to think my dogs are Ok off leads around horses!

[Teapot101]

We walk a bridlepath around our home. We pass many horses with no problems whatsoever. 3 riders are continually rude to us and I've had enough. "can you put your dog on a lead" and when I did passed me saying "This is a bridle path you know" I replied that it was also a footpath! She was clearly grumpy that I was walking up the footpath with my dogs they could not have a good canter. They could have waited until I was at the end. My dogs do not approach horses and are very used to walking pass them. they do not bark or skitter or anything. We pass several other locals on horses and have no probs whatsoever. It's the arrogant attitude that is bothering me. They never say good morning, are v cold and standoffish, so do not feel predisposed to dive into the nettles to benefit their ride!!

[Dontloookbackinanger]

YABU, and putting riders' safety at risk. I hope it doesn't take broken bones or worse to make you realise!

[itsaruddygame]

Legally if anything happens and your dog is off the lead you will be held liable. A friends dog was accompanying her on an off road ride and was not on the lead. A fellow riders horse was spooked - at the time it was not blamed on the dog who is laid back and exceptionally well behaved around horses and was merely trotting along behind them. However this rider went on to successfully sue my friend and was awarded significant compensation for a fall which was blamed on the dog but in my friends opinion was nothing to do with him!

I would also add that your dog would not be coming out of an altercation with a horse too well so for their own safety you should hold them or put them on the lead when horses are nearby. I have both a horse and a dog and am very well aware of what a kick could do to my dog hence my recommendation of a cautious approach.

[Gabilan]

Farfrom, could be. Either that or the OP realised that most people think s/he is BU and so doesn't want to come back.

[mrsdavidbowie]

Luckily DS has no broken bones just muscle damage.
He is on two lots of painkillers, had to be driven back from his holiday and is likely to be incapacitated for ten days.
Not much fun when you're 16.
The horse was being led...he wasn't galloping around.
And the dog was kicked in the head by the horse and was last seen motionless on the ground.

[nicestrongtea]

limited your last paragraph makes you sound like you don't know much about horses.
All horses are capable of being spooked -some more than others and its sensible ,responsible riding to bear that in mind and try to reduce the risks.

[FarFromAnyRoad]

Anything is possible Gabilan - there's a bit of a common MO at the moment and it might be said that this is a near perfect fit!

[Booboostwo]

If the dog was in the nettles that explains the request to put it on lead. To most horses a dog effectively hidden in nettles, rustling about would be scary as they can't identify what it is and their flight instinct kicks in.

[limitedperiodonly]

limited your last paragraph makes you sound like you don't know much about horses.

nicestrongtea. I don't think I've claimed to know everything about horses but I do know a bit about sharing public spaces.

I was a reasonably competent rider in a suburban area and I had to share spaces in those areas with other people who also wanted to use them.

Increasingly the demands of others overtook my own so I gave up.

If you can carry on, or barge on, then good for you.

[nicestrongtea]

Sorry am baffled by "if you can carry on or barge on "
What on earth does that mean ?

[cocobean2805]

As has been said, yabvu. Horses, just like dogs are unpredictable and any situation can turn very quickly. My horse is very good with dogs and regularly has a doberman in his stable with him without batting an eyelid. However, if I am out riding, I will always ask someone to put their dog on a lead, as that is the safest for both parties. I don't know your dog, you don't know my horse. My horse may be feeling a little twitchy and spooky on that day, and anything could cause him to jump, and I would hate for you, myself, your dog or my horse, to come to any harm because you feel your dog is completely trustworthy and will not listen to me, as a rider, asking you to simply secure your dog whilst I get out of your way.
Being offended by the rider not saying good morning to you is silly, as the rider may have been concentrating on getting the horse past the situation. Or she may have been having a bad day. Don't judge all riders on one experience of someone asking you to put your dog on the lead and not saying good morning.

