Wondering if there is anything we can say or do???

Kellys Heroes

Kellys Heroes

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 May 2010
Messages
3,396
Location
Manchester
Visit site
Also in NL...
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 :(
 
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.
 
No advice I'm afriad, but I do feel for you :(
I had a similar problem afew years ago with a woman and her brood of jack russels. They snapped at my horses legs and even tried to get to me (She was only 14hh so it wasnt very hard for them!) I saw her out once a week (ALWAYS different days, I tried so hard to avoid her) I often called to her asking her to shout the dogs back or put them on a lead... every week she would tell me that she didnt have a lead and that they didnt listen to her!

My problem ended in my pony kicking one of her dogs and it had to be PTS :( I was horrified when it happened and gave her my details. We had the police come to the house afew days later claiming I was not in control of a dangerous animal in public! The police were very understanding and I believe they ended up telling the woman to keep her dogs on a lead.

Horses should be good with dogs if they are to be hacked on popular walking routes, but we cannot expect any horse to stand there like a saint while dogs try to tear its legs off.

IMO there is a huge communication gap between riders and many dog walkers.
 
No National Trust etc, so I presume just the government..?
Our girls are very good with dogs and even don't bother too badly when they run upto them (just the other day we had a King Charles pup run up to us who'd slipped his collar but he just wagged his tail and whimpered a bit and Kelly had her head up and her ears were flicking but she didn't react anymore) so its not even like she can say we antagonise the dogs!
We cannot reach the estate where we hack around any other way - well we can but it would take us 45 minutes to get there! :P
I wouldn't mind at all if they were all off lead but under control or even if they didn't bother the horses but its just all hell breaking loose when they are snapping at them and getting under their legs - I don't want horse OR dog injured! She is quite an elderly lady and I don't have a clue how she copes with them!
We shouldn't have to base our hacks around when she's going to be walking the dogs.
 
littlemisslauren said:
Horses should be good with dogs if they are to be hacked on popular walking routes, but we cannot expect any horse to stand there like a saint while dogs try to tear its legs off.

IMO there is a huge communication gap between riders and many dog walkers.
Click to expand...

That's what I'm most afraid of as ours are very very good with dogs as posted above, but I'm worried of someone saying well your horses should be good enough to deal with it! - some of the horses on the yard aren't AS good I have to admit, but y'know YO has youngsters to bring on and you don't expect to have to bat away a Husky snapping at your feet! :p

My first p/l horse kicked a dog after he got loose but luckily only caught him and the owner was very good and said "well that'll teach him a lesson won't it? don't worry"
 
Schooling whip and your angriest voice? Horse permitting, that's what I have always done when bothered by dogs like that.

Would be nice if a passing police patrol could maybe spot her, having dogs unrestrained in the body of your car can cost you £60 and three PPs!!
 
Would have thought reporting her to the police for dangerous dogs if they attcak the horses ... surprised a farmer hasn't sorted them with a shotgun.. if they aren't afraid of horses then I think sheep would have been an easy target for them
 
I know but she never ventures on the other side of the canal (where our yard is) just on the side of the housing estate where we ride!

And CC I think Kelly would have a fit should I start trying to swish a schooling whip at the dogs haha! I've been shouting "get away" but they don't even flick an ear at me - meanwhile owner is x miles away hobbling back to her car...
 
Sorry, I do seem to be the resident AAD doom-monger but two guys at my club have been done (one a former cop :p) one got a seatbelt harness and the other poor sod manages to squeeze two into a crate in the back of a Citroen Saxo :p.
The boot is fine, just not the main body of the car.
 
Sorry OP - very off topic!

We had a carrier.... but someone decided to chew off the fastenings on the front. She will have to be moved to the boot (crate wont fit.. my car is ridiculously impractical).
 
I would contact the local dog warden, tell them you would like him/her to have a word with the lady in regard to the control of her dogs, add a porky and say if you dismount the dogs will have a go at you too, they will take a human being maimed alot more serious than a horse, also add that young children often ride and walk along side their ponies too, it all helps;) and police,tell them the same, tell them you are reporting it, because if something happens and someone or something is bitten you know it has been brought to their attention before hand, this will encourage them to warn her.
It they where snapping at my horse, I would be inclined to walk along on my own with whip and no horse, and give her a good lashing:eek:
 
If the paths run by the canal try contacting the local water ways trust, they are usually responsible for towpaths, otherwise the dog warden is a good idea.
To hijack a bit, although it still concerns dogs and horses, friend and I were walking our 2 GSDs, on lead, last week down a narrow lane. A "lady" on a rather nice bay came up behind us so we both pulled to the side of the lane and put the dogs into a sit, they sat there without a peep. Did we get a thank you, did we hell, the rider looked at us as if we had crawled from under a stone and carried on past us!:mad: Okay it won't change how we make our dogs behave when we meet horses, but I wonder how many other people she will pee off who might not bother next time. Sorry, rant over.:o
 
MurphysMinder said:
To hijack a bit, although it still concerns dogs and horses, friend and I were walking our 2 GSDs, on lead, last week down a narrow lane. A "lady" on a rather nice bay came up behind us so we both pulled to the side of the lane and put the dogs into a sit, they sat there without a peep. Did we get a thank you, did we hell, the rider looked at us as if we had crawled from under a stone and carried on past us!:mad: Okay it won't change how we make our dogs behave when we meet horses, but I wonder how many other people she will pee off who might not bother next time. Sorry, rant over.:o
Click to expand...

Agh!! I hate this too!!!! I apologise on her bloody behalf, miserable woman!! I always say morning to anyone I meet and thank them for putting their dogs back on the lead/holding them to the side/picking their football up/whatever!!

And CC I can't fit either of my dogs in my boot :( but I've had coppers laughing at my Goldie stroking her through the window as she's been sat seatbelted up on my passenger seat! Must have caught him on a good day! :p

Cayla, I wouldnt put it past a few of the dogs to have us just as easily as they would the horses! I'm on a 14.2hh horse so my feet aren't that high up for a big dog and they do try to reach them!! :P
so it wouldn't be that much of a porky...
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top