Dog in my field!!

Shantara

Shantara

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A dog has got into my field and upset the horses!!

My fencing to protect the gate area from getting muddy was all ripped down and my gate is now like a swamp. There are skid marks all over the place. Ned was really sweaty, despite not wearing a rug and being partially clipped!

They were huge prints too, I honestly don't know how it got in there. I know it's not the neighbours dogs, as there were no prints or signs of any commotion near their fence, it's all round the gate AND they're nice people, they wouldn't have let it happen and have no apology!

I'm honestly counting my lucky stars that neither pony has bite marks or is lame! Cookie has some marks that look like attempted bites, but that could have easily been Ned.

Thanks a bunch to whoever did that!!


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It's not uncommon to meet loose dogs out hacking, so for your own safety, I think you need to desensitise your horses to dogs. They shouldn't go tearing around like that just because there's a dog in the field.
 
Maybe a dog pulled someone over and got free. Maybe there was some sort of accident?

A loose dog does not necessarily mean someone has been irresponsible.

I imagine people may have said the same about when Ned escaped though.
 
pennyturner said:
It's not uncommon to meet loose dogs out hacking, so for your own safety, I think you need to desensitise your horses to dogs. They shouldn't go tearing around like that just because there's a dog in the field.
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Horses often react differently to dogs when loose though - mine all hack / school / jump with my daft mutt around their feet, but will chase him / other loose dogs in my field.


Well said Alec.
 
Alec Swan said:
Correction for you. Someone is always responsible for a loose dog. We are all responsible for our dogs.

Alec.
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No, we are not. Not if a terrible accident has occurred for instance. I am quite sure if someone got attacked badly, and had to let go of their dog, we would not then slate them for doing so.
 
pennyturner said:
It's not uncommon to meet loose dogs out hacking, so for your own safety, I think you need to desensitise your horses to dogs. They shouldn't go tearing around like that just because there's a dog in the field.
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There is a difference in meeting a loose dog hacking and a dog enter a horses field and terrorising them IMHO. Remember horses are flight animals and if they feel they are coming under attack they will take flight
 
Firstly - Ned is amazing with dogs. I had one barking and trying to get at him and he barely looked, but having one (possibly?) chasing him around the field is a different matter. Ned frequently meets dogs that I introduce him to or out hacking/through the fence and there has been no trouble.

Moonin - Maybe, but it's still not a good thing! I think I have every right to be miffed.

I'm sure they did! But I wrote in the local news letter how sorry I was and thanking everyone who helped.
 
I'd be upset if a dog had been chasing my horse in his field. He is perfectly desensitised to dogs when riding but may not be so keen on a strange loose dog chasing him about in his field or trying to attack. Cookie is only little and would be quite vulnerable if it is a large dog.

Hope it is just a one off.
 
The fact is, nobody knows the circumstances of why and how that dog ended up in the field. So to be angry and miffed about it is pointless.

It may have been an accident. Horses are fine, so all is good. :-)
 
If the skid marks are near the gate do you think that the horses perhaps tried to chase the dog out of the field?

I had a problem with someone letting their dog in my field, they would walk the other side of the hedge on the farmers field with the dog off the lead and it would come in through a small gap at the bottom of the hedge (I blocked the gap in the hedge it was getting through with a couple of pallets once I realised). The dog ran in and circled the horses not nastily but was very excited, luckily my big mare chased it back out, I was worried that she could have killed the dog....

Can you see a gap a dog could have got through and perhaps patch it up with pallets to prevent it getting in again?
 
pennyturner said:
It's not uncommon to meet loose dogs out hacking, so for your own safety, I think you need to desensitise your horses to dogs. They shouldn't go tearing around like that just because there's a dog in the field.
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Had this happened to your horses, would your response have been the same?? I highly doubt it.

Chan, rig all your fencing back up and print some signs warming that should loose animals be caught in your field. They will be caught and taken in by the dog warden.

Fingers crossed all horses are ok and it doesn't happen again!
 
I have dogs and I am very fond of them. However, if any of them ever worried stock of any kind, they would be PTS that day, I have zero tolerance for this sort of behaviour! If mine are separated from me on a walk, they do one of two things: stay where they are until found, or retrace their route home if told to. (They are trained to do this and it is not all that difficult. It is very useful for emergencies too, if I have a fall I can send the dog home for help.)

Either train your dogs to be reliable and safe, or keep them on lead - you can attach leads around your waist in case of emergency! This is what I did until mine were well enough trained. Little blind dog is still walked in this way, for his own safety. He can follow a route back, but I would never be sure that he would cope alone. So I do not risk it.

Is it at all possible that some unpleasant type deliberately let their dog or dogs into the field to chase the horses? As it is the sort of stupid thing that you do hear about. Or has a dog been dumped?

