Would you cover their vet bill?

[MagicMelon]

Have to say I agree with this completely. It just highlights why dogs and toddlers should not be left to run loose around yards. The horse was tied up and reacted to something it felt was a threat. Any horse has the potential to react to something like this no matter how safe or well trained they may be. That's just horses for you.

Totally agree. Your horse is not now a "known kicker"! One of my horses who I have had for over 15 years booted me once when I got too close behind him and surprised him, totally my fault and he was horrified. Never has he kicked me or anything/anyone else at any other point. The dog got too close, of course the horse might kick it. Ridiculous dog owner who sadly put her own dog at such a risk. There's actually been the odd time I wish my horse had kicked a dog when it was busy chasing us on a hack or snapping at his heels!

One of my other horses bit my dog recently, my dog roams freely round them (on my own private land) but she got too close to the horses feed and tried to steal some, horse decided that was not on so gave her a nip. Im more careful now of course but purely as it was my fault for allowing the dog to do it.

 

[Winters100]

Now you have a known kicker you do have a responsibility to ensure you dont put your horse in that situation again because now you do have a duty of care simply by knowing your horse has kicked!

I don't really get this point. What is the owner supposed to do, beyond having her horse in the correct place on a horse yard where dogs are supposed to be under control (i.e. the thing she was doing at the time of the incident). Should she put a sign on the horse saying 'may kick if startled'? Surely anyone who does not know that this is true of every horse should not be walking around the yard unsupervised?

 

[AmyMay]

It would be great to know if there’s been any resolution. But it seems like we may never know….

 

[scruffyponies]

Kicking when startled comes under 'ordinary behaviour' in horses, and OP can tell the dog owner to jog on with a clean conscience.

I do think you can do a lot to desensitise horses to dogs, and you don't do it by keeping them apart. I have never been more proud of my horses than when they pulled up calmly when chased by a large dog. They wern't at all bothered, since we put them into close contact with dogs in lots of situations fairly regularly.

Happy to report that on the one occasion a dog actually attacked, the horse was able to recognise the difference and defended itself appropriately.

 

[Clodagh]

Totally agree. Your horse is not now a "known kicker"! One of my horses who I have had for over 15 years booted me once when I got too close behind him and surprised him, totally my fault and he was horrified. Never has he kicked me or anything/anyone else at any other point. The dog got too close, of course the horse might kick it. Ridiculous dog owner who sadly put her own dog at such a risk. There's actually been the odd time I wish my horse had kicked a dog when it was busy chasing us on a hack or snapping at his heels!

One of my other horses bit my dog recently, my dog roams freely round them (on my own private land) but she got too close to the horses feed and tried to steal some, horse decided that was not on so gave her a nip. Im more careful now of course but purely as it was my fault for allowing the dog to do it.

You now have a known biter. Muzzle it while it is eating in future.

 

[scruffyponies]

You now have a known biter. Muzzle it while it is eating in future.

My little boy (aged 2) once reacted to the dog trying to grab a dropped biscuit by biting the dog. I have of course muzzled him ever since, but wonder if it is possible to take it off for short periods now that he's nearly 18.

 

[Lipglosspukka]

Baffled by some of these comments.

It's a horse. Horses can kick. We can do our best to get them used to dogs, or people behind them, or geese, or whatever the hell else.

It's still a horse though. Horses can kick so don't do stupid crap around them, like letting random dogs run up behind them.

 

[Elf On A Shelf]

You now have a known biter. Muzzle it while it is eating in future.

Don't even joke about it! Honestly! We had one woman working in the yard who had spent her life working with horses, had 2 failed businesses working with horses. One of the horses nipped her as he was prone to do when you really pissed him off, just a wee "Oi, bugger off" nip. And you had to REALLY piss him off for him to do it. Not a bite, not full teeth flying at you like a demon from hell, just a head swing and a nip to the leg. After that she tried to demand he wore a muzzle in his box if anyone was in with him and wrote in big red letters on his door *THIS HORSE BITES!!!* every day we would rub it off and every day she would write it on again. This carried on for over a month before she finally gave up writing it as all we would do is tell her she is being stupid and it would have been her fault she got nipped. She never did get a muzzle to put on him either.

