Threat of Invasion - what to do??

[PandorasJar]

Not good. If they only have one entrance it's worth advising that the entrance is being dug out tomorrow and get a tractor to plough/digger over there. It's the quickest we've managed to move them on. They did not want to be stuck in.

Looks like it was well worth plowing yours.

 

[Cazzah]

Unfortunately unsure on the practicalities of this - the field is pretty much 'perfect' in so far as off road access and nice post and rail fencing - and an unused American barn set up too

 

[PandorasJar]

Maggie. We had a lot turn up in our office block about a decade ago.
Police wouldnt remove them so we got electric and water cut off.
We were the ones then in trouble as they had a right to electric and running hot water.
So not only was the office not workable from, we were paying for them to be there too! Was very costly while they were there and then more so putting it back to a nice state after.

The law is entirely on there side it seems... Far easier to chase a law abiding citizen than a big scary group of travellers....

In situations of land we've only once had police help and to be fair they had a word off record and they moved. Otherwise it's been dealt with by ourselves normally costing us money or ruining land for a period. Still far cheaper in the long run.

 

[Honey08]

Wow thats a shocking story Pandora's Jar! This country does nothing to encourage people to be honest and hard working does it!

What a shame you had to plough. Looked a gorgeous hayfield too, and I'm amazed you could drive on it without sinking.

 

[Cazzah]

What a shame you had to plough. Looked a gorgeous hayfield too, and I'm amazed you could drive on it without sinking.

It *was* really good old pasture - gave me the loveliest hay this year. We have great soil around here and despite seemingly endless rain it was still workable. We may reseed next year but will have a good think about it first - and sort out any boundary to make it as unattractive as possible

 

[millikins]

Hi, so sorry for you and your fellow landowner. H&H ran an article some time back about a private company that specialises in removing fly grazing animals. Might be worth an e-mail to the editor, can't remember the firm's name name.

 

[TigerTail]

Id be so gutted if I had to do that Fact think my dad wouldve been sat with a shot gun rather than plough proper pasture like that!

They are complete bar stewards, parasites who live off what the rest of us earn

 

[Shutterbug]

It is absolutely shocking and disgusting that these people can get away with this. I feel so bad for anyone who owns land and has to put up with this kind of behavior from scum like that

 

[YasandCrystal]

Maggie. We had a lot turn up in our office block about a decade ago.
Police wouldnt remove them so we got electric and water cut off.
We were the ones then in trouble as they had a right to electric and running hot water.
So not only was the office not workable from, we were paying for them to be there too! Was very costly while they were there and then more so putting it back to a nice state after.

The law is entirely on there side it seems... Far easier to chase a law abiding citizen than a big scary group of travellers....

In situations of land we've only once had police help and to be fair they had a word off record and they moved. Otherwise it's been dealt with by ourselves normally costing us money or ruining land for a period. Still far cheaper in the long run.

Horrible story. I do hope all those few righteous HHOers who bow down to 'travellers' calling others racist read some of these 'real experiences' and get out of their fluffy houses and beliefs and understand the real misery and fear large fractions of this community bring.

 

[Archiesmummy]

If horses turn up on your land do you have the right to assume they may have been gifted, or you are responsible and load them up and take them to a slaughterhouse? Not that you would want to but would a sign saying any livestock left on private property will be disposed off immediately, wouldn't this put them off?

 

[Spottyappy]

If horses turn up on your land do you have the right to assume they may have been gifted, or you are responsible and load them up and take them to a slaughterhouse? Not that you would want to but would a sign saying any livestock left on private property will be disposed off immediately, wouldn't this put them off?

No,you don't.
We had a right nightmare few years back with a situation similar to what the OP is trying to avoid. We were advised while the horses were on our land-without our permission-we had to feed and water them. The land had no running water. And,we could only claim them after certain legalities were followed. We were actually helped by the RSPCA and word horse rescue,as the horses were in abysmal condition,who took the matter on and took possession of the horses.
Which saved us acquiring some poor condition, un pass ported animals we had no use for.
The law is an ass.

