avoiding accidentally trespassing?

[tbtrailrider]

@gothedistance

tbtrailrider – I feel sorry for you that the land you mentioned is closed to riders, but…respect the landowner’s decision and find somewhere else to ride. Even in the most prestigous hunt country there are landowners who have shut off their land to both casual riders AND foxhunts, despite all the diplomacy measure that can be brought to bear. Riding on private land is a much treasured privilage we can ill afford to trample.

All is not lost, after a bit of driving around today, I think I discovered a route to the place I really want to go…a 1600 acre Wildlife Management Area. Horses are allowed. It’s probably a 4 or 5 mile hack altogether with really good shoulder for a third of the way, a small road for a third, and good shoulder the rest of the way. I am not giving up on the 400 acres though, I recently met a fella named Bill who lives near it (adjacent really)who bought his farm from the guy.(That’s a whole nuther story,and a good one ) He has permission to ride there, which tempts me to just go and ride there anyway…Bill said he would speak with the landowner, but it’s been a month and no word.:sigh:

Cheryl

[LostFarmer]

I am one ot those land owners that have quit letting folks be on my land. When asked I simply say nothing personal but I have had too much trouble in the past with allowing permission.

I found 2 horses staked in my alfalfa field one day. When I approached the owner she said, “This grass better than mine.” Hell yes it is better I fertilize, control weeds and irrigate.

My wife and I used to go out of our way to meet and greet the new moveins. To the point of making hundereds of jars of jams and jellies. We would take a loaf of homeade bread (typically still warm) and a jar of jam over and introduce ourselves. We looked at everyone as friends that we haven’t met. I spent hours after many snowstorms on the tractor cleaning driveways for people. Most of the time before light and without them knowing who did it. We let many folks ride camp and or cross the land with never a thought. Now we are the grumpy old SOB’s that never share. It is because of the twits that have no respect.

We still grant permission and are very generous with the neighbors that we trust, but they MUST prove worthy of that trust.

LF

[county]

I’m really hoping not everyone is serious with their responses to this issue. If so then I can see why theres problems. Its called RESPECT if its not given do not expect to receive any in return. To start with just how does one accidently trespass on anothers property? If you don’t own it or have specfic permission to be on it by someone who does then its not an accident you rode onto the property on purpose plain and simple despite what lame excuse you use.

If a land owner doesn’t give a mother and daughter permission to ride on their land it doesn’t make them some type of evil person it simply means he doesn’t want them riding there get over it.

If caught on someones land play dumb? Ya and why not lie as much as you can to them also I’m sure its going to build trust that will help all horseback riders for years to come.

I’ve owned 100’s of acres since 69 and can honestly say I’ve never had a problem with snowmobilers. They have always asked permission to use our land and every few years come and cut the brush back on the trails they use. I own a gravel pit and only twice have I had dirt bikers in it that didn’t ask permission first. I cannot tell you how many times horse back riders have trespassed here but its literally in the 100’s. I’ve heard about every stupid excuse there is why one of my favorites is " well you have horses " thats one to stupid to even reply to.

Just from the few responses on this thread I can understand more why horseback riders have such a bad reputation with land owners. Its called RESPECT way to many do not give it.

There is always the option of buying your own land to ride on that way you can let the whole world on it and do as they please.

[Prieta]

County and Lost Farmer,

I am sorry that you have had bitter experiences and I can totally relate to that. My hubby and I tend to bend backwards for people even though we might not have a perfect understanding of what is going on…we believe in the good; however, we have to protect ourselves. The only thing that I see is how do we determine whether or not this person is trust worthy or not and how they are meeting “general” expectation…we have had no good idea of what is “general” expectation. Now, we know and apply that to ourselves to the others. More often than not, our “rules” from interacting with people are more harsh than we’d like it to be. We’d very much like to change the “rules” but we need our daughters to interpret what those people are saying. I’m still trying to protect them. :no: If we can set examples of how we need to learn to trust the others, we need to begin with ourselves. Most people have hard time seeing that they need to change as well.

[katarine]

County no need to get in a twist. By play dumb I mean don’t show your ass and act like you belong there. Be humble and apologetic and offer to leave quietly and calmly. That’s all I really mean to say. I caught some kids on 4 wheelers on my land one afternoon- and they stupidly tried to turn around and make a run for it- didn’t work as I’m much handier on a good QH than they are on that stupid machine- I cut off their escape route and chewed their asses for a) coming onto my land w/o permission and b) trying to flee. They cowed down and apologized and have never been back.

