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.

Have just read almost all of the thread but admit to skimming some. The stallion probably doesn't have a passport, and yes I know they should (technically only if they're being moved or sold) mine does neither and hasn't got one, our vet is ok with it. In your position I would have no worries about calling in the local hunt to dispose of the stallion. It is old and unwanted and life is not full of grassy paddocks.
The only positive advice I can give is to contact your local National Farmers Union office - they have a good legal team to advise you on matters like this. I'm assuming that you already have insurance for the land in place? Especially if public have access to it? You could arrange a meeting at home with the local NFU person and explain the problem to them on the pretence of getting insurance if need be. Good luck with it all, reading things like this always reminds me why letting land/stables to horsey people is more trouble than it's worth!

Perhaps any letters should mention that up until now they have had free grazing for their horse that you never agreed to, and if they don't leave by the date you expect then you will be forced to send them a bill for rent backdated to when you bought the house!

Including the water bill!

Tell her that you will take responsibility for the horse abandoned by the previous owner thankyouverymuch, so she now just needs to remove her own horse and empty the shed etc.
Not ideal but then at least she can't argue that its not her horse as a way of trying to keep it and her own on your land.

Your sale contract, specifying vacant possession, could also be a good weapon to wave about, especially as no-one has a tenancy to brandish back at you!

I like the idea of support from the National Union of Farmers!

Don't ask them for or accept any money from them and don't mention the word tenancy to them. They are there illegally so don't give them a whiff of anything entitling them to security or tenancy rights, sounds like they may seize this with both hands and use it against you.

I think now they've clearly segmented the horses - we own this one - we don't own that one - it becomes much straightforward to say quite reasonably that you are not in any position to provide free land, grazing, water and storage for the horse she owns so will she please remove it to a proper livery by X date, and you will be responsible for the stallion. The long notice only made sense when you thought they were going to look after both.

I am not a lawyer, but I am rather suprised at your solicitor if the contract specified "vacant possession". I am aware some time has elapsed (though I think you have valid reasons for that) and that you may not wish to alienate them but part of this problem would seem to be their fault.

Completely different situation but our solicitor forgot to check that both the house and the garden belonged to the vendor when we bought. It came to light that most of the garden wasn't officially their to sell after we had completed and moved in. My solicitor, who was the one who should have checked, ended up sorting the situation out for us for free. Luckily there was a legal loophole which means that we could get title.

I suspect that your conveyancing solicitor might have done something not quite well enough and should be involved in sorting it out. Does this help? Any legal bods know?

A quick synopsis In legal here is a great idea:)

And yes, livery or grass, sharing a field or whatever will be easier now and she could be out ASAP.

That's the way forward as posted below. Sort your timing out though, because if the stallion gets upset when she goes out for a hack leaving fir good might make him try and escape and follow, or run up and down all day.

Delurking also. I know horsey people and none are this mad! I feel for you.

Another de lurker (and shameless place marker).

Hope you get it sorted soon.

Is it worth asking the estate agent to forward a letter to the previous owner explaining that his gift is now unwanted and can he take steps to rectify this situation by taking responsibility for his property. Give him a deadline to contact you by before you have this animal pts.

De lurking

Good luck , op, yanbu and they are taking the piss!

You may be onto something littledrummergirl. I think, once a gift is given, it belongs to the recipient. That's why you can't give a gift and then take it back if you feel like it. Why engagement rings and the like belong to the recipient.

I think then, that looking after the stallion accepts receipt of the 'gift' from the previous householder. This might prove the rescuer people do own the stallion if that is what you want to prove FYChrisATH. Might be better if you do 'own' it though if you feel the time has come to PTS.

Littledrummergirl, the previous owners have special needs and OP said she couldn't ask them to deal with anything like this. They themselves inherited the horse and house from a relative who died. Not sure if they would have a carer/guardian-type who might handle it, though.

I am gobsmacked at their effrontery! I'm a long way away but I so want to come round and shriek 'fuck off, you bastards!' at them for you. Could you enlist any friends/family to come and stay and help with confronting them?

O my, unbelievable! As its so stressful and you have other more important things I would segment the horse people problem into three achievable goals, first no trespassing on your drive and no using the shed, second no access to your field for either them or their horse, third you deal with the old boy by having him PTS. I think once your have done number one you will feel a lot better and more able to cope with two and three. If you break it down it wont seem such a large problem.

I would give them warning that they have NO access to your drive or shed, at all, ever, and that they may collect the contents of the shed from the field where you have left it. Could DH park in the lay bye for a few days and you block the drive with your car?

If it comes to it I wouldn't hesitate to have the stallion euthanised. And I say that as a vegetarian animal lover. He is old and it would be so traumatic to move him then he's spent his whole life in that field. Far kinder to him to end his life in his home without distress.

So much great advice! I've only skimmed so far, will reread later. Thank you so much :)

No news so far today. I haven't seen anyone park on the drive yet

Chris, I assume you are under your GP and possibly receiving medication for your PND? Perhaps it would be a good idea to see your doctor and explain to him/her how this horse situation is making you feel even worse? I know the GP cannot resolve the situation for you, but at least they would have a record of how this is affecting and impacting on your condition.

Thanks Tilly we'll mention it.

Ready for the update? They haven't parked on the drive, but instead of using the layby 20 yds up the road they are currently parked directly opposite it, pretty much blocking me getting out, and blocking one lane of traffic on a blind corner.

Would anyone like some passive aggression to go with their fuckwittery?!

If they've pulled onto the verge (and I assume they have) it's awfully tempting to go and accidentally drop some 6" nails over there for tomorrow. Oh and she's just off... Using my drive to turn around!

Unbelievably lazy!

Will, not we'll

Next time report her to the police for causing an obstruction?

As a matter of fact I don't see any reason why some barbed wire couldn't accidentally be left on the verge just by that blind corner.

Oops forgot the !