Miniature horse moving into housing estate...

Pinkycharm

so recently bought a house a few months back in a lovely estate- havent moved in yet because we're doing it up...

A little note was dropped in the door today by one of the neighbours to say she has bought a miniature horse and that it will have free roam of their back garden and house. Note said not to be alarmed if we see her walking it around the estate or if it was ever in the front garden and it shouldn't be too noisy- about the same as a dog barking. I've no issue whatsoever with this- i think its actually quite cute but just wondering is it allowed under local authority etc? No doubt it will be on the list for Santy by a few more in years to come!

Gardens are massive by the way but i suppose because its only like 28 inches high would it be classed as being okay in a back yard of a housing estate.

It just made me wonder today.

what ever happened to the good old fashioned dog!

gozunda

Pinkycharm wrote: »

so recently bought a house a few months back in a lovely estate- havent moved in yet because we're doing it up...

A little note was dropped in the door today by one of the neighbours to say she has bought a miniature horse and that it will have free roam of their back garden and house. Note said not to be alarmed if we say her walking it around the estate or if it was ever in the front garden and it shouldn't be too noisy- about the same as a dog barking. I've no issue whatsoever with this- i think its actually quite cute but just wondering is it allowed under local authority etc? No doubt it will be on the list for Santy by a few more in years to come!

Gardens are massive by the way but i suppose because its only like 28 inches high would it be classed as being okay in a back yard of a housing estate.

It just made me wonder today.

what ever happened to the good old fashioned dog!

I believe even a miniature horse would fall under urban regulations on keeping horses (check you local authority website for specifics). I also would have serious concerns about the safety of the animal left wandering around an open housing estate. A horse will pretty much scratch it's *rse on anything, eat plants and poop as it goes (paths, roadway etc). There have been several incidents of kids etc torturing foals and horses that left to wander freely. Not a good idea for the horse as far as I'm concerned.

Ken.

I'd be worried about manure collection and storage. It smells awful and for some weird reason the smaller the horse the more they sh!t.

Pinkycharm

gozunda wrote: »

I believe even a miniature horse would fall under urban regulations on keeping horses (check you local authority website for specifics). I also would have serious concerns about the safety of the animal left wandering around an open housing estate. A horse will pretty much scratch it's *rse on anything, eat plants and poop as it goes (paths, roadway etc). There have been several incidents of kids etc torturing foals and horses that left to wander freely. Not a good idea for the horse as far as I'm concerned.

Thats what I was wondering with the local authority- i havent actually had a chance to talk to the neighbour so will try call down tomorrow- shes 4 houses away from me so wont make much difference to me noise and smell wise they'res a 6ft wall in back garden and 4ft at front with big gates so i'm not sure it would get out if it did. i wouldn't be worried too much about it being tortured by people in the estate- its a private estate with the majority are elderly and there are very few kids. HOWEVER i do agree that it just seems odd altogether to have one in the first place. they must have went seriously out of their way to research it and get one. Im sure they have to be licensed and micro-chipped like any other urban area normal sized horse

Pinkycharm

ken wrote: »

I'd be worried about manure collection and storage. It smells awful and for some weird reason the smaller the horse the more they sh!t.

haha that's one thing I'd be worried about- where are they going to get rid of it!

they are in their 50s so was thinking today it could just be a mid life thing they are having!

handlemaster

I think small horses are more vicious also.

gozunda

Pinkycharm wrote: »

Thats what I was wondering with the local authority- i havent actually had a chance to talk to the neighbour so will try call down tomorrow- shes 4 houses away from me so wont make much difference to me noise and smell wise they'res a 6ft wall in back garden and 4ft at front with big gates so i'm not sure it would get out if it did. i wouldn't be worried too much about it being tortured by people in the estate- its a private estate with the majority are elderly and there are very few kids. HOWEVER i do agree that it just seems odd altogether to have one in the first place. they must have went seriously out of their way to research it and get one. Im sure they have to be licensed and micro-chipped like any other urban area normal sized horse

