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.