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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

Just lost my shit at a walker for feeding.....

84 replies

krustykittens · 13/09/2023 14:41

I know this has been done to death but I just want to vent. We have BHS signs up saying please do not feed and why, electric fencing, and stock fencing to keep ponies back from the path and give people safe access (we live in Scotland with right to roam) and STILL someone insisted on giving my ponies polo mints today. Daughter saw him feeding and she shouted at him to stop from her bedroom window. He looked up and carried on. Shat himself when he saw me running down the path. "I'm so sorry, it's only a polo mint." I lost it, I am ashamed to say, but the fucking entitlement to feed despite numerous signs asking you not to, to ignore someone telling you to stop and only feel bad when it is obvious a confrontation is looming. He KNEW he was in the wrong, but he did it anyway. The worst thing is, one of our ponies has an upset tummy at the moment and this entitled cunt is giving her pure sugar. Herself and another mare were starting to bicker when I legged it down the path, which the signs warn could happen IF YOU FEED! I am going to move our water trough and double fence their summer field next year to make it that little bit harder but I still found tourists trying to take down their electric fencing this summer so they could go in with them and take fucking selfies. I have bought geese and I am really hoping they put the fear of God into people who try and get close to the ponies. Anyone know if it is legal to put blades on the geese feet?! (I am joking. A little). I also want to put a sing up saying, "One of these ponies is a stallion. Only let yourself in here if you want to find out how it feels to be a mare." but daughter says that is going too far......I don't have stallions but these idiots wouldn't know the difference.

OP posts:
countrygirl99 · 13/09/2023 14:43

Go for the sign

CandyLeBonBon · 13/09/2023 14:44

Do it op. This would be a classic 'fuck around and find out' learning experience

Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 14:45

Daughter and Husband are saying I could get into trouble but surely that's just a friendly reminder as to how nature works, surely?

OP posts:
twistyizzy · 13/09/2023 14:45

Definitely go for the sign along with diagrams 🤣

Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 14:46

I am trying to have a sense of humour about it all but after one of my ponies was poisoned in April with grass cuttings that someone had brought up to him (and is lucky to be alive) I am totally paranoid. I just want them to be safe in their field.

OP posts:
Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 14:47

Diagrams! YES! I could have so much fun with that!

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cornflower21 · 13/09/2023 14:49

Some people are just brainless twats.

Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 14:55

It's the entitlement that gets to me.

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TibetanTerrah · 13/09/2023 14:57

'Easier to ask for forgiveness than permission' wankery.

shieldmaiden7 · 13/09/2023 14:57

I would absolutely put a sign up, one of my mums ponies was poisoned and passed thanks to a dumbfuck who couldn't ignore the signs that said so not feed!
I honestly will never understand why some people are so entitled!

VeridicalVagabond · 13/09/2023 14:59

Do it! We put up signs saying there was a bull loose in the field when the "stop feeding the fucking horses" signs didn't work. For some reason people will take a loose bull seriously, we've had far fewer "visitors" since then.

Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 14:59

I am so sorry, @shieldmaiden7 . I live in fear of this, hence buying the geese. I am also buying CCTV. but it is rare I catch one of these fuckers.

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PurpleMonkeys · 13/09/2023 15:00

I am not a horse owner at all... I am an avid hiker and walker etc

Last year I was hiking around Yorkshire and on a long path that leads down past a paddock of horses. (Is it a paddock?.. hmm)
I was stood admiring the horses and done poked their nose over a fence and I let him sniff my flat hand and gave him a little rub on that huge jaw section hoses seem to have. I don't know what it's called, not quite neck, not quite face.

I hope that's an ok place to stroke?

A family came up, man woman, kid of 10 or so and a dog, they started tearing up grass from the path side to try and give to the horse.
We got into a bit of a row..
I gently suggested they didn't feed the horse with it.. and I may have stepped between them and the horse..

"But the horse wants it"
"And your dog would eat 10 pounds of chocolate if it could."
They muttered and wandered off eventually.
Tbf, the horse did want the grass but what if a dog had weed in it or something, could that have made a horse ill? there were signs not six foot from them saying not to feed horses as the horses are on a special diet, the family just didn't give a toss I suppose.

