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Pasha
Platinum Member
 England
3622 Posts |
 Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 9:22:38 PM
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Our yard has had a very eventful weekend indeed!!!
On Saturday, one of the girls hacked her pony down the bridlepath (leads directly out of the farm), 5 mins later she was back - men in the woods scared her pony!! There were no shoots scheduled for that day so thought it a bit odd!
She took him in the school to calm down then 2 of the other liveries walked down with her to get her past it - next thing we knew, the pony came flying into the yard minus rider with the 2 liveries and his owner in hot pursuit!
She said they were shooting, which was fine, our horses are used to it BUT then she heard 'something' screaming?! That was enough for her pony to high tail it back!!
Later that day, one of the liveries husbands said there were Police helicopters overhead - maybe trying to flush out the men?
So today I wanted to go out on Bracken (6yr old very sharp and nervous ISH event horse) so asked my friend to be 'nanny' on her 28yr old bomb proof Fell pony (Pasha's field friend).
We went down the bridlepath uneventfully then out onto the road - about a mile up we heard a loud crack or snap and the horses jumped out of their skins!
Then further up the road, a car was parked on the right and 3 men were a little further up on the left (our side) in the bushes - looked like they were digging around in the leaves and tying something to the fence (looked like wire or something with little bits hanging off it).
The horses were petrified (wouldn't normally be over people and cars), so we asked them to stop and come out. One man came out and said he'd move the car - we said 'it's not the car, can you come out of the bushes'. He took no notice, got in the car and moved it further up!
By now another car was behind us and stopped.
We asked the men to come out again but they wouldn't and went further in - not sure what they did but the old boy was terrified, spun round and galloped off up the road.
Bracken (the horse I was on) wasn't hanging around and followed swiftly on! The lovely lady in the car that had stopped called out asking if we wanted help (hopefully she heard me say thank you as I cantered past her). It was all really scary and it took me ages to calm Bracks down!
They are both fine, but Bracks has a little nick on his fetlock. It's just all soo weird - the horses aren't normally scared of people in the bushes - they're used to the shoots etc as they happen on the farm so i'm now really worried that they were trapping or after badgers or something. Question is, should i report it and if so, to whom?
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Edited by - Pasha on 05 Feb 2009 3:54:52 PM
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Theo
Silver Member
England
368 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 9:37:14 PM
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Hi Pasha,
Yes, report to the police, ring the non-emergency contact centre line. They will want to know about descriptions of the men and also a registration number and description of the vehicle (as much detail as you remember) Ask them to post it out on 'Farm Watch' as well. Say that they DID look suspicious and that you thought they were 'possibly poaching' and shooting illegally and that you feared for your life!
T  x
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Mad arab rider
Silver Member
England
483 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 9:39:23 PM
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Yes report it. Not sure who to, but would start with the police. They were acting very strangely. Don't suppose you managed to get the registration no of the car. Are the woods owned by an estate, or public woods, just thinking that if an estate owns them, then you could also report it to the estate manager. If I see anything suspect locally then I phone the local game keeper (don't have estate managers no, but game keeper will pass message on).
Cherie |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 9:47:47 PM
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Thanks guys will do - I don't remember much unfortunately as was trying desperately to calm the horses down and stay on, although think the car was fairly light blue and looked like a Fiat!
All the land and woods are privately owned - told our farmer who will tell his neighbour (who owns the land)... I really really hope they aren't 'dodgy' - would hate to think they were trying to catch the badgers - we have a few sets up there...... |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 10:05:58 PM
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I would report it.
I would have reported it then and there.
If these men were doing something they should not have been doing then the police should know about it.
What ever happens we must take the safety of our horses into consideration.