Look, if you are riding in unfamiliar territory, on an obvious trail, and you opened no gates, etc- and aren’t traipsing through someone’s garden, what the hell. I say go for it. BUTT— I’m in an area where I’m surrounded by a lot of empty land used only for hunting/timber- so I’m not actively sneaking around and pissing anyone off.

[county]

I had no idea I was in a twist. And spin it anyway you like, i a lie is still a lie regardless of what you call it.

[katarine]

OK so you aren’t in a twist, you’re just a rude old fart. Pardon my ignorance.

I double checked and can’t see where anyone here said let’s all go galavanting off through irrigated fields, opening gates merrily along they way, whilst sprinkling beer cans in our wake. Did I miss something? I said be NICE - yes you’ve trespassed, NO, don’t show your ass about it.

I went on to explain that for ME-I’m surrounded by empty timberland, NOT alfalfa fields, NOT hobby farms, NOT farms, period. trees. Lots of trees. The only farms I ride on, I do so WITH permission. Ok I take that back- there’s 100 acres or so that recently was auctioned, the gates are open, and no one’s there. It’s empty (FORMER) cowpastures and I tell you what, County, I’d ride on it tonight if I had a sound critter to sit on.

[DairyQueen2049]

Permission

I ride A LOT and I do most of it these days OFF THE ROAD as I was hit by a truck on my horse once up a time - long gruesome story, we both survived - and the first thing I do when I move to a new area is WALK to my neighbors houses and introduce myself “Hi I’m Therese and I just moved here at ADDRESS.” I listen for their name and use it in conversation AND WORK HARD TO REMEMBER IT. Note this is BEFORE I ever even dream of riding on their property!!! BEFORE!! I can’t stress this enough.

Of course talk gets around to the horse - and THEN i bring up my desire to possibly ride on their property. I also have with me a WRITTEN document that lists my name, address, how to reach me by telephone, my insurance company address/info and it expressly says that I do not hold them (nor can my insurance companies) responsible for anything that may happen to me or my horse should they give me permission to ride there, including death, dismemberment, head injury, etc. due to any reason: groundhog hole, machinery running or not, dogs, kids, downed fence, etc.

I spend a few moments discussing this with them then leave them a copy of the paper. THEY do not sign it, I do. The paper also says I know what crops are and that when the fields are planted with what ever I WILL NOT attempt to ride through or around them. Those crops are these folks paycheck. You better believe a ride though them would be costly. (BTW, DO NOT attempt to get this type of permission from any sod farm!!)

I tell them that I’ll be back when it is convienient for THEM to discuss it further. And I show up at the agreed time. And request that they walk or drive with you to determine their boundries IF they do give you permission. Sometmes lots are not perfect squares and you could wind up tresspassing!! And do not bring/invite riding pals along UNLESS they too have this form for the property owner. 1 horse is a lot different then 2 or 10!!

This method has worked wonders in many situations (even when other local riders have been told to leave a property, I still have permission). If you want a copy of the form I use email me. (sutphent@michigan.gov) However keep in mind I am not a lawyer and have no idea how legally binding this form is. Luckily I’ve never had to use it!!

But it has allowed me to ride on many properties I would not have had access to - AND approaching the land owner BEFORE I ever get near the property w/ the horse is the clincher. It shows you DO care and have respect for their property. And stay OUT of planted crops!!

DQ in MI

[county]

katherine guess it all depends on your idea of rude you certainly cover what my idea of it is. And I don’t see anywhere or in anyway that I said your riding through feilds etc. I said I thought rather plasinly if your on land that you know for a fact isn’t yours, you have no permission to be on it, and you play dumb when caught then your not doing any other horse people a favor by lying about it. People know when your playing dumb, lying, however you want to spin it. Doesn’t matter where you live could be in a big city or the middle of no where if your trespassing then thats what your doing if your caught or not has nothing to do with it.

[marta]

interesting topic

our barn sits on a trail system which goes through private properties. people boarding in the barns on the trail system must obtain a membership in order to use the trails. we did. we were given a stack of maps - great…except some are marked w/ the property owner’s names, and others w/ block and lot numbers(!!!). how the heck am i supposed to know what block and lot number i’m passing? especially when they have since built 10 more houses in the area and properties got subdivided again. my gf and i spent good 15 minutes trying to figure out where exactly is the easement to continue on. we got lucky but that’s it, we just got lucky. i think in our case the trail association could do a better job updating the maps. on the other hand, that’s probably a v. time consuming project that no one wants to undertake.
the other problem i’ve encountered is where exactly does a landowner want you to ride when passing their property. i heard one lady w/ a gravel driveway, doesn’t want you on the driveway, rather, she wants you on the grass. but this a.m. while i was passing by a house walking on the grass abuttiing the driveway, the owner hollered for me to use the gravel driveway. okay, i will comply. but rules change from property to property. some owner’s post signs such as ‘please ride on the edge of property only’. others don’t and you’ll just have to wait for that embarrassing moment when someone corrects you.

