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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:
CailinDana · 10/01/2014 19:38

You are kind, but it is not up to you to protect the previous owners. They totally took advantage of your good nature. Coping or not they were massively, incredibly taking the piss to sell you a field and then casually inform you that in fact it wasn't yours! In your shoes I would be furious.

LessMissAbs · 10/01/2014 19:40

first time buy sorry!

This also reminds me of when I was a child, I somehow acquired a pony that no-one else wanted, and a very nice helpful old lady let me keep him for nothing with her elderly pony. The old lady got ill and I kept looking after both ponies before and after school. She died, the house was sold and the new owners kicked us out. But they had her old pony put to sleep. It was horrible as it was healthy, just old.

What got me is that they then bought horses themselves which they then proceeded to look after very poorly!

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 19:42

Lessmis, we are in the UK, but a cheap area and the state of the place got us a complete bargain. We are very lucky.

As for grazing and maintenance I have someone who will graze the land (sheep) in return for keeping my fences going. It really needs sorting out properly.

I understand what you're saying about the joy of animals without the ownership, and I had horses as a teen, but I have that already elsewhere and it's not what I want from the field. I want somewhere to walk my dog (the horses go for him) I want somewhere to camp (again not suitable) but most of all I want somewhere the dcs can run around.

As for condemning him to death, that's not fair.

OP posts:
stiffstink · 10/01/2014 19:43

Do not enter any arrangement for rent from these people. It could inadvertently create an agricultural tenancy.

NanooCov · 10/01/2014 19:43

If a field is £50 a month in rural areas, they should take the horses and keep them in a field where someone wants them and pay the £50 a month, not impose on the kindness of OP any longer who wants to use her own land with small children and pup (who it seems clear don't mix well with stallion!)

NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 19:44

complete pushover are you in Wales ?

WhoNickedMyName · 10/01/2014 19:44

They park on your drive Shock cheeky bastards. For that alone YANBU!

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 19:45

Stiff that was a concern too.

Nigella... Might be! Grin

OP posts:
t3rr3gl35 · 10/01/2014 19:46

30 is probably too old to consider gelding safely, but it is not your problem. It may well have amazing bloodlines, but at that age, it wouldn't be normal to consider breeding from it...there are exceptions but these are usually kept in appropriate conditions by responsible breeders, not squatting in random fields and "looked after" by freeloaders.

You have no agreement with the people who have been "gifted" (is there an emoticon for disgusted puke?) this problem. If they refuse to take responsibility to arrange appropriate care for the animal, contact one of the many rescue organisations (ILPH, Blue Cross, RSPCA), or if you know the breeding the relevant breed society, and advise that you cannot have the horse on your land, its age and the fact that it is a stallion, and that you will consider having it humanely destroyed if no alternative is found.

At 30 years old, this poor horse deserves a decent end if it is unable to be rehomed satisfactorily, and I would be very surprised if it's feet, teeth and worming are being taken care of adequately, given that it appears to have been acquired for free. It may have health issues (Cushings disease, arthritis) that are not necessarily being managed properly, and as a non horse owner, you are not likely to be aware of additional needs that a rescue organisation could immediately identify. If this horse truly has "amazing bloodlines", a well placed call to the relevant breed society is likely to garner a huge amount of interest and a suitable home will swiftly follow. Stay strong and keep the bigger picture in your vision at all times.

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 19:47

Whonicked, I knew including that in the op would pay off Grin

OP posts:
NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 19:47

ha ha i guessed as much

JassyRadlett · 10/01/2014 19:47

LessMiss, are you kidding? I grew up around horses but neither of my parents would have dreamed of leaving us without very close supervision in a field with any horse as toddlers, let alone an unbroken, flighty stallion. Ditto a puppy. Which is fine if they're your own horses but the OP isn't getting enjoyment of her field because of animals that aren't hers, and that she didn't agree to have there.

