What to do? Loose dogs out hacking

I have a collie and it sounds like classic collie herding behaviour - if your horse will the best thing is to stand still, moving, especially at speed, will just encourage the herding instinct.

You could try growling at the dog or commanding 'down' or 'leave' but it does depend on what training it's had whether that would work
 
We had the bizzare experience of a very pleasant woman with a nice fussy spaniel, on one of those awful extending leads (personaly hate the things) which she allowed to extend while the spaniel snuffled around both of our mares feet (co-incidentaly on a private lane which only leads to our and our neighbours houses) :eek: The woman could not see that what she was doing was dangerous for the dog, never mind that the thin nylon cord was in danger of getting wrapped round the horses legs :eek:
 
We've got a bit of a dog problem round us ATM. One of our bridle ways cuts straight through a farm yard. The farmer has to big black GSDs who bark and come running down the bridle way and chase u. The farmers wife has hunters who are totally not phased by their dogs and as we're in a hunting village (the kennels are less than a mile away) most horses round here don't give a toss so farmer uses that to justify leaving them loose :( my mare hates big dogs so this means that we cannot use the bridle way. :( further down in the village one of the houses gardens sides on to the road and along the fence line they have built a compound for their dogs unfortunately the dogs still bark and run up and down the fence snapping at the horses. The fence is only made out of that wire trellis type fencing and bows with the weight of the big dog. Not sure there's much we can do as technically they are contained :( just a bl**dy pain!
 
I would politely explain to the girl that horses are prey animals so it is the horse's instinct to be afraid of a dogre that harasses it. I would explain that there is a risk the horse will defend itself which will not end well for the dog. She probably just doesn't understand that her dog is causing you problems or that it is putting her dog at risk of being kicked
 
If your horse is bothered by dogs on the other side of a fence happy hacking, then imo that's an issue that can easily be overcome, & whilst I agree farmers dogs shouldn't be chasing horses at all, I don't see any reason why a horse should be permanently bad with dogs.
 
I really do hate though when horse riders think they own every bit of land- I am a dog owner and horse rider. once I was walking my dogs on the local common- there is a summer horse ride and a winter horse ride. it was winter and we were walking up the summer ride when a rider & horse appears (who shouldn't be on there anyway!!). we called our dogs back because they never really see horses so wanted to be on the safe side. well the rider just kept coming towards us, both my dogs were sat staring at the horse while we tried to call them back (they usually come back straight away) but she just kept coming towards my dogs not giving us a bloody chance! we then grabbed the dogs and put them on the lead, made them sit and watch the horse go past, the rider didnt even say anything just walked along like we were in the wrong and that everyone should just move out her way, when she wasnt even suppose to be there in the first place.
 
What would u suggest then The Angels Littlelegs? If it is so easily overcome? And no horse probably never will overcome her fear of dogs as she has been attacked in the past by dogs
 
Its a problem everywhere.We have a few anklebiters on the loose around our way. The joy of being a driver is my whip is long enough to get the little blighters long before they get to me ;)
 
I didn't mention easily happy hacking, but it can be overcome. And imo if they have been attacked its even more important to put the work in. Mine was attacked & torn up by a pit bull, to the point the vet thought pts was likely. But, starting slowly with small well behaved dogs at a distance, in an environment she felt safe in, & building up slowly to large well behaved dogs in public, we got to the point even large badly behaved dogs weren't an issue. And like I said earlier, encouraging the horse to face/ chase the dog away also helps the horse with its fear.
 
hollieeb said:
I really do hate though when horse riders think they own every bit of land- I am a dog owner and horse rider. once I was walking my dogs on the local common- there is a summer horse ride and a winter horse ride. it was winter and we were walking up the summer ride when a rider & horse appears (who shouldn't be on there anyway!!). we called our dogs back because they never really see horses so wanted to be on the safe side. well the rider just kept coming towards us, both my dogs were sat staring at the horse while we tried to call them back (they usually come back straight away) but she just kept coming towards my dogs not giving us a bloody chance! we then grabbed the dogs and put them on the lead, made them sit and watch the horse go past, the rider didnt even say anything just walked along like we were in the wrong and that everyone should just move out her way, when she wasnt even suppose to be there in the first place.
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But horse the thread is on about is on about a bridleway she's walking down, not 'anyones' common land and a dog which has done this repeatedly now. If you walk your dog on a bridleway, fair enough, one offs happen for the first time if you think your dog is going to be ok loose with horses...but after that first incident, I would not risk having that dog loose on a bridleway, if you don't know if a horse is going to appear suddenly round one corner. Not just for the horse, but for the dogs sake. Friend lost her dog due to a kick in the head. Again, if the dog isn't on a lead, a well timed tap on the nose is much nicer in the long term than a kick.

Incidently I also agree with your post, hence my questioning where she was riding to start with. :)
 
happyhacking:) said:
We've got a bit of a dog problem round us ATM. One of our bridle ways cuts straight through a farm yard. The farmer has to big black GSDs who bark and come running down the bridle way and chase u. The farmers wife has hunters who are totally not phased by their dogs and as we're in a hunting village (the kennels are less than a mile away) most horses round here don't give a toss so farmer uses that to justify leaving them loose :( my mare hates big dogs so this means that we cannot use the bridle way. :( further down in the village one of the houses gardens sides on to the road and along the fence line they have built a compound for their dogs unfortunately the dogs still bark and run up and down the fence snapping at the horses. The fence is only made out of that wire trellis type fencing and bows with the weight of the big dog. Not sure there's much we can do as technically they are contained :( just a bl**dy pain!
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Now you see I don't know why this is a problem. Farmer has every right to have dogs loose on his yard. Just ride the route and get your horses used to the dogs. Don't make a big deal of it and it won't be a big deal.