Horses must have passports and chipped under present regulations. Horses kept in urban control areas must be registered with the LA afaik. I agree that one horse sby itself is an odd setup. I presume they wil have a small shed and someway of getting rid of the manure? Very odd what people get up to

More about control areas here

http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/environment/animal_welfare_and_control/control_of_horses.html

foggy_lad

will the horse be properly........Ah nevermind all that, horses in housing estates are a seriously bad idea and should not be permitted. They don't have the space for this animal unless they have about an acre of a garden and they also need to have insurance in case it kicks any child in the estate or damages property. I would contact the council and any estate management company to express my disapproval of this hair-brained idea.

Pinkycharm

thanks everyone!! really appreciate it!! I'll definitely be putting my 2 cents forward in relation to it anyways! But if its all above board I suppose there's nothing much I can do if I'm the only one expressing concerns.

Pinkycharm

foggy_lad wrote: »

will the horse be properly........Ah nevermind all that, horses in housing estates are a seriously bad idea and should not be permitted. They don't have the space for this animal unless they have about an acre of a garden and they also need to have insurance in case it kicks any child in the estate or damages property. I would contact the council and any estate management company to express my disapproval of this hair-brained idea.

Garden wouldnt be an acre but would be close enough to it! The garden they have is angled, they have a cornered site so it wraps around their house at the side, i think thats where the "don't be worried if you see it in the front garden" comes in. I agree with insurance- i'll asking if they have that definitely!

Ken.

On the plus side for horse manure it is a great fertilizer for flowers. My grandfather use to get horse manure from a neighbour and put it on his roses and they had flowers as big as your head.

Pretzill

I live rural and a lot of the neighbours keep horses but then they have land, paddocks, stables etc; The horse dung on the road can be a pain but collected for the garden it makes great manure.

Having said that a horse whether minature or not should have at least an acre, good shelter and a companion. It would probably take less than a week to turn a garden into a quagmire this time of the year - and they'd need passports etc as well as supplementary feed, water source, hay. Not the typical animal for a suburban setting - totally out of context in my opinion.

Pinkycharm

Pretzill wrote: »

I live rural and a lot of the neighbours keep horses but then they have land, paddocks, stables etc; The horse dung on the road can be a pain but collected for the garden it makes great manure.

Having said that a horse whether minature or not should have at least an acre, good shelter and a companion. It would probably take less than a week to turn a garden into a quagmire this time of the year - and they'd need passports etc as well as supplementary feed, water source, hay. Not the typical animal for a suburban setting - totally out of context in my opinion.

that's why I think its some sort of crisis for them! Anyways I'll have a word with a few of the neighbours tomorrow and gauge what they think. I can think of one that definitely wont be happy because she nearly killed me for clearing my garden of trees (just because the previous owner had spent loads planting them).

I can see this place being awkward!

L1011

Miniature horses have a purposes as service animals in some cases - they can do the job of a guide dog and they live a lot longer than guide dog breeds; but I'd seriously question the need for and safety of a randomer having one in a housing estate. Sounds like a brief whim they'll regret with potentially nasty results (poorly treated horse in a back garden)

Odelay

Pinkycharm wrote: »

so recently bought a house a few months back in a lovely estate- havent moved in yet because we're doing it up...

A little note was dropped in the door today by one of the neighbours to say she has bought a miniature horse and that it will have free roam of their back garden and house. Note said not to be alarmed if we see her walking it around the estate or if it was ever in the front garden and it shouldn't be too noisy- about the same as a dog barking. I've no issue whatsoever with this- i think its actually quite cute but just wondering is it allowed under local authority etc? No doubt it will be on the list for Santy by a few more in years to come!

Gardens are massive by the way but i suppose because its only like 28 inches high would it be classed as being okay in a back yard of a housing estate.

It just made me wonder today.

what ever happened to the good old fashioned dog!

