Public feeding/petting horses

Are there laws on what can/cannot be put on signs? For the second time this year we have found bread in the mares' field and want a message to accompany the now-electrified gate, but not sure what to put on it, only those horses really can't be being fed. (They're on restricted grazing for a reason! After one laminitis scare this year really need them to slim down too).
 
Chinchilla said:
Are there laws on what can/cannot be put on signs?
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Most Warning or Information signs can be put up legally - ie "Warning: Electric fence" on a footpath or, "Bull In Field" etc. provided they do not obstruct a public right of way. There may be a max size though? Not sure. "Do Not Feed/touch" signs come under information/warnings so there are no restriction.

In certain cases, you would be breaking the law for not putting up a sign, where health and safety is an issue. I.E. Bull, electric fence etc.
 
Regarding "the public" and their understanding of horses... I had one guy who was adamant that I was one of several people who rode my horse past his place, and he always gave him a mint so it was OK if he gave him one now, and how convenient he was there for people to ride ... Nothing I could say ever convinced him he belonged to me, no-one else rode him, and it must be other horses he was feeding mints to because mine wasn't allowed them! (He was a treat-mugger). I was just thankful that he was "not really into riding them himself" or I dread to think what might have happened.
 
I used to rent a field next to a public footpath - it was a little bit away from my home. I used to engage with anyone I saw using the path. I told them who I was and where I lived and asked them to keep an eye for my horses and to let me know if they were ever concerned for their health as however often you check yourself accidents seem to happen as soon as your back is turned.

On two occasions these people saved my horses great suffering by letting me know there was a problem. Yes they did stroke the horses - so what? Yes they fed the occasional carrott or apple - so what? I never had any health related problem over a period of 20 years and the good side far outweighed any drawbacks. They were all local people so I involved them in what I was doing.
 
sport horse said:
Yes they did stroke the horses - so what? Yes they fed the occasional carrott or apple - so what? I never had any health related problem over a period of 20 years and the good side far outweighed any drawbacks. They were all local people so I involved them in what I was doing.
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There's a vast difference between an occasional carrot or apple and a lawnmower full of grass clippings or the stale rolls from the bakers.

I don't have any problem with people petting my horses, but I do not want anyone feeding them other than me or by my instruction.
 
sport horse said:
I used to rent a field next to a public footpath - it was a little bit away from my home. I used to engage with anyone I saw using the path. I told them who I was and where I lived and asked them to keep an eye for my horses and to let me know if they were ever concerned for their health as however often you check yourself accidents seem to happen as soon as your back is turned.

On two occasions these people saved my horses great suffering by letting me know there was a problem. Yes they did stroke the horses - so what? Yes they fed the occasional carrott or apple - so what? I never had any health related problem over a period of 20 years and the good side far outweighed any drawbacks. They were all local people so I involved them in what I was doing.
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I had a lovely older gentleman who walked past our field twice a day, (He referred to my TB as his horse, and named him "Stripe"); the horse in question always came over to say hello. He occasionally got a sugar lump, but he also learned about umbrellas, flapping waterproofs and barking terriers! I am sure he would have alerted me to anything that worried him about "his horse". Sadly though they are not all that sensible.
 
I can only say that by involving the people and engaging with them in a friendly way I have never had a problem. Once told that lawn cuttings were not acceptable they were never fed again. Maybe it is because they were all local people and once it was explained they had no wish to hurt the horses?
 
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