Also, if I got off my horse to lead him past an issue, the likelihood is if he were to spook then I wouldn't be able to keep hold of him. They are big, strong animals who have no issue in using their strength against you when it comes to self preservation. I have much more control on board than I do on the floor when it comes to a scary situation.
99% of horse riders only want to get out of the situation alive and safe, with as few problems as possible. Being stroppy about having to put your dog on the lead for a minute only makes it more difficult for everyone. We are also, generally, very pleasant people, and I for one always make sure to thank cyclists and dogwalkers who stop to let me pass, and always say hello to people I meet when out and about. However, sometimes this isn't feasible and getting upset about it will change nothing.

This is Coco's sister by the way

[SnapesCapes]

YABU. Our spaniel is incredibly good on walks and her recall is impeccable, she never runs up to anyone and never goes towards horses. But the second I know a horse is nearby I put her on her lead, whether they're in nearby fields or walking with owners on a bridleway.

The DCs ride and our dog is used to being around the stables and near horses. I still choose to put her back on her lead near horses she doesn't know. Horses can be spooked by the tiniest thing; DS1 was mid-lesson once and a plastic carrier bag blew across the stable front and his horse went utterly mad, throwing him and the trainer across the yard. I'd rather ensure my dog is under full control and not risk any harm to the horse, rider or my dog.

[limitedperiodonly]

Carry on and barge on means that you don't give a shit about anyone else in your path nicestrongtea

That goes for whatever method of transport you choose.

[ThomasRichard]

Ignoring the point of the the thread entirely, this thread has helped me add to the list of things I'm going to do once I'm too old to care about what might end up on FB or YouTube.

I'm going to get myself a hobby horse and take it for rides down the local bridleways, nicely asking dog owners to put their dogs on leads as my steed gets a bit skittish. Can't wait! :o

[cocobean2805]

ThomasRichard this?

[ThomasRichard]

Perfect :o "Excuse me, I'm going to canter..."

[ThisIsClemFandango]

You sound very self centred, OP.
I don't see why it's an issue for you to just put the dogs on a lead, for you and your dogs own safety at the very least. As a pp said, animals are unpredictable, and the horse and its rider don't know your dogs.
Instead you deliberately don't, because you think they're rude strange attitude.

When Ddog was alive she was put on her lead whenever we approached horses, other dogs, cyclists etc. it's common courtesy and also common sense to make sure you have control over your animal, IMO. I have no psychic abilities so never knew for sure that another dog wouldn't lunge at her, or that she wouldn't run out in front of a horse or a cyclist. Just because it hadn't happened before doesn't mean it couldn't, and it's easily prevented/controlled by using a lead.

[nicestrongtea]

Eh?
Why would you think I do that
Im careful ,sensible and very risk adverse -hence my post up thread about horses, stopping my bike when requested.
I have ridden horses and bikes all my life, am also a car owner and in the past had dogs.

You seem to have taken from my posts that I would barge people out of the way
I think you have confused me with someone else !

[pigsDOfly]

I really don't understand why this is such a problem for you OP.

If I see a horse and rider up ahead my dog goes on the lead and if the path is narrow I will step to the side and let them go past.

I don't feel I'm being put upon or belittled. They will have slowed down and taken my presence into account - obviously if they were hurtling past me and knocking me flying I'd feel pretty miffed, but that's never happened - we acknowledge each other and everyone goes on their way feeling fine.

A horse is a large unpredictable animal, it's easier for my dog and me to get out of their way than to expect them to avoid me.

More importantly I really don't want a bloody great powerful creature who might sudden get spooked to be anywhere near my dog. I can ensure that by putting my dog on the lead and controlling where my dog walks.

[merrymouse]

So why do people I know ride with loose dogs?

Because they know their dog.

They don't know your dog and you don't know their horse. Putting a dog on lead or calling it to heel demonstrates that you are in control.

Personally I don't care who would be at fault, I don't want to be anywhere near a spooked horse!

Are there really enough horse riders around that bringing a dog under control when you meet one is a big problem?

