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To kick these people out?

999 replies

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 18:24

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

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.

OP posts:
ItsAllGoingToBeFine · 18/01/2014 14:04

Ooh, it does sound like you have a lovely property :)

I'd guess they would leave everything to the deadline :(

thenightsky · 18/01/2014 14:04

If the shed hasn't been cleared, what were they doing instead when you thought they were clearing it? (if that makes sense)

mistlethrush · 18/01/2014 14:20

Is it raining over there??? Wink

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 18/01/2014 14:47

Plenty of rain :)

I'm worried they were putting more in it! Perhaps they were working out how much space they need elsewhere

mistlethrush · 18/01/2014 14:56

Is DH around this weekend - and are you on 'mad horse people' patrol?

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 18/01/2014 15:05

Dh is, but we do have visitors, I'm keeping my eyes peeled though. Dh has a few things he wants to say.

MostlyCake · 18/01/2014 16:11

Delurking too! The situation sounds crap Chris but your place sounds awesome! I'd love a place with outbuildings and a field but probably not squatter horses-

on the meadow note, wold flowers grow best in really poor soil so you'd have to lift all the horse poopI'm afraid... don't plough it either, you have to scarify it. There's info online of you Google it. [Smile]

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 18/01/2014 19:08

Another de lurker :)

That's good to know. We're going to plough most of it but we can definitely keep a worse bit for frolicking.

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 18/01/2014 19:47

Im fairly certain Ive heard somewhere that you need to grow something like turnips before you plant a meadow. It sucks the goodness out of the soil and makes it more meadow friendly.

mistlethrush · 18/01/2014 19:55

This looks a really good start in terms of access to info and leaflets etc to help with reestablishing a meadow... I would look at the info there before ploughing too...

BaronessBomburst · 19/01/2014 11:08

Oh, okay, I'll de-lurk too.

I'm bringing livestock of one small boy, a cat that climbs walls, as many silverfish as you want, and several different types of spider. Other insects and garden animals available on request. I could probably rustle up some shrews and a hedgehog for your meadow.

HaroldLloyd · 19/01/2014 11:11

A meadow for frolicking! Amazing.

I'll be there.

IdaBlankenship · 19/01/2014 12:39

I caught an earwig earlier that now needs re-homing

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 19/01/2014 15:34

:) the more the merrier. All is quiet on the western front. No sign of them at all so far this weekend.

It's a beautiful day and I'm covered in blackthorn scratches. The sheds have been coloured in with chalk, and all is not so bad.

MerryWinterfel · 19/01/2014 20:04

Did you give them a deadline for the shed or just the general end date? If they have passed a shed deadline I would be tempted to empty the shed and leave on the end of the drive, perhaps on bin day. Depends how much is in there though. I cant quite believe they thought they could also keep using your shed! I think that's what would tip me over the edge, along with the blocking the drive . I think you are being very sensible about it all, and brave too.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 19/01/2014 21:10

Thanks merry, no deadline, but we made it clear we weren't happy with it being used or them using our drive. So when I saw them parked directly outside the shed (and not where they usually park), I thought they must be emptying it and got all optimistic that maybe they weren't as piss taking as I first thought, and that perhaps it really had been a misunderstanding.

It's possible they were checking what needs storing before moving it. It's possible they were unloading more stuff to put in there. It's also possible that they thought I wouldn't see them park there as it's more difficult to see from the window.

Who knows? We haven't seen them all weekend so dh hasn't been able to lay down what we expect face to face.

We're no further forward.

Lavenderhoney · 19/01/2014 22:01

Have you got stuff that needs to live in the shed?

If so, put their stuff outside with some tarpaulin over it. And fill your shed with your stuff.

Really, they seem very entitled. Just pop them an email saying you need to use your own shed and will leave their stuff outside for them to collect ASAP.

All very normal and what anyone would do. Unless you like hoarding lawn mowers and such in your kitchen:)

Lavenderhoney · 19/01/2014 22:05

Forgot- horses out at grass should be checked at least twice a day. So how come they are not bothering at weekends? Who is checking water and giving hay? They must have that this time of year, there is no grass and horses still have to eat.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 20/01/2014 07:50

Lavender, they usually come once a day , but I suspect they're avoiding coming at weekends to avoid us (excellent caring there Hmm ). They may of course have come stupidly early or after dark, but I doubt it. The horses are usually fed just before dark, which means you really cannot go over during the day as they expect feeding.

We do have other sheds, but I would like to use this one as a wood store.

thegreylady · 20/01/2014 08:53

Delurking too I have sort of enjoyed this thread being torn between being a horse lover and being outraged at the sheer cheek of them. All the useful suggestions have been made already I think though I did wonder if HAPPA still exists and if so would they help?

thegreylady · 20/01/2014 08:55

They do exist and are based in Lancashire www.happa.org.uk I think

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 20/01/2014 08:59

I've just had a look and happa still exist, although they are in Lancashire. They've got one old boy on there looking for a new home, who was gelded last year at the age of 21.

I must find out this horse's real age!

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 20/01/2014 08:59

Xpost :)

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 20/01/2014 09:30

And guess who's just parked on my drive?!

I feel utterly pathetic not marching out there and telling her to move, but I can't Angry Sad

SaggyOldClothCatPuss · 20/01/2014 09:35

Right. Have you got a print out of your new boundaries? sneak out and stick it on her windscreen. Make sure you underline the bit about the shed and the drive.
Ive played devils advocate, now I think they are taking the piss!

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