morning to put up some electric fencing to separate the footpath from the rest of the field in preparation to put the horses in there. By chance one of the regular off lead walkers was there at the same time and I very politely told him that it it won’t be a good idea to let dog off lead in the field when the horses are there, for dog nor horse. He was not interested and did not seem to comprehend that just because his dog “likes horses” I still did not want it running around the field with them. I did eventually get through to him but it’s concerning that the other owners may also have this attitude and lack of awareness. What do I do? I can’t patrol it, but nor can I have dogs chasing/getting kicked by horses or running onto the main road.

You'll have a battle. I have a footpath running up my field, people were highly offended when I fenced it off from the field (well within regulations). If you don’t want to put in a permanent fence line (mine is stock fenced to stop the dogs), then you will need to run a low tape. Make sure it has the electric fence warning signs at the start, end and regular intervals

 

[millitiger]

Wooden posts with stock fencing and then electric on top.
Make it wide enough and plenty of signs warning of electric fencing.
Still he prepared for people to be absolutely horrified that they have been fenced off from "their" dog walking field

 

[Highmileagecob]

One of our local farmers has a signed nailed to the stile which simply says 'Loose dogs will be shot.'

 

[VictoriaSponge]

You'll have a battle. I have a footpath running up my field, people were highly offended when I fenced it off from the field (well within regulations). If you don’t want to put in a permanent fence line (mine is stock fenced to stop the dogs), then you will need to run a low tape. Make sure it has the electric fence warning signs at the start, end and regular intervals

I think it may be a case of low tape for now then followed by stock fencing in the new year and buying some signs.

Wooden posts with stock fencing and then electric on top.
Make it wide enough and plenty of signs warning of electric fencing.
Still he prepared for people to be absolutely horrified that they have been fenced off from "their" dog walking field

Looks like stock fencing is my only option really, I was so surprised by the attitude, in such a rural area especially.

It was a worry when we bought the house, but the blatant lack of care shocked me.

 

[TheMule]

I think it may be a case of low tape for now then followed by stock fencing in the new year and buying some signs.


Looks like stock fencing is my only option really, I was so surprised by the attitude, in such a rural area especially.

It was a worry when we bought the house, but the blatant lack of care shocked me.

Even with stock fencing you still can’t totally stop them- I have a guy with 3 terriers who lifts them over my fence, let’s them run up my field and then lifts them back over at the top. My most hated thing is when the dogs get in my horse's water trough. I'm ashamed to say I have lost my cool a few times, and I have filmed people on my phone too then threatened to send to Police

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Personally - I would do what our neighbour has done and post and rail the footpath in and attached wire mesh along the bottom two rails to contain the dogs. something like this but mesh only to middle rail

 

[tda]

You will have a nightmare with the dog walkers.
We rented a couple of acres next to our house, people walked up the road, stood at the stile and let their dogs in the field to their business, they didn't even walk along the footpath! When I put a sign up about keeping on lead they were not pleased, it never improved the situation and we moved shortly after

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

We don't have a footpath in our fields but there is one running around the outside of our land. We have just spent £££thousands fencing inside our drystone walls. We have been here for 30 years and have always had the odd incident but since Covid there are so many people walking untrained dogs in the area, who seem to think it is acceptable for their dogs to leap into our fields and disturb the sheep. I have even caught them throwing balls into our field for their dog to fetch. We decided that enough is enough and even then we are having to work out where any weak spots are and make sure that they can't get through.

 

[Polos Mum]

I would double electric fence for now and look at permanent solutions in the spring when you can get tractors on the land (and have sold a kidney !)

One row of electric with a low line of tape to do what you can to keep dogs out. Then another row of electric - maybe 2 meters inside to keep horses away from people. Avoid walkers feeding them or encouraging them to loiter by the fence.

Dogs are one thing but, especially over Christmas, families handing out bags of carrots is common around here.

 

[AutumnDays]

You can get electric sheep netting if needed, that will work for keeping dogs out. I attached mine to the tall horse plastic posts, and had two strips of tape at the top (this was for keeping sheep.in, but kept nosy people well away!). Agree with the other who say secondary boundary to keep the horses back further too, to avoid feeding etc. warning signs everywhere, full battery and a good fenced (drive your earth spike well in) and put it somewhere where "clever" people can't disconnect it easily (friend had someone turn her fencing off so their kids could go see the pony )

 

[Rowreach]

Even with stock fencing you still can’t totally stop them- I have a guy with 3 terriers who lifts them over my fence, let’s them run up my field and then lifts them back over at the top. My most hated thing is when the dogs get in my horse's water trough. I'm ashamed to say I have lost my cool a few times, and I have filmed people on my phone too then threatened to send to Police

I've commented on here before about the wife of a very well known TV gardener who used to walk her two retrievers on the RoW I had on a previous property and regularly washed them off in my water trough.

 

[paddy555]

If you are going to stay there it may be worth investing in deer fencing ie 1.8m It won't be cheap but may be worth it alternatively long fence posts and 2 runs of stock fence to get the height. Or perhaps one run of stock fence and 2 runs of barbed wire on the top (with or without a run of electric) to stop them reaching over.

 

[millitiger]

We had nightmares with dog walkers in the previous house- it had 18 acres with 3 footpaths crossing it.
The dog walkers was actually one of the reasons we sold up (there were other reasons). People can be so entitled and rude and vindictive and it just took the enjoyment from the land and horses.