 

[Luci07]

No,you don't.
We had a right nightmare few years back with a situation similar to what the OP is trying to avoid. We were advised while the horses were on our land-without our permission-we had to feed and water them. The land had no running water. And,we could only claim them after certain legalities were followed. We were actually helped by the RSPCA and word horse rescue,as the horses were in abysmal condition,who took the matter on and took possession of the horses.
Which saved us acquiring some poor condition, un pass ported animals we had no use for.
The law is an ass.

I thought that if you could not trace owners within 14 days of the animals being dumped, they would become the property of the landowner? Were you unable to do this because you COULD trace the owners or have I totally misunderstood the law?

 

[joeanne]

No you cannot. You have to post abandonment notices and then eviction notices.
We had to do this a couple of years ago, when a certain "type" dumped a load of mares and foals on the land we were renting.
The landowner went to court, got an eviction notice, employed bailiffs, and had the horses removed.
The "owner" then turned up at MY HOUSE, threatening my horses and my family, and then a day later turned up at my yard, threatening to take my horses in place of the ones he had lost.
All this despite me telling him it was nothing to do with me, to contact the landowner or his solicitor and deal with them.
After he threatened my children, the landowners solicitor decided he should have the horses back to safeguard me.
The law is an ass and does not protect you.
OP you did the right thing. Prevention is WAY better than the cure!

 

[Bikerchickone]

This is awful! Joeanne your example especially since all it taught the people involved was that threatening innocent people works! Obviously I'd have done exactly the same if they'd threatened me or my family or horses, but I don't understand why the law makes it easy for them this way?

It's a shame you've lost your hay field OP, but definitely preferable to the alternative. I just hope the other land owner manages to evict them soon.

 

[Luci07]

No,you don't.
We had a right nightmare few years back with a situation similar to what the OP is trying to avoid. We were advised while the horses were on our land-without our permission-we had to feed and water them. The land had no running water. And,we could only claim them after certain legalities were followed. We were actually helped by the RSPCA and word horse rescue,as the horses were in abysmal condition,who took the matter on and took possession of the horses.
Which saved us acquiring some poor condition, un pass ported animals we had no use for.
The law is an ass.

I thought that if you could not trace owners within 14 days of the animals being dumped, they would become the property of the landowner? Were you unable to do this because you COULD trace the owners or have I totally misunderstood the law?

 

[Spottyappy]

No,we had no ideas who the owners were,though the horses were of a certain feathered type.
We were told you can't just claim them-even if we wanted to- as Joanne says there are Legal processes to undertake,and non of them are quick.
The RSPCA, whom I am not a fan of, along with the WHO were brilliant in moving very fast to remove the horses,all of whom were in appalling condition. We were told they all had salmonella,and as such had contaminated our pasture. Were advised to not graze the field for minimum of 6 months.

 

[joeanne]

You must post intention to evict notices on "persons unknown".
Once they ignore that you go to court and get an eviction notice.
THEN you go back to court to act on that order.
Only at that point can you remove said horses.

 

[joeanne]

Oh and the eviction needs to be done by a licensed bailiff, with the help of the police if breech of the peace is expected.

 

[Hippona]

What if you refused to feed and water them? What if you couldn't afford it?

 

[abaddon_1974]

If they are the cob type of horse with plenty of feather then get some battery clippers and take the mane and feathers of one each day until they are moved.
I don't think that it would take long until they went and I cannot see any claims of damage being taken seriously.

 

[Hippona]

But wouldn't it be dreadful if, say.....your gate was stolen....

 

[Spottyappy]

What if you refused to feed and water them? What if you couldn't afford it?

We were told we could be charged with neglect. and prosecuted.
A I said,the law Is an ass and needs changing.

 

[Hippona]

Beggars belief.....

 

[cremedemonthe]

I wonder how long it would take for fly grazed unwanted horses to be removed from the land/gardens of the idiots who make up these stupid laws, bet it wouldn't take as long as normal!

 

[justforfun]

At least you can now rest easy day and night without the treat of them dumping their horses there.

 

[Fiagai]

May I suffest a future solution- A Good fence and a bull....

 

[Marydoll]

But if they don't use threats, then it isn't a police matter! Clearly, if the field wasn't fenced, then there has been no criminal damage or no breaking and entering, so then it is trespassing,
which is a civil matter!

We dont have trespassing laws up here, if the op fences as she stated she might and they break in, clearly it will be criminal damage and the police should get involved, mabe its worth the leckie fence after all