Neighbors from hell...continued.

[AnotherRound]

TS - See, the problem is that we women are brought up to believe that it is rude to protect yourself and your property, that we are not supposed to be “rude” and we are always supposed to be polite and not offend. That’s why women get run over by people who don’t respect our borders. Both physical and personal. Hope you learn to say “no”. What if they came in your house to look around? Its not any different. Defending your borders is an important lesson in life, and one which we often aren’t taught. Hope you learn it soon.

What if a thug lifted up your shirt to see what was under there? What if a neighbor turned on your lights in the barn at night to see what was in there? Just when and how you say “no” tells these kinds of vermin whether they have your permission to violate your borders.

These idjits did not earn your kind regard enough to be invited over, because they do not respect you or your borders. You need to tell them no under any circumstances and enforce it.

Good Luck.

[TropicalStorm]

I think part of the problem is that I am so patient. And umm…wussy, if I’m honest with myself.

I wonder what would happen if I was just like “Get the hell off my property. If I see your dog again, he’s going to the Humane Society and if I see your kids on the property, I’ll call the police and press charges against them for tresspassing and endangering livestock.”

[macmtn]

@SaturdayNightLive

Move to Alaska. :winkgrin: Up here it is quite literally legal to shoot to kill trespassers. No warning required.

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

here in Maine it’s also legal ( as long as you don’t get caught) …but we call it shoot* shovel* and shut up*…
dogs? what dogs? I didnt see loose dogs in MY pasture…:winkgrin: :winkgrin:

[ChocoMare]

@macmtn

here in Maine it’s also legal ( as long as you don’t get caught) …but we call it shoot* shovel* and shut up*…
dogs? what dogs? I didnt see loose dogs in MY pasture…:winkgrin: :winkgrin:

Sorry…had to: Badges? We don’t need no badges. We don’t need no stinkin badges!

:lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol: :lol:

[Alagirl]

@TropicalStorm

I think part of the problem is that I am so patient. And umm…wussy, if I’m honest with myself.

I wonder what would happen if I was just like “Get the hell off my property. If I see your dog again, he’s going to the Humane Society and if I see your kids on the property, I’ll call the police and press charges against them for tresspassing and endangering livestock.”

Try it!

After they scrape their collective jaws of the ground they will come away with a renewed sense of boundaries…

No, they with think you are a Btch, but that is good, nobody messes with The Btch…:eek: :yes: :lol:
Honey, sometime being a Btch is all a woman got going for her* Dolores Claiborne…:lol:

[ESG]

@Renn/aissance

And also an excuse to be RUDE AS HELL when you need to be.

Umm, in this case, the neighbors are your excuse. You cannot reason with people like this, because they’re not reasonable. You cannot set polite boundaries with people like this, because they interpret courtesy as an invitation to tread on your back, and treat you like a doormat. Give them an inch, and they’ll take ten miles. And subtlety doesn’t work either - goes right over their empty heads.

I had a neighbor in Wellington who would feed/collect unwanted/stray dogs, but not treat or handle them, so they’d come over into my riding arenas and start trouble. After lots of polite, then not-so-polite phone calls, and many, many face-to-face warnings about calling animal control, I finally did it. Turns out, AC was very familiar with these idiots and took me very seriously from the get-go. Trapped one dog, and darted and euthanized another, that were coming into my arena while I and my boarders were riding, and scare and chase the horses. Luckily, I’m somewhat of a dab hand with a longe whip (watching all those Indiana Jones movies had an effect! :lol: ), and pups got their tails stung if they were within reach. It was when they started ignoring the sting and getting aggressive that I had to involve AC, and get the animals gone. @$$hat neighbors later got evicted from their property when it was foreclosed upon. Figures. :no:

[EponaRoan]

Tell them they can come pet the horses all they want if you can have sex with her husband and see what she says.

Good heavens, no! They could be swingers and take that as an open invitation.

Gee, and I thought Canadians were more polite than USAians. I guess the entitled/poorly brought up are all over.

Good luck with the situation. Hopefully they’ll take your parental units a little more seriously. In the meantime, embrace your inner bitch.

[oleary157]

fencing

Leave the existing fence and put electric on the bottom of THEIR side. Then 4ft in from the existing fence i’d suggest putting an electric type of fencing or something portable so the horses can go about and if they want to stretch their necks, they can…just not on the neighbors property:)

And also, these people must not be able to comprehend very well. You’ve told them CLEARLY to stay off your land. Contacting your lawyer would be good. Also maybe a picture or videotape of them or the dog on your property might work as evidence in case something happens?

