Horse kicks dog. Who is at fault?

[Sandstone1]

If on a livery yard a horse is tied up and a loose dog gets too close and is kicked who is to blame? I know the answer but would like others thoughts as horse owner is worried. ( Not my horse or dog) I have been asked my opinion and have said dog owner is to blame and also yard owner should not allow loose dogs. Is this correct?

 

[bonny]

If on a livery yard a horse is tied up and a loose dog gets too close and is kicked who is to blame? I know the answer but would like others thoughts as horse owner is worried. ( Not my horse or dog) I have been asked my opinion and have said dog owner is to blame and also yard owner should not allow loose dogs. Is this correct?

Of course it is, although the owner is really to blame if the dog was just passing.

 

[Landcruiser]

I would agree.

 

[ycbm]

The owner of the dog, no question.
.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

If on a livery yard a horse is tied up and a loose dog gets too close and is kicked who is to blame? I know the answer but would like others thoughts as horse owner is worried. ( Not my horse or dog) I have been asked my opinion and have said dog owner is to blame and also yard owner should not allow loose dogs. Is this correct?

I wont allow dogs on the yard. If dog gets kicked its dog owner, horse would be tied up dog should be
under control.

Yard rules should be dogs only allowed off lead in field without horses, otherwise recipe for disaster, dog poo everywhere, dogs cocking legs on hay. poo on your hay. Been somewhere like this never again.

 

[Gloi]

They should have the sense to have their dog under control around horses. Hopefully it wasn't too badly hurt and will have learnt to keep away from them in future.

 

[AmyMay]

I would also agree. And of course YO should not allow loose (or any) dogs on the yard.

 

[SheriffTruman]

Here in The Netherlands you are legally accountable for all damage your animal causes. So the horse owner may have to pay (part of) the damage, even if not at fault. Most people are insured for this. You could try to prove recklessness from the dog owners' part to split the costs. Is this different in the UK (out of curiosity)?

Morally, I'd say the owner of the dog. Horse was tied up in a place where horses are supposed to be, so had no choice. If it was my dog, I wouldn't dream of blaming the horse or owner.

 

[Sandstone1]

Thanks, that is what I thought. Horse owner is feeling bad about it.

 

[Wishfilly]

Dog owner unless they were literally just walking the dog past and the horse is known to kick- then as the horse owner I'd probably have offered to move the horse.

If the dog was loose and running around unattended, that's not really on, on a livery yard regardless. Most yards insist on dogs on leads/under close control, don't they?

 

[bonny]

Is the dog injured ?

 

[Sandstone1]

Is the dog injured ?

No but horse owner is feeling bad about it.

 

[Tiddlypom]

No one (horse or dog) should walk behind any horse within its kicking distance. Stuff happens.

Not the horse owner’s fault.

Loose dogs should not be allowed on livery yards.

 

[Gloi]

No but horse owner is feeling bad about it.

Ask them how they'd feel if the horse had been bitten or got scared and broken loose.

 

[Ratface]

I used to take The Grippet ( greyhound x whippet) to the yard where I stabled my previous Arabian. She was either tied up out of the way, in the back of the car or in the stable if I was riding. She never chased anything or anybody, got kicked or made a nuisance of herself. There were no complaints made about her and I cleared up after her permitted roar round empty fields. She was a favourite amongst other owners and riders.
I still miss her.

 

[meleeka]

I wonder if they’d feel quite so bad if they’d have been standing behind the horse at the time and got kicked instead of the dog? The dog shouldn’t have been there, it’s dangerous.

 

[skinnydipper]

I have been asked my opinion and have said dog owner is to blame

Dog's owner.

 

[SantaVera]

The dog owner is to blame.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

The dog owner, dog shouldn't have been there. Our horses and dogs have to use the same yard but are never allowed on the yard at the same time.

 

[criso]

Even if the horse hadn't kicked, it could easily have stepped on the dog accidentally. Dog shouldn't have been in a position where it was within range. Had one on our yard where the dogs would run between the horses' legs. My horse is very good and ignored them but I used to worry about those little paws next to Tigger's great fat hooves even a barefoot tb.

 

[Melody Grey]

Dog owner at fault.

The last yard I was on had three small dogs belonging to the yard manager that used to be off lead (indoor yard) all the time. It was hard to tie up horses or get out of the barn without them escaping. Owner used to get annoyed if they went in your stable whilst mucking out as they’d eat the muck. It got so stressful, it was one of the main reasons I moved- yard manager was unreasonable in her attitude towards it being her right for the dogs to be out, peeing /pooing in the hay and the in the school- she brought them loose into the school as I was riding a couple of times. I knew it would be seen as my fault if one of the dogs was harmed, so I moved- so stressful!! Never again!

 

[skinnydipper]

The dog owner, dog shouldn't have been there. Our horses and dogs have to use the same yard but are never allowed on the yard at the same time.

^This^

I don't know why anyone would want to risk their dog's life.

However well you think you know your dog or how well trained you think they are, they can always do the unexpected.

I expect it's the same with horses.

 

[lynz88]

Dogs owner. I'm sure I would feel awful if it were my horse that kicked a/the dog as I think it is a natural human reaction but it doesn't negate that the dog should not have been running around loose in the first place. Anything can happen with horses.

 

[Cortez]

In as much as anything of this nature can be anyone's fault, then the owner of the dog should be blaming themselves for letting this happen.

 

[Jenko109]

The dog isnt even injured. What a load of silly worry over nothing.

Of course the horse owner is not at fault. If you allow dogs around horses then it's a risk you're taking

 

[Sandstone1]

The dog isnt even injured. What a load of silly worry over nothing.

Of course the horse owner is not at fault. If you allow dogs around horses then it's a risk you're taking

Thank you. You have all confirmed what I thought. Its not silly worrying over nothing to the horse owner.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Also a horse is a prey animal - and seeing a strange dog round it's heels will trigger this response. Dog must have been way to close for the horse to kick it.

 

[NinjaPony]

It’s never a good feeling when your horse injures another animal but ultimately the dog shouldn’t have been loose near the horse in the first place, so the dog owner should be the only one feeling guilty.

My pony got kicked by another mare when he escaped into her field; owner felt terrible but ultimately the naughty sod shouldn’t have been there in the first place so it wasn’t anyone’s fault, least of all hers. Thankfully he got away with just some bruising.

 

[scats]

Dog owners fault, but seeing any animal hurt is horrid, so I understand that the horse owner feels bad.
Perhaps dog owner will keep their dog on the lead in future!

 

[Jambarissa]

3 loose dogs have been killed on my yard, all in the field off lead running into the herd. It's a public footpath and dog owners tried to claim including going to court- not one succeeded.

There was also a dog on lead injured, was being led by it's owner whilst horse owner leading her horse. The dog did nothing, the horse just struck out. Horse owner told insurance (nfu) the truth but they wouldn't pay. Should probably have taken it to court, I think in that situation it was the horse at fault - although maybe the dog should have been kept out of reach of horse.