Dogwalkers cutting through paddocks - how best to handle?

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kit279

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I bumped into someone this evening taking their 3 Rottweilers through my paddocks, none of which was on a lead. Apparently they've been coming through for a few years when the paddocks were part of a big stud. I asked them nicely if they would mind not cutting through and even though they said their dogs were well trained and wouldn't bother the horses, I said if I said yes to them, I'd have to say yes to everyone and I wasn't prepared to do that.

I don't want to be difficult about it but I am actually pretty windy about this - we've got some resting racehorses and some yearlings in the fields at the moment, some of which are valuable, plus my own horses who I'm obviously very attached to.

What would be the best way to deal with this? I don't want to be difficult for the sake of it because that's not the point - I just don't want unnecessary problems and I've seen some nasty incidents with dogs. Would it be reasonable to put a note on the fence where they're coming through, asking them not to walk through? I'm not always around to ask them nicely in person.

Any thoughts?
 
Ask nicely the first time and then get serious. Post warnings on gates and reminders that animals loose with stock are at risk of being shot.

Or a polite notice explaining that you have now added a crazy dog murdering people chasing pyscho horse and people trespass at own risk?
 
Is it a public footpath? If not lock the gates and put up a few strands of leccy tape round the field with a few warning signs.

Or a big sign on the gate saying that dogs have been found worrying the horses and if any are found running loose they WILL be shot.
 
No, definitely not a public footpath and no right of way either. They're just cutting across the paddocks as a short cut to the main road - not going through the gates, just going under the fence and through the field and through the fence on the other side.

I'm not sure I want to go down the 'dogs will be shot' route! Partly because I'm of the school of thought that says don't threaten anything you're not prepared to do (and I'm not likely to be able to back that up in any way!) and partly because I have to live with these people in my neighbourhood and what's the point of being a 'geroff-my-land-type' when it's a nice place to live, people are friendly here and I'd be keen to keep it that way.
 
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kit279 said:
No, definitely not a public footpath and no right of way either. They're just cutting across the paddocks as a short cut to the main road - not going through the gates, just going under the fence and through the field and through the fence on the other side.

I'm not sure I want to go down the 'dogs will be shot' route! Partly because I'm of the school of thought that says don't threaten anything you're not prepared to do (and I'm not likely to be able to back that up in any way!) and partly because I have to live with these people in my neighbourhood and what's the point of being a 'geroff-my-land-type' when it's a nice place to live, people are friendly here and I'd be keen to keep it that way.
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Is the field/paddock stand alone? or is it part of your house/farm property? I'd electrify the fence and put a few warning notices but if it's stand alone they are liable to pinch the energiser ir property attached to the house connect to house leccy and put a whatever it's called (cant't remember what it's called)? to lower the voltage don't want to kill anyone.
 
I don't own any land of my own etc so have no axe to grind, but this idea people have that they can just walk wherever they want really pisses me off :mad::mad:, if they get injured or their dogs get kicked/bitten or whatever, all of a sudden it's your fault, does my bloody head in, a stupid ******* near us, illegally parks his Volvo estate on the cycle/Bridleway which has no parking anytime on grass verges signs, then walks his dog through a farmers field, at the minute there are lots of big diggers etc and a massive trench being dug to bury a large sewer pipe, there are gates and fencing erected with signs saying danger no entry etc etc, T***t obviously thinks it doesn't apply to him, as me and my Pony stood watching him and his loose dogs walk through it all :mad::mad::mad: if him or his dogs get hurt I bet it will be someone elses fault :mad::mad:
 
Electric fencing. But first try This is not a public path/right of way. Please keep out Young stock in fields. Private property.

You could mentione the word Trespassing.

Then electric fencing with notices
 
I have post and rail on parts of my fields and wire netting on others. No one bothers going over the wire fencing obviously, but will happily pop through the post and rail. I popped a thin strand of electric wire along the centre of the gap between the rails and connected it all up. It was bloody hard to see ;) Took it down a week or so later as I was worried someone would pinch my energiser, but walkers had obviously learnt their lesson and stuck to the footpath!
 
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