Apple tree, ponies and unfriendly neighbours

[Horseapples]

We rent a small paddock in our village for our two elderly ponies. We've had the paddock for 20 years. A couple of years ago a new retired couple bought the old cottage that backs onto it and demolished it. They've built a huge ugly new house with the back right up against the paddock fence.

They planted a hedge on their side of the fence, which our ponies started to nibble at. They asked us to fence off the hedge, so we put an electric fence up to stop the ponies getting to the hedge. This was annoying as it cuts a good 4 feet off the side (to stop ponies reaching across)

I've just seen they've bought and planted a pretty mature looking apple tree in the corner, which is now growing well over into the paddock. It's full of apples and so ti stop my ponies eating them, and risking colic and laminitis. I'm going to have to fence off that corner as well and somehow move their stone water trough away (its under the tree and the apples fall in).

The bloke is really entitled and unpleasant (actually made me cry when they moved in and chucked their hedge clippings into the paddock, I went round to explain please dont do that because eating clippings can make ponies ill and he was so horrible!). His wife is nicer but always watching my dd looking after the ponies and telling her how to do things (dd is 17 and perfectly capable!)

I'm so pissed off that I've basically lost a chunk of the paddock, particularly as its been so dry there isnt much grass.

AIBU to ask if I can cut the apple tree back - its a tree though so I dont want to kill it??

Can you speak to the person you rent the paddock from? I would ask them to cut the apple tree back, or surely you’re entitled to cut the bits that come onto the boundary of the paddock?

Yes possibly. I'm worried about causing friction!

Get the owner of the paddock to cut overhanging branches back
apart from the dumping the hedge clippings
they haven’t done anything wrong by planting a hedge and a tree in there garden

I thought you could cut anything that overhangs your property but you have to give the cuttings back to the owner of the tree? Am I out of date?

I would do everything possible to find somewhere else safe to rent. Explain why to the owner.

The owner of the paddock can cut back any apple tree branches that overhang their land.. or ask you to do it!

I don’t see why you have to fence off their hedge unless it is poisonous to ponies. It’s a boundary. If twigs and leaves stretch onto paddock land they are fair game. I would remove the electric fence.

Don't ask, cut it off and lob the branches over their fence, the absolute entitled dicks.

I'd also remove the electric fence unless the hedge is not good to eat for the ponies. If they don't want the hedge eaten they shouldn't have planted it next to a field with horses in or planted something they wouldn't touch. It's not hard, if they weren't thoughtless twerps.

There isn't anywhere else locally. I've looked. And we love our field and so do the ponies.

Cut the tree back to the boundary and offer the branches back. You are legally entitled to do that. Also rather than an electric fence I’d of just put up a couple of wooden fence panels. That way you lose no space and their bush is safe.

I'm so tempted. I've turned it off at least so I've seen the ponies eating the grass behind it.

They've also asked if their grandchildren can ride the ponies and I've said no because they aren't riding school ponies and I'm not sure of the legal obligations if one falls off - they can't ride but they visit from London every holiday

You can cut back anything that overhangs your property. You should then offer the cuttings back but they are not obliged to take them - don't throw them back over. A line of electric on the actual fence should be sufficient to keep the ponies from eating over the fence so you don't need to loose any paddock.

Alternatively, as mentioned by someone else, few wooden fence panels would solve the issue of the ponies reaching over and save you the effort of continually cutting back the hedge or apple tree.

The overhanging apple tree is no issue, you can cut back to the boundary. You must offer them the cuttings. I would tell them in advance and make them aware of the law.

"They've also asked if their grandchildren can ride the ponies and I've said no because they aren't riding school ponies..."

I'd have told them the answer was no because Mr Ugly-house is a twat and advise that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar but that's me. Entitled arses! As others say, you/paddock owner can cut the overhanging branches and offer them back.

If Mr Entitled's grandkids ask politely if they can ride the ponies explain politely that no, because the ponies are very old and are retired. They will hopefully understand. If they ask impolitely just tell them no.

Not a paddock situation, but my 91yr old neighbour has a massive apple tree that was hanging, heavy with fruit, way over my garden boundary.

We get on really, really well and I mentioned it it to her because my dog eats ANYTHING. I have a dog flap so she can bob in and out and I had visions of another £2k bill from the vets for ileus again this year.

I asked if the chap who mows my lawn could cut it back and put the fruit branches back on her side. She was sad about missing out on the fruit, but agreed because we know how it works. So that was done recently. And yes, doggo was chasing every single apple that fell off the branches being cut, so you're well to be careful.

Chop everything back with the overhanging tree. Bear in mind, a strong wind and those apples will fall over your electric fence and your horses will, literally, have a field day! Just chuck any branches back over.