photography of private property

[wolfrose]

What is the name of your state? Indiana

I have a neighbor that has been taking pictures of one of my horses. I wouldn't have a problem with that except she takes the picture while the horse is asleep, then emails it out to a group of people claiming the horse is sick and dying and I am doing nothing about it. I have a certificate of health for the horse. The horse is an Arabian and would appear underweight if placed with other type horses. Are there any laws being violated or anything I can do? I have told her to stop taking the pictures.

 

[justalayman]

As long as she is not trespassing to take the pictures, she can take pictures of whatever she wants.

If her other actions are causing you financial harm, talk with a local attorney for options. If she is causing you no actual harm, then just ignore her.

 

[wolfrose]

ignoring is not an option

I can't ignore her. She has the whole neighborhood believing her and has turned them all against me. Isn't that defamation of character or slander?

 

[BelizeBreeze]

The photographing of your 'property' is not a violation of the law as it is publically accessible. However, the comments may be considered slander per se. Write her a CERTIFIED (RRR) letter and include the certificate of health, demanding she cease and desist all such actions or you will see redress in court for her actions.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Is the horse underweight?

 

[wolfrose]

She might be about 50 lbs under what an Arabian in its prime would weigh. Since she is 25 years old, I wouldn't call that underweight, but in good condition. The vet says so too. So, to answer your question, no she is not underweight.

 

[rmet4nzkx]

Do these people realize this is an elderly horse? Is there more to this story, is she a rescued horse?

 

[wolfrose]

Yes, they do know it is an elderly horse. She was bought when she was on her way to a slaughterhouse, so you might say she was rescued that way. We've had her for 8 years. We live in a small town, approx pop. of 200, 500 if you count the horses. Everybody else has Walkers, Quarterhorses, etc. The big stockier type horses. We have the only Arabian horse so it looks like she is very underweight because her ribs show. That is the way they should be. The pasture cannot be seen from the road. The only place she can take pictures is from her little backyard so I guess I'll have to put up a small privacy fence up alongside her yard. Our colt has shown evidence of being grabbed so we've run extra fencing to keep all our horses from her reach. We have another neighbor that buys and sells horses so a colt that is head shy scares us.