I would be sitting and waiting with a shot gun and rubber dog pellets!
I’m curious, is there a prosecutor, military or civilian, involved in this case yet? The throwing of rocks with the intention of causing a person to become unhorsed sounds like assault to me, plain and simple. It’s not a whole lot different from throwing rocks off overpasses at vehicles, and I’m certain that carries a heavy legal penalty. The involvement of an attorney may be what’s needed to get this ball rolling.
Possibly a shotgun with rubber buckshot, paintball gun and a camp out. Of course with proper signs saying to keep off the property. No real harm done to the kiddies and many out here would not give them that consideration. Colorado has the make my day law, and I am pretty sure stealing livestock is still a major offense.
let hang’em! :lol:
Unfortunately, unlike Fort Rucker where the riding stable is miles from the post boundaries, across from the RV storage lot, and next to the golf course and is easy to patrol, this barn sounds as if it’s near the post boundary. Except for securing gates I doubt there is little the OP and co-boarders can do. On many posts the road patrols and law enforcement is now done by DOD civilian guards, and not the MPs for routine duties. I doubt the civilian police will be allowed to patrol on post, and though the state laws are enforced on Military posts the local cops need permission to enter and arrest. If the MPs or guards catch a local civilian on post then that person would be turned over to the local authorities, and the charges and penalties are up to locals who might not be all that friendly to someone who doesn’t live there (I know people who have been totally screwed over by local courts who have prejudices against outsiders).
It’s very simple:
Talk to the people in charge and see where you stand.
Lots of good ideas posted already although I am not a fan of amateur armed patrols. Leave that to the police/MPs/professionals IMHO.
After, and only after, working with the appropriate law enforcement authorities who have the proper jurisdiction, you and your fellow boarders may want to contact the local news channel’s tip line/investigative reporter and see if you can get some media coverage of the situation.
If you’re working with the local cops, their public information officer/media liaison may be of assistance in garnering publicity about the attacks, too. Even teeny small town PDs have someone who handles media inquiries.
Ginning up a little media attention couldn’t hurt. The attack on your poor fellow boarder who broke her jaw is an assault, pure and simple - no different than if someone had dropped a big rock off a highway overpass, smashing a car windshield and causing a vehicle to go out of control, potentially killing the passengers and others.
Sorry for sounding callous, but your story has a lot of elements that would be VERY local news-worthy: the military base angle (always an important local constituency in a host community), an assault on an innocent (I’m guessing) woman, and the visual value of the horses. It would make for good TV (sorry again if that sounds off-putting, but that’s what drives the media).
Again, could be worth a call or two and could lead to the thugs responsible for this. Am sorry that you have to deal with this.
Re: the “no more visitations, please”: a visitation is either an official visit, or what’s happening in Medjugorje (usually the Virgin Mary alone, but sometimes accompanied by other(s)). So, since we aren’t talking about visitations from these gangstas, better to say “visits”.
OP, ime, once things go south to the extent that they already have in your barn, the only wise thing to do is move. The headache of dealing with trying to secure the place & your possible regret that you didn’t move, isn’t worth it!
These monsters have NO regard for the welfare of the horses, & I think that you must move them to remove the risk of further harm or even death, to them.
Also, be cognizant of the fact that these monsters also have weapons, commonly. Knives, guns, slingshots, even, can traumatize/maim/kill horses.
I have had this kind of trouble for years, trying to keep my creampuff dog safe on walks where dangerous breeds proliferate (pitbulls on every corner where I lived before), in combination with owners who don’t care to keep them under control. Many close calls, one fang between creampuff’s shoulderblades, so far. I had to move, if it’s any small consolation.
Of course, lawlessness is increasing everywhere these days, & one can hardly escape it anymore. Good Luck!
[QUOTE=Flashy Gray VA;5690495]
Lots of good ideas posted already although I am not a fan of amateur armed patrols. Leave that to the police/MPs/professionals IMHO.
After, and only after, working with the appropriate law enforcement authorities who have the proper jurisdiction, you and your fellow boarders may want to contact the local news channel’s tip line/investigative reporter and see if you can get some media coverage of the situation.
If you’re working with the local cops, their public information officer/media liaison may be of assistance in garnering publicity about the attacks, too. Even teeny small town PDs have someone who handles media inquiries.
Ginning up a little media attention couldn’t hurt. The attack on your poor fellow boarder who broke her jaw is an assault, pure and simple - no different than if someone had dropped a big rock off a highway overpass, smashing a car windshield and causing a vehicle to go out of control, potentially killing the passengers and others.
Sorry for sounding callous, but your story has a lot of elements that would be VERY local news-worthy: the military base angle (always an important local constituency in a host community), an assault on an innocent (I’m guessing) woman, and the visual value of the horses. It would make for good TV (sorry again if that sounds off-putting, but that’s what drives the media).