[matryoshka]

Back when I was young and cute, I had no problem getting permission from farmers to ride on their properties. I’d ask them what rules they wanted me to follow. Here are a few:

1. Don’t make trails.
2. Stick to the edges of the field.
3. Don’t ride when it is wet.
4. Only ride in hay fields when the ground is frozen.

Nowadays, it is very hard to get permission to ride. It seems other, inconsiderate, horse people have ruined it for those of us who understand the rules. It’s a shame, too.

When I was a kid, though, if I was riding on a farm where I had not obtained permission, I was often met by a farmer holding a shot gun. It just seems to be the way here in Cecil county. Anyway, I’d dismount, apologize, and ask the farmer if he knew where I could ride. This usually softened them up, and they might even give me permission to ride in one or two of their fields. I never broke their rules.

My parents have a farm with a few acres of woods in the back. My husband and I decided to take a walk back there a few years ago, and we were warned off the property by a hunter! :eek: He asked if we knew it was hunting season. I asked him if he knew he was on private property (he had to cross a fence to get onto it). He was the one with the gun, though. :winkgrin: Housing developments have sprung up on the other side of their woods, and people have taken down fencing to gain access to the property. My parents don’t mind if people enjoy their woods, but it would be refreshing if somebody would ask for permission. My dad occassionally gets annoyed enough to want to put up “No Tresspassing” signs, which would be a shame. We’ve also had people cut down saplings for firewood, and other sorts of problems.

[xring]

@matryoshka

we were actaully warned off the property by a hunter! :eek: He asked if we knew it was hunting season. I asked him if he knew he was on private property (he had to cross a fence to get onto it).

Did this guy have permission to be hunting on the property? If so, he was doing you a favor. If not, he wasn’t a hunter, but a poacher. Poachers give hunters a bad reputation, just like riding horses on someone’s property without permission gives all of us a bad reputation. Rather selfish I think. It’s a little more trouble to respect other’s rights and feelings, but we shouldn’t expect to grow watermellons if we sow thistle.

[matryoshka]

Nope, the hunter didn’t ask permission. This isn’t very strange, since a lot of people grew up in the area and are used to going where they please to hunt. It just surprised me that he’d warn us off when we came from the farm that owned the property. My parents don’t want people hunting on their property, but they haven’t posted signs. If there are no signs, they can’t be surprised to find hunters there.

We also had a neighbor down the road that moved our electric fence farther into the field so they could use part of my pasture for back lawn. I guess they figured since they were out of the line of sight from the house, we wouldn’t notice it. I found it out in a big way one day when they dumped grass clippings over the fence. They thought they were giving the horses a treat. Luckily, I found the horses munching on the grass shortly thereafter. Once I got the horses in, I went to their house and explained that while they meant well, grass clippings can kill horses. They later asked for permission to use part of the pasture for lawn, and my father said okay. They proceeded to park equipment on it, so they lost their permission again.

We have neighbors on the other side who mow about 20 ft into our hay field to expand their lawns, too. We Americans sure seem to feel entitled to use property that doesn’t belong to us! Where I live now, there are 3 houses. One house backs up to a nice big field. When the field was sold to a horse breeder, one resident on my street got mad when the new owners fenced in the property. They seemed to think that was a nasty thing to do, as if they owned the view when they don’t own the land.

Accidental tresspass can happen when a farmer gives one permission to ride, but the rider isn’t totally sure of the property boundaries. I believe that was MayS’s original concern. Also, the person she encountered may have been warning her off the neighbor’s property, thinking they were doing the farmer a favor. Who knows. I no longer even try to ride around here anymore (I live near MayS) because of the bad reactions I have gotten when asking. I get to hear about all of the bad experiences these farmers have had with horsemen in the past.

[Benson]

@yellowbritches

, but what was the harm in having a couple of horses walk through the woods behind your house?),
Yet another problem with urban sprawl. Clueless city folk move to horse country, then don’t want anything to do with horses.