Free roam of garden and house! they haven't a notion what they are at. Feck sake, you want a horse do it properly and keep it with company with another horse on decent land or pay the bucks for a livery. Very hard to find a horse that will live alone.
Btw, I suspect they are getting a Shetland type and not a miniature, miniatures are not easily kept.

foggy_lad

Pinkycharm wrote: »

Garden wouldnt be an acre but would be close enough to it! The garden they have is angled, they have a cornered site so it wraps around their house at the side, i think thats where the "don't be worried if you see it in the front garden" comes in. I agree with insurance- i'll asking if they have that definitely!

Insurance won't bring a child out of a coma after a kick in the head from a small horse, these are not like large dogs or cuddly little My Little Pony yokes, They are large heavy and incredibly strong animals that can crush a child against a wall or gate or cripple a child by standing on its foot and then there is the danger if it gets spooked and runs amok.

It will also lower the value of your property having livestock kept so close.

Pinkycharm

foggy_lad wrote: »

Insurance won't bring a child out of a coma after a kick in the head from a small horse, these are not like large dogs or cuddly little My Little Pony yokes, They are large heavy and incredibly strong animals that can crush a child against a wall or gate or cripple a child by standing on its foot and then there is the danger if it gets spooked and runs amok.

It will also lower the value of your property having livestock kept so close.

Oh I'm definitely objecting to it no matter what- I don't think its the right place for a pony no matter what size it is- and after paying what I did for the house they can feck off!!

rasgav

Pinkycharm wrote: »

I've no issue whatsoever with this

Pinkycharm wrote: »

Oh I'm definitely objecting to it no matter what

These people are going to be your neighbours for the foreseeable future. I suggest thinking long and hard before deciding on your approach.

mrsbyrne

Your local vet or animal welfare group should be able to advise. I think it's incredibly selfish pretentious and self indulgent. She knows perfectly well that her neighbors are going to be annoyed and she seeks to somehow cover herself by warning you in advance. Bloody cheek. What's to stop you from getting a goat or a sheep?

mrbrianj

If they did not warn you of their intentions - would you have noticed or would it have effected you in any way?

Its like neighbours building an extension- the "what if's" are worse than the final product usually. But I would draw the line at it wondering into my garden or manure outside my house.

On the other hand, you bought the house and have not yet moved in - maybe its the residents committee winding you up!

foggy_lad

mrbrianj wrote: »

If they did not warn you of their intentions - would you have noticed or would it have effected you in any way?

Its like neighbours building an extension- the "what if's" are worse than the final product usually. But I would draw the line at it wondering into my garden or manure outside my house.

On the other hand, you bought the house and have not yet moved in - maybe its the residents committee winding you up!

The sort of people whom would get and keep a pony in such an inappropriate setting are not really great neighbours anyway in my opinion and will likely not be too concerned when it starts roamingnthe neighbourhood for food.

_Brian

If you never intend selling your house then it makes no difference.

However in a few years if you intend to sell you'll find that having a horse in a residential garden four doors up will be a problem.

Personally if I went to look at a house and saw the neighbours were keeping horses in the garden, straight away I'd be thinking this is a rough place, maybe settled travellers, no thanks !!

Pinkycharm

So went out and had a chat with them this morning- they are toying with the possibility but waiting for approval from the management in the estate.

Its going to be a therapy horse for the local nursing homes- their son has land down the road from the estate so they are thinking of putting it there but don't want it to be alone so they were going to build a shed and bring it up every night.

They used to have a therapy dog but he died last year so I guess they are upgrading!

A few of the neighbours were out and about and have said no already so I doubt anything will come of it.

Stheno

Pinkycharm wrote: »

So went out and had a chat with them this morning- they are toying with the possibility but waiting for approval from the management in the estate.

Its going to be a therapy horse for the local nursing homes- their son has land down the road from the estate so they are thinking of putting it there but don't want it to be alone so they were going to build a shed and bring it up every night.

