We have a public footpath running across the field and frankly, I am UTTERLY sick of folk walking dogs off lead and sitting themselves down to have a picnic on it this year. We have 4 horses in that field, including a mare in foal and a youngster who she mothers, plus 2 geldings. I don't give them treats so they don't mug walkers and I have no complaints with the "proper" ramblers who walk and keep walking.

However, yesterday I watched a man lift a pushchair over the stile and push it across the field. Horses, being inquisitive, couldn't resist going to have a look - with Indi - who is about 800 kilos in weight, 16hh and a very intimidating mare in hot pursuit.

What I want to know is that had they been hurt (which they wouldn't be, they'd only need to shoo the horses away - they were just being inquisitive - like cows) would I have been liable? Is it really responsible to push a pushchair across a field with horses and a very steep hill?

PS - we are insured, but still, I find it very worrying :(

PPS - not to mention the black lab that just appeared in the field totally out of control last week

I had a very good friend in exactly the same situation.  :-(

Horses and dogs on a farm with a public footpath running through.  She too endured the agonies of people strolling across the fields, the Hunt charging through and upsetting her horses so much that her beautiful but scatty chestnut mare badly ripped open her chest and damaged her legs on fencing.

It taught me NEVER to consider buying property with a public footpath anywhere near it! :-(

Friends have a footpath through a field next to their house - they can't use the field for anything except for the odd bonfire :(

Daisy

Can you perhaps put a sign 'Warning Livestock in field'.
'Please keep all dogs on leads at all times' (etc etc...)

Is is possible to fence the field into two halves leaving a fenced footway through the middle?
If so problem solved.

Not sure if you can do this but going on Sharon's idea of half and half, how wide is the public footpath?  Could you not just fence of the path from the rest of the field?  or does it have to be quite wide?  I'm seeing here only cutting horses field down by 2-4 meters, giving public only a footpath to walk on?

As I say don't know much so what I have said could be a big no-no

Or could you reroot the path round the edge of the field??????
Or do you have to keep it in the same place????
I would have thought, as long as you allow access across your field it wouldnt matter which way they went across, and then you could put a fence round it???
Lea :)

Re-routing public footpaths is time-consuming and expensive, unfortunately, because it has to be done legally and requires planning permission. :(

I'm often seen pushing a major buggy (childs wheelchair) thru footpaths not sure what that comment has to do with it tbh they are public footpaths if i choose to go thru on roller skates is neither hear nor there if you see my point.

I sympathise i think the best alternative is to erect signs stating livestock in the field :)

So, would you push a pushchair through a field of cows? And if you got knocked by one would you complain or sue the farmer?

see, i think my concerns are with this compensation culture we have now. They can drive a flipping train through the field for all I care as long as THEY take the risks - and don't go complaining after. Its as simple as that really.

We used to use a footpath (which led straight to the village across two fields, skirting the main A-13 road - with no footpath) to take the children to school.    Late autumn was 'orrible - claggy mud, beet tops AND sheep.   There would be half a dozen of us, all with pushchairs and 1 large pram, walking about 9 littlies to school.   Why so many mums?    Well, there would be sheep turned out in the field - and for some reason, a couple of them would take a real dislike to some of the children - why we never could fathom out - so we would make a sort of "tank" unit - big pram in front, littlies in between pushchairs (on both sides) and another mum bringing up the rear - with a very wussie "bitsa" dog (who was also scared of the sheep :rolleyes:).   The biggest kids thought it was so clever to "worry" the sheep by chanting "mint sauce, mint sauce" at them :rolleyes:

This carried on for a couple of years - until one of us actually passed a driving test!!

None of us ever considered complaining about it - just made sure that we took the kids' wellies home, to wash off the thickest mud, for the journey home in the afternoon!

When was this?   Back in the late 70s/early 80s :D :D :D

And to think I wonder now why I've put on weight :rolleyes:

Margot

Reminds me of where I lived as a child. It was opposite a part of Epping Forest and in the summer 'commoners' had the rights to graze cows there. There were no fences and the cows used to roam up and down the roads (even into our school - the gardeners had to chase them off the hockey pitches) and often came into our front garden if the gate wasn't shut :D They used to eat my Dad's roses, much to his annoyance. We had to be very careful if we chased them out, as they could rush at the garden wall and knock it down :( In those days, no-one claimed any compensation for the damage (we got plenty of free manure :D ) :)

Daisy

We had the same in Beverley in Yorkshire - common land that farmers grazed cows on. You'd have to drive up the road nice and slowly to avoid them meandering across the field. It was lovely to walk though, although I am a tad cow phobic since being chased across a field by bullocks and bailling out over the gate :D

There's quite a few stories of people dying after being attacked by cows. I think you enter a field with livestock "at your own risk".

