How would you react in this situation?

[marmalade76]

Absolutely not on!
I have friends that I've shared yards and ponies with who would have done this sort of thing but the difference is we're close friends, share horses/ponies anyway and they've known my animals well. In your case, it's a casual acquaintance who probably doesn't know your horse well at all. I'd be absolutely savage.

 

[Needtoretire]

What an irresponsible thing to do. Just imagine if the pony had double barrelled them or hurt the child. The injury could be awful and someone would be looking to land the blame.

A friend has a retired pony who is the spawn of Satan temperament wise. Why are some people so entitled to be thinking they can just mess with other peoples animals and possessions.

 

[ihatework]

I would have sent back:

Thank you for letting me know. No, I'm not happy about it and yes, I do mind. My pony is retired.
I do not expect random children to be put on or around him in his stable or field.
I am equally furious that you then saw fit to feed my pony treats, lots of them.
Never feed someone elses animal without permission and finally, never attempt to put anyone on someone elses horse or pony without permission.

OP, I’d copy and paste this word for word.
And if you get a genuine apology leave it at that. If you get an iffy response then I’d alert the YO.

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

I think I would simply say, "Hello x. I actually do mind that you have fed my pony and put someone on his back without my knowledge or consent. Please do not do either of these things with my pony again."

 

[holeymoley]

I'm afraid my answer would be less than diplomatic:

I very much do mind and can't believe you were stupid enough to put you child at risk like that. Please stay away from my pony in future and I will forward you any vet bills that might incur from the disruption to his routine and diet.

This is more like it. Make sure she NEVER comes near your horse again. She obviously thinks she’s teflon and can do as she merry well pleases with other folk’s horses.

 

[Sprogladite01]

They literally shouldn't have even stepped foot inside his stable. Nevermind anything else!!

 

[lynz88]

had similar - sharer was underage so the contract was in essence, between her, myself and her mother who signed and agreed to my terms. I found out by sheer accident that she was letting her sister ride my horse without my permission. I absolutely lost my sh*t and the mother saw absolutely nothing wrong with it and that she was entitled to have both her girls ride my horse (there were other things she felt she was entitled to as well which in effect, ended the contract/share).

I'd have no problem saying to this person that that was completely unacceptable and dangerous for her, her child, and potentially the pony. There is absolutely NO excuse that can ever make that ok to do, no matter the animal. Please do NOT EVER do it again and please stay away from my pony altogether. And I would leave it at that. I don't care how rude/mean/whatever else you want to call it that comes off. They've beyond crossed the proverbial line.

 

[GrassChop]

I'd go nuclear. If you saw a convertible car with it's roof down, you wouldn't go and bloody sit in it!

 

[Trickywooo]

I would be incandescent how bloody dare they!!

I would reply telling them under no circumstances are they to let their crotch goblin anywhere near my pony. I honestly can't believe how entitled some people are! Regardless of the fact he is retired or not, they had no permission to go near him.

Honestly I'm raging for you! Please tell them under no certain terms to keep away from your horse.

I would also be telling the owner of the pony they share. Personally if I had a sharer that did this I would be absolutely mortified at their cheek and would be telling them straight.

Also inform the yard owner as had the little brat been given a flying lesson, it could have implications on the yard owner and their insurance

 

[Sealine]

I'm generally pretty easy going and non confrontational but if she'd done that to my horse I'd lose the plot! My response to the message would be similar to Fuzzy Fury's. I'd also let the YO/YM know and expect them to put out stern message to remind all liveries that doing anything with someone else's horse without prior permission is NOT acceptable (excluding emergencies where a horse/person is at risk). As this person isn't even a livery I'd also ask for her to be banned from the yard.

 

[cauda equina]

Fuzzy Fury sounds about right!

 

[Archangel]

I'm going crazy just reading about it.

Outrageous behaviour - and to send you photos.

 

[Peglo]

I have no idea how I’d reply but I’d be having an absolute tantrum to myself while considering my reply.

I can’t believe people actually do stuff like this! And think a picture of their kid will magically make it ok.

 

[Surbie]

I'm pretty easy going but I would be going ballistic at this. It's completely unacceptable.

TFF's response would be similar to mine - I'd also make sure the livery she shares from knows and the YO. I'd expect the YO to have a few pointed words too as a minimum. My YO would very likely ban them for that. If she's doing that to yours, what else is she doing? She's just proven herself untrustworthy.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

OP, what did you do about it as its 2 days on now?
Hope your YO is on board with you x

As a YO who used to have liveries, I have booted people out for less than that, but I'm known locally for being hard but fair and equines welfare come at the top of my list.

 

[Greylegs]

Well, thank you for all your replies. I was pretty speechless to be honest and didn't reply until Monday when I had a bit of time to calm down and consider my response (which was pretty noncommittal - along the lines of "I'm glad she enjoyed it") . Whilst I don't want to fall out with anyone over this, I will be having polite but firm words when I see her next, to make sure there isn't a repeat performance and further liberties are not taken in my absence.

