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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Why can't people walking across my land just behave decently?!

51 replies

jacks11 · 07/09/2015 12:26

I don't think IABU, just need to vent.

We have just had someone come to the house demanding payment of vet bills for their dog- apparently one of my mares who has a foal at foot kicked their dog whilst they were walking through one of our fields. The dog was not on the lead (as their dog is "fine with horses"). It sounds as though it got too close to the foal for the mares liking and she defended it.

I have told him that I won't be paying for his vets bill, as it is absolutely his fault his dog got injured. He should not have had his dog off the lead around livestock for a start- regardless of how well the dog normally is with horses (or cattle/sheep etc). Secondly, we have signs on the gates to the fields with mares with foals (basically says "warning mares with foals at foot. Can be unpredictable") as they can act be unpredictable if they feel their foals are being threatened (even if that is not the intention of the person or dog etc). Therefore he should have been aware of the risk he is taking walking through that paddock. The mares are fine with us, but that is because they know and trust us (and we act sensibly around them).

Not only that but there is a perfectly serviceable right of way around these fields which we have ensured are kept clear and passible- we are obliged to do so. Therefore I cannot see a single reason for walking through these fields, other than preference or because it is more direct route to the woodlands and hill routes near us.

I am so fed up with people not being respectful of our land, or careful with regards to our livestock. Many times during the summer (at least once per week) I have found gates not closed/locked properly, and on a few occasions the gates wide open with stock (not the horses) getting loose. We have signs up around the fields where the livestock are more likely to be unpredictable/ dangerous, but it doesn't seem to stop people traipsing through them. Some of these people are locals, some tourists/walkers. I don't think one group is much worse then the other.

We have found litter too. On one occasion we discovered a family having a nice picnic lunch in the upper paddock- it does have a nice view but is well off the right of way- and I also discovered their left overs afterwards. It's just so frustrating- there is no law of trespass in Scotland so can't stop people roaming very easily, but it makes me so angry that a significant minority just don't follow even basic standards of common sense (i.e. not walking through a herd of cattle with new calves) or decency (i.e. preferably use the provided right of way path or at least making sure you shut gates behind you if you do go through our fields).

I feel better for the vent.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 07/09/2015 12:29

Yanbu. Some people seem to have no respect for the countryside.

DuchessofAnkh · 07/09/2015 12:32

padlock the gates to make it more difficult to access?

SlowlyGoingINSAINIA · 07/09/2015 12:33

Yanbu. Some people are thick

ThroughThickAndThin01 · 07/09/2015 12:33

Yanbu, the General public can be an obnoxious group.

Is it legal for you to put signs up 'dogs must be on leads'?

I walk my dogs on footpaths through local fields and I'd be mortified if my dog was close enough to a horse to be kicked. Presenting a vets bill is terrible.

BabyGanoush · 07/09/2015 12:33

The cheek of those people!

Where do they get their attitude?!

DuchessofAnkh · 07/09/2015 12:33

and a nice big sign indicating the footpath?

CaptainKit · 07/09/2015 12:37

YANBU

Could you padlock the gates and put in a stile? Not that you should have to, as people really should be more careful especially with livestock around, but at least that way you'd be a little more certain the animals were safe.

You were definitely not wrong to refuse to pay the vets bill. Bloody cheek of that dog owner.

BathshebaDarkstone · 07/09/2015 12:37

Blimey any mother animal would do that to protect her young. So would I! The dog owner's a stupid git. Angry

happymummyone · 07/09/2015 12:42

YANBU. Inhope you laughed at him and sent him on his way. Such an arrogant attitute, letting your dog frighten your animals on your land and expecting payment when the dog gets injured!

Original poster
jacks11 · 07/09/2015 12:43

The right of way is signposted (not by us, council does it), people just seem not to bother.

I padlock some of the lower paddocks, but to be honest it's not terribly feasible for some of the others. Also, really shouldn't have to.

I don't think people realise livestock can be dangerous and can cause serious injuries (even death in extreme cases) to dogs and to people. This dog was apparently "just running along, minding his own business" according to his owner. I couldn't seem to make him understand that the mare would not know of the dogs intentions and if it got too close she would see it as a threat and act accordingly. This incident was entirely the fault of the owner (don't blame the dog, doesn't sound like he was attempting to attack anything) for not having the dog on a lead/under control. Although he did think the dog was under control as his dog has" excellent recall')- clearly the problem was he chose not to utilise this. Why are people so ignorant?

