*long Rant* RAGING

I know ! So stop it happening again - lock the gates and be civil to the neighbours - I'm not saying that would be easy but it's better than the alternative ....
 
<font color="blue"> I can't help but wonder if we would get a different version of events from the other side </font>

Two sides or not, you don't open gates and let livestock out onto roads. Are you mad?

Pannin a window is daft enough but people could get killed tangling cars with horses.

I'd be so far past furious they'd be wishing it was just their windows got panned!
 
I'd be fuming, although you've padlocked gates make sure they can't be lifted off hinges (turn top one upside down if necessary), although if they're 'coffin dodgers' they might not be able to life them!

I'd certainly be seeking revenge...
 
I would be fuming too, but having had really serious problems with neighbour who went so far that they made complaints to the Police alleging assault &amp; threatening behaviour (on days we hadn't even seen them!), I know you need to keep calm &amp; play a long game.
If I were you I would:
1) Keep a diary of everything that is said/done. Keep it factual e.g. I got to the yard &amp; a padlocked gate had been opened. No theories or speculation. If it is them a pattern will be apparent to future readers. Record even the smallest thing, it helps establish a pattern.
2) Ignore them as far as you possibly can. Firstly it will avoid inflaming things, secondly there's nothing a bully hates more than not having an effect &amp; you can havea good laugh about it when you get home. Dark glasses &amp; an ipod can help block them out.
3) If you can get CCTV installed do. But avoid wireless systems - there are a limited number of frequencies &amp; your neighbour may be able to pick up your camera output.
4) Carry a dictaphone so that you can record threats.
5) Be nice to your local Police! They have to be vary careful what they say &amp; do but if you are always polite &amp; offer a cup of tea &amp; then they go round to see the other party who is spitting venom &amp; ranting it does infuence their opinion.
6) I would send a very POLlTE letter to ALL the local houses saying very plainly what had happened, explaining very calmly what could have happened - i.e a person could have been killed in an accident &amp; asking if anybody had seen anything as the Police had been informed. NO accusations just a polite request for help but emphasising the risk ofa road accident in which PEOPLE could have been hurt - it's probably not something they considered - only the inconvenience to you.
7) Don't get yourself in trouble - very, very important!


Good luck
 
That is terrible, I really feel for you. Whereabouts in Glasgow are you? I ask as I am in Glasgow too. Maybe we could get a load of riders to trot through the village and leave a load of poo to get teh point across! (only kidding that will be flueling the fire)

I think you are right to get padlocks and chains on your gates after this, its too much of a coincidence and I would go for security cameras too.

Surley letting the horses out is a deliberate act of endangering animals and therefore an offence under the animals act.

I would get legal advice.

I hope you get the b'stwards.
 
put electric on gate without telling them plug it into the mains and watch them fry stupid people could have got your horses killed im getting on a bit hope i never get that grumpy
 
I don't know what other people would think about this and I know that we all on here are aware of the green cross code but perhaps put a laminated sign up on each of your gates warning of the dangers of leaving the gate open - I would also (as horrid as this is ) be tempted to include some horrific photos of RTA's involving horses - it might just enforce the seriousness of this irresponsibility and you are not pointing the finger as everyone would see not just the evil cofin dodgers!

Just an idea - I to would be very mad well done for restraining yourself
 
I would go to the people you think are responsible and let them see you are upset, these animals are your pets and you love them and having a nice neighbourhood is a win win situation - talk to them, see if there is any mutual agreement you can come to to sort this situation out before someone gets hurt.

I feel so angry for you but sometimes, answering anger with anger never solves anything.
 
Hey Bonnie. I hear what your saying and of course that would be an ideal situation. But with something like deliberately letting livestock onto the road has much bigger and further reaching consequences than just annoying a neighbour.

But taking away the emotional side of not wanting the horse harmed, the owner is legally accountable for them. If they are on the road and cause an accident she will be held responsible. And believe me, police / courts etc really couldn't care less if your pleading someone has left a gate open. The owner is responsible. I think the only animal that doesn't apply to are sheep because they are deemed 'willful' - stupid eh!

Finally - aside from the emotional aside. Keeping horses is bloody expensive. The owner has INVESTED in her horses presumably for a few years which will total a lot of cash. They have bought a place to keep them which I can't imagine would be cheap - so why should she have these years of investment she's put into them potentially written off.

Nah I'm sorry. I think she has every right to be raging mad and protect her property.
 
Hey Highland Pony

I don't know if Cara is near Glasgow but I am. I live in Uplawmoor and keep one pony in Dunlop with the other on load at Carluke.

Where's you?
 
Is there any chance at all that you could fit CCTV?

