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Should I complain about this?

8 replies

Bigredandblackdog · 06/04/2022 14:02

Annoying horse and if so who too?

There’s a lovely walk near to home. It’s along some woods then around the edge of a livery yard via a public footpath and back.

I have been walking DC in the pram, toddler DC and my well behaved on lead dog on this particular route.

The route through the farm is a public footpath. I’ve checked and it’s maintained by the council with signs.
On one side is a row of bushes, then a wire fence with a road behind. On the other a fence with horses behind. The path is about a prams width so just enough space to get through but not enough space to give the horses a wide berth.

The field was always empty previously but the owners of the livery yard have recently started using this field for 3 very large (upwards of 16hh at least) and aggressive horses. They gallop the fence line every single time I walk past bucking and kicking out at me on the other side of the fence. More annoyingly they have started lunging over the fence to bite (at the dog I think, who is terrified!) and this morning I had to duck to avoid them for a third time! There’s also a curious yearling in there who is also kicking out at the fence and sticking it’s head over the fence right in the pram/my face/dogs face and I can’t get far enough away from it due to the width of the path. My dog is petrified of it and I had to hold him by the face to get past, he’s grown up with horses but it’s touching him at times.

It’s really annoying me. The owner livery yard does not care, I’ve mentioned it twice now. He isn’t horsey himself and is more of a farmer who rents the stables and land than a yard manager. He can see the horses from his house so I presume has noticed it and hasn’t moved them. I have had horses myself up until my 30s so it’s not like I’m clueless but they don’t back off despite the horsey growl (if you know you know!)
I don’t want to have to discipline, be bothered by or train someone else’s animal on my walk either, not my job. I wouldn’t walk in the field with them but I’m not actually in a field I’m on a path!

DH says I’m being a busy body complaining about horses in a field and to walk another way Grin but it puts another mile on my walk through a really boggy field to get round!

Do I just need to get over this or can and should I complain to the council or someone? My own horse died 2 years ago not ever bothering a single soul in the 15 years I owned her so maybe I’m just being miserable and need to accept all horses aren’t as nice Blush

OP posts:
Easterisoffeggstooexpensive · 06/04/2022 14:05

Wow sounds terrifying! As it's a public path I would report him. Imagine a vet bill if your ddog gets bitten.
Ducking and dodging horses isn't a great walk out!

PineappleRingo · 06/04/2022 14:17

I thought footpaths needed to be 1.5m wide so I’m surprised they can reach right across
But I would absolutely report this it sounds dangerous

PineappleRingo · 06/04/2022 14:18

If the council aren’t maintaining the path width take photos. Most councils you can submit online

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Bigredandblackdog · 06/04/2022 14:23

The horses are sort of on higher ground so they can reach down over the fence more easily if that makes and sense? There is electric down on the fence itself but not along the top so they can get their heads over it without getting shocked.

There’s no way to get out of heads reach without going into the bushes or pushing the pram up onto brambles. If I stay on the track the horses can easily touch me.

@Easterisoffeggstooexpensive I was more worried about my dog biting the horse to be honest! He’s a very large German shepherd cross who is funny about things in his face anyway but he was petrified and growling the last time we went along. I had to sort of hold the collar right up behind his ears to keep control. He’s normally fine with all horses and livestock, just walks past.
I’m not sure who would be liable if my dog did bite a horse nose, probably me Blush

OP posts:
ComtesseDeSpair · 06/04/2022 14:45

It sounds like other users of the path have been feeding them - hence their aggressive interest in passers by. If the farmer isn’t interested you can report to the council’s Rights of Way Officer (or the person who fulfils this role, switchboard should be able to direct you.)

ComtesseDeSpair · 06/04/2022 14:49

In the meantime, aggressive body language often works - can you walk face on to them whilst pushing the pram with one arm, stretch the other out?

Pixiedust1234 · 06/04/2022 15:13

If the path is maintained by the council I would complain to them first as it seems the path isn't wide enough. Let them investigate.

longtompot · 06/04/2022 15:22

I imagine the owner of the horses would be pissed off of your dog did bite them. I think contacting your local rights of way dept is a good start and hopefully they can speak to the owner and maybe they can put in an inner fence. There is a field we walk past every now with sheep and then and the owners do just that.

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