I stayed with the horse for a while to make sure they'd buggered off.. and apologised to him for not giving him grass..

😂

Cosmosforbreakfast · 13/09/2023 15:02

I agree with 'Beware of loose bull in the field' add in 'area is under cctv surveillance, trespassers will be prosecuted' . No one wants to take their chances with a bull and entitled morons won't want to be caught on cctv.

Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 15:04

@VeridicalVagabond it really worked?! That is good to read, I am seriously tempted now. I have tried explaining politely to people, I have put up signs that explain the dangers (even if it is only a polo mint), even photos of dead ponies, but there is a certain type of person that thinks none of this applies to them and they are animals lover, so why shouldn't they be allowed? And all of my ponies are big, dopey, greedy fuckers who can be tempted over in a heart beat. Since my heart pony was poisoned, I have been too scared to leave my yard for more than a couple of hours but their winter field is out of sight of my house, so my paranoia is going to go through the roof come October. At least in the winter, there are fewer of them around.

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PuttingDownRoots · 13/09/2023 15:07

I saw this article this morning... People harassing a pony in labour so much the foal went over a cliff (warning... its a distressing story)
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-66785699

Surely "leave the animals alone" is a pretty basic rule anyone can follow?

Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 15:07

@PurpleMonkeys The problem with feeding even safe food is that fights can break out and a badly aimed kick could result in a broken leg and a much loved animal being PTS. There is a pecking order in every herd, no matter how laid back the temperaments and fights are always a danger when they think they are competing for food. Thank you for sticking up for those horses, I wish more countryside users were like you! I don't mind my ponies getting a pat or a stroke on the nose, I'm not a monster!

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Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 15:11

@PuttingDownRoots That is awful, that poor mare and foal! Yes, you would think leave animals alone would be basic common sense, even it it wasn't part of the countryside code, yet people are so rude and entitled these days. We were taught as kids never to feed other people's animals.

OP posts:
VeridicalVagabond · 13/09/2023 15:16

It sort of worked. The bull signs have seen a reduction in the number of people hopping the fences to try and take selfies with the horses. I think people fear bulls far more.

We've got double fencing, electric fences and geese which help with people trying to feed over the fences. Hasn't stopped it all together, there are always some very determined people who will inexplicably go to enormous lengths to feed them. Had to give a guy a bollocking the other day for holding his toddler out over the fencing to try and give a biscuit to one of them. Idiot.

ScrambledSmegs · 13/09/2023 15:18

I swear there's more of these people about nowadays. I don't own horses but I used to ride when I was younger, and I know the countryside code. So many don't, or just don't care. The sign sounds like a good idea.

Have you seen that horrible story about wild ponies being harassed by selfie-takers on the Gower cliffs? It made me so angry, those people should be prosecuted.

ScrambledSmegs · 13/09/2023 15:19

Sorry, my wifi went down and by the time it came back on I'd cross posted with PuttingDownRoots.

Topseyt123 · 13/09/2023 15:28

People are just thick and entitled arseholes.

Doormatnomore · 13/09/2023 15:29

I am an avid roamer about but I just don’t get the need to feed the animals. Horses will generally come over for a clap anyway and I don’t want to clap anything that needs coaxing. I have many selfies with wild ponies but that’s cause they come to see what’s happening, ditto cows and sheep. My favourite place has a decidedly tame bull the size of a tank who will wander from his field at any opportunity scaring the tourists (including me the first 10 times) but it doesn’t take much imagination to see how that happens when people offer up their packed lunch. Disclaimer I only pet things that come up to me and I have been stood on and nipped as often as I deserve.

HerMammy · 13/09/2023 15:30

LGD is the way to go 🐶

Original poster
krustykittens · 13/09/2023 15:35

@Doormatnomore Honestly, I really do not mind people giving them a pat or a stroke on the nose. But in their winter field they are not fenced back as it is not a core path and feeding them can get dangerous for walkers very quickly. You are in the middle of a herd and the energy changes very quickly if you introduce food. I have Highlands, all weighing in around 500kg each and natives can get very rude and bolshy where food is concerned. Hell, I don't feed them by hand! They only get a treat as a reward when being trained!

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