Horses scared by game shooting & beating

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jeanne

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How do other horse owners cope with keeping horses beside estates that shoot? with beaters that beat next to or on privately owned land? I have more horses that available stables and would normally manage my horse out (& rugged) Can anyone advise on what has become a very difficult situation - one of my foals is badly injured having been driven through a fence, this is not an isolated incident with keepers also spotlighting on my land and scaring the horses. I would be keen to hear of others experiences
 
Shooters shoot next to the fields where I keep Chex. There's nothing I can do about it, and the horses seem to be getting used to it. They gallop about at first, but soon settle. Luckily they only seem to shoot close by for half an hour, before moving on to different fields.
 
I think firstly befriend the gamekeepers.. At least if they could warn you when stuff is likely to happen you could have the option of keeping foals etc inside.
It's ususally ignorance on their part when they lamp so perhaps talking might help?
If it's gone beyond that a solicitor's letter to the shoot's owners saying any further injuries to your horses will be the start of legal proceedings for compensation may work.
It may be however they are so bloody arrogant as well as ignorant they will ignore even that..
 
We do have a shoot over our livery yard, but do get notice to put the horses away. In fact if there wasn't a chance of them getting winged I would happily leave them out, they are so used to the guns now that loud noises don't bother them at all
 
There was a shoot, every week at our old yard and all our horses coped fine. In fact they didn't bat an eyelid.

We didnt even bother to bring them in.
 
We have shooters out on our land where the horses are kept, as has been said before befriend them.. they always come and tell us where an when they are shooting.. i can assure you its not nice going round the cross country course with the shooting going on at the side of you... lol lets just say it we have a 5th gear... Now they always keep us informed.. really nice people and now we know where and when they shoot
 
Agree with HH, chat up the gamekeepers and they are normally very helpful. I kept my boys on a shooting estate and after a few "incidents" i flirted loads and completely won them over, ended up earning extra money in the beating line ( also that way all the beaters knew my boys and looked out for them) which paid for shoes, got loads of free game and because it was no longer "in their faces" the boys ended up much more bomb proof. ( i also then aquired a bit of a stalker but thats another story! x)
 
Luckily for me mine arent bothered, we have 3 shoot days a week, the gamekeeper is not the friendliest chap, but I have persisted and he is now more forthcoming with information. They are usually wary because of 'horsey people' who have no respect for the drive of the shoot or the rearing pens.
I would say spend a bit of time doing some positive PR.
 
It takes a bit of effort but like Henry Horn and others make friends with your gamekeeper
I do prefer my horses to be in--even the gamekeeper thinks some of the visitors are rotten shots!!
The code for Horses and Shoots does suggest that shoots inform local yards in advance
If after trying to negotiate with the shoot they still appear unannounced ask advice from BASC
http://www.basc.org.uk/content/horsesandshoots
 
thank you for the website, that's helpful
the beaters with flags in the fields beside the horses freaks them much more than the noise of the shooting & although previous assurances not to come on to my land have been given, this has not been adhered to
 
We have a shoot at our yard every fortnight and they stand just the other side of the arena on the bank and in the turnout paddocks..... All the horses are brought it and soon become accustomed to the noise..... My three have got used to it now and just happily munch hay! A few have to have ACP, but all seem to cope really well!
 
There is a code of conduct for people using shotguns which the shoot manager or person in charge should make them aware of. It is called the Code of Good Shooting Practice.

Quote:

"Shoot managers and Guns must have special regard to the safety of riders and their horses......"

"All guns should be made aware of bridleways and other rights of way as well as any fields in which horses are kept. Drives should be organised with this in mind.

For copies of the leaflet contact The Secretary, Code of Goiod Shooting Practice, Marford Mill, Rossett, Wrexham LL12 0HL Tel: 01244 573019 Fax: 01244 573013

I would contact the person in charge of the shoot and have a word with them and also give them sufficient copies of the leaflets so that each member of the shoot can have one.

If they fail to co-operate then simply go to your local police station and ask to see the firearm officer. The police take complaints about shooters very seriously and will pay them a visit.
 
I keep my horses on a shooting estate that runs pheasant shoots every fortnight during the season. The horses don't even stop grazing and new horses take their cue from the experienced ones. The guns are all very considerate and the drives are always away from the horses' fields.
 
I personally give them a piece of my mind if they come too close to our land. Mainly, because in the past they have actually shot birds on our land! And since we had ducks back then, obviously this could not happen.

If they ever came to near to my horses fields, I would certainly have something to say about it. Luckily we are on good terms with our local farmers (who let them shoot on their land) therefore if something like that happened, Id get straight onto them and think they would be pretty good about it.
 
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