They used to have a therapy dog but he died last year so I guess they are upgrading!

A few of the neighbours were out and about and have said no already so I doubt anything will come of it.

Therapy horse?

Dubl07

Stheno wrote: »

Therapy horse?

It's not as harebrained as it sounds. I've been following Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses for a long time now and they seem to do great work. Horses are smart animals.

Pretzill

Dubl07 wrote: »

It's not as harebrained as it sounds. I've been following Gentle Carousel Miniature Therapy Horses for a long time now and they seem to do great work. Horses are smart animals.

Yeah I've heard of these little guys being used to help people before - they are tiny for a horse but I would still imagine they'd need some equine company - but it sounds like their heart is in the right place so I can think of worse neighbours (emphasis on the Neigh!)

indigo twist

Pinkycharm wrote: »

So went out and had a chat with them this morning- they are toying with the possibility but waiting for approval from the management in the estate.

Its going to be a therapy horse for the local nursing homes- their son has land down the road from the estate so they are thinking of putting it there but don't want it to be alone so they were going to build a shed and bring it up every night.

They used to have a therapy dog but he died last year so I guess they are upgrading!

A few of the neighbours were out and about and have said no already so I doubt anything will come of it.

Well, they seem to have the right intentions, and it was decent of them to inform neighbours and seek opinions and reactions before going ahead with it. And I could see how interaction with an animal could certainly be therapeutic for the nursing home residents.

That actually seems really sweet of the owners, that they don't want to leave the horse all alone every night. Seeing as it will (by the sounds of it) have plenty of land to roam on during the day, and will be well looked after, personally I don't think I'd raise an objection.

runawaybishop

foggy_lad wrote: »

Insurance won't bring a child out of a coma after a kick in the head from a small horse, these are not like large dogs or cuddly little My Little Pony yokes, They are large heavy and incredibly strong animals that can crush a child against a wall or gate or cripple a child by standing on its foot and then there is the danger if it gets spooked and runs amok.

It will also lower the value of your property having livestock kept so close.

What are you on about? They are not large incredibly strong animals and require no insurance.

Grolschevik

runawaybishop wrote: »

What are you on about? They are not large incredibly strong animals and require no insurance.

You see, it's gone from "miniature horse" to "Shetland pony" to "pony" to "small horse" to "livestock" in the collective imagination...

pwurple

Pinkycharm wrote: »

Its going to be a therapy horse for the local nursing homes- their son has land down the road from the estate so they are thinking of putting it there but don't want it to be alone so they were going to build a shed and bring it up every night.

How is the horse going to not be alone in a shed in a housing estate? Are they going to sleep in the shed with it, or are they getting multiple horses to go with it? And how is it going to be transported every day? Small horses can't be ridden, so is it being herded, or stuffed into the back seat of a car, or are they getting a miniture horsebox to go with it?

Sounds completely hair-brained to me.

Yet another mistreated pet will be appearing shortly when it becomes extremely inconvenient. Why on earth people exploit animals like this is beyond me.

runawaybishop

pwurple wrote: »

How is the horse going to not be alone in a shed in a housing estate? Are they going to sleep in the shed with it, or are they getting multiple horses to go with it? And how is it going to be transported every day? Small horses can't be ridden, so is it being herded, or stuffed into the back seat of a car, or are they getting a miniture horsebox to go with it?

Sounds completely hair-brained to me.

Yet another mistreated pet will be appearing shortly when it becomes extremely inconvenient. Why on earth people exploit animals like this is beyond me.

The horse will be absolutely fine sleeping alone in a shed at night. Why are you assuming they will not have adequate transport arrangements?

pwurple

runawaybishop wrote: »

The horse will be absolutely fine sleeping alone in a shed at night. Why are you assuming they will not have adequate transport arrangements?

I know the horse will be fine sleeping alone. Did you not read what I quoted? They are planning on moving the horse about every morning and evening so that it won't be sleeping alone.

