Bit dodgy or just taking an interest?

[Smoke on the Water]

Saturday I went to get Harvey in from the field. Found him with this couple - the lady was ALL over him. Kissing him, arms round his nose, blowing into his nostrils. I went over and she was asking me how old is he? What do I do with him? What is he like to ride?

So, bit too interested or just taking an interest?

[Jill]

Probably just taking an interest. A friend of mine does this with horses sometimes (she think she's joining up with them). Maybe the lady is hoping you'll offer her some riding.

[Storm]

You do get some people who think they can 'talk horse' by blowing up them and 'connecting' Satin usually snots on them.

How old was this woman? I'd think she's just a little odd and eccentric. Doesn't hurt to be vigilant though..

[vels mum]

Id take it as a compliment but if she reappears Id start to be a little concerned.

[Smoke on the Water]

She's probably not much older than me. Early 30s I'd say.

The other thing I forgot to mention but vels mum just reminded me, she said she says hellot to Harvey all the time.

[Catg]

This type of thing really annoys me. In this case I don't think you have anything to worry about hun but personally I think she was being a bit rude. It's not her place to bit in such close contact with your horse, all good intentions aside she could be unintentionally causing bad habits. Someone fed treats to zeb in front of me without asking last night they might think they were being nice but it wasn't their place to make that decision without asking. She just went ahead before I had the chance to stop her.

I have strong views on this as you can tell lol. My other concern with people like this is about health. What other horses / animals has she been touching on her travels? She could be passing on nasties without realising!

Sorry to be a bit pessimistic about this but I just think people should admire other peoples animals from a distance.

[Smoke on the Water]

Catg this is exactly how I feel! I am not a possessive person. Infact Harvey is the most cuddled horse on the yard and I don't have a problem with this as I know everyone and I know how much they all love him and how his cuddles cheer them up.

But watching this lady with my horse, treating him almost like her own, messing with him like I do really annoyed me! Thank you for letting me know it's not just me that feels like this!

[Catg]

It's a difficult situation for you, I don't really know what to suggest. I barely have the nerve stop people hand feeding Zeb in case I cause offence which is rediculous I know. Even though it will be far more offensive when zeb start getting pushy with people if she carries on, I still find it hard. There's always going to be a small amount of embarrassment when you asked someone not to treat/pet your horse.

All you can do is what everyone has said, keep an eye on her and say something if it gets too much. You are in the right and she is in the wrong. You're definitely not alone in how you feel. x

[Storm]

Of course, you could just put up a sign saying caution, horses have ringworm - extremely contagious to humans - She'll not be blowing up his nose then!

[Catg]

Storm that is pure genious lol!

[Loony]

I'd be possessive too don't worry!!! :D

Sounds like she's just a bit desperate to have her own, I'd just see if she comes back and then have a word.

[My Crazy Clan]

But they shouldn't be on your yard?


Its okay until it starts getting annoying and their there everyday without fail, feeding and plaiting your horse!

[Catg]

Maybe it's a public footpath Rhea? We have one going through our fields, it's all fenced off obviously but some of the children still want to pick grass and feed the ponies. They think there's no harm in it as it's the same grass on the other side of the fence but they don't realise it's not just what you feed them, it's the feeding itself that causes bad habits.

[Smoke on the Water]

It is a public footpath and Harvey is just too friendly for his own good. I'll have to see if it keeps on but everyone is aware on my yard now.

I did tell the lady Harvey was an absolute ****** to be ridden!!

Thanks for your support guys.

[My Crazy Clan]

Maybe it's a public footpath Rhea? We have one going through our fields, it's all fenced off obviously but some of the children still want to pick grass and feed the ponies. They think there's no harm in it as it's the same grass on the other side of the fence but they don't realize it's not just what you feed them, it's the feeding itself that causes bad habits.

We also have a public foot path, its not fenced off though, people are ONLY supposed to stick to the track thats it, no going in the field itself! Kids are the worst for wondering off and chasing my horses.
I hate kids feeding them, the horses lean over a break the darn fences.
Dog walkers are so ignorant! they never put their dogs on lead and they take my signs down:mad: sorry for the rant :lol:

[Smoke on the Water]

Totally see where you're coming from Rhea. Our public footpath isn't fenced off either. People walk diagonally through the field. They never stick to the side, where clear signs say they're supposed too!!! Have exactly the same issues as you.

[Trio]

have to say its a bit over the line really, i wouldnt want anyone mucking about with mine - what happens if she got hurt? if she wants to blow up a horses nostril then she should get her own!

[black crow]

I'd personally be really irritated, but thats only because ive had people do it before!
A few years ago someone used to walk their dog down the drive at the bottom of the fields, would hop through the fencing and would go and talk to the horses, and would also follow us out hacking talking to us [which didnt help that she did this EVERY damn time i rode a horse out who didnt like dogs!] Several times we told her to keep off the property, she gave us the story that she wasnt doing any harm and just wanted to see them. Obviously we felt guilty.
We finally stopped her coming on to see them after id been down there late at night and she'd gone around feeding them carrots because she thought they were hungry, despite being in a lovely long field. I'd gone down with a torch which scared the crap out of me finding someone in the damn field with them. Again.