 

[Clodagh]

My little boy (aged 2) once reacted to the dog trying to grab a dropped biscuit by biting the dog. I have of course muzzled him ever since, but wonder if it is possible to take it off for short periods now that he's nearly 18.

While supervised and only with over 18s. You could carry a stick in case he needs a reminder.

 

[paddy555]

My little boy (aged 2) once reacted to the dog trying to grab a dropped biscuit by biting the dog. I have of course muzzled him ever since, but wonder if it is possible to take it off for short periods now that he's nearly 18.

what any responsible parent would have done. Well done. Can never trust them after one bite.

I would be very careful when he is 18. You just cannot be sure he won't do it again however much training you have given.

ps did the dog need therapy?

 

[AmyMay]

18, tricky teenage years. Don’t become complacent…..

 

[Inky1986]

So sorry for the delayed response, but wanted to update those of you interested. I didn't end up paying anything towards the vet's bill which went down like a lead balloon. The atmosphere at the yard is a bit frosty (all these months later) and the owner still doesn't talk to me outside of hello/goodbye. Fortunately the YO fully supported my decision.

He has never kicked anyone previously so I wouldn't lable him a known kicker...but it has certainly made me a lot more wary of loose dogs approaching him when tied up.

As for the dog he hasn't been back to the yard since but is recovering from the operation well.

 

[Clodagh]

Thank you for the update, they are always appreciated.

 

[ycbm]

Well done for sticking to your guns.
.

 

[Trouper]

A just outcome for all I think - and may be a salutory lesson learned by the dog owner.

 

[Bradsmum]

Thanks for the update op, some valuable lessons learnt all round hopefully and a good reminder to us all that accidents do happen. I got a rescue dog about 9 months ago and have been introducing him to the horses (at home) but he doesn't seem to understand giving them horse space so he is not allowed around them in the yard at all and is closely supervised in the field.

 

[Apizz2019]

Last week I was up the yard and one of the other owner's had her 2 dogs with her. Our yard does allow dogs on site as long as they are under control & well behaved.

Unfortunately one of them went too close to my gelding's back legs and was kicked and suffered a broken pelvis. Obviously I was mortified.

Fast forward a few days and the owner messaged me on Facebook saying her dog required an operation & subsequent PT (no insurance) and would I be able to pay half "as it was my horse's fault".

I haven't responded yet but I want to say no- it's a lot of money to fork out & my horse was safely tied up & minding his own business until then.

Am I being too tough? Would others agree to pay!?!

Absolutely not.

Their dog, their responsibility to insure. Not your problem.

Their dog, their responsibility to keep under control. Not your problem.

We all need to be responsible for our animals and where appropriate, have the correct insurance in place. A dog running loose around the yard is not acceptable and your horse acted on instinct.

I had a situation with our pony who was approached by a playful puppy that was loose on the yard. He aggressively went to bite it and stamp on it. Luckily I intervened and all ended well.

Had it not, I certainly wouldn't have been obliging and paid any monies toward the vets bills.

I would have felt awful but not responsible.

I'd be firmly telling the dog owners to do one.

 

[Winters100]

Thanks for the update OP. You were 100% in the right not to pay and I'm glad that YO supported you. Your horse did nothing that was not natural instinct and you have nothing to feel bad about.

 

[Bearsmum]

Pleased you didn't pay, the dog owner acted irresponsibly IMO & will hopefully have learned a lesson from this, glad the poor dog is making a good recovery though, wasn't really his fault either, some are just not horse aware

 

[View]

Thank you for the update, and well done to the YO for supporting you.

 

[4faults]

So glad you stuck to your guns. So irresponsible for her to not have insurance and allow her dogs around large unpredictable animals. This is why I don’t allow dogs on my yard

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Hopefully she will think twice about letting the dogs run wild.

 

[Quigleyandme]

A fellow livery once backed into my parked car and although she accepted liability and promptly paid the repair bill she was really pissed with me for months. Oh well.

 

[Ratface]

A fellow livery once backed into my parked car and although she accepted liability and promptly paid the repair bill she was really pissed with me for months. Oh well.

How very odd. Why don't those responsible for damage to others/their property accept that and offer recompense?

 

[Baywonder]

Thank you for the update - I'm so glad you stuck to your guns.

It never ceases to amaze me how some people can be so irresponsible, and then expect others to clear up the mess and havoc they have caused in the first place! The mind boggles, it really does........