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.

Hmm. Maybe leave enough room to get off road but not to get properly onto the property?
A couple of cheap hammer in fence posts, a couple of eyelet screws, some chain and a pair of padlocks perhaps?

Have you let DH know that they are parked on your driveway?

Can you get your car out at all? Can you somehow block them in so they can't get out? I would even consider going and parking on their driveway, see how they like it!!!

Delurker - Oh I'm so sorry to hear this latest update Chris. I too suffered from PND and I'm so angry you are being put in this situation. I hope a more strongly worded email works and these pisstakers finally get the message.

Mistle, they've gone. They have to move if I need to get out. It's a pain. Dh knows and is not happy.

PND is horrible, I like to think if I was at full strength I'd be out there making our position clear.

Op, a horse owner here again...
I do not think that you should be contacting anyone about the future of these horses unless the deadline for moving them has passed. Anything you do, if mentioned to the people who own them, will give them an excuse to make you part of looking for a solution. It's very unlikely that any rescue, including HAPPA, will take an old horse who needs gelding in any way. They are full to bursting and this time of the year tends to be the worst for welfare cases.
I don't really think that you or your husband are being clear enough. Put letters on the shed, and anywhere else they need to go giving the date for vacating the property. In the same letter point out that they have ignored your request to empty the shed, so you will empty it and leave the contents in the field on Saturday. (When I say in the field, hopefully you won't have to do this, but if you do make sure that it's secure from the horses. If there is feed there they must not be able to get at it).
Tell them again that under no circumstances are they allowed to park in your drive (you could add without permission if you want them to be able to get close to the shed to empty it!). And don't wimp about next time it happens, one of you needs to go over to the field and make them come out and move the car.
Think of it like dealing with children, don't make idle threats, follow through.

All good advice peeking.

We have had responses...
Not great!

So... Denying ownership of stallion (we just care for him), stating we gave permission for parking etc (an outright lie although the use of the shed involved her catching dh on his way in from work one day and telling him that they use it, he didn't argue, it took him by surprise, and at the time we weren't using it), we are mean (not in so many words), the estate agent should have told us how it was (erm, no), and so on and on.

So tell them that, in that case , you will take steps to dispose of the stallion and you want the other off your land in two weeks . Then ask your vet about gelding the stallion or, sadly and reluctantly, having him pts :(

At this point I would be thinking about calling the police and saying trespass etc. If there are any legal bods around, can they do that successfully?

Thegreylady I think that's all I can do.

She seems to be very much under the impression that she's doing us a favour.

It asks us to suggest where she uses instead of our shed... Why is that our problem?

Wellies I think it'll be a civil matter. It seems to take a lot to get someone off your land.

Cheeky F&%&ers! Oh but please don't get stressed by it. At least you know where you stand now and can turn solid and united. End of Mrs Nice Guy.

If that's their attitude perhaps you need to ask them who they think does own the dam horse. That ALL permissions are now withdrawn.

If they are denying ownership of the horse then the rules can be rewritten. The horse is abandoned so you can arrange disposal. Tell them you will report it as abandoned if they do not give you a plan of action by the end of x (say a week) and that if you do not get a response the horse will be removed and possibly PTS by 2 weeks time.
Absolute STOP to access of your garden, parking and the shed.
Say you want ALL of their belongings removed from your property by a week's time.

Cheeky cheeky gits!

Chris, you can, of course, turn the water off - that will make things a bit more difficult for them and perhaps encourage them to look for a new location sooner rather than later. You can let them know that the gate will be locked apart from an hour a week when they can bring in containers of water to last the week (I have turned out in a field where we had to take the water up quite a distance in a wheelbarrow in a large container and it was left in the field and the water topped up as needed, so this is doable).

Hay should be dumped in her driveway if possible so that its her responsibility of keeping it safe! Don't tell me they were restocking the shed at the weekend?

And who the F*&% owns the second horse that they are grazing and sheltering for free in YOUR field? Can you sell that one too?

Oh they own that one, just not the other one(which is not what they told us, suddenly there's responsibility and no one owns the horse).

And yes, they must have been restocking

My blood pressure is going crazy over this. Cannot imagine what it must be doing to you. Can you see your solicitor just for this, and not the other stuff? Sounds to me like you need proper immediate advice.

Agree with thegreylady - take steps to dispose of the stallion if the "owner" is denying ownership.

I'd be interested to hear what position she has adopted with regard to the other horse...is she claiming that she is also only caring for it?

I know where I'd be telling her to use instead of the shed! ...On a more rational note, her storage issue is not your problem. Clear the shed out, put a tarp over her things to protect them from damage and leave a prominent note telling her to remove her belongings.

Keep your dream of a meadow in sight - it will help you stay strong.

x-post. Sorry.

Nothing useful to add, but just delurking to say it sounds as if you have been more than reasonable. Best of luck. Be firm!

If you can honestly say that this woman is causing you 'alarm or distress' (and it seems to me that she is) then her behaviour has crossed the line into harassment and the police should be informed.

I might have missed the explanation somewhere but why is she parking in your driveway if there's an alternative and you've asked her not to?

Wow OP the cheek of them, I'm raging on your behalf.

Excellent. Things have moved. They really are horrible and clearly just wanted free keep for the second horse.

Contact the local horse vet and explain. Ask him what to do ASAP.
Contact your solicitor and ask her/ him for a letter confirming they say the stallion is nothing to do with them and give them 7 days to respond in writing to the solicitor.

Tell them that the stallion will be leaving your property - you don't have to give any other info, its NONE of their business.
Then tell then they have 2 weeks to get the other horse off your land.
Empty the shed. Fill full of wood.

Why are people like this? Plus your solicitor should have looked at this before you bought, but its too late now!

It will be over soon.

Right.
Reply as follows.
"Dear xx
It seem that we have both been sadly misled by the previous owner of our property. We will now assume that we are the legal owners of the stallion, and due to his advanced age and stallion status which will make rehoming him very difficult and stressful for him, we will be making moves to arrange that he be put to sleep on 28th February. If you are in possession of his passport, please return this to us to facilitate this action.
With regards to the parking situation, it makes us incredibly uncomfortable having people accessing the property without our knowledge and makes using our own parking facilities difficult. Therefore we withdraw any previously assumed permission to access our property. There is a perfectly good layby available for your use, and access to the paddock by the paddock gate. Please use these starting immediately.
We require the shed for our own use, so require that it be cleared immediately. As to the disposal of the contents, we suggest the shed that is actually in the field, or somewhere on your own property. We really feel that this is not our problem. Once again we withdraw any assumed permissions to use the shed with immediate effect.
Once again we stress that the paddock MUST be vacated by 28th February in preparation for being ploughed up on 1st March.
We appreciate your cooperation in this matter,
Many thanks, FuckYouChris. x

Then contact the local hunt and look into having the horse PTS. They will come out, shoot him and dispose of his remains. You wont need to be there. Dont feel bad, as a horse owner I totally believe that this is the best thing for him.
Sadly, as I said up there^^ you ALL appear to have been done over by the last owner. SN or not, he should have had legal representation and the matter should have been dealt with. I would be contacting your solicitor over the whole issue if I was you. If nothing else, HE/SHE should have got to the bottom of the problem before you bought the place.

find out if this means u own the horse , get them to remove their horse and clear out their shit as soon as possible this is bullshit and im pissed off on your behalf.

In terms of dealing with the hunt rather than the vet to put him to sleep, definitely speak to the vet first, but not holding the passport, you may well find that a vet won't help. The hunt 'may' be a little bit more help. Either way, both are an option.