Horse in your garden!
Discussion
I have a neighbour(pun not intended!) who is a bit animal crackers at times - she had 4 dogs and 5ish cats at one point. She has split up with her hubby and I think he has all the dogs bar one now so she replaces them with a flock of hens and a cockeral, fair enough.
At the weekend I heard some banging about, repairing fencing type noises etc and though her hens must have found a way though her rather flaky panelling. Being nosy, I went and had a look on Tuesday.....she's now got a Shetland pony stallion sitting in her garden and munching her lawn! It's been there all week! It doesn't bother me and makes me laugh but are you allowed to have such things in a small 80s estate type backgarden?
Bonkers!
At the weekend I heard some banging about, repairing fencing type noises etc and though her hens must have found a way though her rather flaky panelling. Being nosy, I went and had a look on Tuesday.....she's now got a Shetland pony stallion sitting in her garden and munching her lawn! It's been there all week! It doesn't bother me and makes me laugh but are you allowed to have such things in a small 80s estate type backgarden?
Bonkers!
Have a word with your local Planning department (ask for the Duty Officer or the Officer who covers your area).
I've never come across this specific situation before, but 'equestrian use' is a separate and distinct category of development under the Planning system (distinct from, say, general agricultural or business use), so it may well be deemed that keeping a horse in the garden represents 'equestrian use' and therefore requires a separate permission where the land in question is categorised as residential use.
If you do speak to them, I'd be interested in learning their response.
I've never come across this specific situation before, but 'equestrian use' is a separate and distinct category of development under the Planning system (distinct from, say, general agricultural or business use), so it may well be deemed that keeping a horse in the garden represents 'equestrian use' and therefore requires a separate permission where the land in question is categorised as residential use.
If you do speak to them, I'd be interested in learning their response.
That's an interesting perspective - she is very horsey and does sometimes have a teabreak for herself and horse in the garden when she's been riding.
As I said, I have no issue and I'm going nowhere near the mad mare(woman!) as she has a serious touch of The Mental going from some of the barnies she used to have with her hubby!
I'll try and get a picture as it does look pretty abstract in a normal garden
As I said, I have no issue and I'm going nowhere near the mad mare(woman!) as she has a serious touch of The Mental going from some of the barnies she used to have with her hubby!
I'll try and get a picture as it does look pretty abstract in a normal garden
bexVN said:
the rspca will need to visit. They will accept it as long as it has good shelter, good food and access to proper exercise (and vet care esp re: weight and feet) Of course it may be temporary which is fine but it should not be there long term if the above is not being met.
now knows what to do to get a horse!! thanks 
bexVN said:
the rspca will need to visit. They will accept it as long as it has good shelter, good food and access to proper exercise (and vet care esp re: weight and feet) Of course it may be temporary which is fine but it should not be there long term if the above is not being met.
The minimum land requirement for equine species is 1 acre per horse if it is a small pony and 2 acres per horse if it is larger. I doubt the 80's estate back garden has this much land so i would call the rspca on welfare grounds alone to check the situation. Horses tend to avoid patches of land that they have defaecated on for some time after and this may become a problem in such a small back garden.swiftwill said:
bexVN said:
the rspca will need to visit. They will accept it as long as it has good shelter, good food and access to proper exercise (and vet care esp re: weight and feet) Of course it may be temporary which is fine but it should not be there long term if the above is not being met.
The minimum land requirement for equine species is 1 acre per horse if it is a small pony and 2 acres per horse if it is larger. I doubt the 80's estate back garden has this much land so i would call the rspca on welfare grounds alone to check the situation. Horses tend to avoid patches of land that they have defaecated on for some time after and this may become a problem in such a small back garden.
ked male horse) because a stallion is significantly more dangerous.y2blade said:
all week, and you have no pictures of it?
Horsey - having a hedge snack...
The rest of his paddock...
As for the stallion bit, I saw his old chap practically touching the ground so just made assumptions
It was pissing down last night and I heard them putting him in the garage and they were saying he seemed very happy in there - you could probably take him in and let him sit on the sofa!
I'm no expert but that looks wholey unsuitable even for a Shetland. They may be small but they still like to peg it around a field. There's a couple of Shetlands in the field across from me, they spend most of their time being pretty motionless but occasionally go spazzo galloping round the field which is about 2 acres. If they did that there they would break their legs on that patio.
tonyvid said:
y2blade said:
all week, and you have no pictures of it?
Horsey - having a hedge snack...The rest of his paddock...
As for the stallion bit, I saw his old chap practically touching the ground so just made assumptions
It was pissing down last night and I heard them putting him in the garage and they were saying he seemed very happy in there - you could probably take him in and let him sit on the sofa!
Nope, it's not is it. I thought it quite funny at first and now it just looks a little sad and she seems to be out until about 10pm the last 3 days as well so not exactly keeping an eye on him. It will be funny if he puts a hoof through the patio windows and gets indoors!!!
I think she might have got it there temporarily, having had a decent look it seems to have little food and no water. If it's still there in a few more days I might drop someone a line.
I think she might have got it there temporarily, having had a decent look it seems to have little food and no water. If it's still there in a few more days I might drop someone a line.
tonyvid said:
Nope, it's not is it. I thought it quite funny at first and now it just looks a little sad and she seems to be out until about 10pm the last 3 days as well so not exactly keeping an eye on him. It will be funny if he puts a hoof through the patio windows and gets indoors!!!
I think she might have got it there temporarily, having had a decent look it seems to have little food and no water. If it's still there in a few more days I might drop someone a line.
if there is no water out for it I'd do something about it sooner rather than later I think she might have got it there temporarily, having had a decent look it seems to have little food and no water. If it's still there in a few more days I might drop someone a line.
y2blade said:
tonyvid said:
Nope, it's not is it. I thought it quite funny at first and now it just looks a little sad and she seems to be out until about 10pm the last 3 days as well so not exactly keeping an eye on him. It will be funny if he puts a hoof through the patio windows and gets indoors!!!
I think she might have got it there temporarily, having had a decent look it seems to have little food and no water. If it's still there in a few more days I might drop someone a line.
if there is no water out for it I'd do something about it sooner rather than later I think she might have got it there temporarily, having had a decent look it seems to have little food and no water. If it's still there in a few more days I might drop someone a line.
Stallion or gelding, either way his willy will be just as big. Being gelded (removing their testicles) doesn't affect the size of their penis, just means they cannot breed and generally makes them easier to be around and handle.
Having owned horses pretty much all my life, I would strongly suggest you get this reported asap. This is no condition to keep a horse (or shetland) in, it certainly should not be in a garage and hardly has any room, food or water in that garden.
Having owned horses pretty much all my life, I would strongly suggest you get this reported asap. This is no condition to keep a horse (or shetland) in, it certainly should not be in a garage and hardly has any room, food or water in that garden.
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