How can I teach my horse to kick dogs?

Well, I wouldn't really recommend it, OP, but it can work. We had a fantastic Clydie mare, who was very maternal in all her dealings with everything. We also had 2 of the most unruly JRT pups that it can ever have been any-one's misfortune to meet.
One day they got into the field with the mare and her companions. Before they could go up to one of the other horses and get seriously injured she had 'stroked' each of them with her hind hoof. Scared them both witless, although there was absolutely no mark to be seen. They were both always very careful to give horses a wide berth after that.
My advice - report the owner to the dog warden before there is a serious accident.
 
Upskyc said:
whats the problem , your horse doesn't care?
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That is all very well but not all dogs just chase and yap, some like to try and eat you too. So it is a problem.


I'd report the dog to the warden or the police as it's obviously not under control and is a danger to the public.

Someone could fall off there horse/bike etc...and get hurt.
It might knock down a child or anything.
When reporting it say that you have made it clear to the owner the risks and she is obviously aware that it gets out and hasn't made any provisions to stop this happening like chicken wire on the gate.
 
OWLIE185 said:
Contact your local district council dog warden and also go to your local police station and report it (ask for an incident number).
If the matter is then nor resolved within 4 weeks contact your local district council and ask them to take action. They can use the Enviromental Act (as ammended) to compel the owner to ensure that the dog is kept within the confines of their property and if necessary even away from the boundary of their land with the bridleway/road.
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This is exactly what I was about to suggest - police and council double barrel!

I love the idea of riding out with a bottle of water, and the trick of turning to face the dogs has worked for me for over 30 years! It even works on geese....

My big girl (16.2hh Normandy Cob x) used to be terrified of dogs but got over it with the help of our dogs, bless her! However, she did kick out at a tractor the other day but only when she was too far away from it to kick her back!
 
If you are going to report it (which you should) use the dog warden and not the police. If you report it to the police then the dog warden cannot get involved and they are the ones most likely to get a good outcome for you. Definitely a visit from the dog warden overdue to the owners!
 
you see this is why a take my small driving whip out with me. works for both stupid human and stupid dog ;-) *whiplash noise* THEY CAN TAKE OUR BRIDLE PATHS, BUT THEY WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDOOOOOM!
 
That is all very well but not all dogs just chase and yap, some like to try and eat you too. So it is a problem.
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Few and far between - and if we can't deal with the odd yappy mutt, then we shouldn't be riding our horses in public spaces.
 
binkymerlin said:
you see this is why a take my small driving whip out with me. works for both stupid human and stupid dog ;-) *whiplash noise* THEY CAN TAKE OUR BRIDLE PATHS, BUT THEY WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDOOOOOM!
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PMSL!!!! :D :D :D :D
 
amymay said:
Few and far between - and if we can't deal with the odd yappy mutt, then we shouldn't be riding our horses in public spaces.
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Because everything is so black and white!! *rolls eyes* There is always one!! *rolls eyes again* lol!

Why should someone not ride on a bridlepath because another person cannot control their dog? Can't quite see the logic in that!

I would think it is more the fact that it is annoying, and not the fact the OP cant 'deal with the odd yappy mutt'

Jeeeez!!!!!
 
Bills said:
Because everything is so black and white!! *rolls eyes* There is always one!! *rolls eyes again* lol!

Why should someone not ride on a bridlepath because another person cannot control their dog? Can't quite see the logic in that!

I would think it is more the fact that it is annoying, and not the fact the OP cant 'deal with the odd yappy mutt'

Jeeeez!!!!!
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No, of course you're right - not everything is black and white, and it's true there have been some nasty dog incidents reported in the past.

However, for the most part dogs that approach us are not intent on causing damage, are mostly curious and just rather vocal.

Yes, they should be on leads. Yes, they shouldn't be out of their garden. But if a rider can't control their horse because of one loose dog, doing nothing more than having a little yap and run around - then, no they shouldn't be riding in public spaces.

It's all very well and good us going on about the responsibilities of others - but we have responsibilities too and that is to ensure we can ride quite well before venturing out and not getting hysterical everytime something happens out of our comfort zone.
 
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Instead of teaching it to kick why not chase the dog instead??? I mean it wil scarper quick with a horse bearing down on it surely?? Most do, I have done it myself :)

No harm done to either horse or dog but dog now has a healthy respect
 
amymay said:
No, of course you're right - not everything is black and white, and it's true there have been some nasty dog incidents reported in the past.

However, for the most part dogs that approach us are not intent on causing damage, are mostly curious and rather vocal.

Yes, they should be on leads. Yes, they shouldn't be out of their garden. But if a rider can't control their horse because of one loose dog, doing nothing more than having a little yap and run around - then, no they shouldn't be riding in public spaces.

It's all very well and good us going on about the responsibilities of others - but we have responsibilities too and that is to ensure we can ride quite well before venturing out and not getting hysterical everytime something happens out of our comfort zone.
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The dog in question is loose on the road as well, and as it's unlikely to get away with being 'slightly' run over by a car, this is why I think a 'gentle' kick might make the owners take notice *TONGUE IN CHEEK, I DO NOT ADVOCATE KICKING DOGS!!*

I totally agree we should be trying to desensitise horses to as much as possible but I don't think it's fair to go down the road of don't hack out if you can't cope with anything you might come across... not sure how many of us would still hack if we only went out when our horses were guaranteed to cope perfectly with speeding cars/yapping dogs/tractors towing machinery/low flying jets/coaches on country lanes etc etc (all of which I've encountered on my nice quiet road) I think most people could think of SOMETHING their horse wouldn't like? (mine is flags. much too unpredictable.)
 
binkymerlin said:
you see this is why a take my small driving whip out with me. works for both stupid human and stupid dog ;-) *whiplash noise* THEY CAN TAKE OUR BRIDLE PATHS, BUT THEY WILL NEVER TAKE OUR FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEDDDDDDDDOOOOOM!
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THIS is what I will scream as I charge down the terrier. And I will have one hand on my reins, and my other hand on my heart!
 
amymay said:
No, of course you're right - not everything is black and white, and it's true there have been some nasty dog incidents reported in the past.

