Whatever you do DO NOT LET A HORSE STRAY ONTO YOUR YARD!!!!!

Perissa

Perissa

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Whatever you do DO NOT LET A HORSE STRAY ONTO YOUR YARD!!!!!

I am absolutely tearing my hair out.

Yard owner calls me mid morning to say that a big black and white horse was loose in the yard. He says that it has pushed its way into the gate breaking a metal 5 bar gate and let himself into my yard.

Not to worry I say I'll be there in 10 minutes.

14 to 14.2hh piebald vanner type stallion loose in my yard. My own stallion going BALISTIC. Me very worried as there is only a post and rail fence between them.

Phone Hampshire Horsewatch. Take pictures send them off. Trawl round local yards and no one is missing a stallion. Police phone me and basicly say there is absolutely nothing they can do as the horse is now secure in my yard. I explain that I am very worried that he will get out again. He pushed his way in so he can push his way out. My yard is situated immediately next to a bridle path, anyone riding past could have a stallion hot on their heels. The bridle path leads out onto roads at either end. One road is particularly nasty, no lighting, very fast and loads of blind bends. Polica say there is still nothing they can do!!! AND I have to take every possible action to stop the horse getting out or else I could be in trouble!!!!!!!

Thank god my mares are now on the winter grazing right at the back.

I have no-where to put this horse other than loose in the yard. I can't get my horses in from the fields because the stallion is on the yard. Catch 22.

The police say I have to wait 14 DAYS before I can legally get rid of the horse and I have to post notices etc before doing so.

14 DAYS!!!!!!!!! What the hell am I going to do with a stallion loose in my yard for 14 days. My own horses are used to coming in at night. If I put stallion out in the field where am I going to put my horses!!!!!!
 
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Hmmm - that's a toughie! Do you know where the local gypsy sites are - that's the only thing I can think of?

Good luck - too far away to offer free board and lodgings!
 
Utterly ridiculous and quite typical from the police. Maybe you should say you've seen the stallion speeding round the yard & think it may be uninsured!

I second the idea about plucking up the courage to visit any local gypsys. They may value the stallion and want it back.....
 
Thats terrible! how is it these days that the better option would of been to leave a stallion loose on a busy road, possibly killing someone, before anything gets done by the police? i hope someone turns up for him soon :(
 
Hate to say it but the only way the police will take action is if its causing a problem so let is loose & ring them straight away saying its escaped from your yard & causing a nightmare on the road, they will have to come & deal with it then... unfortunately you'll just have to hope either the stallion or anyone else doesnt get hurt in the process.

I was in a similar situation with a dog & the only way to get the police to take notice was turn it loose & then they came & collected it!
 
Two weeks!! Surely its owner will come for it before then? I would be frantic to find my horse was missing and as you've asked around all the local yards perhaps they'll put the word out and the owner will come round.
 
what a nightmare! You might have some interesting 2011 foals then :eek::D

Sorry, not funny I can imagine. I don't think turning the horse loose is the right thing to do - could have all sorts of negative outcomes.

If he belongs to local gypsies they would want him back no? I imagine he is valuable to them (in monetry terms) and has broken loose as oppose to been dumped. Anyone in the area have a spare box/secure paddock they could offer to help you out?

Police will be of little use I think :(
 
Hmm maybe try giving WHW or if you a have a local horsey charity a ring.
They might be able to help or suggest someone who could? Probably not but i'd give it a try.
 
Could you round up a gang of people, block the bridlepath either end (or at the very least the busy traffic end, and, um, then "realise" that the horse has escaped again of its own accord? Then you can ring the police again and he is then on the loose, and their problem... by the time they get there you have headed him off onto the bridlepath and he is then their problem?
 
OMG! How awful for you. Typical responce from the Police, which is worse than unhelpful!

Is the Stallion out of control and causing mahem, or is it possible to put a headcollar on it and tie it up? I think if I was in this situation I'd give it some Sedalin to try and subdue it whilst I figured out what to do. The last thing you want is for it to get in with your own horses!
 
What a complete pain for you :( police being helpful as they were when those horses were shot!

Personally I wouldn't let it loose, just think of the potential harm it could do if it hit a car etc, just doesn't bear thinking about.

Do you have a spare stable to put it in, and possibly shut the top door for now to stop it from attempting to jump out? Other than that not sure what to suggest other than as others have said see if there is any local travellers etc that he could belong to. I'm guessing the rspca wouldn't want to help either?
 
The Police have no real powers in these circumstances and they have given you the only advice they can.

In your shoes I would arrange to have the horse moved to another secure yard. If nobody claims it in 2 weeks then sell it to cover the costs - even if you take it to Potters you will still be in pocket. The last thing you want is local travellers mooching around your yard looking for their horse.
 