OP posts:
InimitableJeeves · 07/09/2015 12:43

If the dog owner persists, tell her you'll be reporting her to the RSPCA for not taking adequate steps to keep her dog safe.

multivac · 07/09/2015 12:46

YANBU. I think the right to roam law in Scotland is fantastic, and should be implemented in the rest of the UK... but it does rely on people not being dicks, and using basic common sense and courtesy.

Better education required, perhaps?

PerspicaciaTick · 07/09/2015 12:49

When I was growing up in the 70s, the Countryside Code was drummed into us all at every opportunity by school and Guiding/Scouting.

I've taught my DCs - but it seems to have mostly dropped out of use nowadays.

Original poster
jacks11 · 07/09/2015 12:49

happy

I did ask him if he was joking re the vest bill. When he said no, I explained why I wasn't paying it and told him to go away. I also suggested in future he might decide to use the right of way.

He also wanted me to know my horse had behaved aggressively. I again explained THAT IS WHY I HAVE PUT THE SIGNS UP. I shouldn't have to, but people seem to be so ignorant of the response of livestock to their actions I have felt I have to out warnings up. Also horse is in a field on private land- if you chose to go into the field then any harm you come to is your own fault.

I live rurally, so you'd think there wouldn't be so many people to cause this hassle! It will quieten down with the onset of autumn/winter though, so not too long to go. We will need to think of better strategies for keeping people onto the right of way over the winter.

OP posts:
Pneumometer · 07/09/2015 12:49

If the dog were close enough to a foal to distress the mother than you would be within your rights to shoot the dog? Or does that only apply to sheep?

And what it is with dog owners demanding that vet bills be paid by random third parties (this not being the first thread that has featured this strange course of action)? Has this ever ended with someone saying "oh yes, of course, entirely my fault, just send me the invoice and I'll send you a cheque?"

Original poster
jacks11 · 07/09/2015 12:50

sorry- vets bill, not vest bill!

OP posts:
LyndaNotLinda · 07/09/2015 12:54

Some people are just twats :( I hope your horses are okay.

I think they should teach children how to behave in the countryside at school - so many people are completely clueless about livestock.

multivac · 07/09/2015 12:57

I definitely don't think you should be paying for a stranger's dog's clothing...

LoveChickens · 07/09/2015 12:58

Your poor horses, of course you are not being unreasonable. I am sorry you are your animals aren't more protected.

eatyouwithaspoon · 07/09/2015 12:59

What a cheek, even a townie like me knows you don't go near a an unknowm aminal with its young as they can feel threatened and act accordingly. Did they accept you werent going to pay?

Original poster
jacks11 · 07/09/2015 13:05

multivac

We are in Scotland, and I agree the right to roam is great in principle. As with all things, though, with rights come responsibilities. Seems to me that too many people are very keen on upholding their rights but very much less keen to live up to the responsibilities these rights bring. It's not just in this respect, but in so many things.

I'm not actually terribly upset by the fact people cross the fields (I would prefer they use the maintained path or at least took notice of warning signs and avoided those fields, for everyones sake, but accept it is hard to enforce)- it's the lack of care and consideration I object to.

Most of the track skirts the borders of the fields, so it would be possible to not enter the majority of the fields, but it is quicker to cross the fields as it is more direct.

In principle- want to have a picnic in one of the (empty) fields? Fair enough but please ensure you take all your rubbish/left overs with you. Please also make sure you close gates properly behind you and keep your dogs/children under control for everyone's safety. I don't think it's asking too much.

The irony is I am obliged to keep the right of way clear and accessible (which we do)- but am not prevented from keeping certain livestock in any field it crosses- so I could put a bull in there as long as the right of way was clear and the fact the bull was there was appropriately sign-posted. Even though it would make it dangerous for walkers. I know other landowners who have done this to put walkers off when they've had enough of the problems (also the odd one or two who have done it to be difficult). I wouldn't do this, but can see how it might be tempting.

OP posts:
amarmai · 07/09/2015 13:06

special people , don't ye know? They don't have to do what the sheeples have to do - wherever they are. They actually think they are smarter than people who follow the rules! No point arguing with them . They are special.

happymummyone · 07/09/2015 13:07

Well can he blame the horse for any so-called aggressive behaviour? She was defending her baby from a perceived threat. It's nature, and it seems he had fair warning that your horses had foals as you put signs up. You're totally blameless and if he forced the issue I'm sure any authorities would laugh him away too.

BitOutOfPractice · 07/09/2015 13:08

YANBU. Is it wrong that I was kind of hoping the horse kicked the man?

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