Ban dogs at badminton?

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I don't think it's fair on the dogs to take them.

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Well that depends a lot on your dog and whether you spend hours dragging it around the crowded trade stands or whether you keep clear of the main crowds, which can be done.

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Exactly why we avoided the tradestands (saved myself money too
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) and avoided the food stands on the course!
 
We took Star last year, we kind of had to because we were on our way to taking her on her holidays in Cornwall, but she was fine and didn't do anything naughty. It is easy to stay out of the way most of the time and I don't really see why it is unfair on the dog.

If the competitors and organisers are getting peed off with them then fair enough ban them, but I don't see why they should be banned because they piss off a few shoppers for getting in the way.
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Actually I think dogs are absolutely fine at Badminton - IF the owners have intelligence. Don't take them in the trade stands on Sat - and if they slip the lead then the owner should be banned from badminton for good. simple! 99.99% of dogs were not a problem - but the idiot people who let that dog go should be shot. How stupid are they. And as for the ignorant dog owners who leave dog mess all over the place - they want banning as well. I have dogs, I took mine, we had them in the camp site and they were never allowed to foul - or bark incessantly as some one near us let their dog. We went to sleep to the sound of barking dog and we woke to it.
 
God that sounds annoying!!!
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TBF, as bad as it is to let your dog off and it chase a horse it was probably a mistake and I'm sure they feel rather guilty and stupid!!
 
They may well feel guilty but that won't cancel out the damage that could be done. We all know that loss of concentration by horse or rider can have potentially fatal consequences on courses like this. We saw so many people standing on leads so their hands were free to take photos, eat etc. That's not having a dog under control - it's very easy for a dog to 'escape' in those circumstances. It's irresponsible and unfair to the competitors and other dog owners.
 
Yeah i think its the owner that should be resnable and decide! I mean i wouldnt want to take maggie while shes young as she gets scared easily still and crowds would just not be fair on her! She also loves people so would harass them
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In the nicest way posible of corse! And she has been known to bark at horses pacing by so i wouldnt take her mainly because i wouldnt want to affect her
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! Oh yeah and she pulls in new places for a bit and then settles down, so i wouldnt find it enjoyable as if i was by myself! She wouldnt mind staying at home iwth all her toys and a nice bed!!!!!!!!! She would never try and brea loose or run away so that part doesnt bother me!
But i dont think its fair at all to take a dog that you know isnt relaxed with new places etc!
 
What puzzles me is, if you're at a horse trials chances are you probably have horses - I know many go to Badders as a social thing - my horses hoon around the fields like nutters and with post and rail fencing my dogs have access to the fields, so they're scolded and taught from word go not to chase - and being an arctic breed the instinct to chase running horses is strong!! - do people not train their dogs? As anyone who may have seen me at the Colt pond, VV, double oaks and at the end by the road crossing my dogs were sat on the fence line and didn't even look at the galloping horses.

Such a shame a few people ruin it for those of us who have dogs that enjoy the day out.
 
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ERM if seeing dogs pains you that badly don't go to Badminton - you all KNOW they are going to be there.


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So people who don't like dogs but do like eventing should stay away from horsey events like Badminton et al because they KNOW dogs will be there?!?

Hmmm..... Wouldn't it be better if non dog lovers could rely on dog owners to have control over their animals? You clearly managed to, as you've said yours were no bother. And Severnmiles didn't feel the need to drag hers round the trade stands and food stands, where you have to admit, it gets extremely busy and the potential for bad behaviour by the dog increases, quite understandably.

As you say, it's the owners responsibility, but so many seem to think they can relinquish that because of the type of event it is.
 


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I can't abide dogs at the best of times, but in a crowded place like Badminton they're a menace. .


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You see that comment made me think you were on about ALL dogs not just the badly trained ones.
 
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Perhaps if the dog owners had to pay an admission price for the pooch's - same as an adult ticket fee, then they'd think twice about taking them.

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I wouldn't...
 