What for?

runawaybishop

pwurple wrote: »

I know the horse will be fine sleeping alone. Did you not read what I quoted? They are planning on moving the horse about every morning and evening so that it won't be sleeping alone.

What for?

Sorry, i misunderstood your post and agree the horse doesnt need any company at night.

I don't understand your point I'm afraid about moving it though, what's the problem with moving the horse each day?

I wouldn't leave the animal by itself on land not adjacent to mine either btw as it could easily be lifted.

pwurple

runawaybishop wrote: »

Sorry, i misunderstood your post and agree the horse doesnt need any company at night.

I don't understand your point I'm afraid about moving it though, what's the problem with moving the horse each day?

I wouldn't leave the animal by itself on land not adjacent to mine either btw as it could easily be lifted.

It's a flippen dose moving horses around every day in my experience. I've done it for someone when they were on holiday. Never again. Getting a wet mucky horse into a box, driving around, unloading, feeding, mucking out, getting it in again in the morning, driving it off, unloading.

These people might be putting the cutsie factor ahead of practicality.

runawaybishop

pwurple wrote: »

It's a flippen dose moving horses around every day in my experience. I've done it for someone when they were on holiday. Never again. Getting a wet mucky horse into a box, driving around, unloading, feeding, mucking out, getting it in again in the morning, driving it off, unloading.

These people might be putting the cutsie factor ahead of practicality.

This is a miniature horse, moving them is not difficult. Mucking them out will take approx 10 minutes a day, not much more than any other pet really. If they are fine with it then what's the problem? Should everyone only pick the most practical pet they can or something.

pwurple

runawaybishop wrote: »

This is a miniature horse, moving them is not difficult. Mucking them out will take approx 10 minutes a day, not much more than any other pet really. If they are fine with it then what's the problem? Should everyone only pick the most practical pet they can or something.

Tell me how a miniature horse is moved please. I'd love to know.


Um, and yes of course... if they are going to exploit animals for their own entertainment (ie as pets), then at the very least, it should be practical.

People should not have animals at all unless they can look after them properly and the unfortunate creature doesn't end up starving to death in some ditch.

Grolschevik

pwurple wrote: »

Tell me how a miniature horse is moved please. I'd love to know.

Look to me to be around the size of a large dog...

http://www.miniaturehorseclubofireland.com/links.html


Anyway, surely the care and mobility of this animal is way off topic!:)

pwurple

Grolschevik wrote: »

Look to me to be around the size of a large dog...

http://www.miniaturehorseclubofireland.com/links.html

Lovely set of caravans in that photo.

The care of the animal will be important when it's abandoned to the center of the green for grazing.

Grolschevik

pwurple wrote: »

Lovely set of caravans in that photo.

Er... wha'?

runawaybishop

pwurple wrote: »

Tell me how a miniature horse is moved please. I'd love to know.


Um, and yes of course... if they are going to exploit animals for their own entertainment (ie as pets), then at the very least, it should be practical.

People should not have animals at all unless they can look after them properly and the unfortunate creature doesn't end up starving to death in some ditch.

Who is exploiting? Is this animal now being forced to work in a mine for 20 hours a day or something? Have you evidence that these people don't intend to look after the animal properly?

Moving a miniature horse is not difficult. If you'd like to explain why it is not possible then away you go.

runawaybishop

pwurple wrote: »

Lovely set of caravans in that photo.

The care of the animal will be important when it's abandoned to the center of the green for grazing.

They have nearly an acre of land apparently, that is more than sufficient for summer grazing of an animal of that size and with winter haylage + grains the animal by no means suffer from under nutrition. You are just making negative assumptions.

pwurple

runawaybishop wrote: »

Who is exploiting?

Well the horse is not exactly free to go about it's business, is it?

Moving a miniature horse is not difficult. If you'd like to explain why it is not possible then away you go.

