Dangerous Horse

[pricklyflower]

Just reading the thread on having a dangerous (bolting) horse put to sleep led me to think what would happen if say a horse attacked a person - would the same thing have to happen to the horse as what happens to dogs that attack and injure people (ie PTS)? Is it some dog law that states that or is it another law?

Thank you

 

[SarahLouise83]

Good question, and to be honest, I haven't got a clue what the law would be like regarding that one. I suppose it would depend on how the horse "attacked" someone. As I suppose a horse that might kick someone and hit them in the head (causing them to die) might not be classed as a deliberate "attack" per se, and as such, obviously the horse wouldn't be subject to the same law as a dog that attacked by biting. Hmmm. Tricky one!!

 

[hadfos]

I wouldnt think so....how many of us have been bitten,kicked,squashed???How many of the horses that did this to you have you demanded be destroyed???
I have known nasty horses and you are aware of it and take measures.....tie up so short it cannot get you,stay clear of back end,dont turn out with other horses when other people have to go in that field to get theirs out

,but most of these horses have been VERY talented so their behaviour hasnt been an issue as they win money!!
They are big animals and i have found most people with a horse of this nature are exceptionally careful and every precaution is taken!!However if as a passer by you choose to step into a field with an unknown horse and get savaged....more fool you!!

 

[pricklyflower]

I guess loads of us have had injuries and it's par for the course with horses but what about one that actually "attacked" like going for you ears flat back, teeth bared, etc?? Just wondering as my horse doesn't like strangers and he has a warning on his paddock (after a long discussion on whether I should or not due to liability issues but vet said I should, just like a farmer should have "beware of the bull" on the gate of his field) but what would happen if, say, he got loose (ie I fell off and injured myself and he galloped off) and some kind member of the public went to catch him and he "attacked"?

I've had him for 6 years and we've had no issues, like hadfos said, I am exceptionally careful with him, ensure no-one who isn't aware of his issues goes near him and ensure that there are secondary fencing measures in place in his field for when he does escape out of his paddock (which he frequently does).

Just thinking about MY responsibilities as an owner of a potentially dangerous animal. If he did attack someone and seriously injuire or, godforbid, worse, I would have no hesitation in destroying him but my question is, should I be doing that now before he does? I'm not questioning the other poster's post about her bolting horse at all but am questioning my own feelings with regard to my potentially dangerous horse...

 

[MrsMozart]

Hm. An interesting post.

I think that, if that were to be followed through, then all things/creatures that could potentially harm us would have to be dispatched off to the great skies 'just in case'.

Some creatures are totally docile and compliant with some people, but are absolute g1ts with others. How should one manage that situation? Your horse is okay with you, with me he might be different, with A.N. Other he might be a total saint. There is no saying that for sure he would be a danger. The entire horse world knows the words "Oh, he never does that with me!".

I know there is a duty of care, etc. etc. etc., but you take the best precautions you can and get on with life in my view.

Just as a thought, if you're worried that if you come off, some kind passer-by is going to be squidged by your horse, attache a sign to a breast plate or similar to warn people not to touch him?

 

[f_s_]

I suppose it depends on the level of your duty of care.

Horses are unlike dogs, as they are not kept within the home, and although not classed as agricultural animals, they are treated very differently to dogs.

If your horse has the ability to injure people, then I would think that you would need to at least be able to make people aware of this, so they could take reasonable precautions.

I thought that stallions were classes as dangerous animals, but could be wrong, maybe that was quite a while ago. You had to make sure the fencing was higher,notices on fencing etc. I could be barking up the wrong tree here!!

 

[legaldancer]

I had a mare who attacked me once when I went to catch her. She never did it again, although she had bitten several people over the stable door.
I think if she had killed someone I would have had her PTS. With dogs I think its an unwritten rule as it were.

 

[megwan1]

i remember when i was bout 9 i went done to our stables with my friend her brother and her mum, as we were sorting the stables one of the ponies (not theirs or mine as i didnt have one then) reached through the fence and grabbed the borther by the arm pulled him thro the fence and launched him across the field!!!! luckily the injury was just the bit on the arm
but i do remember this pony disappearing after and i now know that the owner had it shot
i think tho it depends on the owner and whether they feel that its unacceptable as i know people that wouldnt do that
i think it was the right decision as apparently it was a little sh1t anyway

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

All horses are potentially dangerous just because of their size and their prey mentality. Stir in wrong feeding, wrong management, wrong everything and a horse can become truly dangerous just because he's afraid of human beings or is horrendously stressed through not being allowed to be a horse.