No because i'm not that stupid and know about the dangers, i thought we were talking about horses anyway?

Cows or horses, it makes no odds, surely?

I gotta walk where i can i would love the luxury of grounds for my dogs to roam about in, but seeing as i havent i see no reason why a buggy should restrict me from accessing public footpaths? if i use the same common sense as able bodied people whats the difference? buggy or no buggy if i can get a buggy though i am going that way!!

Carla did state her horses wouldnt attack and being brought up with horses i wouldn't bat an eyelid in a field unlike cows with calves so yes different odds. thank you.

Lets just ban the disabled once and for all!! maybe we dont have lovely nice and easy smooth paths to walk on with no cattle so we should stay at home :rolleyes: ideal world not.

Do you have to be so defensive? I was just asking out of interest if you would complain - you wouldn't so thats made me feel better. Perhaps I am just feeling paranoid and thinking the worst of people because of my hormones and all the horror stories you hear ;)

I'm not being defensive as such but its school hols basically if i dont take my daughter the dogs don't get walked, when you stated why would anybody take a buggy maybe they had no choice like me.

I can't even take all 3 dogs so i do on average 6 walks a day, mostly on the public footpath to get to an open space for them to run off in lol so if i appear defensive its because i'm darn tired :)

A friend of mine has the same problem.  She ended up double fencing the footpath (council had no problem with this).  Once fence to border either side of the footpath and then a second fence about a couple of meters back from the two fences bordering the footpath. 

This kept the walkers on their path and the horses away from the walkers.  Only problems was she lost quite a lot of grazing this way, but she had peace of mind.  She also found stringing a piece of electric fence along the top of the fence closest to the horses and then putting warning signs all the way along stopped the more inquisitive walker (and parents kept hold of their children) - even though the thing wasn't wired to a battery!

HTH,
Helen

Thanks. Its not possible to fence it off - its one of 3 and it goes right through the middle. I am having a new paddock in with post and rail for when the mares foal, so the less inquisitive horses will be in the bit with the footpath. These horses have been here years and seen it all so a bit less stressful. The horses are used to pushchairs and children anyway - its just indi is a bit protective at the moment.

As I say - MOST walkers are brill - infact, they have even been over to tell me when the water trough was broken. Its the inconsiderate ones who settle down with a picnic I can't stand. It wouldn't be so bad if they just asked if it was OK!

Actually, under an archaic law, it's illegal to take ANY wheeled vehicle onto a public footpath. A footpath is exactly what it says it is. A public right of way is a different matter and you would have to check at your local council offices as to the rules on that particular stretch. It's not unknown for footpaths or rights of way to have rules which vary from field to field. This is because they were originally designed to give access to farmers and villagers after the enclosures act. If a particular area needed access for farm carts etc, this became a right of way, (or wayleave). If yours is a footpath, you would be quite within your rights to put up a notice saying that wheeled vehicles of any sort are prohibited, and that you are not responsible for any injury or loss caused by misuse of the footpath, (this includes straying from the actual marked footpath). You have a duty to ensure that the line of the footpath is clearly visible. Get the OH to run over it with the mower.

Hi - thats every interesting - thanks.

What does it mean if a pony trots towards you with its head down?

Run

:D :D

No, seriously, Frankie (yearling) runs up to things he doesn't understand with his head down. All you have to do is flap your arms or make yourself big and he will bottle it :D

Hmm

As far as i am aware you are NOT allowed to put an animal either considered dangerous by law (ie a bull) OR an animal you KNOW to be dangerous, on a field that has a public footpath running through it.

That poses horse and cattle owners problems because by their very nature they are unpredictable animals even to those of us who understand them at times, for non horsey (or cattley) people id say they are unpredictable all the time.

Dont put up any signs saying 'beware' of anything. That just gives people the ability to claim that you knew the animal/s in question were something to 'beware' of.

Not sure on signs saying 'enter at your own risk' 'landowner will not be held responsible for accidents or injury" etc id ask soemone legal about that.

As far as picnickers go. they are absolutely NOT permitted to stop and picnic on a public footpath, its a right of way across the land with certain conditions, NOT a right to stop and loiter.

Ditto dogs im not sure if you do actually have the right to bring yoru dog across a public footpath, but irrespective you do NOT have the right to have it off lead (especially if it then strays off the designated path).

So by all maens put up signs stating that dogs must be on lead and under close control at all times (that gets round teh ones who like to have their dog ranging on a flexi >_< ergh the idea of a dog on a flexi lead near horses....)