However, for the most part dogs that approach us are not intent on causing damage, are mostly curious and rather vocal.

Yes, they should be on leads. Yes, they shouldn't be out of their garden. But if a rider can't control their horse because of one loose dog, doing nothing more than having a little yap and run around - then, no they shouldn't be riding in public spaces.

It's all very well and good us going on about the responsibilities of others - but we have responsibilities too and that is to ensure we can ride quite well before venturing out and not getting hysterical everytime something happens out of our comfort zone.
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Well im not sure about OP's situation but with ours, the horses were never worried at first, until the dog got braver and started snapping at their heels, (has caught a couple, just nips, nothing serious) but naturally now they are worried and as soon as you approach the house they get tense and nervous. Dog comes out at them and they just want to go. Obviosuly dont let them bolt, but its annoying that your having a lovely ride up till that point, then because of some ill mannered dog, and an owner that really doesn't care you spend the next ten mins sat on a horse that is tense and hot wired lol! (Not sure who gets hysterical about it tho?? Quite an odd thing to say! lol!)
 
kickonchaps said:
The dog in question is loose on the road as well, and as it's unlikely to get away with being 'slightly' run over by a car, this is why I think a 'gentle' kick might make the owners take notice *TONGUE IN CHEEK, I DO NOT ADVOCATE KICKING DOGS!!*

I totally agree we should be trying to desensitise horses to as much as possible but I don't think it's fair to go down the road of don't hack out if you can't cope with anything you might come across... not sure how many of us would still hack if we only went out when our horses were guaranteed to cope perfectly with speeding cars/yapping dogs/tractors towing machinery/low flying jets/coaches on country lanes etc etc (all of which I've encountered on my nice quiet road) I think most people could think of SOMETHING their horse wouldn't like? (mine is flags. much too unpredictable.)
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If the dog ends up squashed on the road that is not your problem.

And I haven't said don't hack out if your horses don't behave perfectly. What I have said is that if a rider has a meltdown everytime something goes slight aray - then don't hack out, because these do happen (quite often).
 
amymay said:
If the dog ends up squashed on the road that is not your problem.

And I haven't said don't hack out if your horses don't behave perfectly. What I have said is that if a rider has a meltdown everytime something goes slight aray - then don't hack out, because these do happen (quite often).
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Sorry, I misunderstood you - that's fair, freaking out will make a difficult situation 1000 times worse!

Luckily we tend only to encounter flags at competitions, when they add 'cadence' to my dressage test :(
 
Im lucky my horse picks them up with his teeth shakes them alot then drops them but would kill them if allowed to get away with it
 
traceyann said:
Im lucky my horse picks them up with his teeth shakes them alot then drops them but would kill them if allowed to get away with it
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Your horse is also very welcome to come and stay at our yard. Do you think he'd pick this horrid dog up by the scruff and chuck it over the owner's fence back into their garden, if I asked him nicely? ;)
 
So I've just been looking at dog wardens for our area and the sensible thing to do would obviously be to report it...

But a mischievous part of me would very much like to catch it, take it home, report it as a stray and take it to the kennels, so the owners can pay the £25 administration fee + all charges incurred to collect it :p I wonder how many times I would have to do that before they fix the bl****y fence?! I've just been told my sister has stood there talking to the owner while the dog runs back and forth through the hole in the fence... :eek:
 
Have a word with the dog wardens at your local council, and as others have said try carrying a water pistol and see it's reaction. Do not go doing anything that could land you in hot water. I would never teach a horse to kick, just sounds like the start of more trouble...
 
cyberhorse said:
Have a word with the dog wardens at your local council, and as others have said try carrying a water pistol and see it's reaction. Do not go doing anything that could land you in hot water. I would never teach a horse to kick, just sounds like the start of more trouble...
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Would refer you back to the last line of my original post...;)
 
OP, I love dogs - I own five. But a nuisance dog is a nuisance dog. He can't help it if he has numpty owners. No dog should be running loose on a Public Highway without the supervision of an adult. The owners are idiots and irresponsible. As a user of a Public Highway you should not have to put with the behaviour of this dog due to the owners negliance. Report ASAP to your local dog warden, if they have any sense they will pay a visit to the owners and fingers crossed, read them the riot act. If not, get someone to go with you next and catch the dog and report a found dog to your dog warden who should collect said dog and charge the owners approximately 60-90 pounds for collection.
 
OP you are barking up the wrong tree. Ride out with a whacking great fish-hook, ensnare the thing as you go past and whisk it off. Then send hostage videos to the owners.
 
HotToTrot said:
OP you are barking up the wrong tree. Ride out with a whacking great fish-hook, ensnare the thing as you go past and whisk it off. Then send hostage videos to the owners.
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Good call, would a yellow mac and welly boots also be necessary if I were to follow this plan of action?
 
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