Yellowbritches,
Holy crap! Have some common, freakin’ courtesy! YOU don’t pay the mortgage on your free trails, YOU don’t pay taxes on them, YOU don’t pay the insurance and YOU don’t maintain the property. Therefore YOU HAVE NO RIGHTS WHATSOEVER ON THAT PROPERTY-PERIOD.

I AM a horseowner, who has the taxmap of our entire neighborhood (btw, taxmaps have the address of the property owner). I am also a farmer/landowner who is fearful of losing everything I own and work for to some pin-head who has absolutely no respect for other people’s property. BTW, just because someone has enough money to buy land doesn’t mean they are clueless city folk. Some of us make our living from the land. Sheesh, you struck a nerve.

[county]

I think this thread has done a really good job showing why land owners have the attitude they do in many cases towards horseback riders. Respect, so many horse people just don’t have it and we all pay the price.

[M.K.Smith]

@MayS

P.S. I know my questions seem a little absurd but 2 weeks ago in my county we just had a crazy homeowner shoot a shotgun at a car who U-turned in his private drive. Both people in the car went to the hospital to be treated for wounds and he’s in jail now… but it’s terrfying to think some people are so paranoid about tresspassers.

May,

1st… my manager was talking about the guy shooting at the trespassers. Seems there may be other circumstances involved…PT me if you want to hear what she had to say about the “crazy homeowner.”

2ndly, I’ve wondered the same thing about how you go about getting permission to ride on other people’s land. I don’t know many people in the area and don’t know them well enough to ask permission to ride. So, for now I just take our little trail in our woods and loop around the power line trail & come back (of course…I’m just leading my youngsters).

I can see both sides… walking horses carefully around somebody’s property when weather conditions are appropriate doesn’t seem like a problem. But… I can also see how people would be concerned about the liability aspects and sadly, many people don’t have the same care & concern for other people’s property that we would have (tearing up the ground, riding through crops, galloping on private property).

I’ve had problems with people trespassing…

There were the paintballers who were having great fun in our woods without permission. Somehow, I don’t like herds of teenage boys carrying “guns” on my property. They drug roofing material & an old bed frame into the woods to use as targets. They left trash… paintball boxes & cigarette boxes & beer & soda cans. Finally, I confronted one of the parents… the kids retaliated & shot up the no trespassing signs and then the family moved & the painballing stopped. The last thing I needed was for some idiot kid to jump out of a tree & break their leg & sue me. I also don’t like underage drinking going on.

Then there are the 4 wheeler problems… People who clearly know they are on our property and one set of neighbor’s that we thought were friends.

1st… May, you’ve been to my house… the 1st house on the left as you drive in… Man & his elementary school aged daughter… never asked permission & were riding their 4 wheelers on our property… most of the time they went slow… but they never had asked permission & I was concerned about the liabilty issues of such a little kid on a potentially dangerous piece of equipment. It’s a divorce situation & who knows if Mom knows what was going on. It would have poured & been muddy & they were out riding… they didn’t care about tearing up our grass or our trail. Then a tree fell down in our woods… it blocked the trail. I was fine with it… I could get around it if I needed to, but I felt it created a nice little block for most 4 wheelers. Well… #*($(( neighbor takes it upon himself to open the trail…without asking & without our knowledge he took his chainsaw down & cut the tree so the trail was opened again. Had my husband not talked to him, he was planning to remove the old farm junk (without our permission) out of one of the gullies… I guess that would enable him to do two things… 1. sell the metal to put money in his pocket & 2. open up a fun place to zoom his 4 wheeler around. Situation finally ended by me calling him & telling him that he did not have permission to be on our property and we could not allow people to ride 4 wheelers because of the liabilty issue.

Then a week ago…I went to the outlets & turned to the left… 99% of the time I go right. I noticed that the big mound of dirt & our field had tire tracks. GRRREAT… Well, coming home, I found out why… 3 four wheelers (one with double people) were having a grand ol time on our property. These neighbors are in the middle house on the same side as the previous neighbor. Well, I say something to husband… again my concern is the liability issue… you know that they weren’t just moseying around our field and you know that the intent with the mound of dirt was to see how fast they could go over it & how much hang time & lift they could achieve when jumping off of it. I personally think 4 wheelers are dangerous… I personally don’t like them & the last thing I need is for one of the kids (or their parents) to flip a 4 wheeler on themselves & sue me.

