ponyparty
Well-Known Member
Today, in the middle of my yard move, whilst back at the old place tidying up, I had to rescue some loose horses careering down the lane.
I was just emptying my wheelbarrow when the horses in our front field suddenly spooked and were looking boggle-eyed at something on the road. I heard the patter of unshod hooves and saw horses in rugs through the hedge, moving fairly fast. I ran down to the gate and opened it and ran into the road, sending them sideways into our driveway. Good thing too, as the Yodel van coming up the lane the other way didn't look like he was stopping!
Some passers by had been trying to catch the horses but they were too wound up and wild eyed to pay any attention. I shoved them in a field before they trashed the yard and muck heap, and tried to figure out where they'd come from.
The farmers over the road knew - they knew the name of the woman who owns them, and told me that they often escape. My yard manager confirmed later that he has had to catch them before, a couple of months ago.
They have now been returned to their owner - who was less than grateful, since I decided to raise the point about the fencing. There are some lovely people out there aren't there..!
Is this normal? Does everyone else have horses that escape all the time, and I'm the weird one for having fencing that actually contains stock? Fully aware that accidents do happen, but surely this should be a once in a blue moon thing - not a regular occurrence? On our local Facebook pages, I often see the same few names mentioned with their horses having escaped onto the road; and they seem to think this is normal/acceptable.
What are the legal implications? Is there a law about keeping your horses off the road/safely contained? I assume owners would be liable for any damage or injury/accident caused by loose horses..?
I was just emptying my wheelbarrow when the horses in our front field suddenly spooked and were looking boggle-eyed at something on the road. I heard the patter of unshod hooves and saw horses in rugs through the hedge, moving fairly fast. I ran down to the gate and opened it and ran into the road, sending them sideways into our driveway. Good thing too, as the Yodel van coming up the lane the other way didn't look like he was stopping!
Some passers by had been trying to catch the horses but they were too wound up and wild eyed to pay any attention. I shoved them in a field before they trashed the yard and muck heap, and tried to figure out where they'd come from.
The farmers over the road knew - they knew the name of the woman who owns them, and told me that they often escape. My yard manager confirmed later that he has had to catch them before, a couple of months ago.
They have now been returned to their owner - who was less than grateful, since I decided to raise the point about the fencing. There are some lovely people out there aren't there..!
Is this normal? Does everyone else have horses that escape all the time, and I'm the weird one for having fencing that actually contains stock? Fully aware that accidents do happen, but surely this should be a once in a blue moon thing - not a regular occurrence? On our local Facebook pages, I often see the same few names mentioned with their horses having escaped onto the road; and they seem to think this is normal/acceptable.
What are the legal implications? Is there a law about keeping your horses off the road/safely contained? I assume owners would be liable for any damage or injury/accident caused by loose horses..?