And as for the dogs in the garden, c'mon, really - that's a problem????:eek:
 
Sorry but I don't see what the difference is tbh dogs out of control on your land or put walking on public rights of ways keys no difference the dogs are still put of control!!!!!!!!'
 
happyhacking:) said:
Sorry but I don't see what the difference is tbh dogs out of control on your land or put walking on public rights of ways keys no difference the dogs are still put of control!!!!!!!!'
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What evidence do you have that the dogs are out of control?

Really, and I'm sorry to bang on about this, but generally speaking if you or your horse can't cope with a couple of dogs, don't ride out where you have any chance of meeting them. Stick to a school.
 
happyhacking:) said:
Sorry but I don't see what the difference is tbh dogs out of control on your land or put walking on public rights of ways keys no difference the dogs are still put of control!!!!!!!!'
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If they are on a public right of way, then yes they should be under control, on your own land? If I want my dogs to run amok on my own land, then my choice, also my choice to tell others not to let their dogs on my land if there is no path.
 
A dog owner has every right to have their dog loose fence in their garden we have several barking hedges around us including one where GSDs run back and forwards at head hieght barking and snarling through a mess fence.it is very spooky.
Horses should be trained to cope with loose dogs who are after all on their owners property
I train my horses to behave you must train yours it's that simple you can't go through life Going my horse does not like this that and the other other horses accept it , yours must be trained to do so .
 
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amymay said:
Now you see I don't know why this is a problem. Farmer has every right to have dogs loose on his yard. Just ride the route and get your horses used to the dogs. Don't make a big deal of it and it won't be a big deal.

And as for the dogs in the garden, c'mon, really - that's a problem????:eek:
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this exactly. why should people keep their dog on a lead and locked up in their house just because you & your horse might pass
 
If u have a public right of way crossing you land u have a duty of care to all who use it. If u have dogs u therefore have a duty to ensure that those dogs are under control on that right of way. How is it ok for a farmer to have two snapping dogs at horses loose on a public right of way yet if it was a dog walker it would be wrong???? Doesn't add up there!!!!! As for the SOS at the side of the road there hardly secure behind a sagging mesh fence and it is literally on the road!!! Sorry but it's not fair to expect ANY horse to be subjected to dogs attempting to bite at it IMHO.
 
happyhacking:) said:
If u have a public right of way crossing you land u have a duty of care to all who use it. If u have dogs u therefore have a duty to ensure that those dogs are under control on that right of way. How is it ok for a farmer to have two snapping dogs at horses loose on a public right of way yet if it was a dog walker it would be wrong???? Doesn't add up there!!!!! As for the SOS at the side of the road there hardly secure behind a sagging mesh fence and it is literally on the road!!! Sorry but it's not fair to expect ANY horse to be subjected to dogs attempting to bite at it IMHO.
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So why can the other people in the village that hack cope then.
 
happyhacking:) said:
If u have a public right of way crossing you land u have a duty of care to all who use it. If u have dogs u therefore have a duty to ensure that those dogs are under control on that right of way. How is it ok for a farmer to have two snapping dogs at horses loose on a public right of way yet if it was a dog walker it would be wrong???? Doesn't add up there!!!!! As for the SOS at the side of the road there hardly secure behind a sagging mesh fence and it is literally on the road!!! Sorry but it's not fair to expect ANY horse to be subjected to dogs attempting to bite at it IMHO.
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So they are snapping dogs now are they??

As for the other issue - mmm, never had an issue tbh, and if a horse I was on did have a problem, they soon got over it.
 
happyhacking:) said:
There is only us the hunt horses and the woman who owns the dogs with horses in the village
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So we've gone from chasing, to snapping, other horses, no other horses.....

happyhacking:) said:
The farmers wife has hunters who are totally not phased by their dogs and as we're in a hunting village (the kennels are less than a mile away) most horses round here don't give a toss
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happyhacking:) said:
Amymay are you seriously suggesting that if a dog is running round snapping at your horse attempting to bite it they won't react?!!!
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That is not the original description you gave us.

And yes, my horse would react. Either by stepping out of the way or if the dog continued - kicking it. What it wouldn't do is have a mental breakdown.......

happyhacking:) said:
Most horses won't react cos most horses round me are the hunt horses!
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That doesn't make a whole lot of sense, in reality. But do have a think about the type of person who normally hunts. They're usually quite practical, accept obstacles as they come across them, and most of all expect their horses to behave.
 
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happyhacking:) said:
Most horses won't react cos most horses round me are the hunt horses!
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Yes bacuse that's because they are trained like yours can be ,only two of my horses hunt all will accept being run at by dogs no they would not like to be snapped but they would not have a mental breakdown and panic because they are trained.they accept me as their leader and accept what I say goes.
And of course I would have whacked the dog with my whip.
 
happyhacking:) said:
Where did I say my horse would have a mental breakdown? I'm just not prepared to risk injury to my horses!!
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Well, as you said this:

happyhacking:) said:
my mare hates big dogs so this means that we cannot use the bridle way.
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I made an assumption that your horse would have some sort of breakdown, making that route impossible for you.
 
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