Strangers riding my horse without permission

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Eboni

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23 February 2014
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Hi, just came on here for some advice really!
Have discovered from a stranger that their child has been riding my horse without my permission.

They were apparently taken onto yard and my horse was removed from his stable (after I had left) by another occupant of the yard- without my knowledge, and ridden. This person has NO involvement in my horses care or exercise- just one of those unfortunate people with a major sense of entitlement.(This other occupant has her own horses I hasten to add.)

It hurts and concerns me that I wasn't informed beforehand OR afterwards - I only found out by chance when I found child and parent at the gate, they seemed incredibly familiar with the whole place and more so -my horse. They were incredibly sweet and I know they were misled so hold no unkindness towards them.

If it wasn't for this chance meeting I wouldn't be any the wiser! They implied a few things, including shock after finding out I am the owner of horse, and not a stable helper as they had assumed or been incorrectly informed. I also got the impression they had been down quite a bit.

The thing that upsets me the most is that this has all been happening behind my back. Unfortunately has been on restricted paddock time for obvious weather related reasons and so Sunday is his pamper/stable day - but I never dreamed anyone would be letting him out and taking strangers to his back! They are lucky not to have been caught so far as I am the only occupant who does both morning and evening visits to my horse -unlike others who solely does mornings.

The very notion of someone even opening my horses door makes me seethe - I am a very independent horse owner and completely in love with my horse, I don't let anyone near him and very possessive I suppose you could say :) ! Everyone knows I like to do things myself, there have been zero occasions where I have allowed or asked anyone to handle my horse, not even holiday cover! I trust no one enough. So I know this riding situation isn't a case of loose boundaries set by myself.

I don't know how to handle what happens next without causing an argument, I have full insurance, however, where do I stand legally if this happens again? What if there is an accident?
Is there a definite legal issue here I can mention to stop her from repeating her actions?
 
If this happens again? I would be gone, sorry but they have no respect for you and are putting your horse at risk. No reason to stay to me. They have lied to you by going behind your back how could you trust them and feel confident even if they gave you there word now?
 
I think you are better to let the yard owner deal with this as he has to be informed. I assume the "person with the child" will have spoken to the culprit, it is quite incredible what people will do.
I had someone use a stable I had just rented, cleaned and bedded up [ten shavings], and I had to lock her out of it, but this is beyond reason!
Don't worry about insurance.
 
I wouldn't leave my horse on that yard, id move as soon as i could, for me there would be no other option. Once that trust has gone, its gone. whats to stop them from saying sorry and then just being more careful of you not finding out again?
 
I`d hit the ruddy roof !!!!!!!!!! Then i`d be gone, as soon as i could physically move i would be out of there, and hope that the fact i`d it the roof would warn them off even so much as looking at my horse until i got him shifted. How RUDE !!!!!
 
How peculiar
Is this a livery yard or livery at a riding school
If they have their own horse why let someone ride yours
Is it half term? this is a first post and quite odd perhaps I am overly suspicious but wonder if this is a troll post.
If not then I would find somewhere else asap and get the horse out of there .
If they can do this then they can do anything and any instructions given will be ignored they can not be trusted.
 
Wow heads would roll if it were mine! Were they charging these people to ride your horse/give lessons? Were the riders friends of the person letting them ride or has person advertised your horse as available for riding? Have you informed YO/YM? I would be moving off, contacting a solicitor and sueing!!!
 
I feel as though this woman considers my horse her property simply for the reason we happen to share the same stable yard and she regards herself 'top dog'. I am in the process of purchasing a car so hopefully that will give me more option to move, right now would be impossible! This is a livery yard. And to the person who said I am a troll, yes I did make this account in response to today's news, I wanted to discuss with people who might understand x
 
I apologise if this is not a troll post but as a first post is quite a dramatic one .
I would move the horse asap regardless.Sharing a stable yard give no one any rights to do this.
I would remove or lock away all tack and inform the YO of the situation reinforcing strongly that no one has any right to handle /ride horse and has no permission which should stop it unless the YO is in cahoots with this person. Then I would get out of there pronto.
 