I think it would be really sad if people couldn't take their canine friends.
It's all part of the day IMO -seeing all the different dogs. All those that I have seen look to be having a fantastic day out.
I wouldn't favour a ban on dogs. Aren't people always harping on in life (and on here may I add!) about the H&S environment we live in, the government banning things at every opportunity?
If the riders thought it was that much of an issue they would certainly put their views forward, just the same as they did about the ground last yr. The definitive answer should come from the riders, not the public.
Part of the answer my be educating the public in advance, suggesting that kids don't lead the dogs on the day etc. A few banners in H&H and some visible banners upon entry (and in the program).
 
I don't know - I think the people who don't listen to the frequent announcements over the tannoy about keeping dogs on the lead / under control aren't going to pay any attention to banners etc either. It's these people who give all the responsible dog owners a bad name.
 
I think they should employ dog 'wardens' on the grounds who have the power to ask you to leave / fine you if your dog is seen to be making a menace out of itself or if it fouls and you do not clean it up.

I think then people will think again - because it hits them in the pocket.

I think the spectators should also play a part, if you see a dog crapping go tell someone or if you see/hear a dog causing a problem.
 
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The definitive answer should come from the riders, not the public.


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I agree completely!

Also bearing in mind many of the dogs there are belonging to the riders and those who are with them. Any time I have ever competed away, I have taken my dog with me and will continue to do so!
 
Evening All!

I don't have a dog, only as my lifestyle doesn't allow it. If I did however, I would choose not to take one to large events such as Badminton / Burghley etc.... I personally feel it is not in the dogs interest to be at an event like that, and probably in most cases, the dogs that are there, are not normally kept on leads, which leaves them confused about the lack of freedom they have in such a large wide open park.

I have mixed views, and would like a situation where everyone got the answer they wanted. Initially I thought a ban on dogs on XC day would be the answer, however country pursuits and dogs are inextricably (sp) linked, so that would be a shame to enforce a ban. Yet, for reasons of riders and horses safety, I feel it's only a matter of an accident that will lead to an enforcement such as a ban. No one for years, thought anything of the jump flags being an issue, until the fateful jump over the Vicarage V last year?

I do think however that dogs causing a nuisance such as constant barking / yapping and lunging as seems to have been the case in the Huntsmans close, should be asked to be removed by the fence stewards. They ultimately should have the power to police those watching at such close range. I would also point out that screaming and yapping children should also be removed, not least for the horses safety, but for spectators sanity !!!!

I only came across one dog poop whilst walking the XC course on the Sunday, and although one is too many, it's again, something htat should be notified if anyone see's an owner not clearing the mess....

The creche as I understand only allows for 2 hour stints. Not a solution for XC day.

I guess to sum up, it's always the rotten apples in the basket that spoil the lot for the rest of them. More policing and enforcement powers of stewards to ensure that dogs / children etc are all in control on XC day need to be put forward, and it would be interesting to know what riders think - did they in fact realise what was happening/???

Bxxx
 
Hmm yes proper policing that worked would be an ideal - but would it work?

I can see both points of view - if the organisers have tried everything else (I have never been so wouldn't know, but I assume from the talk on here the problem isn't new) and there are still dogs getting onto the course, being a dangerous nuisance to riders, causing complaints etc then sadly I would agree that the majority of dog owners who ARE responsible sadly must suffer because of the few idiots who ruin it for everyone else, and insist on a complete ban. The welfare of the horses and riders (and the crowd come to think of it) MUST come above people's desire to take their dogs. I don't think a ban AFTER a dog has caused a problem would work - the deed is done. There is no easy way to tell which dog is going to give chase, or which owner isn't going to keep a close enough eye on them until its too late.

It would be a sad day if a solution that worked couldn't be found though - I do think dogs and horse events do go together extremely well. Maybe it could be possible to ban dogs from certain parts of the grounds but allow them in others? Not really sure if thats a practical solution.
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If the riders thought it was that much of an issue they would certainly put their views forward, just the same as they did about the ground last yr. The definitive answer should come from the riders, not the public.


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I disagree. The public are the people who pay for this event. The dogs being out of control do affect the riders of course, but the general issue of dogs at the event is an issue I believe the public should have some say in.

I don't personally think they should be banned though, just properly policed. Anyone who's dog chases a horse or causes a distraction [such as barking or lunging at horses] should be fined or asked to leave. Owners who allow dogs to foul should be fined on the spot too.
 