 

[starbucker]

Id be furious. 'Hi - I appreciate you think this is harmless but my horse is not bearing weight on his back due to an injury and I am upset by this, please make sure it does not happen again for the safety of the horse and children involved' . Id also inform yard owner.

 

[Cortez]

That woman is lucky she's not on my yard. I'd have gone ballistic as soon as she'd unbolted the door....never mind the rest of it. Outrageous.

 

[scats]

My friend once loaned his horse out and the loaner sub let it to a riding school without permission, and was pocketing the money. He only found out when someone told him they had ridden his horse on a lesson.
Some people just seem to think they can do whatever they like!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Well, thank you for all your replies. I was pretty speechless to be honest and didn't reply until Monday when I had a bit of time to calm down and consider my response (which was pretty noncommittal - along the lines of "I'm glad she enjoyed it") . Whilst I don't want to fall out with anyone over this, I will be having polite but firm words when I see her next, to make sure there isn't a repeat performance and further liberties are not taken in my absence.

Can you try and speak to her more soon rather than waiting till you might see her?
Am just hoping she won't repeat her efforts again when you are not there, before you have a word.

 

[ihatework]

Can you try and speak to her more soon rather than waiting till you might see her?
Am just hoping she won't repeat her efforts again when you are not there, before you have a word.

I agree.
Greylegs your response has effectively given the livery the green light to do this again.

I’d pop a message to them and say you were a bit taken aback, have had some time to reflect and could you meet with them today to discuss. If they try and avoid it then I’d give them both barrels over text rather than wait for face to face.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My response would have been.

Don't f***ing touch my horse again you stupid bloody woman.

 

[Beausmate]

Nip up the yard, stuff the kid in the car and take her out for ice cream and sweeties. Don't tell the mother until after

Seriously though, I'd go nuts. Can't be doing with that kind of attitude.

I did catch someone heading into my horse's stable with a saddle once. I don't think it was the first time, but it was definitely the last

 

[Snowfilly]

I’d have gone ballistic at her, and told the owner of the share horse and the yard owner. What an idiot.

There’s a couple of old ponies I know that would have left the kid smeared across the stable.

 

[poiuytrewq]

wow, wow, wow
Just NO!!!!
What was the outcome OP?

 

[KittenInTheTree]

Social services would file this under ‘malicious time waster’ and get back to using their depleted resources for children actually at risk.
After they’d wasted 30-60 mins filing and documenting it as per policy.

Don’t be daft.

Go back through the thread and read the number of posts that mention how dangerous this situation could been for the child involved had the pony reacted badly. Are they also being daft? Because you can't have it both ways. Either the parent was endangering their child, in which case social services should be informed, or they weren't, in which case surely you should be rolling your eyes at the other posters who highlighted the situation as being potentially dangerous. Pick one.

 

[nagblagger]

I would have lost the plot, and they would have been on the receiving end. Unfortunately, when my animals are involved, i react rather than wait to calm down.
Definitely YO involvement (their insurance and reputation) and possible ban from the yard as they cannot be trusted.

 

[fidleyspromise]

I would be livid and I'm surprised at how you responded. I'd send a firm do not interfere with my horse please as he's retired, at the very least as who knows what they'll do before you speak to them.

Do they know your horse, his temperament to be in the stable with and how he is with a rider? If not then it was very dangerous of them. At best it was very foolish and disrespectful.

I have a retired horse that would have panicked and potentially flattened/stomped on them. A young horse who I've no idea what he'd do.
My highland is good as gold to sit on however a. She'd have flattened them escaping the stable and b. Been a potential nutter after eating treats.
I went mental at my sharer for Sitting on my pony without a hat beside a cattle grid and having her little one there with her. She also had 2 people i didnt know down at the field with her. The share stopped there and then. I had a contract that said no bareback riding (plus ahe only had a head collar) and I'd told her in detail why. Horse would bronc.

 

[ycbm]

You have been far too nice and I would have been incandescent.

Once I had calmed down I would have written. "Please, do not ever touch or feed my horse without my permission again."
.

 

[94lunagem]

I'd be very annoyed, but I'd reply with the goal of getting them not to do it again.
So, a polite reply along the lines of "Thanks for letting me know, but please don't do that again. XXX is retired, not to be sat on by anyone, and comes in for a rest; also, please do not feed him, as his diet is monitored.

I’d be fuming, if I’d replied immediately it would be along the lines most people have written above. But I wouldn’t want to spoil my own enjoyment at the yard with unpleasantness, so having calmed down I would have gone with something similar to this. But also pointing out the can of insurance worms it opens.

The irony is I never put friends children on my small pony, he’s far from child friendly! My big hunters however always stood as good as gold. It amuses me how parents always assume the cute small pony is the safe one.