Eboni said:
And to the person who said I am a troll, yes I did make this account in response to today's news, I wanted to discuss with people who might understand x
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don't worry about it, there's always one...new user = troll till proven innocent on here ;)

Is there a yard manager? You definitely need to discuss this with them or the YO, and make your displeasure firmly known. I would be gone, but I understand it might be difficult. Though really I'd make it possible, there's no way I could leave my horse there with a person like that. Hopefully she will get the boot :/
 
Thank you capriole. Yes, and I am going to be speaking to YM tomorrow- I haven't actually seen the woman who has been handling my horse, as she only visits in mornings and I found out after she had left.
I think hopefully that will scare her into keeping her hands off of my horse until I find better accommodation for him! x
 
The YO needs to be informed that this has happened and do something to ensure that her yard is not being run as an unlicensed riding school which if this person has been charging for riding it is, you also need to come down hard with your view of this persons total abuse of your horse, let her know in no uncertain terms that it must never happen again.
There is nothing to go to solicitors about as no actual harm has been done, yet, so there is nothing that you can claim for but if the horse or rider were injured your insurance would be void as the person is riding without your permission and actually now against your express wishes so you would have no cover and they certainly would not.
 
Yes please back up your idea that I would be liable- I would like to know, I can mention this to her tomorrow also as a back up incase she says it was a bit of 'harmless fun' - which I can predict she will say!
 
Eboni said:
Thank you capriole. Yes, and I am going to be speaking to YM tomorrow- I haven't actually seen the woman who has been handling my horse, as she only visits in mornings and I found out after she had left.
I think hopefully that will scare her into keeping her hands off of my horse until I find better accommodation for him! x
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Is the YM not aware of this happening, how could it be going on if she is on site?
If she is an employee, you need to inform the yard owner, this quite a serious offence.
In the meantime lock the stable when the horse is out, and remove all your goods before they get vandalised.
 
No, YM/YO (same difference on our yard) is not aware. As I said, I will be talking tomorrow, slightly nervous as I know I will be told I am overreacting or that it was nothing to be upset about and played down
 
Another question, if anybody knows, would the lady who has been handling him /offering rides- be liable in event of an accident? Could mention this to her tomorrow
 
That is awful, I would be absolutely furious!! Hopefully the yard owner/manager will be as shocked as we are and have a very stern word with her. Are they regularly on-site? Would be interesting to know whether they were aware or whether perhaps they were told that the woman had your permission.
I agree with the others that I would move as soon as possible, the yard may be lovely but you need to be happy with where your horse is living and you can't be if you are worried about what may be going on behind your back. Some people are just unbelievable!
 
Sorry I'm a little confused.

Woman and child by gate it was the child that rode your horse? and they accessed it by being handed it by another livery? with your tack?
 
This happened to me a long time ago when my horse was at livery with a supposedly great horse woman in Suffolk. I worked during the week. She would use him when I wasn't around for lessons. So charging me livery and without my knowledge using him for profit through lessons. I happened to have an unexpected day off. Discovered what what was happening. Went berserk. Utterly wrong. Probably illegal. I was young and should have moved him immediately, but didn't. Maybe you should.
 
Eboni said:
Another question, if anybody knows, would the lady who has been handling him /offering rides- be liable in event of an accident? Could mention this to her tomorrow
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Eh what?! Maybe I've had too much wine but there would be NO discussion about this whatsoever! If this was my horse I'd be going bat pop crazy kicking up a stink smellier than an old mans cabbage farts!! Your horse, end of, this stops now!!
 
Oh believe me I am far from happy Starryeyed.
I think also the fact shes been handling my horse, that (as far as I am aware?!) she hasn't got any experience of , sends chills down my spine. He is a brilliant boy, bombproof, however incredibly strong and infact rather clumsy in the wrong hands. I think there are a lot of reasons I am peeved, that is just one. Mainly the secrecy and entitlement
 
Ester - to clarify - they were waiting near locked gate, nobody on yard at time. I happened to turn up to feed my horse tea and they seemed to want to come onto the yard. Yes, they confirmed they had ridden my horse, identified him very easily and were familiar with everything including peoples' names.
 
You really don't need to come up with a list of reasons WHY this person shouldn't touch your horse again, simply that she mustn't.
 
Eboni said:
Oh believe me I am far from happy Starryeyed.
I think also the fact shes been handling my horse, that (as far as I am aware?!) she hasn't got any experience of , sends chills down my spine. He is a brilliant boy, bombproof, however incredibly strong and infact rather clumsy in the wrong hands. I think there are a lot of reasons I am peeved, that is just one. Mainly the secrecy and entitlement
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Whether or not your horse is bombproof etc etc is irrelevant they shouldn't be on YOUR horse! There is a wee saying in Scotland and it very much applies in this situation "get her telt!!"
 
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