Hope Ned and Cookie are both alright. Contact your local dog warden and report what has happened. This time it was horses, next time it could be sheep/cattle, or even a human that is chased. And if it is a stray/abandoned, then it is at risk of being run over. Or shot, if it keeps up this behaviour.

<throws tin hat in dustbin, glares>
 
Moomin1 said:
No, we are not. Not if a terrible accident has occurred for instance. I am quite sure if someone got attacked badly, and had to let go of their dog, we would not then slate them for doing so.
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Like the Terrier that was run over on the M6 after an accident with a Horsebox and having read Alecs last post on People shooting Badgers and Alec is someone I have always read his informed responses with Interest and respect in the past, and I know he has been away for some time, I think we could do with the old Alec Back who seemed much better informed.
 
Thats shocking i am so sorry Chan.

My terrier runs loose in my fields every day and all of the animals are used to him but there is a local terrier who gets in to the field and chases the animals - they understandably get upset and defensive especially when we have lambs despite them all being well used to dogs in general - cant blame them really, you cant control every eventuality
 
So sorry for your difficulty OP........ my horse was on loan at a place where some sheepdogs got into the field one night and worried the Shetlands up one end of the field: they didn't go near my boy (apparently), but I knew something had happened because he basically "told" me something was up when I'd gone to see him the following day. As prey animals horses can get dreadfully stressed up about things like this.

I'd be inclined to get hold of your local dog warden; it wouldn't hurt to run this past them and ask them for their help, explaining that you are worried about not only your horse but other people who may be in the area as this is obviously a big dog which is very obviously not under proper control.

PS: dunno where you are OP but if you're anywhere near the "Sharp End" I've got a mare who basically loves-to-bits our own dogs and quite happily tolerates them gambolling around out in the field; but god help any other dog that dares to show its face. She'd do a very good job of chasing out any stray dogs and/or giving them a good booting:) (whoops have probably just upset the fluffy bunnies here!).
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
So sorry for your difficulty OP........ my horse was on loan at a place where some sheepdogs got into the field one night and worried the Shetlands up one end of the field: they didn't go near my boy (apparently), but I knew something had happened because he basically "told" me something was up when I'd gone to see him the following day. As prey animals horses can get dreadfully stressed up about things like this.

I'd be inclined to get hold of your local dog warden; it wouldn't hurt to run this past them and ask them for their help, explaining that you are worried about not only your horse but other people who may be in the area as this is obviously a big dog which is very obviously not under proper control.

PS: dunno where you are OP but if you're anywhere near the "Sharp End" I've got a mare who basically loves-to-bits our own dogs and quite happily tolerates them gambolling around out in the field; but god help any other dog that dares to show its face. She'd do a very good job of chasing out any stray dogs and/or giving them a good booting:) (whoops have probably just upset the fluffy bunnies here!).
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What exactly can a dog warden do when there is no description whatsoever, or sightings of this dog?
 
i wouldn't let a dog in my field after my friends horse chased down my dogs like he was trying to kill them! he was an evil horse, the poor dogs were at heel too, luckily sat behind some electric fencing whilst we got him out of the way!

id put a sign up saying the horses can serious harm/or worse, a dog, so keep out for their own safety!
 
Glad the horses are ok, I hope they weren't too worried by it. It's lucky for the dog it didn't get hurt, being in a strange horse's field could have been dangerous.
 
Jazmyn101 said:
did you see the dog!? my sisters boyfriends dog has escaped today :(
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I didn't I'm afraid, I hope the woof is found soon!!

While I am angry and annoyed that a dog got into my field and worried my horses, I won't do anything about it (apart from check the hedges) unless it happens again.
I'm just glad everyone, including the dog, were ok.

I really hate not knowing what happened, that's what's making it worse I think - did they do it on purpose? Was it an accident? Did the dog try and attack? Was it just over excited? Will it happen again? I have far too many questions!
 
Is there a footpath across the field? We used to have massive issues with picnickers (!!) letting their dogs chase the horses 'Ooh, aren't they getting on well?!' I'm amazed there were no dead dogs/people playing guitar with picnic table!! Mad!
 
cinnamontoast said:
Is there a footpath across the field? We used to have massive issues with picnickers (!!) letting their dogs chase the horses 'Ooh, aren't they getting on well?!' I'm amazed there were no dead dogs/people playing guitar with picnic table!! Mad!
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Nope, it's padlocked (twice!!), 7ft gate and 10ft+ hedges all the way around!

The village farmer gets that a lot, we see so many kids/dogs/grown-ups!! worrying his cattle and sheep

ETA: the only place I can think it got through were the horizontal gaps in the gate (just wide enough for me)
 
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This has been one incident. Nobody was hurt. I don't think it's worth winding yourself up into 'what if's' over.

If it occurs again, and again, then it's time to get worried.

I found a firework shell slap bang in the middle of my horse's paddock the other year. Unpleasant, yes. No point worrying myself stupid over who, what, why and when's.
 
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