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Mary:

I'm from Idaho, and I know where you're comin' from. Most property owners 
and lease-holders are great folks--especially if you're courteous and ask 
permission to ride--but some are just . . . .butts.

DON'T carry a gun. Repeat. DON'T. If there's any way to escalate a bad 
situation, it's with a gun. Seriously, what are you going to do, pull it 
out? And if you do, good GRIEF, are you going to USE it? If they threaten 
you with a gun, you'd be better off carrying a camera, but the best solution 
is DON'T stop at all. Not to take a picture, tape their threats, not to 
argue, not to reason, not to explain. Get down the road out of sight, call 
911, and report that you've been threatened with bodily harm. Discretion is 
the better part of valor. Once they've shot you, or your horse, it's not 
going to matter how "right" you were. (notice the testosterone-laden are the 
ones with the escalating suggestions!) Obviously, letting people know where 
you're going and carrying a cell phone are good ideas. I wouldn't bother 
with a tape recorder, cause you don't want to stop and linger long enough to 
get their rants copied.

It's not necessarly the best idea to parade up and down the road, with or 
without a group of friends. Ride your usual schedule, that way there is no 
hint that you are aggravating to escalate. Best to be pure as the driven 
snow if it comes to explaining yourself to a judge. The idea of riding with 
one of the people from the legal scene especially, or a companion,  is a 
good one. If the landowner at the end of the road has a horse, or can get 
one, he's good company to go with, too, as long as he's not the type to 
start something.

I'm under the assumption that the woman took you by surprise when she 
grabbed your horse and hit him. You've already said your piece, and they 
didn't hear you the first time, so there's no reason to stop or talk to them 
again. Be prepared to jump your horse out of the way of any sudden lunges or 
grabs, and DON'T be the aggressor or use your horse as a "weapon." If they 
try it again, you can attempt a restraining order, but remember, you have to 
have your ducks in a row for it to be granted. DON'T threaten them with it 
if you are going to, just DO it. Threats just escalate, and that way, it 
comes outta the blue and shocks 'em silly. Double satisfaction for you.

Unfortunately, the sheriff really can't do anything about her hitting your 
horse even if he wanted to. He's under the constraints of the law, and the 
law says you were not personally attacked. But they are required by law to 
keep files on any complaints, so be pro-active in reporting any verbal 
harassment, threats, etc. They might be willing to send a patrol presence 
out if you let them know you'll be "visiting" your friend on horseback at a 
certain time.

Other pro-active things you can do: Of course you're keeping a dated 
conditioning journal ;) so put some notation in if they confront you again.

Go to the county and find out exactly where their property lines are and 
photocopy their legal description, it's public record. Get a topo map and 
draw out the lines so you can SHOW proof that you know exactly where your 
limits are. Get confirmation from the county that you're riding on a public 
or private access road, and get a name to cite. Get written permission from 
your neighborly landowner and have him notate as to when he originally gave 
you verbal permission. Write down a synopsis of everything that has happened 
in a page or less, in factual, non-inflamatory, non-hysterical language. 
Document and date everything.

Photocopy. Take all your paperwork, along with a typed statement that these 
are true and accurate to the best of your knowledge and abilities, to a 
notary, and get them on file as a matter of public record (I can send you an 
example) Seems like a lot, but all it will cost you is time and a couple 
bucks. Make copies, then you take all your copies in a plain brown 
envelope--just your copies, no letter of explaination or justification, and 
have your husband drive you down one fine evening and quickly stick them in 
their mailbox. This sort of legal identification of a problem can often shut 
up ignorant idiots that finally will realize you DO have a complete 
understanding of what's going on and a firm intent to pursue whatever it 
takes to continue to exert your legal right. If not, you've got a detailed 
case already lined up if it goes to court, and don't have to pay $160 an 
hour for a lawyer to do it ;)

I've been threatened, been lied to--especially about access roads and public 
lands, and had to call the sheriff on one occasion because of a jerk with a 
gun. The BLM's is 100% more "user friendly" and multiple-use concerned now, 
but 15 years ago, THEY would lie, too. Basically, I try to "make nice" 100% 
of the time, even with the butts. I don't monkey with anybody's cattle, even 
to the point of not riding into a bunch around a public trough to water my 
horse, and I stay out of any public lands when they first put the calves 
out. I stay on trails, unless I know the BLM lease holder or the land owner 
well. It helps to call if you see a problem--fence down, cow in 
trouble--unless you know the butt will just resent your "interference." 
Can't hurt to be a good neighbor anytime. Helps to have a large portion of 
the community know that you're considerate and not one of the ignorants.

Pretty wordy, but hope it helps some.
Good luck, stay safe.
Andrea

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