To think parents should take responsibility if children chase sheep on country walk?

[Firethorn]

Recently went for a country walk (public right of way across farmland) with SIL, my 2 nieces, and another couple and their 3 kids. Crossing a sheep-field, the 5 kids started chasing sheep, trying to 'round them up' in a flock like they'd seen sheepdogs do on TV. I asked SIL if we should stop them, she said no they always do this it's not doing any harm. Other couple agreed and said the kids are having fun, let them play with the sheep. I was a bit concerned as one child was carrying a stick and waving it around, but respected the parents' decision.
Shortly afterwards an irate farmer marched towards us shouting and swearing! She was really aggressive and had a snarling dog (off the lead), dog was circling us but not approaching. For about 5 minutes mins she yelled and swore at the kids for chasing her sheep. All 3 parents then turned on their kids and told them off, lying that they'd been telling them to stop but they'd disobeyed! (They hadn't told them to stop at any point). My niece burst into tears and hid behind me and I lost my temper with farmer for swearing at kids, told her to back off and stop shouting, and to get dog under control. The dad of one of other kids then threatened to kick the dog if it came near his kids, and after some more shouting we decided to go back way we'd come. She shouted abuse after us until we were out of sight!

I'm annoyed with other parents for letting their kids chase sheep then lying about trying to stop them! Also with farmer for being so intimidating and rude. SIL says we should just have apologised and carried on walking. AIBU?

Hi olivia sorry sent several reports now as op has really really upset me! (Please im crying due to her damage)

PrettyFeet, have my very first ever . Sheep do miscarry when frightened and I'm really not sure what the hell point you're trying to make on this thread.

OP, YWBVVVU. The farmer was quite within her rights. Had I been her, I'd have been livid. It's bad enough when a dog gets at sheep, but some dogs know no better. Parents, on the other hand, have no excuse.

You said that kids might just want to stroke a sheep. You do realise that they dont actually have the right to touch random animals and they should leave them the fuck alone.

Loved sheepy business though

We all have our views. I say toff some say stupid. I think we all know to call someone "stupid" is rather nasty and abusive.

I'm insinuating nothing PrettyFeet, I am bluntly stating that your posts on this thread display perfect and total ignorance of what an "ordeal" this in fact could and would have been for the sheep, and the farmer trying to make a living.

Not quaffing gin like a "toff" (speaking as a working class rural person, the descendant of generations of landless farm labourers).

Is anyone else imagining that this is what the op and her family and friends look like?

(Still crying)

I think children should be brought up not to terrorise any animal not just farm animals
Why do you think every live thing is there for kids entertainment
I wouldn't let my dd chase ducks but I have seen parents let their previous offspring throw stones at them
Bring them up to respect living creatures

@PrettyFeet

My attitude is thick? are you insinuating that you're above me cunt?

Many thanks to those of you who've reported this post - we will leave this post.
While it may come across as a personal attack because it includes a word that many find offensive, it's pretty clear that PrettyFeet is addressing the poster CuntCourtIsInSession.

As farmers, we're lucky enough to own our land and house but a lot do have to rent their farms and land. I'm absolutely gobsmacked at the OP and Prettyfeet who think it's perfectly ok to allow children to chase sheep (whether pregnant or not). At this time of of year we can have 350 to 400 ewes ready to lamb. The effect of them being stressed can often make them abort. We have 8 sheepdogs, all of which protect the livestock and yes they wil growl if they feel the sheep are being threatened in any way. They are extremely highly trained and can "read" both DH and I. They are trained never to attack. We couldn't have a dog that would attack especially working with sheep. As for the "toff" comment, well, we are far from "toffs". It's incredibly tiring during lambing season and we can work 20 hours days for months on end. It's soul destroying to read the OP and I feel so sorry for those farmers that were victims of people's stupidity.

Farming is not heavily subsidised though? forgive me if Im wrong.

Oh, actual LOL! Thanks Olivia - I appreciate anyone who reported it, but I genuinely didn't see it as a personal attack, as well, that's my name. Cheers!

Just as well it wasn't a bunch of bullocks in the field - the outcome could have been very different.

Oh, that completely went over my head, KatieKaye.

It's only that, well, I worked with someone who was convinced that there were no real farmers anymore and "farmers" were actually wealthy aristos that only kept cows for shits and giggles.

So basically, to him, every farmer in England was Prince Charles.

We all have our views. I say toff some say stupid. I think we all know to call someone "stupid" is rather nasty and abusive.

There is only one word to describe adults who allow children to chase pregnant ewes and that is STUPID along with inconsiderate, cruel and idiotic.

There is ample justification for calling people who behave in this manner "stupid". Everything OP has posted more than justifies that assessment.

What grounds do you have for judging people to be "toffs"? Would it be "knowing how not to behave like a nob?" I don't think any socio economic grouping has rights to that, but rather that it is a pretty universal attribute which a misguided few chose to ignore in the mid belief that they can do whatever they want, no matter the impact.

It is pretty but only for certain things as the subsidies are sometimes all that keeps the farmer going. You won't get rich from subsidies.

Sorry but they may in other lives be intelligent professional people who are normally very reasonable, but they have no common sense or respect for where they live. I take it they moved to the village and didn't grow up in a rural area? Any time you move to a new type of environment the 'rules' for your safety, others safety, and how to behave in general will be different and it's your responsibility to find out how. Are your intelligent, professional friends those very arrogant types who think they know everything and can never admit to any ignorance or not being in charge and in control of situations, even those they have zero knowledge or experience of? At very least they should have looked at the Country code when they moved there. It's an idiot's guide to how to behave in the country for people who are not from a rural environment.

I promise the entire village now knows exactly where the village idiots live by now.

If they want to salvage anything from this, and not have half the village hating them, they need to take an apology to the farmer, humbly, without arrogance or accusations about her perfectly reasonable behaviour, and also offer to pay any vets bills and compensation for lost lambs. And admit their ignorance and tell the farmer they are going to put that right now.

What kind of fool people would allow kids to behave like this?

"farmland or not, if a dog bit one of my nieces, I would not hesitate to kick the dog as hard as I could"

There was never any danger of the dog biting your nieces, Op, because (unlike all adults in your group) the dog was an "intelligent professional" who was not only completely capable of controlling it's own behavior, but was also working to minimise the damage being caused by those whose behavior was clearly out of control.

A tip, Op. If you're deep in a hole ... stop digging.

Oh ... and are the adults in your group, who are all "normally very reasonable" people, going to contact the farmer and offer to compensate for any damage caused?

Hahaha! I have just noticed the username! I was very at how relaxed cunt was being!!

Im not saying the dog nipped or bit. Iam completely on the farmers aide but it must have been pretty scary for the kids to see a snarling dog near them.

HANG ON, OP!

Are you Sean O'Connor, new (and incompetent) editor of The Archers? Because that would make a lot of sense.

Yes of course I was addressing a poster not calling a poster that!

Those sheep are the farmer's living, livestock are adversely affected by being stressed so the farmer was rightly extremely pissed! I've always been told if you let your dogs chase sheep the farmer is within their rights to shoot the dog I'd never let ds scare sheep or any other animals!