Don't feed horses signs - most effective wording?

G

Ginn

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 November 2005
Messages
4,003
Visit site
As title.

Our field has a footpath running through it which is fenced off from the horses. However, we have noticed since the horses moved to the field that runs next to the path they have got very nippy and one has started to get very bad mannered when it comes to respecting your space. We have also found bits of bread etc on the ground, both on the footpath and off it - next to the horses field fencelines. I have also been told from a reliable source that children have been seen feeding the horses and heard commenting when the horses are in their stables that they aren't in the field so can't be fed today.

Obviously, short of sitting up the yard 24/7 and catching people in the act I can't stop people feeding them. The horses will move grazing at some point but given that we've found evidence suggesting people have left the footpath to feed the horses when they are in a further field, I doubt moving the horses will eliminate the problem. The footpath (and fields) are all fenced with electric fencing which I can say from personal experience gives a hell of a belt(!) and there are signs warning of this along the length of the footpath but this nolonger seems to be a threat to walkers/feeders...

I'm therefore going to put some signs up requesting people not to feed the horses but am stuck for wording??

What do you find is most effective for this purpose without 1) admitting liability (e.g. do not feed horse as it may bite) or 2) encouraging twisted b*****ds to feed the horses (e.g. horses on special diets and feeding them will make them ill) - yes, sadly such people would see this as an ammusing thing to try so I'd rather not give motive for them to do so!

Ideas on a postcard please.
 
"Your being watched"

Please do not feed the horses

Tape off the field so they cant get to the horses easily and then put the your being watched and tresspassers will be proescuted signs up
 
Ladyinred said:
Please do NOT feed the horses unless your pocket holds enough for a vet bill.
Click to expand...

agree.gif


Or a warning about a horse with allergies in the field

Or that feeding the horses makes you liable etc.
 
2 lines of electric fence, inner one set about 20ft in or more.
Also make sure 2 lines on each fence if you can - to stop kids squirrelling under a top strand.
Yes, you will lose grazing, but maybe you can put them in this strip when you ARE there, maybe while mucking out at weekends etc?

Won't stop people throwing food at them, but will maybe stop some of it?

Sign as per Gingerwitch ' Do not feed the horses, you are being watched'

Dummy CCTV camera up too if poss.

Get hold of local responsible people who may walk through & ask them to keep eyes open to protect your horses? Worth a try as when you explain to most dog people or walkers, they do understand about not feeding other animals/children sweets etc, so push the point if you can.

I don't have path through mine, but a bridleway & vehicle access lane going past & its amazing how many people who take kids walking think its fine to walk onto MY short access track, climb over MY gate into MY yard, walk across yard & then try to feed fuzzies over the fence.
Or, they climb over MY ditch, lean over perimeter fence & throw food into field.

Last winter I put a sign up inside the gate which said:
'If you feed my horses, I will send you the vet bill and also for damages done.
We now have your identity on CCTV.
You will also be prosecuted for trespass on private land'

In the summer its no prob as I keep fuzzies in the top fields.
 
"CCTV in operation - do not feed the horses"

Can you not set up another fence inside the field, that seperate the walkers from the horses by a good 2 metres?
 
If there is a shelter in the field you can buy dummy CCTV camera's from Maplins (or eBay) and they are quite a good deterrent. With those you can put up a sign saying "CCTV in operation 24/7, please do not feed the horses".

Technically you cannot "do anything" about someone feeding horses, well not by the law anyway but how about something like "anyone caught feeding the horses shall be held accountable and prosecuted". I know it's not the truth but could it be enough of a scare tactic especially if it is children?

On a softer note you could try writing the sign as if the horse has written it, I know that sounds a bit daft but if it's kids specifically it might work. Something like "Please don't feed me I'm not very well and trying to get better, lots of love 'horses name' xx".

I hope you get it sorted.
 
If it's kids, I don't think they would necessarily understand (and therefore take notice of) a sign declaring them liable for the horse by feeding it.
I think the idea of the sign being written by the horse is really good, or just a really simple sign with ''Do Not'' or ''Please Do Not''.

And get the walkers on your side too! Good luck.
 
Some good ideas thanks.

Like the idea of a sign written by the horses, especially as (young) kids seem to be the most likely culprits. I could then add an additional sign saying something along the CCTV lines.