The reason I feel that the riders should have the definitive vote is because it is their safety (and horses' safety) that could be compromised by runaway dogs. (Just the same as last year when it was their horses' safety that could have been compromised by hard ground). IMO safety is the only real issue here.The public may only suffer minor inconvenience from barking or poop.
I can't see how running a public enquiry would be feasible anyway.
 
Lose dogs or dogs disrupting the competitors will be removed and shot.

I don't think they should be banned at all, but I also don't want to see riders hurt by loose animals on the course.

A dog warden is an idea and then have fines for various crimes, such as extender leads. Any loose dogs are collected by the warden and the owners have to pay a large fine to collect and will then be escorted off the premises and not welcome back.

Someone will winge about the cost of it, but at the end of the day, if it prevents a fatal accident on track, then cost shouldn't be an issue!
 
QR :- I really can't see how fines/removal of dogs/people could be policed. It's a good idea, but in reality the policers would have no clout.
 
Surely a council person has the power to impose a fine? Or does that not apply on owned land?

The fact is the thought of a ban should hopefully weed out the ones who are predisposed to being lax with their dogs, therefore leaving a more responsible amount of people left who will take the chance because they are almost 100% sure there dog will not get loose or foul the grounds.
 
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I can't abide dogs at the best of times, but in a crowded place like Badminton they're a menace. .


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You see that comment made me think you were on about ALL dogs not just the badly trained ones.

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Yes I can see why you would think that! I don't like dogs at all, they scare me. However, so long as they don't come near me, I haven't got a problem with them being around. I do have a problem with owners who can't or won't control their animals, though. And if some dog owners can't be relied upon to take charge of their dogs at places like Badminton, then I feel dogs should be banned. It's a shame to penalise the responsible owners, but unfortunately there is no way to identify the morons from the good owners.
 
I have been reading this thread with great interest as dogs are the reason why I will not go to Badminton or any other event that allows them. Their mess (that stuff is toxic and has been known to cause blindness) and the potential dangers that lie in owners letting them run loose, have been putting me off for years. I also believe that horses and dogs do not mix. One is a predatory creature, the other is prey and therefore totally incompatible. Most of the horse/dog interactions I have witnessed are when the dog is chasing a panicked horse round the field. Seldom have I seen a friendly moment between the species. As a rider I have almost been thrown twice when my horse spooked at a loose dog and can not enjoy a hack out without worrying about another encounter. And I feel physically ill when I pick out my horse's feet after he's picked up their vile excrement. Additionally, the paths and parks that surround my house are covered in piles of dirt, making it impossible for my young niece and nephew to play outside the garden. I also have a friend who brings his dog when he visits and she has used my house as a toilet on more than a couple of occassions. Twice she has done it in my bedroom and it took days before the smell would go away. Now, I make sure she is kept beside my friend when he comes and that didn't even work. The last time he came, she did it on the carpet right next to him. She is house trained, but only in her own home. To me, dogs are a menace that take most of the enjoyment out of a good walk or ride. I am not labelling all dog owners as incompetent (I applaud those that clean up after their pets), but there are many that couldn't care less what their animals do.
And going back to Badminton. What is going to take for a ban to be implemented? The death or serious injury of a horse and/or rider? A child to be bitten or someone to trip over a lead (as a previous poster pointed out) and break their leg? Even a dog barking at the crowd line is enough to disrupt a horse's and/or rider's concentration. Look at what happened with the tragic Icare D'Auzay. The wooden flag poles were not withdrawn until after it was too late. I just hope it doesn't take a similar tragedy for the long overdue ban on dogs.
 
Wow thats a big long paragraph.

I will refrain from replying to you in detail, as to do so would be totally off topic, but I am suprised you think horses and dogs are totally incompatible because one is predator and the other prey. In that case what are you, a human and by definition a predator doing with a horse?
 
I don't imagine Over2You would chase or attack her horse......

I think the difference is that humans, although predators, control their predatory instincts or are selective with them. (on the whole!) Dogs seem to me to act on that instinct indiscriminately, unless they are properly controlled. And (I say again) it's the lack of control that causes problems at events like Burghley - and the lack of clearing up the poo left behind!
 
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