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Horses ridden without owner permission.

7K views 22 replies 17 participants last post by  brackenbramley 
#1 ·
We recently had 6 people enter the property we rent for our horses. They were drinking and decided it was a good idea to climb on the horses and ride them at night. I found beer cans in one of the turnouts and become suspicious. I called the neighbor and asked if he had seen anything. He stated no. The next day pictures where posted on "Facebook" . Our horses had been ridden by the neighbors friends. The majority of them dont even have any experience to speak of. They could have injured the horses in the drunken state of mind that they were in. We went to the local police with names, pictures, etc. Nothing they can do??? I now have No Trespassing signs littering the property. Im furious - and they are sporting the pictures on the profiles - Can anyone help!!!!!!!!
 
#10 ·
You said you just put up No Trespassing signs, so I take it you didn't have them up before? Maybe that's why the police can't do anything.
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I don't have no trespassing signs on my car. That doesn't mean anyone can just hop in and drive the dang thing.
I don't believe the police 'can't' do anything, I think it's more 'won't'.
Personally, I would contact a lawyer or bug the police to death.
I had some stuff stolen by a landlord once that the police 'couldn't' do anything about. One of the officers was very kind and pulled me aside and told me to go to the state police, instead, and explain that I wasn't getting help from the local police due to my land lord's standing in the town I was in. It worked. I got my stuff back.
I know nothing was stolen or 'damaged' actually, but, it's the same concept. People can't just come into your yard and take your dogs for a walk if they so choose. This makes me so angry. :evil:
 
#6 ·
That's possible, Ricci. Even with No Trespassing signs though, they don't sound like they understand something I learned in kindergarten: If it's not yours, don't touch it. :?

I didn't see where the landowners were even mentioned by the OP, so I don't understand how it came up that they weren't being supportive. If the OP is renting the land, I'm not sure how it's the landowner's responsibility to make the neighbors behave themselves.

OP, as I stated before, you might want to contact an attorney concerning this matter. If you have pictorial proof that they were riding your horses and you confirm that you never gave them permission, the attorney can at least send a cease and desist order.

As the horse owner, you're liable if someone gets hurt on your horses. Yes, I know that stinks and it sounds bass ackwards, but horses are considered 'attractive nuisances', so you need to have all your ducks in a row legally.

I'd also put up motion sensor lights and wild life cameras, so you can catch them in the act if they try and do it again.
 
#9 ·
Oh, the joys of horse ownership. Don't you love it? It's like if someone breaks into your house and burns themselves on your stove, then sues you. What a wonderful world we live in. o_O

But I agree with Speed, I would get all your legal ducks in a row. Even if it costs you some money, it's gotta be cheaper then a lawsuit when one of your horses drops an idiot on his rear.
 
#7 ·
I don't understand why the police wouldn't be able to help -- at least to go to the people and warn them how it was illegal and dangerous. I don't know what the laws are there, but in Ontario, you don't have to have No Trespassing signs up. Unless someone has express permission to be on your property they are not allowed to be there.

I'm assuming these are older teens or young adults. Perhaps a lawyer would be able to draft a letter that could be sent by registered mail to the culprits informing them of your legal rights (whatever they may be) and how they could be held accountable (whatever that might be). Knowing they've been caught red-handed and that you won't stand for it might get around and "scare off" other would-be party-ers.
 
#8 ·
Could you talk to the neighbors and make it clear how dangerous and unwelcome this is? If they don't respond appropriately, as a next step I like the idea of having a lawyer send a boundary-setting letter.

I have never heard of this type of thing but I am sure that it would be easy to do -- definitely gives me pause to think as we don't have 'no trespassing' signs up on our property and our horses would be really friendly.... It's a great warning. Keep us posted on how this turns out for you, so we can learn!
 
#12 ·
Oh, that would be a bad day for whoever rode either of my horses without my permission. My sister, who rides just as well as I do and knows my horses, knows she is NOT to ride my horses without asking me or me physically being there. Nikki is a one person horse and she will not tolerate a heavy handed person. So, if they don't know what they were doing they would have been in the dirt...Also, if I had pictures of the people on my horses like you do and the police wouldn't do anything about it I would personally do something. It might bring trouble on myself but you seriously do NOT want to mess with my horses.
 
#14 ·
Mickey, you just might be right about that!


curious about how these drunks rode the horses....bareback and bridleless? That sounds rather unlikely to me as I doubt anyone who was drunk would be able to manage that.....or for that matter, anyone who WASNT drunk.:lol: To do so would require amazing skill.

If they tacked the horses up first: how did they know where the tack was, and more importantly HOW to put it on? The first few times I picked up a bridle, It looked like a jigsaw puzzle to me. Not to mention saddle pads, girths and the saddle itself. sure they may know that the saddle goes on the horse's back, but how did they know which girth to use for each saddle or which saddle to use for each horse......


Either way, tacked up or bareback and bridleless .... neither scenario seems very likely.

And if ANYONE rode either of my horses without permission, I would be the one in handcuffs!!!!:oops:
 
#19 ·
Ummm.....the Easter Bunny isn't real.:?

And neither is this thread.

Great fiction, though. Better than those choose your own adventure books.:)
 
#20 ·
Not really commenting on the OP, but on a comment a few other posters said.
I know a few people who could hop on bareback and bridleless while drunk. Just because the OP said they were "riding" them, doesn't mean try weren't just actually sitting on them while they walked around snacking on hay or grass. :p
I know my best friend could hop on with nothing while he was drunk, and if I could actually get up there without help (bareback) and actually get drunk, I might be able to cling for awhile if they were just plodding around. :p
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#23 ·
i have found the police very disinterested in horsey things before is there a equine charity that could perhaps get some info on where u stand? also my first port of call for this sort of info is the British Horse Society (but i think ur in US sorry terrible memory!!!) is there a similar organisation. Totally agree with previous posts about legal side and protecting yourself such a bad situation for u makes me so cross sorry i know i said that in previous post but grrrrrrrrrrrrrrr xx keep us up to speed on outcome x
 
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