Field is fenced off as best possible. All other paddocks are as suggested - not right up against footpath, but this one is. Electric fencing is 4'6 high with 3 big strips so kids should not be able to get over/under/through very easily. Oh the joys of being on the cotswold way!
 
Feeding me can kill me !

I suggest a few variations

...... kiddie ones with cartoon pics of a horse being fed then one looking awful sad with a sore tummy

or cartoon of horse being fed with a cross over it
( I did a quick search for clip art horse and found loads !!! )


........ explanations about laminitis for adults ( though that does not always work as I tried that when someone was cutting off leather muzzle on my then obese pone :mad: :mad: :mad:).. then they can explain to kiddies WHY not to feed neddies ...... and make sure to mention food that are impicated like carrots cos people think they are healthy for everything so might not think carrots included as forbidden !!!!



It IS awfully tempting to feed horses when you dont have one but love them soooooo...... I do remember doing it myself as a kid when I did not know any better ;)
 
When I had my horse my stable yard was on a footpath route and we had endless trouble with kids feeding him, I put up a sign that said 'please dont feed me, anything different in my diet can make me sick'

It seemed to do the trick
 
There are race horses in fields near us, and it has a sign which says something along the lines of "please don't feed the horses, some are on special diets, this sign is not meant to cause offence, we just want them to be well" I thought this was quite good!

I like the idea of one written by the horse as suggested by others as the kids are more likely to respond well to this. if the kids are around when you are, why don't you invite them to come and see the horses and then you can let them feed them with something you think is suitable and gently explain why it is really important that they are not fed anything else. If you ask them to let you know if they see anyone feeding them inappropriately, they can be your "helpers" and spread the word! Kids love being important and helping!
 
juliette said:
There are race horses in fields near us, and it has a sign which says something along the lines of "please don't feed the horses, some are on special diets, this sign is not meant to cause offence, we just want them to be well" I thought this was quite good!

I like the idea of one written by the horse as suggested by others as the kids are more likely to respond well to this. if the kids are around when you are, why don't you invite them to come and see the horses and then you can let them feed them with something you think is suitable and gently explain why it is really important that they are not fed anything else. If you ask them to let you know if they see anyone feeding them inappropriately, they can be your "helpers" and spread the word! Kids love being important and helping!
Click to expand...

brill ... like that ;)
 
We have a footpath running olingside our field, on our neighbours land. We have resorted to two layers of electric fencing behing our drystone wall! We have signs saying no public access and do not feed the animals. This made not one jot of difference until I also put up a wildlife camera, we have had no more episodes of a bonkers food intolerent Appy coming in, in a terrible state since the camera went up, I think the "cutsie" signs are unlikely to work, as people tend to think that THEIR apple/carrot/mint will do no harm! Good luck with it.
 
Print out lots of BIG copies of this picture of my hand after a bite ... ;) ?

(Sorry if anyone was eating their tea :p)

attachment.php
 
YorksG said:
We have a footpath running olingside our field, on our neighbours land. We have resorted to two layers of electric fencing behing our drystone wall! We have signs saying no public access and do not feed the animals. This made not one jot of difference until I also put up a wildlife camera, we have had no more episodes of a bonkers food intolerent Appy coming in, in a terrible state since the camera went up, I think the "cutsie" signs are unlikely to work, as people tend to think that THEIR apple/carrot/mint will do no harm! Good luck with it.
Click to expand...

I've had a poorly Appy all week after people fed 'it's just apples' on Sunday. No idea how many flippin apples they gave them but I touch her tummy with caution right now. We've had teeth & hoofs in my direction. Grrrrr......
 
This sign is definitely working .......... not only are folks asking me about Cushings and how it effects them but, those that were known to treat (despite being asked to in the past) have now said they're not doing it any more as they don't want to make the ponies ill.

The CCTV approach seems to work too (for the regular walkers at least) - according to quite a few horse owners I know who now use them. The problem comes with the 'only walked the footpath once' brigade that you can not identify from the camera images :( They know they won't get any repercussions so, don't care whether there's a camera there or not. According to my mates that use CCTV anyway ;)

So guess - you need many approaches to make the biggest difference :(

Cushings%20Sign%20-%20Cushings%20sample.jpg
 
First and only major bite in 45+ years, TH.

I may not ride that well compared to many but I'm usually pretty good at reading and handling them ...

Didn't see that coming at all. I simply rested my hand on the top of his door while checking he had enough hay.

It did sting a bit.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top