Field safetly, advice needed

[mermaid]

Hi
For the purpose of making this as unidentifiable as possible I'm going to be vague in places, but please stick with me.

I've had my horse for a LONG time, in terms of years we are talking double figures.

The yard I currently livery at has been allowing workmen to drive through the field in which my horse grazes in trucks, vans and farm machinery whilst she is in it. The result of this is that I have been called up to sort her out on several occasions by fellow worried liveries as she has been extremely upset. In addition she is now unsound, and she was perfectly sound the day before this started.

I was upset to say the least that I had not be informed about this and had not been offered a suitable alternative whilst the work was carried out.

Despite my pointing out my horse's distress and lameness (thought to have occurred as a result of the galloping about she has been doing as a results of the worry), they have continued to attempt to drive through the field.

I don't want to say too much of the occurance that have gone on with regards to this, but lets just say the option of talking about it and sorting something out was not agreeable to the owner.
Does any body know where I stand with regards to rights? This is a professional livery yard and I pay to keep my horse in a suitably safe environment. I think it's fair to say the majority of horses would find having their field invaded like this several times per day distressing. I have every intention of leaving the place as soon as possible due to the nature of aggression I have faced over the issue as well as the flippancy experienced regarding my horses welfare, but I would like to know where I stand legally?

Any helpful thoughts or opinions on the topic (either way) would be extremely helpful!

 

[oliviacharley]

im not too sure where you would stand legally...maybe keeping a diary of the events might help and any vet bills and advice would be good.
Really the YO should be offering you an alternative field away from this disturbance...I would also be worrying about if one of the vehicles left the gate open for your mare to run out onto the road causing maybe a traffic accident which could be pretty horrible...also what if one of the vehicles drove into your mare or your mare ran into one of them...
I would be demanding an alternative field now...you are not paying a liverly fee for your mare to become lame, to be stressed and to cause you extra unfair fees with vets and worrying yourself about it...
I would demand an alternative field for your horses safty and other peoples. Also if your mare got realyl distressed you dont know what the long term effects might be - will she still be ok on roads and would she maybe go through the fence if she got really frightened....it also depends on your circumstances with the yard...is it is friend who runs it or is it actually a buisness deal...if so I would come down hard on the yard and threaten to take further if they can not offer you a safe calm field which is what you are paying for, if it is through a friend then this could cause problems..I would approach it cautiously but mention you can not afford for your mare to get upset and become lame, she may get onto the road and cause an accident and really you need another field asap...what can they suggest and do as you are a paying customer....

 

[Sparklet]

Is the work essential i.e. gas mains?
Were you told that they would be entering field beforehand?
Has any alternative been discussed with you?
Is the horse still out?

 

[custard]

I agree with the above really, they have a duty of care and should take reasonable steps to ensure you mare's safety.

Get yourself fixed up with an alternative yard just in case they are snotty about it and ask for different grazing while the work is in progress or you will send them the resulting vets bill!

 

[mermaid]

Hi Sparklet
No, the work isn't essential, its a new patio for her garden.
They did not tell me that they would be entering the field before hand. I faced the second of two unprevoked attacked this morning. No alternative had been offered till then, this had been going on for a week now. To ensure my mare's safety whilst it has been occurring (and it had for several days before I 'caught' them) I padlocked the gate.

These people are not reasonable. I haven't been asked to leave, but I think it's on the cards. The YO has a real temper, it's her property and she does not offer much of a service. I am better off out asap!