Another loose dog incident at an event. Time to ban dogs?

[Cortez]

Absolutely NOT, it's ridiculous to think of banning dogs from these events. If you're going down that route, then children should be banned and also children that are clearly overhorsed by darling mummies that have bought the beautiful animal for a child that can't ride! We've all had to deal with outside interference, but seriously if you think banning dogs is good, then for a start think of the number of spectators that wouldn't patronise the events. Dogs and horses go together. I've had children running under ropes onto a course, loose horse galloping straight through my dressage arena and a loose dog on a x/c course. Shit happens.

Well, you don't see people taking their dogs to race meetings do you? Shit does indeed happen, but preventable shit shouldn't be allowed to.

 

[Roxylola]

I'd be happy to pay a refundable deposit to take my dogs - a significant one wouldnt bother me as I know I'd get it back sort of guarantees a fine would be enforceable if you already hold the funds

 

[GinaGeo]

Osberton do/did at the nom BE Events I’ve been too as a competitor.

Addlington do as well when I’ve been Side Saddling.

It’s easy enough to enforce as there’s a line they shouldn’t cross.

There are some days I know the glass surrounded cab would get too hot very quickly. But the insulated living or horse area with some added frozen bottles and Ice Packs is much cooler than being outside without shade.

 

[TPO]

Right, so you're suggesting a competitor leaves their dog at home from sparrow fart time until the end of the day, probably about 12 hours, with just someone coming in at lunchtime? Cool, what a lucky dog, NOT!

Yes, I am absolutely saying abandon your dog at home for 12hrs+ so that you can play at or watch ponies ?

I am saying be a responsible owner. If you need it spelt out how to do that then you shouldn't own a dog

I am also saying if you are a dog owner the dog and its care is your responsibility. I dont see people taking their dogs to golf, cricket, football or rugby. My friends who attend such sports, as competitors and spectators, make suitable arrangements so that their dogs are looked after in their absence. It's not rocket science ?

 

[TPO]

Once they are off the recall is always going to be difficult but it’s very easy to avoid a dog slipping its collar by using a well fitting harness and collar combination held onto by an adult and a bit of training to not pull away. Well behaved owners with their dogs should be welcome at events.

"Well behaved owners with their dogs" HAVE been welcomed yet STILL there are loose dogs chasing horses...

 

[PapaverFollis]

I personally think dogs should be able to cope with the occasional longer day of being left. But that and the harness wearing makes me the actual devil I think. ???

 

[Smitty]

Well, you don't see people taking their dogs to race meetings do you? Shit does indeed happen, but preventable shit shouldn't be allowed to.

Umm, I do, as do many others, in centre of course at Taunton. Also, point to points at Cothlestone and Kingston st Mary ...

 

[Goldenstar]

I personally think dogs should be able to cope with the occasional longer day of being left. But that and the harness wearing makes me the actual devil I think. ???

Its not question of being able to cope it’s a question of what I choose to do .
I don’t stay in hotels that don’t accept dogs I can’t understand why anyone thinks I would give my time for free where I can’t take my dog .

 

[ester]

Dogs have been removed from lorry livings in the heat, perhaps a new venture for under lorry kenneling systems would start.

No one here thinks you would give your time for free where you can't take your dog though GS?

 

[WandaMare]

Yes, I am absolutely saying abandon your dog at home for 12hrs+ so that you can play at or watch ponies ?

I am saying be a responsible owner. If you need it spelt out how to do that then you shouldn't own a dog

I am also saying if you are a dog owner the dog and its care is your responsibility. I dont see people taking their dogs to golf, cricket, football or rugby. My friends who attend such sports, as competitors and spectators, make suitable arrangements so that their dogs are looked after in their absence. It's not rocket science ?

You can take your dog to some golf courses as long as they kept on a lead, we regularly took ours to Trevose in Cornwall

I felt it was my 'right' to have my dog with me at all times

 

[Cortez]

Its not question of being able to cope it’s a question of what I choose to do .
I don’t stay in hotels that don’t accept dogs I can’t understand why anyone thinks I would give my time for free where I can’t take my dog .

