Man just walked through my horses field with gun!!!

[Quartz]

Maybe not quite as dramatic as it sounds, but I am not at all impressed!!! Basically a group of hunters have been in the field backing onto my garden and horses field all day shooting. Thinking legally they were too close to house to start with but left well alone, as on my own with my two young children. Anyway just went to give horse his hay and one of the gun men cocked his gun and climbed through the fencing into my field and walked straight past me. I said excuse me, do you know this is my field and you don't have the right to walk through without permission. He just replied his gun was now empty so not to worry and carried on. I am just shocked that he thought that was acceptable, also my poor horse has had this shooting right next to him all day. I am fuming, however, one of the men involved is a large land owner and I know we would not do well to get on the wrong side of him, but think I should mention I found it a little bit threatening. What do you think?

 

[Izzwizz]

I would report this to the Gendarmes (sp) !

 

[Quartz]

I would report this to the Gendarmes (sp) !

Was wondering if I should or not. Just really don't think it was the done thing to do, especially with a lone female (and her trusty horse) in the field.

 

[Izzwizz]

You can put it to them in such a way that you felt vulnerable on your own and Im sure they will take it seriously. You didnt know whether the gun was loaded or not! I would have been nervous myself.

 

[Steorra]

Might be slightly different as this was in the UK, but when people were shooting birds in some of the fields at the yard my horse is on the owner reported them to the police. They sent the armed response unit. Funnily enough they never came back...

Now just need to find a way to get rid of the nudist yoga guy

 

[SusannaF]

Gun or not, if he's a big landowner he should know better than to trespass.

 

[FrodoBeutlin]

This is why I cannot stand hunters. They have zero respect. The same happened to me a few years ago, pity my dressage horse was not as cool as yours were, and the shots from inside his field completely freaked him out for about 40 minutes, I really thought he would keep galloping till he dropped down dead.

In Italy, there is an association (LAC, anti-hunting association) which is wonderful with situations like these - they can advise who to contact and what to say/write, you can even get legal advice from them, all for free obv. Worth checking if there is anything similar in France.

 

[Steorra]

Might be slightly different as this was in the UK, but when people were shooting birds in some of the fields at the yard my horse is on the owner reported them to the police. They sent the armed response unit. Funnily enough they never came back...

Now just need to find a way to get rid of the nudist yoga guy

 

[eva]

it is well and truly awful of him to say that to you. I understand you might be scared of reporting him but if he gets no response to such actions he will carry on the same. And so what is the big land owner is a big land owner? Can he lawfully take anything away from you?

 

[sunshine19]

Hi Quartz,
Have word with your local Chasse president. I also put up lots of signs around the perimeter of my property with 'Chasse Interdite' on it. The Chasse will not be allowed to enter your fields or this will indeed mean they are tresspassing. Also have a word with your local Mairie.
Hope that helps.

 

[jinglejoys]

Never worries me.There is shooting regularly round my way and I don't see what being a woman with children has to do with it,I'm a woman on my own but I don't worry or use it.One bloke did climb over my fence tosearch for some game and I just took it up with the head of the shooting party explaining I'd put up a 5' fence to stop my goats annoying my neighbours and I expected them to respect that...never had any problem again.

 

[3DE]

I like the shooters on my land - makes the horses bomb proof (literally) and they also give me ducks/pheasants mmmmmmm

 

[Rowreach]

The local gun club regularly shoot over my peat bog, and quite often come into the lower fields. I don't really mind them but do worry about them leaving gates open (born in a barn most of them) so all the gates down there are padlocked. The yearlings are very interested in them and would quite like to join in

 

[Quartz]

Thanks for all your advice / comments. I did turn a blind eye to the shooting all day in the field that adjoins mine. However I do feel it crossed a line to walk through my field with my horse in it. My horse is pretty bombproof and I put him in lots of testing situations, as I do feel it helps them get used to everything. Buts its funny how he had waited till he had moved all his horses yesterday to start the shooting!