[merrymouse]

(General 'you' there - not directing that comment at a particular poster)

[Pixel]

The problem is we encounter too many poorly trained dogs which means we have to err on the side of caution when approaching any dog. Not all dogs make it obvious they are going to attack, they can look perfectly friendly and then with no warning jump up and bite. Some dog owners say their dog is fine but then they can't call it back because they have no control. What they mean is it hasn't bitten anyone yet. There was an incident near me a couple of years ago when a dog attacked a horse which then threw its rider and galloped in front of a van. The horse was killed and the van driver was injured. Saying "the rider should have been in control" is really missing the point imo. A tragedy could so easily have been averted by a dog owner being more responsible and it would have cost him nothing.

some riders are actually quite nervous and this can make them seem abrupt
I'm a nervous rider, I freely admit it. I do try my utmost to be polite at all times, cyclists and drivers who slow down, and dog owners who control their animals are all thanked profusely, but sometimes things get the better of me. For example the other day dhorse and I were negotiating a blind corner across which someone had helpfully parked a huge scaffolding lorry (it would have been a hazard to drivers too). Then out of the blue a man dropped some scaffolding from roof-height and the resulting leap in the air made me shout "oh thanks a lot!" which the man took exception to. I did apologise, not wanting to live up to the stereotype of stuck up horserider, but really, he must have seen me coming in my hi-viz outfit, being up on a roof and all .
I appreciate that riders should have their horses under control (and I did, he didn't run off, just did the one leap and some prancing on the spot) but a little consideration from others wouldn't go amiss either.

[goodasitgets]

Doesn't matter how good a rider you are, you never have 100% control because of the sheer size of the animal
This week I will be stood at the funeral of an amazingly talented young rider who was fatally injured in a field. She spent all her time with horses, had great bonds with them and was especially talented with sharp young horses
I ask people not to come up to my dog because I don't know how she will react, it's not how their dog will be. Similar for when I'm riding - I have had too many close calls with loose dogs. A dog quietly walking past, I wouldn't bother asking. Anything bounding about, trying to come up to horse etc yes I would. Because I don't want myself, horse or dog injuring

[frumpet]

My horse weighs 535kg , my old dog used to weigh 36kg , guess what I used to do when I encountered horses when out walking him ? I would have thought it was common sense to be honest .

[limitedperiodonly]

If I see a horse and rider up ahead my dog goes on the lead and if the path is narrow I will step to the side and let them go past.

This I what I don't understand and I used to ride.

Your dog is ranging ahead of you say at about 10 metres on a narrow forest path. One or more riders come cantering towards you.

How do you jump out of the way let alone put your dog on a lead to allow the riders to carry on?

And why should you?

And I speak as a former rider. It is anti-social to barge people out of the way because you are big (on a horse) and they are small (on foot).

I also wonder about horses that can differentiate between dogs off lead or on them unless the dog is leaping at them. If they are scared of dogs they're scared of dogs whether they're tied to you or not..

It's not possible to accommodate everyone who wants to use countryside in suburban areas such as Epping Forest in Essex.

I'm sure there are many other similar places.

In those areas, dog walkers, ramblers and pushchair people are going to rule because there are more of them.

Riders are going to have to go out very early in the summer in those areas or do nothing more than a trot.

[pigsDOfly]

That was me Limited. In the particular area I'm thinking of where walkers and riders come across each other the riders don't tend to be cantering as they will know there will be walkers there so there is no need to 'jump' out of their way, and anyway on that particular path both riders and walkers can see far enough ahead not to come upon each other suddenly. It's more a case of passing people in a calm manner.

The main bridle path it isn't used by walkers as they have their own pathway. Also my dog is small and tends not to get that far from me.

Perhaps the area I'm thinking off isn't representative of most of these kinds of places.

Once I have my dog on the lead and I stand to the side of the path, unless the horse bolts and runs towards us, it isn't going to come that close to us. Not sure why the horse should react that violently to one person and a small dog standing out of its way. What is the alternative, that the rider should back up to let me pass. I move out of their way because it seems the simplest thing to do.

The only other place I've come across riders in the past is really open and wide, so again everyone is aware of the people around them and again I would put my dog on the lead.

On mixed use paths: bicycles, horses, walkers, I keep my dog on the lead for the reasons I mentioned.