I don't think you're being required to do so, it's your choice of course. I like taking my dogs with me to plenty of places, there are lots of places where I don't take them and they get left at home. They cope.

 

[TPO]

You can take your dog to some golf courses as long as they kept on a lead, we regularly took ours to Trevose in Cornwall

Not a golfer but I know they are banned at local courses around here because my manager just got a dog and joked how if he could take her golfing it would kill 2 birds with one stone (in regards to walking her).

Again no clue because it sounds like torture but a different golfing friend goes to watch the masters (? If that's what it called) and has to arrange a dog sitter because dogs aren't welcome. If she could she would take them so I assumed theres a rule against it

 

[Goldenstar]

Of course they cope I am just gobsmacked that anyone would think it’s reasonable that someone would have to pay someone to do dog care because they are volunteering.
I have been stewarding at a hunt ride today most stewards had dogs with them its Really normal round here that you take dogs .

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

Well, you don't see people taking their dogs to race meetings do you? Shit does indeed happen, but preventable shit shouldn't be allowed to.

Um we have a couple of horses on the yard owned by dogs ... and they are only allowed to run at dog friendly tracks. And yes I have nearly got them squashed when the owner insisted on trying to get the dogs in the winning picture with the horse they owned ... one racecourse even gets in a couple of boxes of gravy bones if their horses are running to present to the dogs if their horse wins ...

But alot of racecourses don't allow dogs, especially not on busy days and I am in quite agreement.

I gave my Turnout rosette from Perth to a Guidedog one day. I keep a rosette every year and give the rest to people I think would appreciate them. The dog wore it on his harness for the rest of the day - with permission of its owner of course!

 

[TPO]

Of course they cope I am just gobsmacked that anyone would think it’s reasonable that someone would have to pay someone to do dog care because they are volunteering.
I have been stewarding at a hunt ride today most stewards had dogs with them its Really normal round here that you take dogs .

No one has said that volunteers have to do anything.

IF there was a ban in place then anyone who WANTED to volunteer and was a single dog parent would have to make arrangements.

I know someone who absolutely loves fence judging and as she has at least 4 big dogs she willingly gets a dog sitter for the day or weekend. FJing is an enjoyable hobby for her and she has no qualms about making arrangements for her dogs so that she is free to solely concentrate on fence judging and enjoying her day(s).

Volunteering is exactly that, volunteering. There is nothing and no one making anyone spend their own money or time to do it. You do it if you want to.

Quite simply if every volunteer quit tomorrow then BE would have to run on some sort of system that I'd you wanted to compete you had to contribute X amount of volunteer hours.

It's really not as difficult or complex an issue as some are trying to imply.

I personally just dont want to see a horse or rider (or more dogs) injured or killed when it is 100% preventable. Then find out that insurance won't pay out because due diligence should have been done based on previous near misses...

 

[Cortez]

Of course they cope I am just gobsmacked that anyone would think it’s reasonable that someone would have to pay someone to do dog care because they are volunteering.
I have been stewarding at a hunt ride today most stewards had dogs with them its Really normal round here that you take dogs .

I volunteer at a hospice, and also at the local ISPCA kennels (walking dogs, funnily enough). I don't take my dogs with me there.

 

[The Xmas Furry]

We race bikes in spare time. Dogs are banned from all circuits, racing usually means away Thursday to Sunday.
I go less often as I prefer to not stick P dog in at minders for all that time. P comes with me to most things, work etc, but any equine events she either stays home or in the box till I'm done.
My choice to have a canine as well as equine
We used to rally as well, again no dogs....

 

[Rowreach]

I

Of course they cope I am just gobsmacked that anyone would think it’s reasonable that someone would have to pay someone to do dog care because they are volunteering.
I have been stewarding at a hunt ride today most stewards had dogs with them its Really normal round here that you take dogs .

I’m gobsmacked that you don’t think that volunteers of all sorts don’t have to make arrangements for dogs, cats, horses, children, stick insects et al, when they’re out helping. And some of these arrangements cost money. You have a groom to look after your horses, which presumably frees you up to do other things. Should FJs get to bring their horses along with them to save the cost of getting someone in to do them while they’re away?