Instead, she's paying to water them, has no control over who else is on her property, has some tricky insurance issues, has visitors who can't be bothered introducing themselves, and it's not helping her mental health.

I'm struggling to see exactly how the dubious benefits outweigh those negatives.

LessMissAbs · 10/01/2014 19:48

But OP if your field has sheep in it, you won't be able to walk your dog in it. And I would watch your DCs around sheep - sheep can give you a nasty kick.

But yes, I think you have to face up to the fact that the 30 year old horse would most likely have to be pts. I think moving an entire horse of that age would be so traumatic and difficult that it would be near on impossible to do. Finding fields for horses isn't easy. And the one you have clearly has a field shelter in it - they cost around £2500 to erect. Keeping a horse out all year in a field with a field shelter is a lot different to a field with no field shelter, which might be a welfare issue.

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 19:50

Thanks again t3, I hadn't considered horse protection people, that's a very good idea. I could get in touch and try to arrange something myself if need be. I'll also ring all my contacts, I may be able to find a gelding in need of company.

OP posts:
UncleT · 10/01/2014 19:51

I agree that you should avoid entering into ANY kind of arrangement with these folks which might lend any element of formality to the deal. You are in no way being unreasonable. Stick to your guns.

However, please - enough of the "I'm this... I'm that" stuff please. Message understood from the very first post!

candycoatedwaterdrops · 10/01/2014 19:52

YAsooooNBU, not your responsibility at all.

ZenNudist · 10/01/2014 19:52

I think end of feb is fair. More than enough time to put down the stallion & restable their horse. If also be presenting them with a water bill and saying that you'll e seeking legal redress for the cost they've incurred for you as they didn't tell you they were using their water supply.

I don't think it's a lovely story I think it's been very convenient for them. I'd have insisted they were gone when I moved in as I wouldn't want the hassle of getting rid once I'd moved in (like you're doing now!)

It's not your fault if a horse gets put down. It's the old owners.

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 19:52

Don't get me started on the "no planning permission permanent structure" that is the field shelter.

Don't worry about sheep. I know sheep :) literally inside and out (that sounds wrong).

OP posts:
DoYouNeedAWahhmbulance · 10/01/2014 19:53

YANBU at all

If I were you I'd get this sorted out as soon as possible, I can imagine letting them stay turning into a total nightmare for you

If things stay amicable then march sounds reasonable but if they start causing problems I'd get them to leave sooner

Whatever happens to the horses is nothing to do with you, you sound lovely to be concerned but the possibility of having to leave should have occurred to the horse owners before now and they are very irresponsible to build their plans around someone else's good will

NigellasDealer · 10/01/2014 19:53

oh fgs sheep do not 'give a nasty kick' they run away bleating.

CompletePushover · 10/01/2014 19:54

Uncle T, I was about to apologise for the "I'm this" and then I thought... "Sod you!" Grin

OP posts:
LessMissAbs · 10/01/2014 19:55

I don't think the end of February is fair actually, because its still the middle of the winter.

I think its actually quite heart warming that a group of local people banded together to look after an old, unwanted horse that they couldn't ride and give him a nice life, when they didn't really get much out of it themselves. And you can't blame them if the previous owners let them.

Didn't you visit the property before you bought it OP and notice both the horses and field shelter?

Mikkii · 10/01/2014 19:56

So you brought a property with a field. For 18 months someone else has been using your field. They have parked on your drive?

You have been very generous. If your plans for using your property interfere with their use of your property, for which they have no lease or contract? Have they offered yo buy it from you? Rent it from you? You didn't own and neglect a horse.

LessMissAbs · 10/01/2014 19:57

Nigella's Dealer I can assure that of course sheep can give you a nasty bloody kick if you try to handle them. They're not cuddly bunny rabbits!

Why might you try to handle a sheep, I suppose you might ask? Indeed.

ToffeeOwnsTheSausage · 10/01/2014 19:58

I think giving notice in writing is something you should be doing ASAP.

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