I said something to husband… he didn’t like the liability factor or the trespassing factor either & went down to talk to them. My husband is very laid back & I’m sure he politely asked them to not ride the 4 wheelers. (I had been told not to go with him… a wise decision on his part.) The lady took great exception to the fact that we wouldn’t let her ride the 4 wheelers on our property :eek: She proceeded to go ape#(($ on poor husband. Like a little kid having a temper tantrum, she complained that I drive too fast (I’ve never gotten over 25 mph… there is no speed limit, & I’m usually well below 20), that our manure pile is a problem (she’s way too far away to be anywhere close to it & as far as manure piles go ours is about as un-stinky as they get). I occasionally will walk a horse down the lane to check mail… she complained about the manure…ironically, I hadn’t walked a horse down in MONTHS except I took Willow down that morning… no piles from her.

These are the same people that previously had told me it was okay to walk the horses on the grass so the gravel wouldn’t be too hard on their feet & they’d always want to pet the horse whenever I went by. Guess, I found out their true feelings.

So… no more walking a horse down the lane (I’m afraid of what they’ll do to get me hurt) and I now drive turtle speed. In return they’ve promised to stay off of our property… and the next time they do…I’m calling the police… so much for friendly neighbors sorting out agreements in a peaceful manner.

After, my husband returned after talking to them, I took Amber out to work her for county fair… they proceeded to zoom their 4 wheelers up & down the gravel road & did donuts in the cul de sac in front of our house (it’s a blue sign, so I don’t think there is much I can do). Amber was not bothered in the least bit. Since that didn’t get a rise out of my horse, they decided to let off as many firecrackers as they could. At first Amber was fine, but then she got upset & reared. Charming neighbors… These are the same people that had a grand 'ol time with the illegal fireworks over the 4th… poor T was a wreck.

Well… I guess I’ve gotten off on a little bit of a rant and the 4 wheeler comments are on a bit of a sidetrack… but because of the obnoxious 4 wheeler riders they have ruined it for the rest of them… had somebody came over and politely asked for permission and ridden responsibly, I may allow them to ride (with a written release), but now, I won’t be allowing any 4 wheelers on our property.

I don’t trust riding horses on a lot of Cecil County roads… people fly & occasionally there are people who intentionally try to scare your horse. I have some good friends with super trail safe horses & I will ride with them on roads, but they are usually very lightly traveled roads.

These friends have permission from all of the property owners to ride. One Christmas, we dressed up the horses & went carroling (sp) & gave the property owners cookies. It was a lot of fun & a goodwill gesture letting them know how much we appreciate them allowing us to ride.

Fair Hill is AWESOME to ride at, but I don’t have a trailer & really don’t know the trails well, so that rarely works for me. I’d love to get Willow there again & I just backed Remi last weekend, so hopefully, he’ll be ready after a bit more work.

I hope it all works out for you & if you get permission to ride over to my house, I’d be game to go out with you Here is a website that may help you find property owners: http://sdatcert3.resiusa.org/rp_rewrite/ It gives you the physical address & names of the owners of the property, so you could know the owner’s name if you stopped by, you write a letter if you wanted or it should be relatively easy to find a phone number (phone book, searchbug.com, whitepages.com, etc.).

Best of luck! (sorry this got so long)

[GoForAGallop]

Another farm owner piping in here.
I live in an area of western mass that is getting more and more developed…it’s to the point where we’re one of the largest land owners in the town, and we only really have 100 acres or so. Farmers are selling out, and more.

So we’re essentially surrounded on two sides by residential housing, and I am just more and more amazed at how RUDE people are! I have fun “patrolling” on my snorty, flashy gelding, and giving a good talking to to some of these people.

For example…we had one couple park on the street, blatently ignore the NoTrespassing signs, and decide to go for a nice stroll through our farmlands. They weren’t in the least concerned when I came riding up on my horse, IGNORING me. Me, practicing my deep breathing exercises, slowly turn around my horse to catch up with them. (Yes…they walked PAST me, chatting, without a word.) “Err…excuse me.” I actually hear one nitwit whisper “Is she talking to us?” Well…duh. They slowly turn around, and I ask if they did not see the No Trespassing signs. Well, yes, apparently they did. But…and this is what they actually said to me “We didn’t think anyone lived here.”

Oh good golly…I knew our fields were something special!! They must plant themselves in nice orderly rows, and some nice little elves must be weeding them too! I told them quite frankly that they need to get the hell off my property, and if I caught them on again, they’d be arrested. I then escorted them to the property, and one actually had the balls to whisper “What a bitch…” They haven’t even seen me annoyed, nevermind bitchy!

