'We're about to take [your horse] out back... Old Yeller style': Guy pranks a wrong number after being pestered for months for updates on the stranger's horse

Author image for Jesse Kessenheimer
Jesse Kessenheimer • Writer and Editor
Jan 28, 2024 6:00 PM EST

Believe it or not, caller ID was invented in the 80's, but it still took several decades to figure out how to completely block an incoming call. Imagine all the tedious hardships that would have been avoided if blocking a phone number had been a thing sooner? There certainly wouldn't be as many horror movies dedicated to villains in masks hiding behind an unknown number. 

In modern times, it's easy to block a phone number. One-click and you can revoke a person's ability to contact you ever again. But in this age of infinite connection, where's the fun in that? In our next story, a guy gets payback against someone who repeatedly ignores his insistence that they have the wrong number. After months of being bothered with endless questions about a pet horse, he gets creative with his own technique to 'block' any further contact. 

Scroll for all the petty details of how a guy protected his privacy and effectively blocked unwanted contact for good.

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  • 01
    "I was about to block the number but I decided to wait and have some fun if they texted again."
    via canva
  • 02
    r/pettyrevenge Posted by u/Cold Barber_4761 Insist on repeatedly texting the wrong number? Eventually you won't like my response. Texting the wrong number. It happens. It's not really a big deal normally. Usually I just ignore it if I think it's spam, or politely text back to let them know that they have the wrong number.
    via Cold_Barber_4761
  • 03
    For some reason, there was one person who repeated to do this every vacation holiday they took over the course of about 12-18 months. It was about 5 times total and always in the middle of the night for me. Texts were always asking how their horse was. Each time I
    via Cold_Barber_4761
  • 04
    would respond and say it was the wrong number. Each time the person would write back and apologize, saying that where they boarded their horse had a number one digit different, hence the mistake. Again, I get that it happens, but after twice, wouldn't you just program the correct number in your phone?
    via Cold_Barber_4761
  • 05
    When it happened a fourth time I politely texted back asking if they were ever planning on actually programming the correct number into their phone. They replied saying yes, they would do that immediately. I was about to block the number but I decided to wait and have some fun if they texted again.
    via Cold_Barber_4761
  • 06
    Predictably, a few months later they did. STRANGER: HI! Just checking in to see how my horse is doing. I hope he's okay! ME: Unfortunately, he's not doing well. I tried calling in the large animal vet but they said he's not going to make it. We're about to take him out to the back 40 and put him down, Old Yeller style. Let me know if you want the body whole or cremated. (Alternatively, we can process it and save the meat for you.)
    via Cold_Barber_4761
  • 07
    STRANGER: Well I realize now that I texted the wrong number but you don't have to be mean about it! And they never texted me again! (Also, to be clear, I'm very much an animal lover. I was also very much annoyed!)
    via Cold_Barber_4761
  • 08
    [ETA: Since numerous people have asked why I didn't just block the number after the first text, I do that now!This was a few years ago. I was a pretty private person then and not a lot of people had my number, so it was really rare for me to get a wrong number text. Now I block them, especially with the excess spam texting these days. Also, if I had done that back then, I wouldn't be able to amuse myself and others remembering this story!]
    via Cold_Barber_4761
  • 09
    DParadisio43137. 3 days ago I like your sense of humour :) 1.2k Reply Share Cold Barber_4761 OP. 3 days ago Lol. Thanks. It definitely verges toward the dark side, but I'm okay with that!
    via DParadisio43137
  • 10
    Terrible-Antelope680. 2 days ago Sometimes you got to do what you got to do to make a lasting impression that people want to avoid 7 ↓ 47 Reply Share refuse_thyname 2 days ago This is the way!
    via Terrible-Antelope680
  • 11
    Grouchy-Ad4338 3 days ago Great one. Wonder that how did they so quickly found that it was the wrong number when they had never corrected it? Sounds like it was a prank all along. ↑ 99 Reply Share Cold Barber_4761 OP. 3 days ago Possibly! Either way, they've never texted again!
    via Grouchy-Ad4338
  • 12
    RNGinx33 days ago I am an animal lover, and I approve this message. It was too much trouble for him to bother programming in the correct number...until you gave him a scare. If you had continued to be polite, you would still probably be getting overnight texts!
    via RNGinx3
  • 13
    I do this with my kids, only my scare is "Since you forgot to empty the dishwasher, which means no one was able to load their dirty dishes, you are doing dishes tonight." Works like a charm to help him remember to empty it!
    via RNGinx3
  • 14
    69vuman 3 days ago Apparently, I DID have to be so mean about it. 197 Reply Share Cold Barber_4761 OP 3 days ago Hahaha. Exactly!
    via 69vuman
  • 15
    Imaginary_Sun 3 days ago Someone accidentally gave my number to their doctor's office so I started getting calls to confirm appointments every other month or so... because these were recordings I could tell them it was a wrong number. So I was nice and confirmed their appointments, but after a year I got fed up and started cancelling them. Those calls ended after the first few cancellations. Totally justified in your response and I applaud you for it.
    via Imaginary_Sun
  • 16
    FeministAsHeck. 3 days ago I would've just said you had four chances with me being nice, and you blew them. Reply Share... 67 Cold_Barber_4761 OP 3 days ago Hahaha. Yep. Exactly. Thankfully they got the message!
    via FeministAsHeck
  • 17
    dangerousfeather 3 days ago I am a horse owner, and I approve this message. I legitimately care about my horse, therefore I know the correct number for his caretaker.
    via dangerousfeather
  • 18
    Cold Barber_4761 OP 3 days ago Right? I mean I have four pets and their vet and daycare/boarding facility and in-home sitter are all programmed into my phone.
    via Cold_Barber_4761
  • 19
    PettyHonestThrowaway 2 days ago I LIVE for this kind of hilarious story I also have to say, if you're spending thousands boarding a horse, you'd freaking want the correct number in your dang phone! Like that's such laziness right there, SMH.
    via PettyHonestThrowaway
  • 20
    Whole-Ad-2347. 2 days ago Isn't it interesting that some people only respond to some communication errors on their part when it becomes as serious as your last text message to them. 10 Reply Share ... Cold_Barber_4761 OP 2 days ago Yes! It's laziness, self-entitlement, or both. Until it impacts their lives, it's clearly not a bother!
    via Whole-Ad-2347
  • 21
    justaman_097 · 3 days ago Well played! You are more patient than I am. I would have done something similar, but on the second time the guy texted me. 33 Reply Share Cold_Barber_4761 OP 3 days ago I would have, had I thought of it sooner!
    via justaman_097
  • 22
    the_greek_italian 2 days ago It's genuinely the way they couldn't just double check they had the right number the first or second time. Yeah, you could have blocked the number, but they clearly don't understand how to take a hint.
    via the_greek_italian
  • 23
    MrAleGuy 2 days ago Note that while they didn't appreciate your humor, it did get them to start exercising appropriate care when contacting their horse boarder - which might have included actually programming the number into their phone.
    via MrAleGuy
  • 24
    RadiantNoise3965. 3 days ago this was funny and resolved the issue without anyone being harmed. If he didn't send multiple wrong texts that would have been mean, this was just deserved.
    via RadiantNoise3965

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called id wrong number caller call phone petty revenge petty prank horse prank blocked horses Reddit horse
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