Right??? That is why I bought as many acres as possible, and own trailers to haul out.
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It makes me so sad to think of a horse person closing access to riding for other horse people. Our area is blessed with endless miles of trails, most crossing private property, and it just takes one person putting up gates and signs to ruin it for everyone. To think of a horse person being the one to do that seems unfathomable to me.
I agree that riding through someoneās hay field is bad etiquette, depending on time of year. That kind of ignorance from your new neighbors should be addressed. I liked the suggestion to get the horsey neighbors together (could even be via a shared email list/FB group if you donāt want to coordinate in person) to set up some parameters- Iād consider covering time of day (to hopefully avoid times youāre working your youngsters), where to ride (perimeter of fields vs. through fields), avoiding land during specific dates because of alternative uses, etc.
Access to trails, especially through/connecting trails, is so precious, please do consider future implications to keeping people out.
Before anyone comes at me, yes, I own 200+ acres, yes, we allow recreation on it, no, itās not posted and it wonāt be. We work with our neighbors to make it work for everyone. And we can ride hundreds of miles of roads and trails because most people where we live do the same.
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It is really bad etiquette any time of year, butā¦
You (general) should never ride on a crop. Period.
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This thread is indeed interesting to see all the varying points of view.
My initial reaction to the OPās use of the word āaudacityā was to agree, not necessarily because theyāre so entitled or whatever, but because I personally would just be really scared to trespass on someoneās land not knowing anything about them or what theyāre doing on their property! People do target practice, shoot off fireworks, burn stuff, etc. Maybe Iām paranoid but I think itās pretty brave to the point of being audacious to just assume itās safe to ride through someoneās yard, you could get accidentally shot!!
When I first moved to my barn I signed a release form to be able to trail ride around the perimeter of the next door neighborās field, which is super nice of him to allow us to use, and even though people say those release forms donāt actually do anything, it seems smart to just have some kind of agreement in place and in writing.
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Has the OP reported back yet?
I live in a fairly rural area and we have permission to ride on the neighboring land, including crop land. We absolutely stay far clear of the crops and appreciate their generosity. When I discovered a neighbor trail riding our place without asking us first, I called her (I love game cameras). I asked that she text me next time so Iād know she was back there. No big deal, I just know she rides alone so Iād like to know that sheās here.
Some of yāall are profoundly curmudgeonly and this from someone who considers herself a sour old bat 
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If for no other reason than to prove the owner has given you permission. The property adjacent to mine is land owned by a business (tree service) and the person mainly on the property is not the owner. This guy has given āpermissionā to use the property to some unknown number of people for various reasons, and without any real understanding of the property lines, and they frequently drive through my property as well as hunt on my property lines.
I ran into the actual owner some years ago and he had no idea that other people had been given access to the property. Unfortunately for him, the majority of people were using his property as a yard waste dump, which still happens on a daily basis. He may or may not know at this point, but he doesnāt really care since he doesnāt live there anyway.
I donāt see wanting people to ask for permission to be curmudgeonly.
Some of the people I have given permission to be on my property are snowmobilers, who have a network of trails. They have asked each and every property owner for this permission, and they give out a map to their members with allowable trails and any additional rules. E.g. on my property they have to go slowly since I am often using it to walk dogs (even in winter) and donāt want to get run over.
Itās not really that hard.
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Not what I said, now was it?
I am addressing those who arenāt at all amenable to anyone setting foot on their property at all, no matter what.
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Thatās great!
Thatās also way different than folks riding across private property without asking the owner if itās ok, first. First! Not after!
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Well after I bust folks trespassing, Iām not going to be amenable to allowing them back.
I donāt think itās curmudgeonly to not allow people to use oneās private property regardless, but for sure barring repeat trespassers that couldnāt be bothered to ask permission in the first place seems logical.
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While hay is harvested ( technically) it in no way compares to actual " crops" . They are damaged by anything going over or through them. Hay when it is short is not.
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I find hoof holes all over the place do damage things.
If nothing else, hoof holes all over the place make it pretty miserable during cutting and baling.
Your experience might be different.
I personally do not ride all over my hay field(s) unless I know everything is totally dry. That is me knowing where the wet spots are, etc. You, that random person who does not live there might not know where those are, and does not know they are leaving hoof dents until they have left hoof dents.
I personally think that even with hay fields, it is best to always ride on the very edge. It is not my decision to make on if your (general hay field owner) hay field is OK to be ridden across.
Now, if that hay field owner has said - feel free to gallop across it any time you like, then go for it. Have fun.
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We donāt ride on the fields if it is that wet where they would make holes. We ride in the pasture until it dries out. Boring as heck but we just do what we would if I had an arena.
Not that difficult.
OP isnāt allowing outside riders ( we donāt either) so it isnāt an issue.
I agree, not that difficult.
What I was saying is, that unless you know where the wet spots are you can ride into them and cause a problem. So stay on the edges so you do not do damage.
(Unless you have been given permission to go wherever you want.)
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Example: we had permission to ride the land behind ours. It sold without our knowledge. New owners āfound usā riding and happily said it was fine with him and all is well.
Were we trespassing? Yes. We didnāt know it.
What would you have done?
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I agree. I Just hope people have the sense to do that. You would be surprised.
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Apologize profusely and let them know you had no idea it had been sold, and after they gave me permission to continue riding there, bring them over a gift of my best baking and a bottle of wine if I wasnāt too broke at the time to buy a really nice one.
Riding over someoneās hay field without permission is just plain rude. I donāt blame the OP for being annoyed, hay is pretty pricey in some parts this year. I wouldnāt want a cut damaged even in the slightest way.
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The OP stated she treasures her privacy AND is starting three green horses under saddle.
^ a surprise visitor can cause accidents for OP and her horses.
We, too have young stock and spend time introducing them to jog carts and viceroys * a surprise group of riders can be very dangerous !
There are many reasons not to allow others access to your property.
Safety is First for EVERYONE !
But riding in someoneās crop land is simply unacceptable - IMHO
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Good fences make good neighbors
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This. Iām getting my property survey done and fence lines will be slightly set back off the line plus another perimeter fence for the horses to keep the off the main fence.
My neighbors are ok, but donāt care that much for my horses and goats. I donāt ride on their property or even want too.
There is a field behind us that I asked the neighbor if I could use for long lining if I keep it maintained and mowed. Itās just an overgrown field with gorgeous trees that need to get cut back. Havenāt heard back yet. If they say no, not a big deal at all.
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I was brought up in suburbia. My house was across the street from the high school and a dozen kids cut through our yard twice a day.
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