[Mozart]

Hotwire. Really.

I have been there done that as far as neighbour issues go. Welcome to the country. Didn’t you know that in “the country” it is all right to let your dog run loose? Didn’t you know that the neighbour who moved there first gets to do whatever they want no matter how it affects you?

Sigh. Our dog issue with the neighbour did not end until the dog literally died. It was not at my hands, I assure you, but although I am a dog lover, I did not mourn.

Given the size of the acreage you are describing, I really think you should put up mesh fence and hotwire the top, at least on the side you are sharing with the intellectually challenged neighbours. Not only might it hopefully zap one of their children but it will most definitely teach the horses not to hang their heads over that fence line. Most of mine won’t even approach the fences if you stand there with a carrot.

Fortunately you have a dog hating horse, count that as a blessing. If your horse smooshes the dog, it is not your problem. It is also against the law for dogs to worry livestock, there is nothing they could do if your horse took matters into his own hands.

You live in Alta, right? Get to know your local RCMP detachment. You want them to know you are a reasonable law abiding person. If they have a “community policing officer” or something like that, have a chat with him or her about this issue. They may be prepared to have a chat with your neighbour just so everyone is clear on what is legal and what is not.

If all else fail, get a bigger dog than they have…Good luck.

[TropicalStorm]

I saw one of the little sh*ts coughs kiddies bordering the property today.
He knew I saw him. He made it a point to jump in my property (there are 6 fence poles where the railings aren’t up yet) then jump out quickly.

Tell me, if I throw a rock at him and it hits him and knocks him out, am I liable?

My parents are going over tonight to talk to them, and I’ll let you all know how it goes.

[gabz]

I haven’t read the entire thread… but here’s a few thoughts.

Buy some concert tickets and drop them off at the front desk of the police station in an envelope with your return address on it. Tell the desk sergeant that you bought the tickets but a family event prevents you from using them (the family event could be an evening at home… or talking on the phone with your mother and/or father).

Buy some sporting event tickets and do the same… tell desk sergeant you won them on a radio show and don’t do sports.

Type a simple letter, with a list of things… send it registered, return receipt mail to neighbors. Send copy to police department.

Instead of “Do Not”… .try to make it positive as in Horses are only allowed to have food that I prepare (you). Apples can make horses sick. Carrots can get stuck in their throat and make them choke.

Buy Pony Club books, highlight important passages, give to neighbors.

Talk to neighbor’s Pony Club leader / trainer.

Strong fences make good neighbors. Woven wire all along the property line between you and them. Hot wire at the top.

Good Luck.

[katarine]

Mozart, your ‘country’ is different from mine. Here, the old folks get the finger from the ‘new kids’ that want to run their street-drag-car up and down the only straight stretch of paved road for 4 miles. And trespass to shoot squirrels.

TS- your folks are your only hope. Better get a can of whupass ready for them. And hot fence. and holly bushes. Good luck.

[DressageGeek_Ribbon]

Yes - get electric. I can tell you personally that zap is uncomfortable (there are those of us with bad depth perception who also don’t see well in the dark…). And keep it on. I hope the little kids get nailed but good. I say, fry 'em.

I will invoke the Infamous Diahreaa Curse on the whole family, including the dogs. Alas, if they trespass on your property…there will be a lot of sh!t trails…but wouldn’t that be legal proof of trespass?

[Alagirl]

@katarine

Mozart, your ‘country’ is different from mine. Here, the old folks get the finger from the ‘new kids’ that want to run their street-drag-car up and down the only straight stretch of paved road for 4 miles. And trespass to shoot squirrels.

TS- your folks are your only hope. Better get a can of whupass ready for them. And hot fence. and holly bushes. Good luck.

Time to invite Dick Cheney for a squirrel hunt…

[Alagirl]

@TropicalStorm

I saw one of the little sh*ts coughs kiddies bordering the property today.
He knew I saw him. He made it a point to jump in my property (there are 6 fence poles where the railings aren’t up yet) then jump out quickly.

Tell me, if I throw a rock at him and it hits him and knocks him out, am I liable?

My parents are going over tonight to talk to them, and I’ll let you all know how it goes.

