Ban dogs at badminton?

Being a huge dog lover, I like seeing and meeting the dogs on XC day. I was a little taken aback, however, at how undersocialised some of the dogs seemed (barking at anything and everything; snapping at other dogs; lunging at horses).

My friend left her Boxer at home, knowing that she can be unpredictable on lead with other dogs. Seems a lot of people thought only of themselves, instead of others, by bringing their naughty dogs.

If I could bring my dog, however, I wouldn't hesitate to fly her over for a Badders holiday. Nothing like the mean streets of NYC to make a dog 150% unflappable in any eventuality and situation.
 
If some parents cannot be relied upon to control their children..children should be banned. IF some spectators cannot be relied upon to behave then all spectators should be banned.
Same theory really...
I have yet to hear the riders ask for dogs to be banned?
 
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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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Good point but surely the predator and prey theory is based on instinct and doesnt that instinct see humans as predators too until otherwise is learnt?
Also this raises the question that to a degree shouldn't these horses be trained (and aren't they) that they don't take that much notice of crowd noise or activity? Surely as an event rider it is a consideration that crowds will cause a great amount of noise and distraction to your mount and the horse should be desensitised beforehand..? Not that that is an excuse but i think people would do well to think about that side of things too.
WRB
 
Yes, but I would imagine the way that a human approaches a horse is perceived by the horse very differently to the way a loose, barking and unknown dog is. Similarly, dogs that are a known quantity to the horse in question are probably viewed with less suspicion or fear than an unknown, out of control dog - previous experience has shown that the known and controlled dog does not attack them. There would be no hunting if that was not the case. Most unhandled horses view humans with suspicion until they learn otherwise, by being handled and treated in a non predatory manner.

I would hope that all the horses at Badminton and such events are sufficiently familiarised with crowds, but asking them to cope with a large jump and an out of control dog chasing after them is a tall order. And the fact that they should be desensitised to crowds and noise etc, does not absolve dog owners of their responsibility in controlling their animal.
 
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