Again, could be worth a call or two and could lead to the thugs responsible for this. Am sorry that you have to deal with this.[/QUOTE]
Excellent advice and the motion detectors also a great idea. The one thing I’ve learned is sometimes you have to be careful about antagonizing people especially when it comes to certain borderline juvenile deliquents… Often it seems like the more you try to discipline them /protect yourself & property it antagonizes the kids into doing more to “get you back” or something… .We’ve just gotten through this in my neighborhood…
By the way. In the civilian world carrying shotguns or any type of gun on your property is legal, however on a Military post (which this is) there is no carrying of weapons at any time for any reason, except in hunting areas during the appropriate season, or under a few other situations (at the gun and skeet range, at the private weapons range, and as a part of Military duties). Anyone else who is armed on post will be arrested, and the reason doesn’t matter. This prohibition probably extends to pepper spray, etc, so ask before someone gets federal charges.
This prohibition on weapons extends to people who have civilian carry permits, and even in states where open carry is permitted. Since the Fort Hood terrorist attack the restrictions are even more specific and the penalties for violating weapons laws on post are severe and strictly enforced.
I haven’t read the whole thread but I’d just like to mention one thing:
If your horse does any damage to anything in the neighborhood, you are liable.
If you horse gets hit by a car, YOU ARE LIABLE.
if your horse kills the person that hits them with their car, YOU ARE LIABLE.
This happened to a lady I know, who’s horse got loose when a braider left his stall door cracked at a horse show. He ran out onto a highway at 5 am and was hit and killed by a car. the woman driving died. the horses owner was sued and lost a lot of money even though she was no where near the showgrounds at the time of the accident.
MOVE.
PROTECT YOURSELF, AND YOUR HORSE.
[QUOTE=pinkpony321;5691061]
I haven’t read the whole thread but I’d just like to mention one thing:
If your horse does any damage to anything in the neighborhood, you are liable.
If you horse gets hit by a car, YOU ARE LIABLE.
if your horse kills the person that hits them with their car, YOU ARE LIABLE.
This happened to a lady I know, who’s horse got loose when a braider left his stall door cracked at a horse show. He ran out onto a highway at 5 am and was hit and killed by a car. the woman driving died. the horses owner was sued and lost a lot of money even though she was no where near the showgrounds at the time of the accident.
MOVE.
PROTECT YOURSELF, AND YOUR HORSE.[/QUOTE]
Eh…in THIS PARTICULAR CASE, possibly not. The horse is not loose because of any reckless or careless behavior by the owner or their duly authorized agent (the braider in that example was merely an agent of the owner, so of course the owner was responsible. The braider was just an employee who was left in physical charge of the horse by the owner.)
In this case, the horses are being deliberately and maliciously released as part of other criminal activities. It’s like trying to blame the owner of a stolen car when said car is used in a hit and run after the theft–you can TRY to hold the legal owner responsible, but it’s not likely you’re going to succeed (unless they did something blatantly stupid that allowed the thief access, like handing their keys to a total stranger). Assuming you take reasonable precautions (the gates are secured, the fences are in good condition) you are not legally responsible when someone deliberately commits a criminal act. In this case if the delinquents turn the horses loose and someone gets killed in a horse/car collision, a smart prosecutor could even get them on accessory to manslaughter, or even manslaughter. Certainly reckless endangerment.
^This.^
The security is the BOs responsibility. Since nothing has been done by them to correct the situation, I’d leave. If everyone leaves, they’ll either be allowing themselves to be driven out of business by these evil children (we seem to be breeding a lot of those these days in the US) or they’ll have to step up and offer more security. They HAVE the responsiblity for making it safe for you and your boarded horses. Off their property (guessing that was the case with the woman who was injured) they are not responsible. On their property, they are not protecting your assets and that’s part of the contract with them. They will probably have a lawsuit coming their way shortly if they don’t address the problem.
The police are pretty useless in this case. The BO has to step up to the plate and only call them when something has happened and they have evidence.
But for your safety and peace of mind…MOVE.
Along with media attention, you might consider offering some sort of small reward leading to finding out who these hoodlums are. Despite all their talk of “snitches get stitches,” kids usually LOVE ratting out who did what and they make it so easy by talking to everyone about what they did. Plus, having a more aggressive presence such as offering a reward will show those idiots that you all mean BUSINESS and you are going to find out who they are and make it hurt.
Aside from that, I might do some sleepovers with a shotgun. I’d definitely complain a ton to the MPs though.
Well, I spent the night at the barn. Thankfully it was quiet all night.
At this point I just don’t know what’s going on. I am very alarmed at this assault yet it seems that many of the others are surprisingly unconcerned. Even the injured boarder seems more concerned about barn drama than an incident that could have killed her. I’m trying not to question such a traumatic incident but this lack of details or any other mention of the ordeal is driving me crazy. I know how serious the MP’s take this kind of stuff and I can’t understand why they wouldn’t be swarming all over this. I think I’ll call the MP’s when I get home and see what they’re doing about this. Sigh. It all just seems so crazy.
I had my horse at a military barn. Ours was officially a “club” and had an executive.
If yours does as well, or some kind of representative, they should approach the CoC about banning visitors unless escorted by barn members. This isn’t even about these hooligans, who aren’t "visitors’ but malicious trespassers. But it’s a liability issue for the base itself, and if the BC’s non-horsey he may not even know.
Getting onto our base during working hours wasn’t a problem either. Most bases aren’t locked down. But it’s stupid to allow “the public” access to place teeming with large, spookable, potentially kicking/biting animals.
