RC: Re: BRAND INSPECTION IN CALIFORNIA (long)

["Duncan Fletcher" <dfletche@gte.net>]

Open range generally means the obligation on fencing livestock off your
property lies with you and owners are not responsible for livestock damage
to your property unless it is properly fenced. In areas that are not open
range, the obligation is on the owner to keep his livestock fenced on his
property, and the liability for damage lies with the owner. For California
livestock laws, see http://www.law.utexas.edu/dawson/fence/ca_fnc.htm .

Duncan Fletcher
dfletche@gte.net


----- Original Message -----
From: Dyane Smith <sunibey@sisqtel.net>
To: Ridecamp <Ridecamp@endurance.net>
Sent: Saturday, January 15, 2000 12:12 PM
Subject: RC: BRAND INSPECTION IN CALIFORNIA (long)


> Thought I would pass this on for what it's worth.  The local brand
inspector
> told me that they don't inspect brands on horses anymore in California.
My
> concern is that that poses a risk to horses who might wander off or be
> stolen.
>
> Case in point.  Since Thanksgiving, I have had a stray horse hanging out
in
> the unfenced part of the pasture.  He's a good-looking young, quarter or
> Morgan type (depending on what part of his anatomy you focus on) who knows
> about carrots and bran mash and was in good condition when he arrived (fat
> now eating the pasture my horses can't get to).  Animal control came
> out--said the whole county is open-range so I can't lock him up.  Bad
> part--I have to carry food to my horses and this is teaching the stray to
be
> very muscly trying to snag some.  I have had to start driving through the
> pasture to get close to my horses to at least give me some chance of
getting
> there.  The stray comes at a gallop and then pushes on me or, worse, turns
> around and starts backing up--I and all horses know that's sign language
for
> "If we can't come to terms here, I'll kick you into next week.  Not to put
> too fine a point on it--this horse, though short, is built like a
tank--I'm
> more of a coward every moonless night.  The other day, he lifted the gate
> off its hinges (I know, should have been hinged better) and liberated two
of
> mine and went into the pasture to harass my old guy.
>
> I love the rural nature of this area and I'm not interested in making rash
> changes--but I'm starting to think that there are pros and cons to a law
> that won't let me give him to other people who can and would care for him
> until we find the owner.  Furthermore, if the brand inspector won't help
and
> animal control is really for dogs and cats, even here.  What then?
>
> Dyane
> Sleepless in Siskiyou.
>