I really dont mind people coming up at shows etc asking questions and hugging them etc, but coming into the fields, no no no no

[flambards]

I'd tell her it's an insurance liability to have her messing with your horse - if on the off chance he DID do something, it would be your fault and you'd be responsible if she chose to take legal action.

That may or may not be 100% true over there, but it's absolutely the way things work here and you can get in massive amounts of trouble for messing with other peoples' horses without doing the proper paperwork to waive liability. She could, theoretically, sue the pants off of you if anything happened.

[ness]

I agree , its probably inocent, but I am like you and would probably feel a bit territorial about it! Like Storm says, lets hope he slimes her!

[Noodle lu]

Dont think she meant anything, Clyde and Billy are the local celebs round our yard, everyone knows them somehow?? Get people saying hello to Clyde when I ride him out!

[Roan Mare]

I don't think I'd like it either to be honest and you do have to be careful.

There are some ponies kept in a field behind my house and a while back I noticed some people I didn't recognise messing around with them.

I went down to find out who they were and they said that they were friends of the owners and he had asked them to ride them for him. I knew this wasn't the case as they were all broodmares who were heavily pregnant and not in work :mad:

I got straight on the phone to the owner and they soon ran off but he said that another girl in the area had recently broken her leg trying to "ride" one of the ponies (with no tack or not even a headcollar!!!) :eek:

It probably is innocent but I would just get everyone on the yard to keep an eye out to make sure.

[cackleberry]

I'd want to know what a stranger was doing on the yard?! Do you have a footpath across the field? Are there other horses in the field with Harvey?
We always used to challenge anyone on the yard and remind them it was private property.

[cackleberry]

Sorry, didn't read all the posts properly! Yeah, you have a footpath. Still, i'd be very upset if random passer-bys were fussing my horse.

[Betseyboo]

I wouldn't worry too much hun but I'd keep an eye out!!
Was she tresspassing as in was she actually in the field? Cos that would be wrongxxxx

[Susan]

I would think it was innocent and maybe she just loves horses. Especially when I was younger I used to 'visit' the local horses all the time and had my own names for my favourites and would pick up grass to feed them with. Even now I will always speak and fuss horses in the field if they come up. Obviously there is a line though and it sounds like she might have been just a bit too up close and personal, but I would say try not to feel too territorial, but more proud that you have such an admired and friendly horse!

[Smoke on the Water]

Thanks Susan that's a nice way of thinking about it!

Betseyboo she was in the field but she was on the footpath which is a public footpath so not technically tresspassing. It's just my overly friendly horse going right over to the footpath to say hello!

I have made everyone aware so feel better about that.

[Matt]

I pretty much always stop and give a friendly horse a rub on the nose & say hello if I see one out, but kiss them?!.

Hmmmm, that's a bit odd unless they belong to you!.

[chance encounter]

I can be very protective over my ponies especially Chance because of her diet and Darli because if people wind him up by doing something they shouldnt we are the ones left to deal with him.

Last night my daughter went down to the field and there was two people hanging over our gate. Our field is the furthest away from any of the other fields and you wouldnt even know there was horses there as it is nowhere near roads or anything. We have students that rent the farmhouse. They dont bother me as they are all training to be vets and it is really handy having them there but these are new ones who have just moved in this week.

Our YO has told them it is ok to walk down the track which usually is not the case as he likes to keep the horse yard and house separate but he is away on holiday at the moment. They were fussing Diggi who will go to anyone. Everyone on our yard knows not to give Chance anything like carrots, polos and treats whatsoever because of her diet so were really concerned they had given her anything. She just spoke to them for a while and they asked her all about her three ponies. She then was able to discuss Chance's problems and let them know in a polite way not to feed our ponies but they had said the YO had already said they could walk down the track but not to feed any of the ponies so that was ok. Im still not really sure there is any need for them to be going through our field though to a back field by the railway as there is nothing there so I was a bit uneasy about that. BCE said they could go through the field as long as they made sure the gate was shut properly and the cow chain on as she does it as Diggi can open it.

I dont think it is right to walk up to a strange horse and put your arms round it and start kissing it as has been said the horse could have anything wrong with it and how would they know! A pat on the neck or a rub on the muzzle is a bit different. I know no one would get near Darli he doesnt like strangers at all and it would upset him if someone came into his field and tried to go near him. He would end up cantering away.

[Smurf]

I was gonna say put up an electric fence that was she cannot get to your horse but if there is a public footpath im not sure its the best thing to do. I would be aggitated too, kissing and blowing up your horses nose. I agree with Storm say he has ringworm or put a sign up saying please do not touch the horses.

[Teej]

I suppose it is annoying in the same way that you wouldn't expect a stranger to pick your child up and start cuddling and kissing him/her ! Perhaps she just loves horses (as I do and I would probably kiss anyones horse...... but not anyones child :lol:!) and could have been showing off her lack of fear and great horsey knowledge to her 'partner' :D.

[Smoke on the Water]

Am just glad after reading all your replies that I'm not overreacting!

[Zeitgeist Mom]

It would annoy me too, as I would be protective of my horse. However, that said, I am also the type of person who would cuddle up to someone else's horse like that! I'm harmless, I promise!