To kick these people out?

[CompletePushover]

7 yrs and this is my first AIBU, and I'm so cowardly I've name changed

So... After years of renting crappy places dh, the 4dcs and I have finally bought a lovely house.

It's great. Needs loads of work doing on it. Lots of potential, completely neglected and now ours. The people who had it before us had some problems and had criminally neglected their animals. The house comes with a field.

Now begins the lovely story. A few years ago Some people passing by saw how neglected the horse in the field was and took it upon themselves to look after it. They did amazing things, built him a shelter, bought him food, trimmed his hooves, all of it.

The horse is a stallion and unbroken but of nice temperament. But it means he can be flighty.

Move on a year and one of the group has taken on most of the care and bought their own horse who now lives rent free in the field.

Two weeks before completion the owner tells us we will be inheriting a cat and that the horses are staying (he's gifted the stallion to the other horse owner)

So... We panicked until lovely horse person came to our door and seemed very nice, and we said they could stay until Easter and then we'd see (rent free).

This all seemed ok, but there have been annoyances: There's no where else to park but in our drive, when we want to wander around the field with the dcs we have to struggle through two horses and it's a nightmare, and now finally we have bought out longed for dog and I can't walk him on my field without someone with me because I can't carry a baby and a puppy and fend off the horses on my own, in December we were told they use one of our sheds for feed, And there are other people who are part of the group who have not introduced themselves to me, but who go on to my field regularly.

So this evening we've let the horse owner know that beyond the end of march we want our field back. At the moment I've used it twice since we moved in and I want to use it daily.

They're not happy. I tell a lie, one is not happy, the other is completely understanding.

I know they did a good thing, I know they put work into the field (shelter and fencing) but I also know they've had free pasture for 18 months in return, and I think it's become a picnic spot for them all.

AIBU? And should I be growing a backbone, because I'm already trying to think of a way to section off some of it, which I know would only end up delaying the inevitable? I'm also worried because I'm in no way insured to have this all going on on my property.

I want nice things for the people who have done good, but at the same time I want to enjoy my home. I also have PND and desperately want to be outside but can't cope with being around people. Just to throw that in there.

Something to consider is, did they actually want to be gifted this animal?
There's a good chance that the previous owner told them it was theirs and they could stay if they took it on. Lets face it, HE obviously didn't want the responsibility, or he would have arranged a new home for it himself.
It honestly sounds like this is a shit situation all round, and the only person who has benefitted is the previous owner. He's spent 18 months letting someone else look after the horse at their own expense and has now abandoned the problem onto you and the rescuers.
TBF, IMO the best thing for this horse would be to be PTS. Someone will be lumbered with it, and no welfare/rescue organisation will touch it, they are all bursting at the seams.

Could you give them a date for vacation and then have the horses taken by a horse rescue as abandoned on the next day if they are not gone?

The one thing I haven't seen mentioned on the thread of late, just being fair here, is that the deceased original owner was not in any fit state to care for the house and although at the time, the horse didn't seem neglected as such, caring for it was a burden to the owner. This is why 'rescuers' became involved in the first place?
When the owner died the beneficiaries, as I understood it, were people who in turn have special needs.
That's how the OP became involved, as they didn't feel able to insist on goods and possessions being removed by the beneficiary/ies.

That added an additional aspect to the whole issue.

No. You cant. Firstly because although the new owners wouldn't have fulfilled their obligations to the OP, they would be still caring for the horses. It would probably become trespass, but not abandonment.
Secondly, because its EXTREMELY difficult to get any kind of rescue centre/welfare group to take on equines ATM. They are ALL full beyond bursting point. The RSPCA are more than useless, unless the horses are in dying condition.

I've been advised by various organisations that if they don't go I could put up an abandonment notice. If they then don't take them in 2 weeks I could take ownership.

Yes the previous owners were vulnerable adults. No responsible adult would have taken ownership from them without having somewhere else to go.

