People riding your horse without permission

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Field04

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My neighbours granddaughter came over to play today, she is 5 years old and loves ponies so I said she could come and play with my girls and they could have a ride on the little pony. So all was going well, lots of brushing etc and then she was riding the pony and said to me, "the other time I rode her she wouldn't stay still." Hmmm, me "this is the first time you have been over, do you mean another pony?" "No, my granddad let me come in your field and put me on your pony, but she was being naughty and I had to get off." What the!!!! HOw can someone do that, I am really annoyed!! At least he will know he has been found out as no doubt she will repeat it to him that she told me. Apologies for one long paragraph, for some reason it won't let me return to make more than one.
 
i would go totally mental! I remember a few years back, a lady on our yard was going to buy a horse from one of the other liveries but it feel through because she couldn't afford him and they other livery wuldnt accept monthly instalments, obviously! so one of my good friends ended up buying him! the first lady then proceeded to still ride him, we found out because his rug was rubbing, so my friend bought a anti rub vest and the first lady couldn't put it back on right! so when she found out, she told her not to ride him but agreed if she asked first it might be okay! she proceeded to still ride without asking, so my friend had to move him! shocking behaviour!
 
I know I am really livid, and need to calm down before saying anything. My husband also added I bet he feeds them treats all the time as well. Probably true, and again annoying!! How to deal with it without causing a big falling out though.
 
Definitely time to have word with the little girl's grandad! Terrible, how rude and how dangerous! Not saying that your pony is dangerous obviously, just that someone would put a small child on a pony they don't know, bareback, in a field, I'm assuming with no hat.

Edited to say sorry about the terrible sentence composition - but you get what I mean (hopefully!) :)
 
I would be saying something here and now as if something had gone wrong who knows what could happen or be said. My field is has electric right round plus an additional electric 'gateway' across the actual gates that is about 6 feet in - purposefully to prevent the ponies going to the gate where people can reach over. My little pony is also muzzled anyway and people think its because she bites, lets just say I haven't corrected them ;)
 
I used to have a sharer who, and I only found out because she'd been tagged in the pictures, had allowed her friend's 2yr old to sit on my unpredictable appy. She'd also been led around bareback on my shetland without permission or even a "by the way" after the event. I have my own land, so there's never anybody about but me, so it turns out, according to my BF who works next door she'd had her new boyfriend, her old boyfriend, her best friend, best friend's BF etc on my property without permission - I had 4 horses at the time and lots of valuable tack & rugs. In the end I sold the horse she was riding to which she said she felt this was hurtful as she was the one who had done the most work on him (he was a youngster), and changed all the locks.
 
Understand the wanting to go mental. Me too!

But if you really want to keep the peace how about saying something like this:

'I really enjoyed having little Betty the other day and I was pleased to let her have a ride on my pony. But she did mention that you had sat her on the pony on a previous occasion when I was not there. I must ask you not to do that again please.'

I wouldnt give any justification - you dont need to.

Then go and jump up and down and shout loudly to get the irritation out of your system. GRRR!!
 
Could you also highlight the potential damage it could cause to the girl should the horse do something her grandad couldn't control- and also how they don't know the temperament of the horse, so have no idea if anyone has ever ridden it before?!
I think going for the shock factor, in an informative and calm manner, will get through the most. I suggest leaving this conversation to when you are less affected by it, so you can be very matter-of-fact and don't appear angry as this could cause arguments. I would go into the conversation from a safety point of view about the child, rather than about your horse :) hope all goes well, keep us posted :)
 
I would be more than a little annoyed - I would be furious.

Probably one of the sort who would try to sue you if the little girl got hurt!
 
Spring Feather said:
I wouldn't go mental, seems a little dramatic. I'd go and speak to Grandpa and tell him that he shouldn't be doing anything with your pony without you being there.
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tobiano said:
'I really enjoyed having little Betty the other day and I was pleased to let her have a ride on my pony. But she did mention that you had sat her on the pony on a previous occasion when I was not there. I must ask you not to do that again please.'

I wouldnt give any justification - you dont need to.
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And add that if it happens again, she will not be allowed near your pony again.
 
How old is Grandpa? I'm only asking as he might be from an era where if there was a pony available nearby and you had the grandkid with you, you plonked the kid on the pony because A) it entertains the child B) it's maybe what Grandpa's parents did to him. I wouldn't be too outraged or hard on him, just gently point out the health and safety implications that we adhere to these days. You need to educate him, losing the plot will get you nowhere and only cause bad feeling.
 
:eek: I have a B&B and one day I turned around to see some guests taking photos of their child on one of my mini's! He'd never had a person on his back in his life, I was just dumb struck that anyone could be so stupid, whilst praying for all I was worth that Buttons wouldn't chuck the kid on the floor before I made it over to get it off
 
Id say its likely to be ignorance more than anything especially if grandfather isnt horsey. I wouldnt see anything productive about going mental at him, I would explain the situation in a way tobaino explained and Im sure he will understand.
 
I'd just say to him that you are happy to have her over when she is visiting but that it's not safe to go in with the horses when you are not there to supervise.

we have a similar situation with grandchildren as we have an over 50s semi-permanent caravan stylee home site along one side of our field. They all know the rules re. feeding etc and know we are happy for the children to come and visit and sit on Frank if they would like to instead (this is on the basis that as a horsey child I would have loved that!) - and if you train them young - one girl been coming for the last 4 years - they hit a useful age and you can use them to help you move all the jumps into the field ;).
 
I currently have my horse up for share and she was told for now whilst she got used to him she had to ride when I was there, the cheeky mare waited till I had gone then proceeded to tack him up and ride him.. AND let her mate have a go!! Unbelievable! Luckily someone from the yard caught her and told me.
 
People are totally ignorant of the dangers of horses. I went mental at a bloke who I caught lifting his toddler over the fence to sit on my shetland!
 
I wouldn't want to make a big thing of it, as they're your neighbours and all, but I would definitely let them know it wasn't acceptable. Probably the best way is to emphasise the potential risks to Little Betty.
 
Truth from the mouth of babes! A child of this age doesn't realise it was doing it shouldn't so wouldn't lie about sitting on pony. Nip it in the bud!

I beg to differ regarding his intentions, ignorance is no excuse for putting his grandaughter in a potentially life-threatening situation. There was a kid, think about 12 at the time, who got kicked in the head just bringing his pony in from field. Took him a year to be out competing again, remember first time I saw him with large (permanent) dent in his forehead. Horses are dangerous if not handled correctly, even the mopst docile one has the potential (lets say ponio gets stung by bee suddenly) to erupt & cause serious harm.

If you pussyfoot about, he wont take it seriously. I'm not saying be rude by any means, just very clear he is not to enter field without you & never go near your pony (including treating, which encourages them to bite granddaughter size fingers expecting a snack). If you think he wont listen, buy a ripe watermelon, & drop it on a hard surace infront of him. Tell him that was his granddaughters skull being fractured from riding not wearing a hat. It's not like you're saying she can't be friends with the pony, but want him to recognise it is your pony so it will only happen on your terms. If he can't accept them she can't ride, end of. The only reason you are being so strict is because you do care about his granddaughter.
 
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