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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:
GiraffesAndButterflies · 22/01/2014 11:15

Oo I thought of a better PA response for the message board:

" you've forgotten to put above how much you are willing to pay for the livery. I know we and the previous owners have let you have it for nothing all this time but you don't want people to think you are freeloaders. Obviously you aren't expecting to never ever have to pay for your horses' accommodation!"

Note my nice plural possessive apostrophe to make it clear they OWN TWO HORSES Grin

BlackeyedSusan · 22/01/2014 11:23

I can do a good impression of boudica...scare the heck out of her. ds likes dressing as a celtic warrior (naked adorned with blue pen wode)

WingDefence · 22/01/2014 11:39

FYChris I was going to respond to your question about festival dates with "whenever is most inconvenient for you", in the general pushover BYO horse theme, but I've decided that actually, the weekend of 1-2 March would be perfect so we can definitely make sure the UW and all her stuff are definitely gone. Wine Cake Grin

We could even have a sympathetic outdoor memorial service for the for the stallion if he does have to be PTS... Thanks

liquidstate · 22/01/2014 11:39

I can bring two donkeys. They make appearances at nativity plays and are very child friendly. I can also bring an over friendly collie dog that truly has the breath of Satan's toilet.

One lick is all it takes.

My husband is a famer and can plough your field. He can also do tractor trailer rides for the little ones and erect a mean fence. But his most skilled use will be to talk annoying talk to the irritating horsey people. He never meets a stranger without asking at least 20 random questions leaving most people exhausted and flummoxed.

I have a BIL that plays in a very loud rock band that has played Glastonbury and a SIL with a school choir.

Afraid my only skills would be to dig up your land in the name of archaeology Blush but will happily make tea and cakes and scatter seeds with an excited squeal.

IceBeing · 22/01/2014 11:46

I am so up for the festival in the field! I have my viper face paint on already and I have dug out my fire poi (and the flashing LED ones that look almost as cool and have actually never set fire to anything).

Now - how do I get to Wales?

WingDefence · 22/01/2014 11:48

One lick is all it takes.

Grin
FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 22/01/2014 11:56

Grin this festival is awesome!
Liquid, you have the perfect combination of pets, skilled dh and confusion spreading demeanour, get over here!
Wing that is the perfect date.
Ice being, we have to have poi!
Susan, practise that stare
Giraffes! Excellent use of the plural possessive :) sneaky. And one they may not contest due to poor grammar. Ingenious.

yoshipoppet · 22/01/2014 12:03

I think going to the Press would be a bad idea, even if they do take your story at face value. It would show this squatter in such an unfavourable light that no-one else will take her as a livery and you may end up with two abandoned horses instead of just the stallion.

liquidstate · 22/01/2014 12:06

I forgot my aunt is an Anglican nun. She can stand on your drive with a benign look on her face. Grin

FairPhyllis · 22/01/2014 12:09

I will come to the festival. I can bring Northumbrian bagpipes and a truck load of stotties, which I will use to build a wall between the horses and us.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 22/01/2014 12:16

Yoshi, that's true, there's no way it could be for my benefit really.

Fairphyllis, dh will love that! The bagpipes will but the fear of hell into them.

Liquid, but I might be terrified of her. There's something by terrifying about nuns.

tillytrotter11 · 22/01/2014 12:56

Chris, regarding the water situation: have they always used the water from your house? And, if so, how did they get it and who paid for it before you moved there? I realise you may not know the answer to this, but it would be interesting to find out!

Wishing you well and the best of luck you get this sorted pronto. X

BaronessBomburst · 22/01/2014 12:57

I've always fancied running around in a field naked except for woad.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 22/01/2014 12:59

Right, now all we need is an MNer with a private plane to fly all these assorted people and animals in from different parts of the country and we're all set! I'm in Scotland, hence the plane being required.

Btw, the second horse, Extra Pisstaking Horse, do they ride this one? Or does it just mooch around the field being a companion?

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 22/01/2014 13:07

Baroness, make sure you bring enough woad for everyone.

Tilly I assume the previous owners did.