Em

Hi, no, I think there are only restrictions on the type of bull you can put in a field. I can't see anything about horses - although personally I'd stop short of putting a stallion in a field with a footpath for my own sanity :D

As I say, the horses are not dangerous and are used to pushchairs - considering my daughter goes in and catches them I would very much trust them to behave. Its just an extra worry I don't need at the moment - watching a pram go across the field! :D

Its just an extra worry I don't need at the moment - watching a pram go across the field!  :D :D :D

It never bothered the land owner when this gaggle of women/prams/pushchairs/kids/and one wussy dog traisped out of his field of ewes a couple of months after Orsett Show :D :D :D

We must have looked a sight ......big kids worrying the sheep by shouting "mint sauce" at them - not to mention the mud on the wheels of these blessed prams & pushchairs (we knew that the buggies of those days were not Man Enough for this particular footpath :D ) - I think we were about as glamourous when we turned up at the school gates as the Aldermaston Wimmen :D ...the other mums used to move when we appeared :D

It was a real red letter day when one of us (not me :) ) passed her driving test .......we joined the Civilised World :)

Margot

You are actually allowed to put a bull in a field with a footpath running through it. :-D

The Law Section 59 of the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and Section 44 of the Countryside (Scotland) Act 1967 ban bulls of recognised dairy breeds (Ayrshire, British Friesian, British Holstein, Dairy Shorthorn, Guernsey, Jersey and Kerry) in all circumstances from being at large in fields crossed by public rights of way.

Bulls of all other breeds are also banned from such fields unless accompanied by cows or heifers, but there are no specific prohibitions on other cattle. 'Fields' in this legislation does not include areas such as open fell or moorland.

It's infuriating when folk treat other people's land as a public park. They may have a right to cross it, but that's as far as their entitlement goes.

I've just looked up the Ramblers' Association webpages, and this is what they say with regard to the "Rights to Roam" act :-

What am I allowed to do on access land?
The new law provides a right of access for walkers only, and does not confer any additional rights for cyclists or horse-riders (though where additional rights are currently allowed or tolerated, they will continue). Dogs are permitted on some areas of open country, but must be kept on a lead on access land between 1 March and 31 July and at any time in the vicinity of livestock. Furthermore, dogs may be banned temporarily or permanently from some areas of land. Access at night is permitted but may be subject to local restrictions. Walkers are responsible for their own safety at all times.

It also states :-

Some things are specifically not allowed on access land under the Act, these are given as a list of general restrictions. This list included such things as:

Driving or riding any vehicle
Using a vessel or sailboard on any non-tidal water
Having with you any animal other than a dog
lighting or tending a fire
Intentionally killing or disturbing any wildlife
Intentionally damaging or destroying any eggs, nests or plants
Feeding livestoc,
Bathing in any non-tidal water
Hunting, shooting or fishing
Using a metal detector,
Bbstructing the flow of any drain or watercourse
Neglecting to shut any gate, except where it is ntended to be left open,
Engaging in any organised games, or in camping, hang-gliding or para-gliding
engaging in any activity which is organised or undertaken (whether by him or her or another) for any commercial purpose

So Carla, settle those prenatal hormones down .....you are doing everything correctly, and you are NOT liable if any of your oh-so-wicked-equine creatures decides to EAT a member of the wandering public ........ :)

Margot

Is this same as footpaths tho ?? We often have problems in the fields next to our house with yobs on motor bikes or quad bikes (although, since our contact with the local council and the community policewoman this has stopped - hopefully for good :) )

Daisy

Is it just me then who crosses publc footpaths with my dogs on short leads not extenders or off lead within my control never leave rubbish, never cause a problem and thank anyone I see who looks like the landowner I am a townie but enjoy walking in the country side, therefore take utmost care I leave no problem behind me.

Good for you kazz. I'm sure if everybody was as responsible as you then no landowner would mind people on their land. In a fit of generosity, I set aside one of my fields for dog owners in the village to let their dogs run free. I fenced it with stock fencing and put a notice in the village magazine saying people were welcome to walk their dogs. You would not believe how some people abused my generosity. One lady complained that the fencing wasn't small enough and her dacshund could get through the wire and would I please re-fence it with chicken wire. A chap rang me up to say could I reserve the field for his exclusive use between 7.30am and 8am as his dog couldn't be trusted with other dogs. The final straw came when I was asked to pay a vets bill because somebodys dog had had to have a thorn removed from deep between his toes and she was sure he'd picked it up in my field. Needless to say, I've knocked that idea on the head.

Found all this really interesting reading.

I have a bit of land too, and although I don't have any public footpaths or rights of way across it, last summer, I was in the yard with the dogs and noticed a chap walking across our field (which incidentally DID have a stallion in it)  I was naturally fuming.  My Sec B Stally, thankfully had a great temperament, and was not a threat to him in any way. 
At the time, my GSD bitch had a litter of pups -  her, Dad and the babies were all out, and I've no doubt that my bitch would have been protective of her pups.

There is no road access to that field, it turned out that he'd come across the neighbouring fields as he'd just 'felt like having a walk'. 

It's so infuriating.

Lisa