In view of their previous threats, and the obvious danger to the public, I wonder if it would be possible to get an injunction to keep their away from the gates. I'd get legal advice.
 
hey everyone thanks for all the advice last night thankfully nothing else has happened and all horses are fine ..dads sorting out some security cameras

the neighbours are raging aswel and a few have been down expressed there views and told them police were informed we have just ignored them they aint getting any reaction out of us i know i have no proof it was them but im 99% sure it was ..

highlandponylas im from renfrewshire near ingliston where bouts are you?

minxie- thanks you get my point exactly
smile.gif
xx
 
You can get movement activated video cameras from B&amp;Q for about £100. All you need then is an old tv and video recorder hooked up to it. You can fit them yourself.

I don't think being too softy softy on these people will help at all. I think nipping it in the bud is far better. And yes, I do think it is a police matter. Threats have been made and then related matters have occurred soon after.

I would do everything possible to counteract them, rather than doing everything possible not to annoy them. You shouldn't have to move your horses at the weekend. It already sounds as though pandering to them isn't working.

Its intersting there are two of them and you refer to them as "coffin dodgers". Are they retired with too much time on their hands? I bet they are not so brave when they are not together. I also think you should cause as much publicity about this as possible. The letters to the neighbours is a good idea, maybe signs up saying threats have been made and your horses let out so can people be vigilant.
 
Put a stile or kissing gate in next to your fieldgate and padlock you main gate also put a sign saying that there is cctv survalance. they can have access to the footpaths and your gates don't need to be opened, put stile in at every gate you have, works wonders, but I would see a lawyer and the police tell what happened, if they come out the coffin dodgers would see them and take note that you are serious.
 
We used to have someone who would let our horses out - god knows why! Their field was by our house, no one elses, and surrounded by a huge field, but we would regularly find their gate opened inwards. And we know it wasn't the horses as it was a gate that was never used and took 2 people to lift it and open it as it was sulk in a recess.

So the horses would get out and into the crops in the field. Thankfully the farmer understood and after the 2nd time they got out when the crops were growing the gate was removed and fenced over. Thankfully the bordering field was fences off from the roads, but it did have a burn that was down a steep bank, and one end was a bog.
 
another more lighter thought...............about the smell..................do you know anyone with any pigs!! make living next to more interesting than pony poo also a couple of alphacas if i remember right these are very territorial and will make walking across the land interesting:p
 
I don't know much about the law, but it might be worth you making sure you have 3rd party public liability insurance for your horses (which you get automatically as a gold BHS member). If these b*****ds did let your horses out and there was an accident, at least you would have some financial protection. The BHS also does a very good free legal helpline.

Good luck.
 
Some councils won't let you put in new stiles, so it may need to be a kissing gate. Bloody expensive though. If you do decide to go that route it might be worth asking if the council give grants. Some do, some don't.
I noticed on one of your posts that you said some other neighbours where upset by what happened. That's good. Keep them informed about what is happening but careful how you do it. Don't rant etc - do the "guess what's happened now ....." with a tut &amp; a sigh, raised eyebrows but in a "I'm not going to let it get to me" sort of way (even if you are totally stressed &amp; not sleeping!). The more people you keep on side the better &amp; the calmer you are the more people will take your side. It's not about going easy on the horrid people - it's tactics. If you start ranting to other people they will start avoiding you &amp; even worse wonder if there is more to it all. If you appear stoic &amp; long suffering they are more likely to be on your side &amp; tell you if they see dodgy goings on. When we had our problems it was amazing the people who were giving us useful info, even though we hardly knew them. We were then able to point the Police in the direction of people who were useful witnesses when they made false allegations against us &amp; they came very close to being charged with wasting police time.
 
GRRRRRRRRR mt pet hate.

People who go to the country thiniing, it is peace and quiet with the smell of freshley cut hay.

The reality for anyone one from the city reading this is and wants to move to the country is:

It is smelly
muddy
noisey
Animal smels.

If yu hate the idea of any of the above dont come, if you want to enjoy and integrate, then welcome.

THE COUNTRYSIDE IS A LIVING WORKING PLACE, and we will not stop, farming, riding, hunting, shooting for you just becasue you want to come here.

Sorry rant over, but I have had enough
 
how about go and let all their pidgeons out and then if they come and accuse you say wow there must be someone going round here because some **** let our horses out the other day oh well what goes around comes around.... just an idea!!
 
The first thing to do is to phone up the BHS Legal Help Line if you are a gold member of the BHS. If not Join the BHS as a Gold Member..

Go to your local Police Station and report the incident explaining that if the horses escape on to the road they can cause a serious accident and ask them for an incident number. This means they will have to log it on to their system.

Reverse the hinges on your gate so that the gate can not be lifted off the hinges.

The fact that you have live stock in the field means that you can protect them and members of the public by securly locking the gates with as trong lock and thick chain.

Keep a note of every incident putting down the time and date of it.

Instruct a specialist equine solicitor to act on behalf of your interests and ask them to write to the people concerned warning them of the consequences of their actions.
 
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