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Post by oldschooler on Aug 23, 2015 9:56:11 GMT
Can someone advise as to what they would do. A local farmer - about 1.5 to 2 miles away from where I live has 2 working sheepdogs. Yesterday I was riding past his farm when I saw the dogs were loose a field away and had spotted me. I decided to turn back (as I would have done only a little farther on,) but was prevented from doing so by a tractor coming the other way. Knew the tractor would turn into the farm so attempted to ride past the farm entrance to be met by the 2 dogs. One very aggressive and kept coming towards us looking all the ime he would go for the pony. Eventually got past and the tractor driver jumped out and caught them so I could return home. Today I set out to ride and the dogs were blocking the road in the direction I had intended going. This was only 100 yards from my house!!! The dogs were dangerously out of control and I feared for my safety if I attempted to ride past them. These dogs herd cattle and my pony is skewbald so they are not at all frightened. The farmer had driven out and allows his dogs to chase his vehicle down the road, this is a common. Now this is about 2 miles from where he lives. This is not the first time this has happened, and it frightened my young pony badly last time. It is so bad I am putting my youngster (who is being produced for showing at the moment), at livery over the winter as I cannot face trying to ride a youngster out at home, and we have stables, grazing and a small school so have spent money. I feel I am being driven away because I know that that sooner or later I am going to have an accident. I spoke to him as he was returning back up past my house but I don't think he realises how dangerous the situation is. What would you do?
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Post by brindlerainbow on Aug 23, 2015 10:13:37 GMT
Speak to him again, you need to tell him firmly but politely just how dangerous this situation is. Point out that if your dog was worrying his stock he would be within his rights to shoot it. His dogs are worrying you even though it's on a public highway it amounts to the same thing. They could also cause traffic accidents or if they are as vicious as you say could attack anyone else walking or riding in the area. Although farmers are stockmen they are not always clued up about horses and how they react.He may be genuinely unaware that they dogs are causing a problem. Explain you have had to put the horse in livery at great expense due to you being unable/unwilling to ride where his dogs are. If this doesn't work then you will have to go down the route of solicitors letters etc. Speak to other riders in the area and see what they have to say, could be if others are having problems too then a couple of you can go round and speak to him.
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Post by judyh on Aug 23, 2015 10:33:49 GMT
It they are on a public highway report it to the police
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Post by kateanne0 on Aug 23, 2015 10:41:21 GMT
Are you a BHS Gold Member? If so, contact the legal helpline and speak to someone about your issues. Alternatively, a lot of solicitors have a 'free' initial consultation and will be able to advise you on your rights. I didn't think dogs are allowed to roam now-a-days? Phone the local dog warden and tell them of your concerns. A loose dog (Great Dane) was allowed off the lead on the footpath that ran past our fields jumped the fence onto our land, frightened one of the horses (must have thought it was a lion), which ran through a fence but was luckily uninjured. My granddaughter got the owners telephone number and I called them. The lady wife was quite abusive when I asked them to pay the costs for the repair of the fence (we would do the labour FOC), as the dog should not have been allowed to run onto private land. Not much luck with that, so I called the local dog warden, who phoned the owners and explained to them that the dog should have been on a lead on the pathway that runs past our fields. The owner did pay for the cost of the repair and subsequently walked the dog on a lead down the pathway P.S. If you do find someone else to go with you to speak to the farmer about the loose dogs, make sure they have a 'cool head' otherwise the issue could escalate.
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Post by Toaster on Aug 23, 2015 11:06:38 GMT
I wouldn't go down the legal route just yet and I wouldn't mention the costs of putting pony on livery, it will just sound to the farmer like you are angling a legal case or trying to get money and this could get their back up
if he is any way approachable I would try the face to face chat again but more firmly, the fact that someone jumped out of the tractor to catch the dogs doesn't make them sound completely unreasonable. get him at a quiet time when he isn't rushing around if you can. point out the fact it could be a mum and a pram next time
Failing that I do think the dog warden (if your area has one) is the next logical step
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Post by norwalk on Aug 23, 2015 14:42:54 GMT
I agree with Toaster. In the first instant try and have a polite chat without being confrontational. We also live in a farming community and quite often farmers have turned their tractor engines off to allow us to pass with young horses.., I would try to have a decent conversation before going the legal route -just don't ever admit liability that your horse may be deemed a hazard!!! Many years ago round here we had a route that landowner was happy for us to use as an unofficial "permissive path" by his goodwill. A rider ranted at him because his dogs spooked her horse by barking. The result was he stopped access for us all! I admit his dogs also spooked my horses but he came out to shout them back, my reply being a cheery thanks, and your dogs were here before we were riding through! He was fab with me but others had problems... Good luck, but try to keep it polite first - they are, after all going about their business to tend their stock. Probably very stressed to get everything done and "is horsey lot" can be seen in the wrong light if we approach things badly.,, xxx
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Post by kateanne0 on Aug 23, 2015 18:32:37 GMT
Agree with Toaster and Norwalk's comments. In my reply I didn't mean for oldschooler to take legal action but to find out how the law stands with loose dogs. Taking actual legal action would be the last strategy. However, farming community or not, dogs should be under control and not allowed to run down roads, it may not be a horse they threaten but a child, a walker, etc. I always advise a 'cool head' confrontation is to be avoided, hence, phone the dog warden, let them be the intermediary to explain the situation and possible consequesnces if someone were to be hurt because of the loose dogs.
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Post by oldschooler on Aug 24, 2015 15:58:41 GMT
Thanks all for your advice. It is difficult as he is a "neighbour", but when you cannot ride out of your own house because of dogs loose which live over a mile away it is unreasonable. I saw him again today - as he drives past most mornings - fortunately without dogs, so he may be keeping them within his property. I know the dogs are on his farm and it is my choice if i use the bridleway which runs past and I am happy to accept the consequences, but when they are running loose on the main road at you outside your own house that is another matter. I think if it happens again, I will call the dog warden as suggested. It could be a child and I think it is completely irresponsible to allow them to run full pelt on a public road. Heaven knows what they make of the cyclists as we are on a cycle route as well. Thanks all.
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