dog on extending lead from horse

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flash1

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Does anyone know if it is legal to have a dog on a extending lead being led from a horse on the roads?
I see a woman on a large horse with a collie dog on a extending lead. the dog crosses in front of the horse and runs across the road, this really makes me angry as it is very dangerous for horse, dog, other road users and the rider.
I know its a really stupid thing to do but is it legal?
I am very tempted to report it to the police but not sure if they would be interested.
 
I know, it makes my blood boil every time I see her. I just want to know if what shes doing is legal before i ring the police about it. I would hate to think what could happen to the horse or the dog if the lead gets tangled round the horses legs etc. She rides on fairly busy roads too, so anything could happen
 
The dangerous dogs act says that it is a criminal offence for a dog to be out of control in a public place and a rider should be in control of their horse on a road. I would suggest that she isn't doing either of these things but I don't think there's been a precedent!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Does anyone know if it is legal to have a dog on a extending lead being led from a horse on the roads?
I see a woman on a large horse with a collie dog on a extending lead. the dog crosses in front of the horse and runs across the road, this really makes me angry as it is very dangerous for horse, dog, other road users and the rider.
I know its a really stupid thing to do but is it legal?
I am very tempted to report it to the police but not sure if they would be interested.

[/ QUOTE ]

Over here, on places where there is rules/laws about dogs being on lead or under control, the under control part is only about dogs being off lead. And on lead is on lead, whether that is on a normal leash or on a retractable lead.

But on other hand, in Sweden you're either way responsible for everything our dogs do or cause, to the extent that if someone comes up and out of the blue hits my dog and it bites back, I can be sued and in a court I would be considered responsible for the bite.


Anyway, I would say you don't have any reason to call the police from the point that the dog is not under control, however if it is on a public road, maybe there's some law about putting other people at risk, that you could refer to. If the police have the resources to do something about it in other hand, is a different question...


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Its not so much that the dog is not under control that worries me, more that the lead could get tangled around the horses legs and bring the horse down, on the road this could be horrible, also the dog is able to run across the road as the lead is long, as I suppose it has to be to enable the dog to keep away from the horses legs, it could easily run in to the passing traffic. Also how can she be in control of the horse with only one hand on the reins as the other hand is holding the dogs lead.
What happens when the horse spooks at something!
 
I do understand what you're trying to describe I really do, I've seen riders passing my home with dogs and the one with dog on a retractable leash was the one that really made me shake my head in disbelief, but if you're law is anything like ours it will probably be like the following.

According to the law, a leash is a string that in one end is held by the person exercising the dog and in the other end attached to the dog. Whether the string is retractable or not is irrelevant, it is a leash and unless something actually happens, then according to the law, leash = control. It doesn't matter, that you in real life can see that it isn't under control on the retractable leash, if it's not lose and no accident has happened, it's unlikely the police will do anything.

If you tell the police that the dog is on a leash but not under control and that therefore is a risk that the leash could get tangled around the horse's legs and it might lead to the horse and/or rider getting hurt, the police will tell you that if it doesn't worry the rider that is on the horse, there is nothing they can do.

Whether the rider really can be in control of both horse and dog under those conditions, is also most likely something that the police can't/won't do something about unless, if she rides on a public road, maybe if you can make them realise the risk this turnout poses to others, that this turnout is a traffic-hazard towards others.

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Thanks for reply.
It just makes me angry that this women can be so stupid. she is putting the horse the dog and other road users at risk not to mention herself, however I understand what you mean about the police. It will probably take an accident before they take notice!
 
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