LadyGascoyne
Still Fig-uring it out...
Hi everyone
Thanks to all who advised on my previous thread about strangers playing with my horses and sitting on the pony and my lightly backed 3yo.
Just in case this is helpful to anyone, as it worked for me.
I added locks to everything lockable, and removed access to any headcollars. I put a bicycle lock on the main gate, and electrified the gateway to the part of the field that I have fenced off for them to use this winter.
I also posted this on the village FB post;
️Help needed locating whoever has been “visiting” the three horses stabled near the hall️
I am concerned that someone is letting themselves into the field, and handling the horses without permission. It appears that someone has, at the very least, been sitting on the pony and the smallest horse. I am very worried that it is children (or someone with children putting them onto the ponies), as the big horse doesn’t appear to have been ridden.
The palomino (pictured) is only a baby, and has not been fully broken in. Her lovely nature means that she has clearly allowed strangers to handle and sit on her but she is very, very green and I cannot express how risky it is that she would feel overwhelmed and panic. Someone - or someone’s child - could have been very badly hurt, and also could have caused serious damage to our much-loved young horse.
If you know anything, please be in touch. If you think it might be your children or a child you know, please talk to them and let them know that it isn’t safe. If they are desperate to visit, I would prefer that you contact me directly (pm me via Facebook) and we can talk about visiting when I can supervise. I was a horse-mad child myself so I do understand wanting to be around horses. I just cannot take the risk to either the horses or whoever it is that is entering the property and I really don’t want to be forced down the route of CCTV etc.
️Please let me know if you know anything.️
I went in very gently, hoping to get someone to come forward. Today I got my answer.
A man who lives in the village actually used to ride the older retired horse a few years ago. He has been letting his little girls play with the ponies.
He admits to letting himself in. He knew the owner of the old horse so presumed all the horses were ok to play with, and because he has a good relationship with her so didn’t think to ask (she lives overseas now).
He texted her, obviously seeing my post, and fessed up- although not to putting children on their backs.
I only have clean patches on their backs and tracks outside their field that looks like someone walked them in circles to go on, no actual proof.
I think that he’s very embarrassed and will probably steer clear but I will get cameras installed anyway as I don’t want it to continue.
Thanks so much for the help and advice.
Thanks to all who advised on my previous thread about strangers playing with my horses and sitting on the pony and my lightly backed 3yo.
Just in case this is helpful to anyone, as it worked for me.
I added locks to everything lockable, and removed access to any headcollars. I put a bicycle lock on the main gate, and electrified the gateway to the part of the field that I have fenced off for them to use this winter.
I also posted this on the village FB post;
️Help needed locating whoever has been “visiting” the three horses stabled near the hall️I am concerned that someone is letting themselves into the field, and handling the horses without permission. It appears that someone has, at the very least, been sitting on the pony and the smallest horse. I am very worried that it is children (or someone with children putting them onto the ponies), as the big horse doesn’t appear to have been ridden.
The palomino (pictured) is only a baby, and has not been fully broken in. Her lovely nature means that she has clearly allowed strangers to handle and sit on her but she is very, very green and I cannot express how risky it is that she would feel overwhelmed and panic. Someone - or someone’s child - could have been very badly hurt, and also could have caused serious damage to our much-loved young horse.
If you know anything, please be in touch. If you think it might be your children or a child you know, please talk to them and let them know that it isn’t safe. If they are desperate to visit, I would prefer that you contact me directly (pm me via Facebook) and we can talk about visiting when I can supervise. I was a horse-mad child myself so I do understand wanting to be around horses. I just cannot take the risk to either the horses or whoever it is that is entering the property and I really don’t want to be forced down the route of CCTV etc.
️Please let me know if you know anything.️I went in very gently, hoping to get someone to come forward. Today I got my answer.
A man who lives in the village actually used to ride the older retired horse a few years ago. He has been letting his little girls play with the ponies.
He admits to letting himself in. He knew the owner of the old horse so presumed all the horses were ok to play with, and because he has a good relationship with her so didn’t think to ask (she lives overseas now).
He texted her, obviously seeing my post, and fessed up- although not to putting children on their backs.
I only have clean patches on their backs and tracks outside their field that looks like someone walked them in circles to go on, no actual proof.
I think that he’s very embarrassed and will probably steer clear but I will get cameras installed anyway as I don’t want it to continue.
Thanks so much for the help and advice.
