Is there anything we can say or do?? :(

[Kellys Heroes]

So, near our yard we have some beautiful public pathways and bridleways along the canal so we get a lot of dog walkers, bike riders etc which most of the horses are fine with.
But there is one woman who's an absolute exception!
We know her car now and if her car is there, hacking out is out of the question - she has 6 dogs, sometimes 7 with her (not restrained in the car and often clambering over all the seats and her) ranging from Rotties to a Husky to an old X breed etc and she doesn't have control over one single one.
They often reach back to the car before she does, not one of them is on the lead and if they meet the horses they will often run between their legs snapping at them, jumping up at them trying to get their faces and causing general uproar and havoc. We worry in case she arrives whilst we're out and they meet us on our way back...is there anything we can say or do?? Our horses are very good with dogs but this behaviour obviously does upset them.
I know at one point they were contemplating making it a rule you cannot walk more than 2 dogs at a time? But not sure if they ever put it in force

 

[AmyMay]

Speak to your local dog warden, giving the number plate of the car as well.

They should visit and tell her that her dogs must be under control.

 

[Laura1234]

If it was me I would say something to them (actually probably shout at them!!), I would feel very uncomfortable having dogs running round my horses legs whilst riding, you don't know if your horse is going to spook, bolt, rear or kick out and injure them. If she gives abuse back report her to Police - it's an offence not to be in control of a dog in a public area - and tell her this - you can get her regestration number from the car and give it to Police, so quite easy to identify her.

 

[Maesfen]

Maybe not perfect but it would help your cause if you had dated video evidence of them annoying the horses and her lack of control over them to show to either the police (as she's a public nuisance) or possibly the dog warden as well, perhaps they can help and have a word with her.
If where you are using are public rights of way allowable for horses, then both she with her dogs and you with your horses (everyone else as well) have a duty of care to all other users, nobody should be allowed to spoil it for others and she is spoiling your enjoyment of it. I would get reporting but as I said, video evidence would help back up your case.

 

[happyhack]

Speak to your local dog warden, giving the number plate of the car as well.

They should visit and tell her that her dogs must be under control.

ditto this. We had a similar situation with a guy who had 4 out of control ridgebacks who used to try and chase the horses whilst he stood there watching...apparently amused. The dog warden came out and had a word but it continued so the police got involved and accompanied Bondi's owner to the common where he walked the dogs where they witnessed the behaviour. We havent seen them since but the police said that they had issued a warning stating that the dogs must be on a lead and under control in future.

 

[Kellys Heroes]

Thanks guys I'll certainly warn her next time she lets the mad pooches loose - her car is ripped to shreds!!! If she doesn't take me on with that, and it carries on I'll give the local dog warden a ring.
She was just leaving as we got down about 9am today so its like prime hacking time
I know our girls are fine with dogs just not when they are jumping round their legs and trying to snap at their faces
(by the way happyhack LOVE your sig - but gota say I prefer Bill!!! )

 

[harkback]

Is the land where the bridleways and pathways are situated owned by local gov; National Trust, Private? A start would be to complain to whoever owns the land - usually with bridleways it fall under local gov due to the highways act.

Personally I would go out there when you know she is there, unmounted is probably a better idea given the situation (!!!), and film her pack on the rampage, make sure you get her face too and the car reg. You should be able to do this pretty easily with out being obvious. And take the evidence to your local authority and / or dog warden.

Many authorities now are choosing to have their own take on the DDA and other laws concerning dogs in public. People like this are the reason why eventually there will be a total countrywide ban on off lead dogs period - anywhere except your own property. Whereas the authorities would view dogs being under control meaning "good recall", now they can and will enforce this to mean dogs must be on a lead. In fact some lawyers now argue that dogs off leads contravene this law anyway.

Under the Metropolitan Police Act 1839 (or the Town Police Clauses Act 1847, as appropriate depending on the location), it's an offence to allow a dog to put in fear any person or animal on the street. (In some cases, it could be argued that failing to keep a dog on a lead could contravene these laws).

The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 makes it an offence 'allow a dog to be dangerously out of control in a public place'. (Once again, failure to keep a dog on a lead could, under some circumstances, fall foul of this legislation)

The Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act 2005 empowers local authorities to designate areas of land (including footpaths) where dogs must be kept on a lead.

 

[Destiny95]

I find it works well to tell the dog owner that your horse kicks dogs. If she doesn't care about scaring the horses she might care about her dogs getting hurt...?

 

[mybaileysglide]

i was out on a hack once and about 7 dogs came running up to my horse jumping all over her and barking, she was terrified and ended up kicking one of them. i got in so much trouble for it even though it wasnt my fault, my horse is usually fine with dogs as i have two and often bring them up to her field, but this time she was obviously scared.
i would definatly call the dog warden, he will probebly tell her to keep them all on leads or only take out a few at a time.

 

[fjordhorsefan]

A guy up the road from us sometimes has his dogs outside on the road, and one of them will insist on running round the horses' legs. My chap doesn't 'do' small dogs - he tries to kill them - and after shouting to it to sod off I roared that if it gets stamped on and killed then hell mend it. Funnily enough, the dogs are all secure in the garden now when we ride out. I also have a long whip now, which I have used in self-defence. Luckily, round here, we don't have too many plonkers who let dogs run wild!

Hope you get this mad woman sorted out OP.