Suburban boarding barn....Ideas for neighbor relations and safety

[JanM]

Where I live there are a lot of pecan trees. That leads to issues with trespassers coming onto private property, and picking up pecans, or even shaking them down off of trees to gather them. Of course, it’s without permission.

Maybe something like blackberries next to a fence line would be a good way to keep people away from the horses, except when the berries get ripe, and people think they can help themselves.

One boarding barn where I worked near had some pecan trees in the middle of the fenced paddock, that usually had horses turned out in it. You would not believe how many people would march out in a herd of horses, shooing them away, and using those little cage things to knock down pecans and pick them up. THis was in broad daylight, and the people would actually argue with armed officers that told them to get out of the horse paddock. They couldn’t keep the pecans either.

[eightpondfarm]

@JanM

except with the berries get ripe, and people think they can help themselves.

EggZACTly!!!

We have a ton of pecan trees on our land. But, the fields they are in are quite remote, and kinda in the center of our property. There are two trees i collect from, all the others i leave for the animals (incl horses…who have taught eachother how to appreciate them). FWIW, i do believe this year is a mast year for pecans.

[Alterration]

@eightpondfarm

WHY do close-living people assume that any open-space privately owned property or animal is public domain?

That is the million dollar question.

But, like I was saying the other day, the National Park Service has signs all over the place warning people not to get out of their cars or get close to the Bison/Buffalo and STILL people do that stuff. Zoos have issues with people jumping fences to “get close to the animals”. I’ve seen horrifying videos of people trying to ride wild horses on public lands.

I’m not sure if it’s the Disney effect or what.

Yet another thing that makes me insane.

[eightpondfarm]

i swear, i’ve daydreamed taking a blanket and picnic basket and a friend and set up in a trespasser front yard and see how they like it.

[Alterration]

@JanM

Where I live there are a lot of pecan trees. That leads to issues with trespassers coming onto private property, and picking up pecans, or even shaking them down off of trees to gather them. Of course, it’s without permission.

Maybe something like blackberries next to a fence line would be a good way to keep people away from the horses, except with the berries get ripe, and people think they can help themselves.

If they were thick enough, they’d only get the outer edges. Maybe that would be seen as a conciliatory gesture LOL

I did look up our statues and even with the attractive nuisance laws, my warnings and the documentation that I’ve given is enough to at least win a lawsuit, but possibly not avoid one. I’d prefer the avoidance but here we are.

I will probably also write a letter to the neighborhood explaining who we are, what we do, what is appropriate and inappropriate as well as the fact that ALL HORSES BITE and that does seem to put the onus on the guardians to have some responsibility.

I wonder if you plant berries, they trespass and pick them, and get sick for some reason…is that still considered your fault?

I’m not a “party of personal responsibility” sort of person but this…this seems like a place I might be LOL

[Alterration]

@eightpondfarm

i swear, i’ve daydreamed taking a blanket and picnic basket and a friend and set up in a trespasser front yard and see how they like it.

It’s almost like walking in their front door and feeding their kids.

“What, you have a problem with me feeding them these random sandwiches from my fridge? I don’t think it’s expired bologna…”

[eightpondfarm]

@Alterration

I wonder if you plant berries, they trespass and pick them, and get sick for some reason…is that still considered your fault?

Which makes multiflora rosebushes so attractive…
I think blackberries would be an attractant.

FWIW…gooseberries are also thorny. As are hawthorn trees/bushes. But both are not NEARLY as easy to grow to enough volume to do the job.

[AwiUsdi]

@Alterration

t’s an adjacent subdivision and that subdivision is a “suburban city subdivision” so we are as exciting to have around as a zoo

This, in some sense. So many people nowadays are far removed from anything besides dogs, cats, and hamsters, so indeed a facility with exotic (to them) animals may seem like a zoo, complete with the idea that a zoo is publicly accessible.

