Am I Missing Something Here? - UPDATED

[Calamity Kris]

As you know, we have been horse sitting for a neighbor who's pasture flooded during hurricane Irma.  We have been watching the horses for a month and a half now......  I realize it had rained quite a bit at the end of September so it has taken longer than originally thought for their pasture to drain.  We understand that.  {We recently drove through the neighborhood and didn't seen any water on anyone's property.}  Now, we're starting to get excuses when it comes to taking the horses back.  Her brand new SUV didn't have a hitch, her husband is out of town, no one is available to watch the twin 5 year olds......  They even had time to take a long weekend vacation.  As time drags on, the damage in our yard is getting worse, {broken garden borders, trampled plants, rutted and trampled lawn....} and the piles of droppings are getting higher.  {She comes twice a day, feeds them, pets them and leaves.  Each visit is no more than 10-15 minutes.}

 

I feel as though we're being taken advantage of, but I'm reluctant to say anything because they are neighbors and we are new to the neighborhood.  Any thoughts on how I should approach this?  I would really like the horses to go home and I'm fairly certain we won't volunteer to do anything like this again.

 

Thanks for your insights.

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

There's nothing quite like free boarding......

 

Maybe it's time to send a bill.

 

LL

[Big Sage, SASS #49891 Life]

Plan a trip for a few days and tell the neighbor they have to be removed as you are leaving town!

[Alpo]

Or you could load 'em up, take 'em home, and leave 'em tied to her front door knob.

[Whiskey Business]

I agree. Send a bill for boarding. Also have them transported back to the owners and send a bill for that.

[CurlyDrew42]

People make a living off of boarding horses, I would send her a bill. Also, it's not good for the horses.  Feeding and petting great but they need currying and exercise and a visit from a farrier now and then.  It sounds like whatever else her problems are, those horses are not high on her list of priorities.

[Grampaw Willie, SASS No.26996]

had you thought of getting saddles ?

[Calamity Kris]

35 minutes ago, Grampaw Willie, SASS No.26996 said:

had you thought of getting saddles ?

 

With my bad back and hips, there is no way I would ever consider riding them.  The older one has a real sway back and I don't think can be ridden.  The younger one is a really smarty pants and likes to nip at us and our dog.

[J-BAR #18287]

They don’t seem to mind offending you, why are you concerned about offending them?

 

 

Set a deadline.  The horses have to be gone within 4 days.  Otherwise you contact the Humane Society to come pick up abandoned horses.

[Chili Ron]

Howdy,

Don't you have to go to that SASS match you signed up for back when???

Best

CR

 

[Whiskey Business]

So inconsiderate of them to foist horses on you. 

[DocWard]

I would say try one more shot at being diplomatic. Say something to the effect of "We're glad we were able to help you when necessary, but we need to be able to get on with out lives. We aren't set up for this, and they are starting to do damage that we are going to have to work hard to fix. You really need to get them as soon as possible, but at most by X Date.'"

 

If the excuses get tossed out, simply say  "I'm sorry, but If they aren't out by then, we'll need to decide on other action." At that point, consider a small claims action or otherwise. Sending a bill for boarding would likely not get you very far, since there was no agreement, and you don't hold yourself out as a boarding facility.

[Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217]

Kris,

 

I understand wanting to keep peace in the neighborhood. However, they have gone too far. Tell the owners that their horses are making a mess of your property and nipping your critters. Ask them to please have the horses out by, you set the date. When another excuse is made tell them you will have to call animal control as you can no longer risk the health of your pets.

 

It puts the blame on them for harm to your property. If they cannot understand that, you are unlikely to want to be friends with them.

 

That's all I've got.

 

Good luck!

 

Allie

[Sawyer]

Take them to the Alpo plant, prices are up right now!

 

[Wallaby Jack, SASS #44062]

Open your gates and tell the horsies to go home.

 

[Tell Sackett SASS 18436]

8 minutes ago, Sawyer said:

Take them to the Alpo plant, prices are up right now!

 

+1

[Alpo]

33 minutes ago, Sawyer said:

Take them to the Alpo plant, prices are up right now!

 

I have no need of swaybacked horses, thank you anyway.

[Wolfgang, SASS #53480]

7 hours ago, Alpo said:

Or you could load 'em up, take 'em home, and leave 'em tied to her front door knob.

 

YES . . with a bill.   

 

Whur has the food come from to feed them while you have been keeping them ? 

[Shootin' Shu]

I doubt she intends to ever take them back.

[Calamity Kris]

10 hours ago, Wolfgang, SASS #53480 said:

 

YES . . with a bill.   

 

Whur has the food come from to feed them while you have been keeping them ? 

 

She comes twice a day and feeds them.

[Tascosa, SASS# 24838]

Being good neighbors is one thing, but being made a fool of is another! Tell her or him to get their horses off your property or send them a bill for what they destroyed and having to pay someone for cleaning up the horse apples. As for the 'nippy' one, be careful horses can give one heck of a bite. I know.

[Calamity Kris]

The horses are gone.  I went out back to check on them yesterday before leaving for work and they were gone, feed bowls, water bowl and all {except the horse apples}.  I texted the owner and asked if she had picked them up and she said she had texted Uno to tell him she was coming to get them. {He said he didn't receive a text.}  She didn't knock on the door, call or anything.  Oh well, they're gone.  Now to begin the repairs to the yard...........

[The Original Lumpy Gritz]

Send her a bill for the repairs......

Bet you'll never hear from this freeloader again-NO LOSS.

OLG

[J-BAR #18287]

Horse manure is good fertilizer for roses;  I learned that from Mrs. Playfair In “The Quiet Man.”

 

[Allie Mo, SASS No. 25217]

Maybe you could ask her when she will come and clean up the poo from your yard.

[Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984]

1 hour ago, J-BAR #18287 said:

Horse manure is good fertilizer for roses;  I learned that from Mrs. Playfair In “The Quiet Man.”

 

Opinions are that it is better if it is mulched which kills off the undigested seeds.

[J-BAR #18287]

26 minutes ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

Opinions are that it is better if it is mulched which kills off the undigested seeds.

 

 

Good info.  I don't think she mentioned that in the movie!  

[Loophole LaRue, SASS #51438]

3 hours ago, Marshal Mo Hare, SASS #45984 said:

Opinions are that it is better if it is mulched which kills off the undigested seeds.

 

I seem to remember that Jim Crockett on the Victory Garden used to boil his compost in a bowl over an outdoor fire - but I think that was to kill off creepy crawlies and bacteria before using it in house plants.  At any rate, I'm glad that I did not live downwind.  I feel the same way about composted horse manure.

 

LL

[Whiskey Business]

I'll stick to commercially prepared plant foods, thank you. Easy and no smell.

 

Kris, those neighbors seem a bit self absorbed. At least the horses are gone and you and Uno are wiser. With people like that, no contact is best contact.