Pauline
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Pauline Higgs
Equine & Human Holistic Therapist
www.thegentlestouch.co.cc
www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk
Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
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krb
Gold Member
England
646 Posts |
Posted - 01 Feb 2009 : 10:07:10 PM
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| It is important to report odd things to the police whatever it is about. If you/whoever doesn't report an incident how are they going to know about it and build a picture of events/cars/descriptions. A relatively minor incident in one area may just be a small part of amuch larger picture. There may not necessarily be much they can actually do in most instances but every little helps. |
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kittyrat
Bronze Member
152 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2009 : 12:31:57 AM
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i would definate;y report that , sounds really suspicious to me
better safe than there bein something more sinister behind it. hopefully it was nothing
, glad he horses are calmed down nw tho
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moatside
Platinum Member
England
3224 Posts |
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precious
Platinum Member
England
2253 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2009 : 11:16:12 AM
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def report it, you never know your information might be really important!
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Gemma Thompson
Birmingham West Midlands
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2009 : 6:39:50 PM
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I've reported it to Surrey Police - you can send them an email online so very easy! Thanks guys  |
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Rozy Rider
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4545 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2009 : 7:46:39 PM
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| Did you get the vehicle registration number ???? and the make & colour of the car, and do you know who owns that bit of the woods, do you think they had permission to be there, or could they have been trespasing... Do you know the shooting law???. The law about badgers and did you manage to find out what they were doing..Shooting within 50feet of a highway is against the law. Can you get then for anything thats breaking the law...if Yes, Get the police involved, as it sounds as if these will be back...Sue |
Sue
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Edited by - Rozy Rider on 02 Feb 2009 7:49:45 PM |
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Dot
Gold Member
England
669 Posts |
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SarahA
Silver Member
476 Posts |
Posted - 02 Feb 2009 : 11:15:57 PM
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| Hi, that all sounds very very odd, especially if the horses were so spooky? Do let us know if you find anything out. I did use to keep my horse at a livery that was actually in a large private wood with several badger sets, we had several occasions where random men turned up, however badger baiting normally involves a few dogs, we did used to hear quite frequently something which resembled a child screaming, it was some animal they were hunting with dogs but not sure what it was. Also i approached a guy with a dog and a spade on horse back once to tell him to go away, a large warmblood mare that was normally very sensible and i have to be honest she was on her toes and cantering on the spot with me, maybe these people use a chemical?? to attract the animal? |
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Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
Posted - 03 Feb 2009 : 08:11:52 AM
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On Sunday there were some people at the corner of my fields who I thought was my neighbours clearing their field. Later I saw these people crossing the corner of my fields. When I spoke to them they said they had permission to go rabbit netting. They had dogs and some rabbits.
I had spoken to the same men the weekend before and told them that I would not give them permission as I do not have people on my land.
The next two livery yards had said that the men could go on their land.These kind of people think they are above the law.
I do not have any form of game sport on my land but these men feel they can do what they want.
Pauline |
Pauline Higgs
Equine & Human Holistic Therapist
www.thegentlestouch.co.cc
www.endurancegbmidsouth.co.uk
Berkshire / Hampshire Border |
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
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marionpack
Gold Member
England
1073 Posts |
Posted - 04 Feb 2009 : 12:58:11 PM
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| On our yard we have 2 guys that come rabbiting using ferrets, our horses have always been fine with this, until somebody started rabbiting using ferrits and hawks in an adjoining field, this sent the horses crazy in the field (when we bought them in they looked like they had run the marathon) now when ever the normal rabbiters turn up they are always on edge, maybe these guys where poaching in a similar way |
Berkshire
   
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Pasha
Platinum Member
England
3622 Posts |
Posted - 05 Feb 2009 : 3:58:42 PM
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So no word back from the Police yet (I will forgive them as they are very busy) BUT Tuesday night some thieving gits broke into the farm and stole a mower!! they also broke into the feed room but didn't take anything.... hmmm obviously some undesirables in the area at the moment - normally it is so quiet and lovely!!
The farmer has now replaced the sensor in the alarm (we didn't know it was broken!!)We do have CCTV so hopefully the Police will be able to get something from that!
So warning to anyone in and around Warlingham (we are in Chelsham)! Be on your guard!!
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