In my (quite extensive) experience of volunteers, the majority of them are fairly altruistic in what they do, enjoy doing it, and probably quietly sacrifice a few things along the way.

You sound as if you are railing against a potential restriction with no thought to the reasoning behind it, simply because you think you’re entitled to take your dogs along. Couldn’t your groom have them for the day, running around the yard?

 

[southerncomfort]

Right, so you're suggesting a competitor leaves their dog at home from sparrow fart time until the end of the day, probably about 12 hours, with just someone coming in at lunchtime? Cool, what a lucky dog, NOT!

I honestly don't see the issue with that if its just one day. ?‍ I've done that for my mum before and her dogs were perfectly fine and happy.

I love my dog to bits but frankly I find taking her out with me a bit of a pain. She's not keen on other dogs/I worry about her getting too hot or too cold/I worry about her drinking enough etc and she's only got little legs and gets knackered quite quickly.

I know how long I can leave her on her own and I take that in to account when planning a day out.


I understand that some dogs are needier than others (which is why I have a very independent JRT who i swear doesn't know I've been anywhere until I come home!) but I don't really understand the need to take them everywhere.

We went to an outdoor food festival last summer. It was 32° with little to no shade but their were dogs everywhere! People were pouring water over their dogs desperately trying to cool them down, but the poor animals looked miserable. Much better to leave them at home on days like that.

 

[Fred66]

IMO what’s far more hazardous is irresponsible spectators who ignore whistles and distract horses. I regularly attend 10-12 events per year and have never come across a loose dog, but probably come across an average 2-3 groups of spectators per event that don’t think the rules apply to them.
So should we ban spectators as well?

 

[Tiddlypom]

IMO what’s far more hazardous is irresponsible spectators who ignore whistles and distract horses. I regularly attend 10-12 events per year and have never come across a loose dog, but probably come across an average 2-3 groups of spectators per event that don’t think the rules apply to them.
So should we ban spectators as well?

Any errant spectators near my fence get moved on/made to behave sharpish with fleas in their ears .

I agree that some spectators can be very irresponsible. I’d happily ban some of them too!

 

[stormox]

Have all the people on here who are advocating a dog ban been involved in accidents with dogs? What about other horsey events? Gymkhanas, shows (often with a dog show in a side ring), team chasing etc?

 

[TPO]

Have all the people on here who are advocating a dog ban been involved in accidents with dogs? What about other horsey events? Gymkhanas, shows (often with a dog show in a side ring), team chasing etc?

I havent but I understand risk, negating it and insurance

 

[teapot]

Family day out, dog either doesn't kennel, family can't afford it, dog is a family member, dog is very well trained, responsible family. Seriously if you removed all the people who have dogs from the spectators at these events, the events wouldn't be able to afford to run.

Yeah, London 2012 xc day had zero crowds because of the no dogs rule...

 

[ycbm]

I have, three times, twice hacking and once heading for a fixed timber double at 1m 10 two strides away. The horse was locked on and ignored the dog, thank heavens.

Does there have to be a serious injury or death before removing an obvious risk?
.

 

[PapaverFollis]

The difference between an errant spectator and a loose dog giving chase in terms of the resulting level of hazard is obvious surely?

 

[Rowreach]

Have all the people on here who are advocating a dog ban been involved in accidents with dogs? What about other horsey events? Gymkhanas, shows (often with a dog show in a side ring), team chasing etc?

Asked and answered.

 

[Rowreach]

Does there have to be a serious injury or death before removing an obvious risk?
.

Honestly, reading some of the comments on here, for many people the answer is clearly "yes"

 

[teapot]

ETS: how many of you are on yards that don't allow dogs?

 

[Fragglerock]

Actually I have had a chance to think about this. Personally as said previously I haven't seen any problems with loose dogs when fence judging. Biggest problems are with those riders who think it's a family outing and walk the course with a crowd, and with a buggy/ies. Not saying it shouldn't be allowed but only when the competition isn't in progress if they want to see the fences up close - or stay the other side of the tape.