HELP! Horse trespassing in garden!

tbs624

OP - do your parents' household insurance policies have legal expenses cover? If so it may be worth seeking some initial advice under that.

You may also want to have a look at the Animals Act 1971

googler

Googling "horse deterrent" returns some interesting products which appear to be applied to wood to dissuade the horses from chewing or nibbling - these may have some effect. There may also be others deeper in the search, but I just scanned first page.

paddy's_mum

The cheapest effective deterrent is to borrow a lungeing or driving whip from a local riding school or horse owner. The next time that the horse comes wandering in, sprint down the garden whooping, hollering and cracking that whip (in the air, I hasten to add!) for all you are worth. I can guarantee that he'll exit faster than he entered and done two or three times, he'll avoid their place like the plague.

You will have done no damage, caused no injury but horses owned by such ignorant keepers almost always have been abused - even if only mildly - and know full well that popping whips are not to be toyed with.

googler

Do sonic deterrent devices work on horses in the same way as dogs and cats......?

poppysarah

googler wrote: »

Do sonic deterrent devices work on horses in the same way as dogs and cats......?

Don't know.

If ther's any ragwort in your parents garden and the horse eats it then it could get ill.

tyllwyd

I think that as other people have suggested if you contact Network Rail and tell them that there is a horse getting access to the railway line, they will take action. If the disused track gives access to the track that is in use, the last thing they want is for a horse to get hit by a train and potentially cause a serious accident. I don't think trying to scare the horse is a great idea, for that reason - if it runs in front of a train as a result, you will feel morally guilty and possibly worse.

Incyder

paddy's_mum wrote: »

The cheapest effective deterrent is to borrow a lungeing or driving whip from a local riding school or horse owner. The next time that the horse comes wandering in, sprint down the garden whooping, hollering and cracking that whip (in the air, I hasten to add!) for all you are worth.

JennyP wrote: »

My dad is very elderly and has had a stroke and I worry about the consequences of him coming face to face with a large horse when he's in the garden.

Best let Mother do the John Wayne bit.

mlz1413

Shame you aren't a horse rider OP, I'd have invited the horse in and seen if it was rideable. I'm sure if the owner saw his horse being ridden up and down the road by a total stranger he would soon fence his land better!

Most horses don't normally break down fences, so the electric fence or orange plastic suggestions could be tried without electric first, as these are temporary I'd put them on the railway land where it is easiest to fence off. If you do need electric to them then a car battery is ample.

I would tell your parents not to allow this man to their home, maybe they could arrange a meeting at his house or a local cafe at a time when you could go with them?

jsh99

Is there someone locally with horses who could lend you the electric fencing for a bit to see if it works?

I have horses and use this type of fencing to keep my two separated otherwise I end up with torn rugs and chunks missing from one of them!