"Introducing" horses to the neighbors?

[GoodTimes]

I didn’t read the whole thread so I apologize if this has already been said.

I like the note idea. It doesn’t need to be condescending. Start off by supplying your contact info and encouraging neighbours to contact you if they notice a loose horse, damage to your fencing, or a horse with a noticeable injury.
Follow that with some quick info for neighbours who are unfamiliar with horses. Kindly ask them not to feed or pet the horses over the fence for insurance purposes, the safety of the horses (chock, allergies, foods that aren’t safe for horses), and the safety of the neighbours (bites, kicks, etc.)
If any neighbours have dogs that tend to get loose quickly mention that dogs may find it “fun” to chase horses which is dangerous for everyone involved.

I would avoid a BBQ or “homecoming”. Once people have met the horses they might think they have more horse experience then they do. If they ask to meet the horse fine, but inviting everyone over might be asking for trouble.

I would also post signs that say private property, do not feed or pet the horses, and “electric fence”. It’s not just your neighbours that you need to worry about. Every time a car drives down the road you’re at risk for them stopping and visiting the ponies.

[btswass]

I think it greatly depends on where you live. Where I am horse farms large and small are a part of life. On our street alone there are at least 5 houses with horses that I know of and 1 large barn. I’ve never had an issue with neighbors feeding the horses. Sometimes they’ll cross the street and watch them but no one has ever tried to pet or feed or enter the paddock. I have had people driving by just stop and watch and even one who got out to take a picture while I’m riding. Thats kind of weird but I guess most people just see the horses standing in a field not actually being ridden.

[BeeHoney]

@GoodTimes

I didn’t read the whole thread so I apologize if this has already been said.

I like the note idea. It doesn’t need to be condescending. Start off by supplying your contact info and encouraging neighbours to contact you if they notice a loose horse, damage to your fencing, or a horse with a noticeable injury.
Follow that with some quick info for neighbours who are unfamiliar with horses. Kindly ask them not to feed or pet the horses over the fence for insurance purposes, the safety of the horses (chock, allergies, foods that aren’t safe for horses), and the safety of the neighbours (bites, kicks, etc.)
If any neighbours have dogs that tend to get loose quickly mention that dogs may find it “fun” to chase horses which is dangerous for everyone involved.

I disagree with the note idea. I just don’t think there is anything you can say that would be certain to come across positively and as intended. For example, telling your neighbors to contact you if they notice a problem is a little rude in that it puts responsibility on them for something that isn’t their responsibility. Some of that information also might get them thinking negatively about the horses as a potential nuisance or danger. The last thing you want to do is to get your neighbors thinking about how your horses are imposing on them and the neighborhood, or to incite curiosity as to what happens if you feed a horse treats. Much better to just MYOB and expect your neighbors to mind their own business in return. Writing letters is inviting people to involve themselves with your horses, which is the last thing you want.

I would be nice to your neighbors in every other regard, but treat your horses as your private property. And build a tall fence, reinforced with hot wire. Hot wire is essential because it transcends all kinds of innocent misunderstandings. “Oh, I thought the [sleeping] horse was dead, that’s why I went in the field.” Or, “Oh, I would never feed the horses without your permission, but since it’s just grass [day old grass clippings] it’s fine, right?”

[candyappy]

How many families and properties are sharing a fence line with you? A good strong fence that keeps your animals in and their animals and kids out is the best introduction.

[Sansena]

“And we’ve always invited them into the barn for the babies in the straw. It has gone a long way for good relations!..”

Oh my goodness. THAT is adorable!!

[whitehouse1988]

We have horses at home and our property backs up to 8 houses back yards. Neighbors and dogs have been extremely respectful and seem to like watching their antics. I’m always being told a funny thing the mini did. However, I always tell them if they don’t like them, we can always sell and subdivide into a trailer park ( we can)

[She_s_Pure_Gold]

I guess my experiences must be unique I remember reading similar negative stories and warnings prior to buying our farm and bringing them home and was really concerned about how it would go- but my experience has been the polar opposite. My paddock does not share a fence line with any other properties (it’s in the middle of ours, next house is separated by about 1 acre of woods) but there is a sidewalk on the street that goes by the paddock that is very frequently traveled. But other than 2 or 3 odd experiences (in nearly 6 years) we just have not experienced the negativity that is being warned by others.

We are very open and friendly with all of our neighbors who have expressed interest. Most people came over one time to introduce themselves and ask to pet the horses (which we obliged under supervision, with the conversation about not petting them or feeding them alone) and then not come back, content to just watch from the sidewalk outside of our property. I’ll even pause my rides sometimes to go say hello to a curious child walking by with his/her parents and let them pet my horse (my riding area is next to the street, with a stone wall along the front as a boundary). We smile and wave to people walking by if we’re in the yard, lots of families with kids will stop outside of our fence to watch them for a little while, but it’s been such a positive experience. People love them and have for the most part been very respectful of boundaries. Beyond that, we have multiple neighbors to whom we have become very friendly and close who help keep an eye on the property and who have our contact info and will tell us if anything is wrong or questionable (or just the latest antics of the crew).

I guess to each their own. I recognize that there are good and bad neighbors, and varying experiences, but taking the friendly, open approach has absolutely been the right one in our experience. So OP, YMMV, but taking an initial friendly approach and then reassessing if it becomes a problem might be the way to go. Personally, I can’t imagine putting up “no trespassing” signs all over our property and other warnings (we do have the electric fence warning on our fence)- it would just totally change the vibe for our place and the relationships we’ve developed. I was a horse crazy, horseless kid- I remember what that feels like and rather than have a “this is my horse, none of your business” attitude, I try to give them a fun experience and memory that I would have loved to receive were I in their position. JMO :yes:

[starhorse]

We have 4 neighbors who have backyards directly abutting the fenceline. Right now, we have 3 rail fence, and we’re adding hot wire to it. We have a long thin property that runs along a dead end road, and the dead end has several neighbors with backyards right up to the fenceline. 2 of them have kids (between 5 and 15).

I guess I want to communicate that we want the horses to be a nice addition to the neighborhood and if they have concerns to let me know before, say, complaining to the town or something. I don’t anticipate it but I’ve read some horror stories on here.

I also would love the neighbors to feel comfortable calling if they have a cousin in town who would like to meet them or something