A main reason for not letting people on my property is that I’m honestly just not a people person. Too many bad apples have spoiled the whole lot.

With that said…I do get lonely riding my horse, and honestly, if there was someone near me, and I got along with them, I’d be more than willing to let them ride, with the proper forms, providing that they follow some simple rules.

[Nicker]

We back up on a large nursery that permits horse back riding. Even though it’s well known, I still called and asked before hand. I’ve loved riding on their property and have thanked them many times since(chocolate chip cookies never seem to hurt :)). Unfortunately I’ve had to put up No Trespassing signs and possibly adding a locked gate where our property meets as the signs are not working. I’ve had many people ride off the nurseries property, past my no trespassing signs, through my woods and into my ring! I’ve come home to find people I do not know riding horses(even jumping) in my ring and in my empty pastures. Once while the morons rode they allowed their dogs to chase my horses. :eek: Even with the no trespassing signs if someone is hurt on your property while trespassing you can be held liable. Just not worth the risk for me.
One bad apple can spoil it for the rest. I will not ride on someone elses property without prior permission and consider it extremely rude to do otherwise.

[WildBlue]

I suggest, in the nicest way possible, that the folks who’re being ‘invisible’ instead of getting permission make an effort to find out whose land they’re on and talk to the owners. Even if you don’t realize it, you will be seen riding in that area by somebody and you will leave signs of your passage, and people talk. The owners might not mind enough to take action, but it doesn’t mean they think of you fondly, either.

I grew up in an area where our 80 acres was small. We were on a dirt road, surrounded by farms and old timbered and stripmined land. I rode almost daily as a teenager on the farm, timber, and oil access roads, where I could go for hours without seeing another person. I was painfully, painfully shy, so didn’t ask permission when I didn’t have to and did my best to be invisible. I thought I was quite successful, since nobody told me otherwise or complained to my parents. Years later, I was chagrinned to find out that what seemed like half the county knew about “the blond girl on the big black horse”. THANK GOD none of those good ole boys minded, or if they did they worked it out with my parents and I was none the wiser. Now, as an adult and landowner, I’m aghast at how thoughtless and rude I was. I was so sure that I wasn’t hurting a fly and that nobody should mind. Man, was I wrong!

Yes, this is a whole different kind of rude from the people who walked though our yard with berries or mushrooms or game they’d taken on our land without permission, or the guy who’d been off-roading argued with my dad that “This is free land!” to which my dad shot back “It wasn’t when I paid taxes on it this year!” BUT, even though it doesn’t have the same shock value, it’s still every bit as rude and disrespectful to the landowner. A pleasant attitude is a good start, but absolutely nothing replaces the courtesy of speaking to people.

There have been some good suggestions here on how to talk to landowners and how to get agreements in writing. I think this will continue to become more crucial in the future, for all recreational users. I will add that if you are approaching a house or meet people out on the trail that you want to talk with nicely, get off the horse. A mounted person is very intimidating and it’s easier to keep your horse from crowding the person you’re talking to when it’s in hand. Leading the horse up to them rather than riding helps to make the horse into a pet and both of you much more approachable (conversely, if the person is scary, stay ON the horse!). It also makes you look a lot more polite and humble coming up the driveway, and it’s easier to keep the horse off the grass and to help people pet it safely.

[Reynard_Ridge]

We patrol our property regularly and frequently (130 hilly acres adjacent to a public park - luckily also on the ridge line and thus not often used) on foot, on horseback and ATV. We have used local park rangers and police to remove snowboarders, ATVers, bikers and hikers from our land.

Note, “our land.” Posted, patroled and paid for by my husband and myself.

Nobody, and I mean NOBODY has the right to ride on, sneak around, walk around the edges, traipse through it, picnic or otherwise disturb our peace and serenity without our explicit permission.

To the OP: If you wander over on my property because you have permission to be on my neighbors, I am going to be rude when I find you, not because I don’t like you personally, but because, if you have permission from THEM to ride on THEIR land, it is YOUR responsibility to know THEIR boundries. And stay off of mine. Period. I don’t like finding people in my backyard - my backyard just happens to be bigger than average. No, I’m not going to shoot you but I am sure going to make you feel unwelcome, 'cause if you come back again, I have to call the police on you and it’s a pain in the neck.

Here’s my analogy. If you live on 1 acre, I don’t have the right to come park myself under your living room window and have a picnic with my children. So, please don’t come picnic under mine.