Andrew Nicholson and loose dog at Bramham

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Wishfilly

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Just wondering what everyone thinks about this? www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/top-eventer-chased-loose-dog-asks-didnt-ring-bell-656507

Personally, I do think the bell should have been rung, especially when the dog's owner (?) entered the ring. It sounds like a dangerous situation for the humans and animals involved. I do think he could have stopped himself- but I'm sure it's hard to make that decision in the heat of the moment, especially if it might have been treated as a withdrawal.

More generally, these types of incidents do seem to be getting more common at events. Is there any punishment for the people who let their dogs get lose? Perhaps a fine might focus people's minds a bit? Or is it getting to the stage where we should be banning dogs at events?
 
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If Jane H-R is right (and presumably she knows the rules), then he should have stopped himself.

Regarding dogs at events, I have long since thought they should be banned altogether, and I have three of them so I'm not anti-dog. Dogs at an event are a pita to everyone, even when they are on leads, especially extending ones, and I don't think I've been to an event where someone's dog hasn't made an escape and got onto the course. I'm surprised they haven't been banned before now (and before a horse and/or rider gets seriously hurt).
 
I think it might be a start to require all dogs to wear a harness and a fixed not extendable lead. But if these incidents keep happening the result is likely to be a total ban.
 
most harnesses can be slipped if the dog is so inclined. ban dogs at shows and events-at least half of them don't seem to enjoy it anyway. I don't know the rules but I'd have thought it common sense for the ground/judge to ring the bell and not for the competitor to have the responsibility-they are after all quite busy!
 
what happens if you stop yourself and the judges deem that it wasn't a problem though, that is an expensive change to take and they said themselves it wasn't dangerous until the last fence IIRC? Hell of a judgement call when you are trying to ride your round. I'm amazed the judges didn't take control of the situation and ring the bell.
 
I would not ban dogs, we took ours to Bramham on Friday and he loved it. He was also in a collar which was attached to a Halti, with a fixed lead, and kept to hand all the time. We picked up poop and did not take him into stands. We took water and did not leave him in the car. We would not have taken him if it had been hot or muddy. I feel upset if we, as responsible owners, were stopped from taking ours because of some who are not as conscientious.

Dratted dog asked for the next 4 days to get in the car and go back there!

Yes, I think the dog should be on a fixed lead. Yes, I think any loose dogs should be fined, as should anyone leaving them in cars or not picking poop.

As for the round, yes I think the bell should have been rung. I thought they did that for you if the course was blocked or dangerous. I think saying he should have made that decision himself is deflecting.
 
Greenwich 2012 was pure bliss with no dogs. I wish they would ban dogs. I'm sure a serious accident involving dog, owner, horse or rider will happen, it's just a matter of time.
 
FFS When will bleddi owners start to control their dogs? I bet if they were competing they'd grouse about it pretty loudly, if it happened to them.

My thoughts are that there should be rules introduced, and widely publicised, that dogs MUST be in a harness and on a fixed lead at these sort of events. Period.

And it be well published and plenty of warning that there will be a hefty financial penalty for any transgressors: like £50 for starters, monies to go to a good cause like RDA or WHW.

Punitive financial penalties might well sharpen people's minds............ coz my fear is that it ain't gonna be long before there's a nasty accident due to a loose dog :( and this needs addressing and sorting NOW.
 
Dog lover here and I’d ban them— this is these people’s job it will’ve cost him money to get that fence down. It’s unacceptable for this to happen and it happens all the time- the other option is big fines for those who’s dogs get free but he simplest is to ban the lot of them
 
Banning dogs from equestrian events is long overdue. Far too many numpty owners who think that fluffikins is a. perfectly behaved even when it isn't b. is enjoying itself when it clearly is hot, tired and miserable c. couldn't possibly be left at home, darling.

TP, another dog owner ;)

ETA Still wryly chuckling at the look of absolute horror that a dog's owner gave me when I told her mutt to scram at Badminton this year. It homed in on us as we were sitting eating in one of the stands on the XC. No dear, your mutt is not universally welcomed to share strangers' lunches, ta very much.
 
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There should be a ban. Its happening too often now and the dogs could easily cause an accident where the rider and/or horse is injured. It sucks when most are actually sensible and can actually control their animals/aren't stupid, but it's easiest and safest to just ban them all. Can't guarantee people will use non extendable leads or harnesses.
 
ester said:
what happens if you stop yourself and the judges deem that it wasn't a problem though, that is an expensive change to take and they said themselves it wasn't dangerous until the last fence IIRC? Hell of a judgement call when you are trying to ride your round. I'm amazed the judges didn't take control of the situation and ring the bell.
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I’m with you on this.
Bell should have been rung by those with the advantage of seeing the situation unfold.
Andrews job was to keep his horse focussed and jumping until otherwise instructed.
I bet he didn’t hold back in giving the GJ a mouthful :D
 
Why would anyone want to take a dog to something like this? Not fun for anyone I would think (OK, dogs tend to have fun anywhere, but that's no excuse for dragging them around all day and then letting them off to endanger all around them).
 
