Dog chased my horse

M

mon

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Just went out for hack hi viz on me and horse, stuck to bridleway saw couple with dog on bridleway which was loose, dog ignores them and chased my horse, I bailed out as lurched type upset horse having go at her legs she bolted home which hubby caught on lane, she has lost a shoe but seems ok and I am ok what should I look out for and ask dog owner for in case of insurance? Thanks it could of been so much worse ESP for horse.
 
I don't know RE insurance, however I have met a fair few problem dogs out hacking. I have found that it is best if I turn my mare to face the dog. Then shout 'sit down' or something like that and get my mare to move towards the dog.

It is tricky to know what is the right thing to do, but I've met so many weak, limp owners who say 'oh Fluffy come here' when Fluffy is crouched, baring his teeth and growling. So I have to take charge. If I let my mare run, you can bet that the dog would just keep chasing.

Woe betide any badly behaved dog who meets me once I'm out on my grey. She has no hesitation about stamping and kicking out at dogs, having been chased as a yearling. She has perfect manners with them if they are being good mind you.

Maybe some dog experts could help here?
 
Don't run away, if you can help it, sometimes you have to. A lurcher or sighthound will probably not attack if you don't run, it does trigger more chasing with most breeds.
I never bail out either, very dangerous, best to get onto a farmers field or similar, dog owner can explain to farmer or if not most farmers would rather you were still alive than they had immaculate crops.
 
Faracat said:
I don't know RE insurance, however I have met a fair few problem dogs out hacking. I have found that it is best if I turn my mare to face the dog. Then shout 'sit down' or something like that and get my mare to move towards the dog.
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^^^ This usually works for me too, but my horse is very good and not worried by idiot dogs. Glad you're both OK. :)
 
If you got the owners details, pass them onto the dog warden. Any dog in a public place should be under control at all times.
As already mentioned face the dog on the horse and if it doesn't back down, trot straight at it. That normally makes them back away.
 
Poor you.

I've been chased a few times recently and it ended up really knocking my confidence hacking (and I'm not by nature a nervous nellie either)

If you can track down the owner's name it could well be worth telling the dog warden as joeanne says. They can have a word about controlling the dog to the owner and hopefully they'll realise what a tricky situation they put you in and try harder in future.

Glad you are both ok at least :)
 
Always turn the horse to face the dog, & if it doesn't scarper walk towards it, or even trot towards it. And even a pair of dogs acting as a pack intent on doing serious harm, rather than playing will back away from one cantering at them.
For the average just wanting to play dog, with owner making no effort to retrieve it, I find walking towards the owner making the same ineffective 'don't worry the horse won't bite, just wants to play, only young' etc type comments works a treat.
 
littlelegs said:
For the average just wanting to play dog, with owner making no effort to retrieve it, I find walking towards the owner making the same ineffective 'don't worry the horse won't bite, just wants to play, only young' etc type comments works a treat.
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I love that idea, I want to try that next time!
 
The improved version is letting your 7yr old do it on her pony, whilst you do the 'she just wants to say hello, don't worry she's only a child' type comments.
 
The only problem I can see with it is my horse wouldn't appreciate their dog attacking him and would probably have kicked it into the next county by then, would be hard to look cool and friendly at that point, and they would be worried about Fido.
 
Thankfully all the horses are totally dog proof. I have had loose dogs come to try and chase but a quick well aimed lash with a dressage whip usually does the trick in making Rover run back to mummy dear.

I agree, stand still and face the dog ride forward towards it if you can.
 
T hanks for ideas, horse just got anxious and gets wound up in stress situations use to dogs we have nine and been hunting but being bit on hocks up not nice, dont want her to kick as could hurt ours or a hound hound, but never been in this situation before and hopefully not again. She has lost a shoe and keeping eye on legs as she cantatas on ploughing then Tarmac.
 
I usually find when divvy owner says oh dont worry rover wont hurt you, i say im not but you should as my horse will kick your dog. Funny how they all of a sudden make the effort to catch said dog!!!
 