I am eternally grateful to have found this place with no footpaths across it at all.

 

[Caol Ila]

Shotgun?

 

[scats]

We have a footpath going through the farm and it passes right through the middle of one of our turnout fields.
We have had problems with off lead dogs and still have the occasional issue. I ordered some signs asking people to put dogs on lead through the farm and most people do pay attention to them.

 

[santas_spotty_pony]

We have a footpath across one of our fields. The horses do graze in it occasionally but not that often as it runs straight across the middle of the field. I’ve caught a few people with dogs running across the field and have politely told them to please keep their dog on a lead - one which point blank ignored me and carried on! We do have ‘please keep your dog on a lead’ signs on the both gates each end but the footpath runs diagonally across the field so although i’ve tried fencing it before it makes the field an awkward shape so at the moment it’s just open. Luckily it isn’t used that often… we have tried to get it rediverted around the edge but that is a challenge within itself…

 

[Exasperated]

We have a footpath running through our land, it’s not that busy in winter but does still tend to be frequented by a few dog walkers a day as it’s pretty dry. Most dogs are kept on a lead as the field backs onto a main road, but I’d say we have at least two regular visitors who let their dogs roam free in the field.

Although I don’t love the dogs running about the field, it’s not caused any issues yet nor been worth any conflict as I haven’t been using the field for turnout. It’s also not that easy to ask people to as keep their dogs close unless I’m actually in the field at the same time as them, I usually spot them from the house.

I went up this morning to put up some electric fencing to separate the footpath from the rest of the field in preparation to put the horses in there. By chance one of the regular off lead walkers was there at the same time and I very politely told him that it it won’t be a good idea to let dog off lead in the field when the horses are there, for dog nor horse. He was not interested and did not seem to comprehend that just because his dog “likes horses” I still did not want it running around the field with them. I did eventually get through to him but it’s concerning that the other owners may also have this attitude and lack of awareness. What do I do? I can’t patrol it, but nor can I have dogs chasing/getting kicked by horses or running onto the main road.

Used to have this issue, most dog walkers very nice and reasonable, but only takes one.
The one: her whippet / lurcher chased my hunter round and round, a neighbour and I finally caught dog, called police , the wildlife and dogs Officer, who formally cautioned owner and advised that I could insist on the dog’s destruction for worrying.
Like a fool, I didn’t. A fortnight later, did it again in the snow, and my lovely horse broke his leg.
Her dog was shot shortly after, ripping up sheep.
You can corridor the footpath, check what width dimensions are already listed for it on your local authority’s Definitive Statement (ask Public Rights of Way person to provide exact footpath number and DS listing) and I’d let them know what you intend. That way they can confirm with you the exact line of the path is correct before you start expensive fencing.
You would be safest with permanent and full height mesh, something like StudFence, small dogs can wriggle through sheepnet, and vandal dog walkers can clip through it if determined.
If using electric, corridor will have to be wider with plenty of notifications.
It is a criminal offence for any dog to be out of control in a public place.
Unless this is designated ‘Access Land’ with a right to roam under CROW Act, the public’s only right of access is along the footpath, not your wider field.
Don’t risk confronting people, just do it.

 

[Prancerpoos]

Get a couple of sheep and then put up a sign saying loose dogs will be shot.

 

[Exasperated]

Personally - I would do what our neighbour has done and post and rail the footpath in and attached wire mesh along the bottom two rails to contain the dogs. something like this but mesh only to middle rail

View attachment 151656

This is ideal, could add a top line of barbed or electric if you still have issues.
If corridor is properly secure, and opens onto the main road, best bet would be take down any stile or obstruction at that end: be nicer for ramblers, and any unleashed dogs will run straight into traffic.
Will quickly put a stop to those letting their dogs loose.

 

[Highmileagecob]

The local farmer in my previous post keeps sheep, and will shoot to kill. It usually makes the papers, and dog walkers avoid the area for months after an incident. I have just moved house partly because dogs were allowed to pee all over the flower displays at the front of the house, and relieve themselves on the parking area at the rear of the house. Any chance of diverting the footpath?

 

[Exasperated]

Y

The local farmer in my previous post keeps sheep, and will shoot to kill. It usually makes the papers, and dog walkers avoid the area for months after an incident. I have just moved house partly because dogs were allowed to pee all over the flower displays at the front of the house, and relieve themselves on the parking area at the rear of the house. Any chance of diverting the footpath?

yes, there is, much easier if there is a greater risk to public users rather than minor inconvenience to landowner.
Eg, if loose dogs cause cattle / horses to stampede around, an innocent user could get badly hurt.
Paths have been re routed away from house dweller’s immediate home / windows, because of privacy and security.
If there’s an obvious quid pro quo, such as offering a much nicer potential route for the footpath, and you are prepared to pay costs ( which include for the legal registration of the change), a good chance of success.
Issues with dog fouling - it’s an offence to foul a public footpath; if on your drive / garden, a civil matter; and dog owners could become vindictive if you start filming or confronting them.
You could discuss with local PROW Officers, altho they probably won’t want to take on a single, additional, ‘unnecessary’ thing.
Country Landowners’ Association can advise, have a free legal helpline for all members, and will certainly appreciate your situation.