Cheddar, yes, a plane is a must. It's only young and as yet unbroken Hmm at least he's gelded.

Bonzodoodah · 22/01/2014 13:09

If you don't want to have your name published could you comment on their webpage using a pseudonym? Then you could put your (extremely reasonable) points across but not be personally identified?

I like your draft of what to reply ... suitably wounded sounding and not agressive. I also second the presenting of the water bill and saying the water will be turned off at the end of the week.

And again - smiling and showing how superior you are to their stupid parking / turning malarky is the best way. Anything else will add to your stress. Being serene and acting serene will keep you that way (hopefully). Don't let the bastards get you down

Also ... I was given a unicycle for Christmas so I could come to the festival and fall off it a lot.

AngelaDaviesHair · 22/01/2014 13:09

I can contribute several older Quaker ladies in sandals, cardigans and dirndl skirts holding their copies of Quaker Notes and Queries and getting in Horsey Freeloader's way, explaining in kind tones why she is WRONG and must LEAVE.

Do not underestimate this offer. Quakers are super hardcore experts at pacifist aggression (see what I did there) and it takes a really determined bastard to dare to barge a protest line of smiling Quaker grandmas.

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 22/01/2014 13:14

Angela, oh I know the persistent reasonableness of Quakers :) that is exactly what I need, no aggression, just a firm wall of unmitigating sense.

Bonzo, not sure that's possible but have had offers from rl friends to post anonymously. I'm going to smile warmly and wave every time I see her :) unicycle is a must. Except dh will then want one.

RosegoldRuby · 22/01/2014 13:17

Quaker ladies and a benignly smiling nun!

Mad-horse woman is fucked Grin

FuckYouChrisAndThatHorse · 22/01/2014 13:19

Ruby Grin

WingDefence · 22/01/2014 13:25

Is the forum on which the UW has posted moderated? I'd contact them and say that as there are legal proceedings ongoing regarding this situation, the thread must be taken down immediately otherwise you will consider looking into libel action.

Or something like that - I have no knowledge of these things. It's one thing to post the request for free grazing land but a completely different matter to start slagging you off.

TooExtraImmatureCheddar · 22/01/2014 13:26

Is it too young to be broken, or have they just not done it? I mean, younger than, say, 3. Are they preparing this horse to be broken, by getting him used to being handled/led etc?

SlimJiminy · 22/01/2014 13:29

Another delurker here. Chris you've dealt with this situation admirably - with much more patience than I would've done - and I hope the end isn't too far off for you (especially given that you so clearly have much more important things on your plate). Lots of great advice and I love your draft - as well as the added bit that someone suggested - in response to their online message. Make sure you post that. I think you might have written "unkind" when you meant "kind" in the draft of your response - but have read through the last bit of this thread quite quickly and now can't seem to find it! Keep your head held high as you have done throughout. And take care of yourself xx

Mckayz · 22/01/2014 13:31

I would do what Wing has said. Contact the moderators and tell them that you are taking legal action and that the forum could be in a lot of trouble.

I know MNHQ have to delete anything that could be libel so surely other forums are the same.

RosegoldRuby · 22/01/2014 13:34

BTW I'm planning to bring OH, my half-dozen offspring, their partners and children, the mad, muddy (currently) spaniel & the flock of guinea-pigs.

DS who lives the, erm.... alternative life style will bring his alternative friends. They're well used to festivals & will have lots of ideas and prob some "stuff" to smoke if your nerves need unjangling. All natural and herbal you understand.
Teenage DS can bring his teenage friends and they can mooch around looking put-out and embarrassed by family cavortings.
There will be many small children getting under everyone's feet and asking endless questions.
Medic DS can unleash his particular brand of anarchy. It's usually fun and a whole field and lots of people will give him some real scope. My main concern is he'll probably take both horses home with him to his little urban garden.

Sadly, or perhaps, fortunately, DD's are much more conventional, but they are great bakers. One could bring a number of the USAF tactical fighter wing, who are good at barbecues.

OH is a Romany, so if you'd like a few caravans, a campfire, more horses and perhaps a whole fairground just tip me the wink.

Aaahh sounds just like Christmas Day Smile

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