Some advice here
The horses would only be abandoned if the owners weren't caring for them. Otherwise, its 'fly grazing'.
If the owners refuse to remove the animals, it could be very difficult to get them off of your property.
I really strongly suggest a meeting and trying to keep at least the reasonable owner onside.
You have been dumped on in this situation, but you need to try and solve it amicably. Otherwise you will need to seek legal help and things may well get long winded.

Thanks saggy, that is very much the plan. Unfortunately the reasonable one is no longer in the area. So the next meeting will be without the "mediator" present. Hopefully her emotions have died down now. Dh is a very calm person and so is good at being non-confrontational.

There is absolutely no way they are going to find grazing the way they are going about it. But that can be included in the meeting, I can find out exactly what they are doing and be very firm with our dates.

Tanner we intend to, just having discussions about what we want and what we don't mind :)

Saggy's advice about having better communication and setting interim boundaries sound like it'll make your life less stressful. Could you pin a note (or two) letting them know you want to meet, so they all see it?

Sorry to hear the reasonable one isn't around at the moment, is that temporary?

Shoom, nope, she moved away. I've only met her once.

I do worry that without her here we're going to face aggression.

If she gets aggressive, don't be intimidated. Have DH with you and stay calm.
Ask for everyone still involved to be present. Have everything written down clearly and give everyone a copy.
I really think that you need to let them have their notice period, but once its done, I would do what you mentioned about the small pen by the gate and plough the rest of it up. It forces the issue, the grazing will be gone. They will have to leave then.

Did you say you had the reasonable woman's email? keeping her in the loop might be a good idea.

Saggy, that's the plan. I doubt anyone else would be present. I simply don't think any of the others would turn up. They've never introduced themselves to me, and they seem pretty fair weather horse-rescuers.

Saggy yes I do. I've composed an email to her laying out what we want and explaining that I'm approaching her first as previous discussions with the other hadn't gone well, and I was hoping she could advise on the best way to broach these matters.

Sounds like a good plan. Maybe she could pass the boundaries on to the rest of the people.

Saggy, I'm sure she can. Hopefully she'll be happy to remain as mediator.

That sounds positive. Remember you're telling, not asking

" Best way to broach this situation" amicably as it will be coming to an end on x date.

If you are made feel uncomfortable in any way or your terms are not met during the notice period, you have no other option but to bring the notice date forward.

You need to be very clear, and very direct.

I've had a reread and have made sure I've repeated the end date several times :)

Will sleep on it and send it in the morning.

I've been lurking but wanted to add my voice to the opinion that you are in no way BU.

If you are wary of aggression when you eventually meet with the unhappy rescuer remember that if you are, or feel, threatened then the police would be happy to hear about the situation and assist in stopping any escalation. The other rescuers may be of the fair weather persuasion but I should think the person you are wanting to talk with will probably not come alone. Don't let that worry you. The second person may be a voice of reason too.

Homebird, I love it when lurkers delurk. I'm 99% lurker these days.

I don't think it would get violent, but I do think it could be very unpleasant and shouty. But you're right, police are always an option if it gets out of hand.

I would very much prefer she wasn't alone.

The email has been reread and is going today. It explains everything that needs to happen and firmly repeats the end date with the added bit that the field is being worked from then.

So.. are you just letting it sit there in your 'drafts' folder then?

Have you managed to get to see your solicitor and talk it through with them - forgotten when it was.

:) I've sent it to dh and he's going to email it from him so I don't have to deal with it.

Saw solicitor about something else yesterday, but didn't get a chance to discuss this properly, although we did tell her we were having some issues. Unfortunately it's not the priority in life at the moment. But I want to know exactly where I stand if they ignore me.

Who is the 'owner' of the 2nd horse? I hope its not Mrs Unreasonable - but it probably is...

Have you asked for your shed back?

Can they access the field without coming through your garden?