People feeding horses

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Dancing_Diva

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Where I keep my horses is a massive plot of land split into smaller indervidual fields that are rent out as inservidual yards to different people.

My yard is the second yard in as you come through the main gate. I had problems with someone feeding my Shetlands polos as they drove past before, I fenced my ponies off so they couldn't get to fence by the drive in hope it would stop, no they got out walked to my gate and fed them! I politely asked the person please not to feed them as its making them bite and I don't feed treats and certainly don't wish someone else to feed them treats.

Problem solved or so I thought! Am on my yard this evening and this person drives in, my Shetlands go from grazing in the middle of my field to running over to my front fence. As the person gets out their car I shout (im on crutches so couldn't get over there quickly) Don't feed my ponies, they look at me and chuck mints over the god dam fence at them!! So I shout whilst making my way over there, Don't feed my horses, I do not want them fed them sort of things!

To be told sorry, that was it. It's peeing me off, I'm going to buy and stick a do not feed the horses sign on the fence but can't see this person taking any notice to be honest if they can't leave off when I've asked them face to face three times now not to do it.

Does anyone have any suggestions? I can't speak to the land owner as his not horsey and as long as he gets his rent and horses aren't breaking out onto the road he leaves us all alone as we are responsible for doing everything ourselves from fencing to building stables etc. I don't want to have to fence my ponies away from the drive way as shouldn't have too, plus I have a Falabella who likes to go through the electric even with it on so that will be a pain.

Any ideas before I beat this person with my crutches next time I see them lol..
 
I worry about this as my horses are on a footpath. I saw somewhere signs designed for this purpose. They were really good. Things like Please do not feed as this pony has laminitis (and several other things) and a quick simple explanation of how anything not on the "diet sheet" could kill.
Sounds a bit rubbish the way I've just put it because I cant recall the exact wording. I do think people who don't know just think your being mean but these signs really impressed me by explaining why briefly.
Unfortunately no idea where I saw them but a similar thing laminated might help?
 
Show them pictures of some really bad lami ponies and ask them if they want yours to die. Brutal, but it might shock them enough to stop.
 
Thanks, will see where I can find a sign saying on vets advise do not feed these ponies.

It's an older man feeding them, his a lovely guy and yes he thinks my ponies are cute and doesn't think it hurts but the Falabella has teeth problems. I've paid out thousands on head CT scans vets and dental work I don't want him having treats and the other one is a four year old Shetland with an attitude problem and will try and bite without the added issue of being fed treats by someone!!
 
Dancing_Diva said:
Thanks, will see where I can find a sign saying on vets advise do not feed these ponies.

It's an older man feeding them, his a lovely guy and yes he thinks my ponies are cute and doesn't think it hurts but the Falabella has teeth problems. I've paid out thousands on head CT scans vets and dental work I don't want him having treats and the other one is a four year old Shetland with an attitude problem and will try and bite without the added issue of being fed treats by someone!!
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We did the vet notice.. just printed it and laminated but this man sounds a bit of an odd character! Not sure it will stop him.

Wait for him with a borrowed gun.
 
I don't feel a sign will work sadly but I can at least try. Maybe he can read a little better then he can listen!

I'll make one up and print and laminate it and pop it on my fence.
 
I assume.they have horses next door ? If so next time they are tending to them, I'd go over and chuck a bag of oats or loads of apples, in their field. See how they like it

In all seriousness
I had this issue with non horsey people but explained nicely why I didn't want the horses fed and put up a sign and it seemed to work
 
Yup they rent the field next to mine, although their main yard is a little further up the land to where I am. It's annoying as his a horsey bloke, yes his in his late 60's but I still expect him to respect me telling him not to feed them.

His a nice guy that I didn't want to offend, but I'm getting to the point where I don't care if I am horrible to him now if it gets him to listen and that's a sad thing to say about him as his generally nice and his not doing it to be annoying his doing it because he loves the horses and thinks my ponies are cute. It just is frustrating trying to get him to stop.
 
We had this with a loan horse my husband had. It was on the Trans Pennine way, and they had a LOT of polos and bread! Most of it was with kids, pensioners, walkers etc, not other horse people.

We stuck a sign on the gate that said "We are Cav and Thomas. We love carrots but must not eat sweets, bread or other treats as it makes us ill."

Soon we had a load of walkers with carrots instead. More healthy than the other rubbish.
 
We had a similar problem with an older man. My TBxWelsh mare was seriously intolerant of all cereals and refined sugar. She had been extremely ill before we realised why. The horses were at livery and the YO had fenced off a tractor track round each field to let him fill the water baths without having to faff around with gates. Unfortunately the local dogwalkers decided that the tracks were perfect for them, too. One day we caught this man feeding the horses on loaves of bread. When we asked him not do so and explained why not, his only answer, holding out another chunk of bread was "But she likes it". Yes she did, she was addicted to the stuff but it was like giving a junkie heroin,it just made her ill!

We solved the problem by buying our own place several miles away.
 
All my neighbours used to do this so I ran tape a couple of metres in to stop it. But they still let their dogs out on my field for a run! I haven't said anything for fear they might get the hump and poison the horses! Lol when I get enough money I'm running posts and wire. The cheek of it!
 
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