 

[ironhorse]

A local stud to us had a stallion that was a confirmed biter. After he put their stud groom in hospital they took legal advice and were told to have him gelded (altho he was very well bred and was successful in dressage and sj) to see if that would improve his behaviour or put him down otherwise they risked being sued. although there's no legislation in the way that there is for dogs, there's still the issue of duty of care, especially where employees and members of the public are concerned

 

[Doormouse]

The thing is that horses are naturally a flight animal whereas dogs are a fight animal. Horses will only attack if cornered or if their territory is invaded. We invade their territory everyday but because they have become domesticated most of them are fine. I think that if a wild new forest pony attacked someone then it would have been due to something that person had done, ie gone too near a mare with a new foal and the responsibility would be on the person not the horse. Therefore, I think your horse would be unlikely to attack anyone when loose because his instinct would be to run away from strangers. Might be totally wrong but having had several 'savage' horses I found they only caused problems when humans invaded their personal space.

 

[Silverspring]

Dogs descend from pack animals that hunt and eat meat, if they attack a human there is a high likely hood that this behaviour is too strong in them and they are not safe to have in your house.

Horse's are flight animals that decend from creatures that only fight amongst themselves over ladies and maybe the odd pecking order, the do not hunt and more to the point they do not live in your house.

I don't think the law would ever regard the 2 as being remotely similar. If a 'dangerous' horse attacked you the YO/owner might be held liable as it's they have a duty of care to keep known dangerous animals safely away from other liveries but I don't think the court would ever expect the horse to be put down. Would be interest to here cases to the contrary.

 

[siennamum]

Horses may be flight animals but I've know ones which would come across the field to get you, flat out, ears back, gob open, murder in mind!!

Horses certainly do go on the attack, although I would agree that the behaviour probably started defensively.

 

[Silverspring]

Yeah I've had that with horses, cows and the odd ill tempered texel sheep

 

[JanetGeorge]

[ QUOTE ]
A local stud to us had a stallion that was a confirmed biter. After he put their stud groom in hospital they took legal advice and were told to have him gelded (altho he was very well bred and was successful in dressage and sj) to see if that would improve his behaviour or put him down otherwise they risked being sued.

[/ QUOTE ]

Heavens - if every stallion who bit was put down there wouldn't be many left! My stallion is the quietest, easiest chap in the world but he DOES like things in his mouth - and your coat (or hand) will do if there's no haylage left! My younger stallions DON'T (as a rule) bite because they know it's not acceptable - but if a stranger walked into their stables I know full well they WOULD nip!

Of course, if the biting is of the 'attacking' sort - and accompanied by other evidence of poor temperament, then they probably SHOULD be gelded - temperament IS hereditary - and a stallion who attacks is a very dangerous thing!

But in horses generally, attacking is normally a sign of inadequate training - or fear - or pain! Horses who are agressive in the stable are USUALLY ok when loose (in a stable they can't escape!) I get horses here who are MEANT to attack people in the stable - or bite - or barge - or whatever! They usually don't - and if they DO, they only do it once!

 

[WishfulThinker]

At one stud farm I worked at they had to put a colt to sleep as it was very dangerous, and would attack not only people but other horses.

His sire was slightly the same, but you could at least get near him and ride him.

To be fair the colt that was PTS should never have been born as I dont think that a dangerous horse should be bred from.

 

[pricklyflower]

Thank you for all your replies, it certainly is interesting hearing all your stories. My horse isn't aggressive in the stable, or around food, it's purely in his paddock. He's a bit like siennamum's post, he will come ears flat back, teeth bared and will stop and tend to bite then strike out with his front hoof and he's very rarely aggressive tied up.

He lives out most of the year, only coming in overnight when my fields are totally wet and his big clodhopper hooves would wreck my paddocks if he was in them 24/7 so I think he's allowed to behave like a horse (ie he's not cooped up in a stable 24/7). He's also very dominant with the other horses, he likes to be the boss.

I asked my vet about his behaviour, he said he could be a rig and did I want a test done, having thought about it I said no as it would be expensive for something that wouldn't make any difference to me or the way that I treated/handled him. I can cope with him and as I'm on a yard of my own I don't have to worry about other liveries, just whoever I decide comes into contact with him. I would just hate it if he seriously injured someone.

I think goodwill has a good point, maybe he is dominant about "his" terriortory in his paddock (or had a bad experience but only in his paddock, hence why he's ok in his stable?) and that if he did get loose he would be worried and the flight instinct would kick in.

I have put a post in Stolen / Tracing horses as it would be very interesting to find out if anyone remembers him before I got to him to try and find out why he is like he is.

He is worse with women then men but I'm not sure whether that's body language or not (vet did think it may have something to do with our hormones?) if he sees you're nervous he will come at you tenfold but stand up to him and stand your ground and he generally backs off, it's just having the guts to do that in the first place!!