I was woken up at five in the morning by the police asking if they could put escaped horses in the road into my yard whilst they found the owners and I'm in Hants. Unless you get the designated equine officers the others are terrified of them. I ended up with two cobs, both nice actually and when the owners were found we didn't get as much as a thankyou despite them munching our hay all day.

I don't hold with putting him loose again as its not his fault and he could cause horrendous injury to himself or others. I would tell the police he's knocked over someone and for your safety he can't stay. They'll have to find him more suitable accomodation.

Good luck.
 
I've been around the local yards - nothing.

I have contacted the RSPCA AND WHW - nothing.

I have spoken with the Equine Liaison Officer and she is trying to be helpful but no-one wants to take the horse as it is most likely a gypsy type.

I can't let it out again other wise I would get in trouble - the DI was quite specific about that. I have to keep it secure.

I have been to the very local gyspy camp and bottled out of going in as it is so rough. The police have sent someone in but like they said they are very unlikely to admit to loosing a horse in case it has caused damage or caused an accident.

The really sad thing is that the horse is really sweet, despite being a stallion. He is VERY friendly, doesn't bite and really wants to be caught. He came trotting up to me when I got there.

I don't have a spare stable that he can go in. If I put him in the field where do I put my horses?
Besides I really can't afford to feed and hay a horse for two weeks that isn't even mine!!! Of course I will not see him go hungry either - arghhhhhhhhhh.
 
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Does he seem well fed and cared for? If so, surely he must belong somewhere and maybe someone is desperate to find him. I think it's a pretty good idea to make contact with local gypsy/traveller communities, maybe your local council has a contact in that community?
 
Perissa said:
The really sad thing is that the horse is really sweet, despite being a stallion. He is VERY friendly, doesn't bite and really wants to be caught. He came trotting up to me when I got there.

I don't have a spare stable that he can go in. If I put him in the field where do I put my horses?
Besides I really can't afford to feed and hay a horse for two weeks that isn't even mine!!! Of course I will not see him go hungry either - arghhhhhhhhhh.
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Bless him. How many horses do you have, and how many fields and stables? Is it possible to section off fields for yours, or at least section off part of the yard so that you can walk yours in and out? Could he go in your school, assuming you have one?

If an owner turns up (who isn't a traveller) you would be within your rights to charge them livery. if it was a traveller I would give it back and say no more - probably best in the long run!

He'll live on hay alone - I wouldn't personally feed him any hard feed.
 
How annoying for you! And I can't believe that you have to take responsibility for him - if he had pushed his way into someones garden would they have to keep him there?!

Would it be wildly inappropriate to ask to take a pic or two? :o :p He sounds like a beaut despite everything else!
 
Oh, don't bother calling the Police, they just sit on their bums doing nothing else all day apart from the crossword and writing speeding tickets for people who aren't speeding - oh - and eat donuts of course!:rolleyes:

Sorry you've found yourself in this situation, must be a bit of a nightmare, but not exactly sure what the police could do? Stray dogs go to a pound - council run - if your local equine officer can't help, might be worth calling a local shelter to ask (NOT for them to take it on) what they suggest?

Shame as he sounds rather nice!
 
I would think that they can't afford to keep it, probably been kicked off their grazing, and thought 'Oh here's a nice place, we'll leave hime here'. Last year the pykies (can we say that word?) dumped dead mare and foal (coloured) in a field just off the by-pass. They just don't care. I think I'd pop him into someone else's empty field down the road when it's dark!
 
If he is in good condition someone must be missing him. Let as many people know as you can and shout loud that he'll be gelded if no-one comes forward. You may end up with a nice pre xmas bonus. He sounds lovely.
 
farriersmum said:
I would think that they can't afford to keep it, probably been kicked off their grazing, and thought 'Oh here's a nice place, we'll leave hime here'. Last year the pykies (can we say that word?) dumped dead mare and foal (coloured) in a field just off the by-pass. They just don't care. I think I'd pop him into someone else's empty field down the road when it's dark!
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Err no cos that could be my field. I don't know how close Perissa is :D
 
Unfortunatley I would take the advice of the police although they have been useless in a pratical sense they are giving you all the information they can. The 14 day thing is pretty normal I had the same with a stray dog I found running in our backgarden, he is now a tresured pet but still. You have unfortunatley went straight to the police who now have a record of the situation and you have to be careful you do not put yourself in a position where you could be held liable for an accident and as there is now suggestions on a public forum that the best thing is for the horse to somehow find himself on the adjacent bridlepath dosen't help.

I would go to the local gypo's explain the horse has not caused any liability, the police will not know it is theirs ect. You never know when some gypo's that owe you a favour will come in handy. Other wise find somewhere for it to stay, keep a cost diary and charge the owners when they come forward and in two weeks then get rid.
 
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Ooh boy is that crafty :D

I have enough horses tbh I want more dooglies :D

So if a passing bulldog wanders in your direction throw him my way:D
 
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