Someone told me that in the hight of protests in the 60s some Prof tossed waterbombs filled with - butteracid, not sure the correct term in English - on the protestors…let me just tell you, small amounts of that stuff smell very strong, like rotten cheese, and I’ve also been told, you get it on your skin it will stay there for weeks!

Innocent :rolleyes: whistling…

You didn’t see anything…

[asb_own_me]

@EponaRoan

Good luck with the situation. Hopefully they’ll take your parental units a little more seriously. In the meantime, embrace your inner bitch.

BINGO! Don’t let her be an “inner” bitch anymore. You have been beyond nice to these idiots, and they do NOT deserve it. I can’t wait to hear how it goes with your parents.

[theoldgreymare]

@Regalmeans

They’re not. But I’m going to guess her neighbors don’t know that…

The other signs I mentioned ARE legally enforcable though… I know this because my Trainer just won a lawsuit over it - a Client of Trainer’s owns a farm where Idiot rode. Idiot leased a horse. Client had those signs EVERYWHERE AND had made said Idiot sign forms releasing Client, her family and barn staff, as well as Trainer and the Horse Owner. Idiot fell off on day and got hurt and proceeded to take Client, Trainer and Horse Owner to court. BUT because Client had the signs posted and the signed release forms, all saying that riding was inherrrently dangerous, etc etc, they won and Idiot was unsuccessful in her lawsuit.

A sign will hardly protect you from liability in this instance (too many horse people are under the misconception that a sign and release makes them not liable for anything that goes awry), should one of the little monsters get injured on your property. If one of the little darlin’s gets injured playing around on your property don’t think for a moment that you will not get sued whether negligence is present or not. I agree that you should post a sign (conspicuosly) so that the general public is aware of your no trespassing policy. The next time the little angels come on over uninvited, call the police to report them trespassing so it is well documented in the event something does go wrong. As to the dog, in most states you are allowed to shoot a dog that is harassing/injuring your livestock. While I don’t think you should kill an animal to make your point to these clueless people, a few butt-fulls of pellets in their dogs behind might drive the point home (too bad you can’t give the kids a few butt-fulls too;) ).

[Bogie]

Electric fencing, lawyer and insurance required

Wow, what a pain for you to have to deal with all that. My horses are stabled in a private barn where the owner has a dentist’s office. I always have people down feeding my horses. So far, no one has been hurt but I did see my TB go after someone’s dog a few weeks ago. The only thing that really drives me nuts is when people let their kids go into the paddock :mad:, but most of them have more sense than that.

Electric fencing strung low enough for the dog and high enough for the kids should help.

Hire a lawyer and have them write a letter to your neighbors spelling out specifically that they are not allowed on your property to feed the horses, ride the horses, or come near the horses. Have the lawyer copy law enforcement.

Get yourself some liability insurance so that when the dog is trampled or the kids are injured, you have coverage in case you get sued. It’s not particulary expensive if the horses are for your personal use.

I guess you now know why the expression “good fences make good neighbors” was coined. You just didn’t know that you needed an eight foot fence with barbed wire on the top!

Good luck!

[crewgirl34]

Just one thought about the dog:

I would hold off shooting him with anything more powerful than a bb gun for the simple fact that these people could be completely crazy, and if they see/hear you shooting poor innocent Fluffy, they could retaliate. There was a similiar situation (dog chasing cattle) and the cattle owner shot the dog after months of telling the dog owner to control his pet. The first day of deer season, two of his best horses were shot. Couldn’t prove it, but pretty much everyone knew it was the dog owner, especially since one of the horses was grey, and that’s pretty hard to mistake for a deer…

Of course, if the dog is really threatening the horses, by all means, shoot to kill, but if the dog is more of an annoyance and the horses aren’t scared, the silent bb gun will get your point across to the dog without leaving evidence. I just hope the dog is smarter than his owners!

This is so much fun, a real live soap opera! Keep us updated, and I hope everything works out without too many migraines:)

[nightsong]

Good for you, TS, for looking for the EXACT LAWS that pertain to your particular locality. The vast majority of your responses here are from people in another country. Please do not tick off these people any more than seems to be absolutely necesary; the boy (is he only 10 years old???) is already taunting you, which shows no respect and does not bode well for retaliatory nastiness. These people can be DANGEROUS and hurt you FAR MORE than the accidental stuff you have already mentioned. Nice is GOOD.