@Alterration you have quite a job ahead of you, to establish safety boundaries while still being a welcoming, good neighbor. Surely there’s a neighborhood FB page? It would probably be a great idea to be a part of it.

[Alterration]

@AwiUsdi

@Alterration you have quite a job ahead of you, to establish safety boundaries while still being a welcoming, good neighbor. Surely there’s a neighborhood FB page? It would probably be a great idea to be a part of it.

Good thought, I’m going to have to see if I can find it.

[AwiUsdi]

We have a small apiary so definitely no chemicals. And even if we didn’t have bees.

[eightpondfarm]

When we first bought this property, one very odd thing we noticed was that in all of the fields and woods we saw zero wildlife. No birds, no squirrel…nada.
Now, 20 yrs later, and after having imported some squirrels (imagine!! but the local wildlife refuge is always looking for safe expanses to relocate their squirrels…they come about 3-7 weanlings in a box —looks like a bluebird nesting box only a bit larger). And zero chems has allowed crickets, moths, grasshoppers and now we have some (not NEARLY ‘enough’) birds in evidence. The farmers have sure done a good job securing the wild FROM the wild. It is so sad.

[AwiUsdi]

Monoculture. A whole ‘nuther thread.

[eightpondfarm]

yeah, you’re right. Sorry OP!

[Alterration]

No sorries necessary! I am capable (well, usually) of following more than one train of thought in a thread

We’ve got a lot of wildlife here, and I enjoy nurturing it. Right now I’ve got a deer browsing on the other corner of the property, we had some sorghum pop up along our deck last year, probably as a result of birdseed, but we left the canes and enjoyed bird visits all winter, loads of cardinals.

I’d love to have some beehives but I am concerned that this close to suburbia they might not make it. I’ll settle for planting loads of flowering things that they can enjoy. I’m not big on chemicals, avoid them where I can, and despise when people spray for things like spiders etc.

Just down from us is a HUGE park, and bordering that a very large quarry, so though we are in the middle of suburbia, we also have an incredible amount of wildlife! I love that part!

[cayuse]

I had this problem and had to double fence and post the property and speak to police (who advised the posting and getting a camera). Talking nicely to the neighbors did no good and seemed to make them defiant. They were in agreement to not feed horses unless we were with them but were caught several times doing just that and finally I came home from an errand on a very hot day and found all my barn doors completely shut and candy wrappers on the floor. Now no one is allowed to feed the horses at all and I’m the town B. Sometimes you can’t win. I learned I had to “do what you have to do” to protect your horses/property and don’t worry about hurting the neighbors feelings.

[Alterration]

It’s a horrible feeling isn’t it? I want to be friendly but also where’s the fruit bat?

[Impractical_Horsewoman]

It is crazy. But there’s another thread here about how people in boarding barns (who own their own horses or at least take lessons) insist on feeding treats on the sly to other people’s horses, and are barely deterred when told that certain horses have metabolic conditions or are chronic biters.

Animals make people crazy. Food (especially “treats”) make people crazy. Put them together=more crazy.

[clanter]

@Alterration

It might actually be more useful to invite the neighborhood gals to a wine party than to invite the children!

when older daughter had her wedding here we had to put All the horses up into their stalls as they all came down to watch, lined the fence and were pleading for handouts

Goats… grand daughters have trained their goats to do a lot tricks … they were invited to Hollywood for TV show that will be aired this summer. They took four of the goats on the five day whirlwind trip there and back

[wildlifer]

Please do not plant invasive species of plants! They already do so much damage & this is how they are perpetuated. But you can Google your state + “native plants” to find helpful lists of natives that will work well as deterrents for wandering humans.

[eightpondfarm]

you’re right of course. Native Missouri blackberries can be impassable brambles if not mowed periodically, and can produce very dense very prickly thickets. Hawthorne trees/bushes just don’t crowd very well BUT if OP has a length of fence in shade they’ll work well in there.
…it’s just that multiflora would get the trick done in about half the time as blackberries.