Please could you report this incident on the www.horseaccidents.org.uk web site.
You should also report this to the local dog warden/and or police.
My horse was brought down by 2 dogs that attacked her on a public highway having run out of a farm yard and my horse required veterinary attention as a result of the dogs attacking it's legs and neck.
I reported it to the local dog warden and police and they went to see the owner of the dogs making it quite clear if it happened again the dogs would be destroyed and he would be prosecuted.
I found out later that local horse riders had had problems with these dogs but never bothered to do anything about it thus the dogs got more dangerous and my horse was seriously injured.
You must report this incident to the dog warden and police to prevent another horse being attacked by them.
 
As I hunt it is my worst nightmare, if it makes your horse kick hounds it can make you unable to hunt any more. If money is no object I would get a ****** solicitors letter sent aswell, if it turned out your horse could no longer hunt then you could sue for loss of value? I don't normally say sue but people like that drive me nuts.
 
Regardless of whatever your views on hunting are, get a hunting crop with lash/thong......learn how to crack it (off your horse) and then accustom your horse to it. That way you can protect your horse and if necessary give Fido a lesson to remember! I say this as both a horse and dog owner, before all the fluffies start complaining.
 
Clodagh said:
As I hunt it is my worst nightmare, if it makes your horse kick hounds it can make you unable to hunt any more. If money is no object I would get a ****** solicitors letter sent aswell, if it turned out your horse could no longer hunt then you could sue for loss of value? I don't normally say sue but people like that drive me nuts.
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That's exactly what I was worrying about but fortunately mine is still ok with dogs on the yard. Phew. He just doesn't like being chased. I kind of see his point ;)
 
I had this too this morning - walking down a bridleway, minding my own business when a lab came bounding towards me.
I ignored it and kept walking and luckily my horse is dog proof, then said lab starts biting at his tail and heels! Owner completely out of control!

I wasn't too bothered as no harm done and these things happen, but if she knew she had no control over her horse flesh loving dog, why have it off the lead on a bridleway where the likelihood is you'll meet a horse?!
 
Word of warning to those suggesting using a whip to keep a dog away from their horse, from the other side as a dog walker....I have a middle aged collie, the most mild mannered dog you could ever meet who is completly disinterested in anyone she meets either cannine, human or equine. Yesterday we went on a long walk along a path used by alot of walkers, cyclists etc and as usual she trots along ignoring everybody ....then we meet a horse. I have horses, she's spent her whole life ignoring them and then yesterday she crosses the path behind stupid horse riding woman mounted on an enormous chestnut steed. Woman stops her horse, waving a schooling whip in my dogs face and shouting at me that she'll be kicked. dog wanders off minding her own business, horse looks disinterested, perhaps used to stupid woman waving a whip around it's back legs. My only reply was rubbish but with hindsight I wish I'd been more vocal. Riders do not own the world or the right to ride along and everyone to scuttle out their way. Just be careful that the dog is actually intend on causing harm as if not it gives the public yet another reason to think badly of horsepeople.
 
wench said:
If you were going down a path and expecting to meet horses then your dog should be on a lead...
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No it should not the dog just needs to under control the whole world does not revolve around horses .
I walk a lot in a forest with my dogs riders use the forest too ( I ride there often) why should I keep my dog on a lead because a horse may be there that's just ridulous.
 
wench said:
If you were going down a path and expecting to meet horses then your dog should be on a lead...
Click to expand...

I don't carry a lead, she never goes on one unless we are on a busy road. Why should she go on a lead in case we meet a horse ?
 
Have just checked the legal position, a dog on a public highway, such as a bridleway must be under "close control", it does not have to be on a lead.
 
I am a dog owner (2 nutty spaniels) and a horse rider. When walking my dogs along a bridleway or byway they are always off the lead as one whistle, they will come back to me and sit. I always ask riders coming towards me if their horses are ok with dogs. I know my dogs are ok with horses and will just ignore them (they are far more interested in snuffling in hedgerows). If the riders are worried about the dogs I will call them to me and sit them til they have gone. I don't think i should keep my dogs on a lead 'just in case' i meet a horse.
That said, my horse was attacked by a jack russell and gave it an almighty kick. I felt a bit guilty although the dog seemed fine. Then when i looked at the dog it had chestnut hairs in its mouth so it must have bitten my horse first. Then i didn't feel so guilty!
 
I try to face off the dog and sometimes ride at it, if I feel I am losing the battle I let him get his back end round and let him kick it, normally sorts it, each situation and dog is different, so you have to deal with each situation as neccessary.
 
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