What would you do? *warning, may rant*

sychnant

sychnant

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I went down to my bottom fields today to check and tidy up the fencing before my horses go out on it. They have been confined to the top part of the fields for the winter as we are on clay soil and the bottom fields would be trashed.

To one side of my fields is a rocky stream in a deep ravine. The other side of this belongs to a local farmer who runs sheep on the fields during the winter.

Today I find 5 full-grown sheep in my bottom field, and all of my 3 strand fencing tape/rope on the floor and broken. The wooden corner posts are still standing, but most of my (new last year) 4 foot plastic posts are snapped.

I sent my dogs to chase the sheep back home but 3, although now on the other (steep) side of the stream, can't find their way back through the falling down fence. 2 managed. I can't turn my horses out until the tape fences are secure and I know the sheep won't come back and trash them again.

I have left a message on the farmer's phone. This is not the first year it has happened. I am FUMING. It's not safe for my horses to go on to new grazing because other people don't see the need to keep their destructive woolly thick animals fenced securely. I spent a fortune on new posts and tape last year and now I need to do it again.

What would you say to the farmer? He's a really nice guy, but right now I want to give him an earful. I appreciate this won't help and am hoping that typing this will calm me down a bit.

Sorry it's so long. Typing it out helped... a bit...
 
you need to erect stock proof fencing to keep your horses in, so erect sheep proof fencing. have a nice polite chat with him and see if he will erect it if you buy it. Go halves on it and don;t fall out
 
Well... The farmer should be carrying insurance and is liable for damage caused by his livestock. I'd have asked him to pay last year, never mind this time!
 
Go and talk to him face to face. Explain how you put new fencing up last year and that his stock have trashed it. It is his responsibility to fence his animals in and yours is to fence yours in. If he has all the gear it won't take long to put in a few posts and put up sheep wire, Unfortunately sheep will go through electric as their coats are very insulated. I'm not sure what you can do about your posts, several of mine snapped off during the winter, I think because of the very low temperatures. I'm sure if you talk to him you can reach a compromise.
 
Thanks guys... slightly calmer now :)

Sheep fencing costs a lot. I can't afford to buy it for him now as I have to replace all my posts and tape. I don't want to fall out with him, but last year he said he'd fix his fencing and hasn't...

Just angry that I now have sad faces looking over into the nice fields, and that I'm mean mummy who won't let them out there :p
 
I would imagine your fencing could have easily been destroyed by the snow and ice we have had. Personally I would never rely on plastic posts and electric fencing. Why not buy some wooden stakes, and ram them in. They will then be permanent and stakes are cheaper than plastic posts. Then use decent fencing fixers and put up 3 - 4 strands. That will keep the sheep out and your horses in and no more broken posts. In my experience sheep rarely brake electric fence posts, they just take advantage of any gaps and sags. Talk to the farmer, see what he suggests, but if you get nowhere then at least make your side stock proof
 
If you electrify the fencing and put a lower strand on, the sheep will not go through into your field anymore. However thick they may seem, they do respect electric fencing when it is turned on.
I would explain what has happened to the farmer politely and don't fall out with him.
At the end of the day it is also your responsibility to fence your fields correctly so that stock cannot get onto your property.sorry.
 
I watched the sheep ram through the last remaining strands of tape today. 2 got caught and pulled the tape with them as they ran. I have no issue with my horses respecting the fence, but I do have an issue with sheep escaping from their poorly fenced field and trashing the fences that are perfectly adequate for my horses.

I don't want permanent fencing here as we still have some clearing work to do before I can put permanent fences where I would like them. We have a pit to fill in this summer and more brambles to clear to maximise space. Until this is done I can't erect permanent fencing because the fence lines will change once the work is done.

My fences keep my horses in. His fences don't keep his sheep in, and THEY trash my fences. A week ago, when I checked, the fences were a bit baggy but were all in place. Now, after the sheep, they are laying on the ground. can see where you are coming from, but MY fences are adequate to keep MY horses secure. HIS fences are not good enough :)
 
As someone else has said - don't burn your bridges. You say he is a nice guy, and it is his cooperation that you are after.

I suggest going to see him face to face. The farmer that we rented a barn from (who used to own our house etc) was quite ditzy and did forget 99% of things we had said to him...

The sheep from the field next door ALWAYS get into our field - and 3/4 horses are on restricted grazing - so not exactly ideal that we then have 4 horses grazing on nearly 6 acres of dairy land....

Press the importance of animals being out and about - I'm sure he would understand - but that you have not the time nor money to sheep proof your fence, and that this is actually his responsibility and you would really APPRECIATE his help.
 
On the upside, rotating sheep and horses is good for reducing worms :D

Seriously though, as someone from a farming background, even with the best fences sheep can be hell to keep in. Go and speak to the farmer again if he is a nice guy and try and get it sorted, if he doesn;t then shut the sheep in your field and call him to come and lift them.
 
I wouldn't say anything to the farmer, other than having a conversation with him about fencing generally. If you are only relying on elec fencing to secure your horses then It's prob not enough to keep them secure generally - unless hooked up to the mains. If both you and the farmer are relying on it to secure both your stock it will be even more useless as sheep will always bust through elec fencing with ease if they are looking for more grass.
 
The farmer is responsible for the stock fence on his side of the river. My horses are quite secure - his sheep come through his fence onto my land and break my fences.

I have been very polite so far... but despite 2 messages left on his answerphone, one last night and one this morning, he has not yet been in touch. I have all 5 sheep back now, and repaired fences down again :) Just about to try him again :p
 
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