Dogs should be banned. I own four but it is not a dog show, it is not a doggy day out, people are risking other peoples lives by insisting on their right to have their pooch throwing itself at the end of the lead and baying when a horse goes past, and at least one at every event is loose and chases. Still, I am sure the chasing dog is having a ball.
 
while i agree in part that some dogs are a nuisance, if they were banned completely i wouldnt be able to go to any events as i live alone and wouldnt leave my dogs all day.....my young terrier wears a harness at events and my collie cross a slip lead. neither of them take any notice of horses and are well behaved. i pick l up any poop and if i cant find a bin i take it home with me . i make sure they have access to water and never leave them in the car. if it is a hot day, i dont go as i care about my dogs and wont have them being uncomfortable...
 
Surely everyone has a neighbour/friend/paid doggy person who can let their dogs out once in a while instead of dragging them round to be stood on, boiled if long coated and generally irritating everyone?
We have 2 dogs and they live at home. They are much loved and prefer it.
 
But to me that is the choice you make on having animals, you accept that there are things you can't go to or you arrange care for those events.

There's a reason I only have guinea pigs :p.

At a bare minimum I think all dogs should have two methods of attachment in case they slip one, so collar+ harness, harness+ halti etc and separate leads to each. How we can encourage people to hold onto those leads though...as this one (apparently the dog was perfectly quiet and well behaved prior to the incident so obviously not holding the lead tight enough when it made a dash for it).
 
splashgirl45 said:
while i agree in part that some dogs are a nuisance, if they were banned completely i wouldnt be able to go to any events as i live alone and wouldnt leave my dogs all day.....my young terrier wears a harness at events and my collie cross a slip lead. neither of them take any notice of horses and are well behaved. i pick l up any poop and if i cant find a bin i take it home with me . i make sure they have access to water and never leave them in the car. if it is a hot day, i dont go as i care about my dogs and wont have them being uncomfortable...
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It would be preferable to have the odd person inconvenienced than a horse breaking a leg because of a loose dog. I know yours don't get away, but you can't say 'only badly behaved dogs are banned' as everyone thinks their little Fido is a saint.
 
We live on the west coast of Wales and attend Badminton and Burghley with our dogs .Staying on the caravan park set up at both We are 3 and a half hours from Badminton and 6 hours from Burghley..Because we live so far west we combine the 4 days of the trials with a longer break of 2 weeks catching up with family and friends in those areas if they ban dogs we just can't go as its not a case leaving them at home for those few days but for 2 weeks.Dogs on short leads needs to be enforced we see dogs off lead and indeed our own dogs have been harassed by loose dogs .As people enter the event they should be told to put dogs on a lead and denled entry if not. We have regularly told people to put their dogs on leads .Very emotive subject the few bad owners are going to spoil it for the rest of us.Pity it would mean an end to Burghley and Badminton for us.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
exactly, you don't go, or you don't go for so long or you organise care/put in kennels. not difficult.
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Yup, totally agree. And it doesn't matter if you make a rule saying dogs have to be kept on short leads - they are already meant to be on leads, but since you can never legislate for people letting go, the only sure way to prevent a disaster is to ban them completely.
 
MotherOfChickens said:
exactly, you don't go, or you don't go for so long or you organise care/put in kennels. not difficult.
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The thing is though, it's not just the spectators that bring dogs. Take a walk around the lorry park at any big event and it's just like Crufts. In fact both of William Fox-Pitts dogs got loose and bogged off at Belton this year; one of them (the lab) was caught fairly quickly but the other (the lurcher) was AWOL over night. Who knows what that got up to!

I suppose it was more than fortunate that it wasn't WFP's dog that chased AN! :D
 
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I have 2 dogs who are completely fine with horses, but I wouldn’t take them to anything like Bramham, Badders etc. I’m not sure they’d enjoy it, and I wouldn’t enjoy having them there if I’m honest, much as I love the pair of them.
 
For those saying fixed lead and harness, I've seen dogs get away from their owners with this arrangement all the time (not necessarily at events but just in life). If the dog suddenly throws itself at the end of the lead, for many owners the automatic reaction is to let go rather than risk being pulled over. I agree it's safer, but not 100% safe. Haltis are good as they stop the dog throwing their weight against the owner like this- but not every dog likes them.

Most dog owners are happy to arrange pet-sitting/kennels for holidays, while I can understand the attraction of taking dogs with you to an event it's not like a dog ban would suddenly stop owners from attending.

Fines for irresponsible owners might be better as they don't punish the well behaved majority, but might be a PITA for event organisers to chase up.
 
The same goes for insisting dogs on fixed leads as they go in and denying entry, hard to dictate what happens for the rest of the day.

I do wonder if the number of lorry dogs at events normalises it a bit, especially how many are off lead round the boxes. But I do also think there should be a way around that say insisting dogs stay in the lorry park until close of play, or that they have to wear their competitors number at all times etc. Though then you have the endurance incident of the dogs dying in the lorry..
 
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