To think this woman was unreasonable not me.

[lastqueenofscotland]

I have two horses who live with my PIL (not a PIL bashing thread).

The field is along the side of a road near a new build housing estate thing. All along it there are fairly massive signs asking people not to feed the horses because horse 1 has a horrid past and one of the hang overs around that is he is really aggressive around food, horse 2 is fucking fat.

Today I was at my PILs, rode my horses and put them in the field. I saw when I was tidying up the stables a small child standing right on the fence leaning into the field, with mum there, trying to feed them their sandwiches

I walk over and really nicely ask them to not feed the horses, thankfully only Hippo was showing an interest at this stage, not the one who would be in prison for GBH if he was a person.

Woman then lays into me saying her daughter has SN and if she wants to feed the horses she can etc etc.

I point out the fact that one is obese and one is a thug, and she storms off calling me a joyless bitch and saying I ruined her child's day, and loudly saying to the girl that all people with horses are stuck up and nasty.

AIBU to think she was a dick and next time just leave them to get savaged by the thug?

You were not bu. Some peoplewinot be told. She probably lashed out because she was embarrassed but she was totally in the wrong.

• will not be told.

I find it astounding that people think it's ok to feed horses. A friend was going to go and feed the horses polos with his son. I pointed out this was not an acceptable thing to do! He was quite disgruntled. YNbu.

If the signs made the reasons for not feeding the horses as clear as you have stated them here, then the woman was mad to go near them at all! She was definitely BU to shout at you like that.

^^ I'm always surprised by it but a lot of people seem to think it's fine to feed them, hense explaining why I'm so hot on it in my OP.

Why should the signs give an explanation for not feeding the horses? 'Do not feed' should be enough for anyone.

It's strange how people seem to think it's perfectly acceptable to feed other peoples horses randon crap, as if because they're out in a field they're common property.

They wouldn't start feeding some stranger's dog in the park with their sandwiches, would they? I imagine not.

No you were not being UR.

*random, not randon

She is bloody lucky you were there, stupid stupid entitled woman

Of course you were not being unreasonable. Wtf did the child's SN have to do with it? She sounds bloody charming.

People are idiots who, understandably, know nothing about equine health. Just string a line of electric fencing a few feet inside your fence line so the horses can't get to the hard fence.

Flying electric fencing is actually a great idea!!!
That's next Saturday for me sorted... Putting that up!

I used to find fucking buckets just inside the gate of my field. I have no idea who was doing it but we had massive signs up because horse 1 was just back after being on 12 week box rest due to laminitis and horse 2 was the most vicious bastard horse I have ever had the misfortune to own.

YANBU it's absolutely ridiculous!
We have a riding school near us and the horses are in a field behind our street. My DH had to pop over to the school the other day as when he took our dog for a walk he noticed someone had dumped a HUGE amount of apples into the field which one of the horses was glutting on. Now this might be fine but given they are quite sweet and can give humans the trots he felt he should pop over and let them know in case it led to them thinking one of their horses was unwell if it got the runs or something.

People just don't think, you have no idea what kind of dietary requirements an animal has!

She was completely unreasonable- I also have this problem regularly- I can't work out why random people thinks it's ok to feed my horses - why not just leave well alone? Or leave it at a pat even? Why do they feel the need to feed them? Do they think I don't?

It's scary especially for the ones that have had laminitis before.

Would she be happy if you randomly started feeding her child?

YANBU, horses are not public property.

Post doing the rounds on Facebook from some poor woman who's yearling had died as a result of random feeders (choked). ... she also had signs up appealing for people not to feed.

I get really fucked off at people suddenly feeling (im preg at the moment and will avoid at all costs) that because they are a parent rules don't apply to them, and going on like they are some kind of superhero beyond reproach just because they have a kid.

She was unreasonable. You wouldn't randomly feed someone's dog would you? No. So why the bloody hell would you feed someone's horse unless you had prior permission and appropriate food (not sandwiches!!!)

I understand the girl had special needs but there are places where you can go and feed horses until your heart is content.

I had a 'Russell Brand-esque' horse that would regularly put on an 'adult themed' piggy back show with any mare in reach that sent parents and their PFB's scuttling. God I miss him ....

Not that its all that compatible I don't own horses but I'm always bemused seeing people feeding bread to the ducks in the local park. The park where there's massive DO NOT FEED THE DUCKS BREAD signs all over the place. And then watch them going nuts about killjoys and their rights when confronted by the park workers (rangers/groundsmen???)

You were not unreasonable. Unfortunately people don't realise the implications and just think they are doing something nice.

I didn't realise either until I read on here about the possible consequences

YANBU but I think you're a bit mean to fat shame your horse.

Okay, he's podgy, but calling him Hippo is quite mean. No wonder he comfort eats strange people's sandwiches.

Silly mare (pun intended).

Oh Op, not you, the sandwich lady 🐴.