I've asked about three times how it is to be moved, you're apparantly an expert on all things equine, and you still can't answer a simple question. Is it to be stuffed into the back of a car?

runawaybishop

pwurple wrote: »

Well the horse is not exactly free to go about it's business, is it?



I've asked about three times how it is to be moved, you're apparantly an expert on all things equine, and you still can't answer a simple question. Is it to be stuffed into the back of a car?

Please explain how any domestic horse is free to go about its business. Do you think that this animal is somehow being abused?

Horse can be transported in a suitable trailer or in a suitable van. I am not sure why you think moving horses is a big deal.

pwurple

runawaybishop wrote: »

Please explain how any domestic horse is free to go about its business.

No domestic animal is free to go about it's business. Pets are generally all separated from their mothers/herds/whatever, used and exploited by people for their own miserable entertainment purposes. Until they outlive their cuteness and get put down, abandoned, 'set free' to kill the local wildlife, or starve to death. As you can tell, I'm not a fan of it in general.

Horse can be transported in a suitable trailer or in a suitable van. I am not sure why you think moving horses is a big deal.

And where does the trailer get parked? Across the neighbours driveway?

I think moving horses is a big deal because I've done it multiple times. I've also seen accidents on roads where people have been blowing the horn at people moving horses, horse gets spooked, car gets crashed.


Anyway, OP, I say object away. The horse is a daft idea in an urban environment / housing estate.

runawaybishop

pwurple wrote: »

No domestic animal is free to go about it's business. Pets are generally all separated from their mothers/herds/whatever, used and exploited by people for their own miserable entertainment purposes. Until they outlive their cuteness and get put down, abandoned, 'set free' to kill the local wildlife, or starve to death. As you can tell, I'm not a fan of it in general.



And where does the trailer get parked? Across the neighbours driveway?

I think moving horses is a big deal because I've done it multiple times. I've also seen accidents on roads where people have been blowing the horn at people moving horses, horse gets spooked, car gets crashed.


Anyway, OP, I say object away. The horse is a daft idea in an urban environment / housing estate.

Ah ok, you just don't think anyone should have a pet. Gotcha. There probably isnt any argument that anyone can make with you so.

Moving horses isn't hard, if you think it is then you are doing it wrong, are not trained correctly or moving horses in an unsuitable manner.

LOL@ where does the trailer get parked. You are really clutching at straws aren't you.

A miniature horse is no more daft than a dog :rolleyes:

pwurple

runawaybishop wrote: »

Moving horses isn't hard, if you think it is then you are doing it wrong, are not trained correctly or moving horses in an unsuitable manner.

I'd imagine the OP's neighbours are not trained. in any way Why on earth do you assume they will have any clue about what they are doing. They are talking about moving a horse into a shed in a housing estate, so it won't be lonely. This sounds like someone with training to you?

runawaybishop

pwurple wrote: »

I'd imagine the OP's neighbours are not trained. in any way Why on earth do you assume they will have any clue about what they are doing. They are talking about moving a horse into a shed in a housing estate, so it won't be lonely. This sounds like someone with training to you?

Sounds like someone concerned about the animals welfare that just doesn't have much experience. Luckily experience can be gained.

This isn't a full sized horse, there is a significant difference.

tom_tarbucket

Just a general observation here OP................you went from this at 20:36 last night

20:36 "I've no issue whatsoever with this- i think its actually quite cute but just wondering is it allowed under local authority etc? No doubt it will be on the list for Santy by a few more in years to come!"

to this less than 2 hours later.

22:20 "Oh I'm definitely objecting to it no matter what- I don't think its the right place for a pony no matter what size it is- and after paying what I did for the house they can feck off!!"


Fair aul swing

Stheno

Grolschevik wrote: »

Look to me to be around the size of a large dog...

http://www.miniaturehorseclubofireland.com/links.html

I'd a wolfhound that was bigger than that!

Sclosages

Maybe they'll walk the horse to and fro?

Sclosages

I think it's cool.