To ask horsey people what I should have done

[hitchedhiker]

I was out for a walk with DP yesterday, dog well-behaved on his lead. We were on a well-marked public footpath crossing a field with 2 horses and a small pony in it. The shape of the field meant that we were already past the horses and moving further away from them as soon as we entered.

The horse came towards us, as they sometimes do, DP said 'hello boy' to it in a friendly way, but it immediately started prancing around trying to get at the dog. Turning it's back towards us and kicking, stopping us leaving the field. By this time the other two had come over and they were starting to act oddly as well.

When I'd stopped laughing at DP (who was struggling to keep hold of the lead as the dog was trying to get away from the horses) I managed to position myself between DP and the horses and backed out of the field waving my arms and shouting to try and keep the main attacker away from them.

I'm an ex-farmworker and a keen walker, I've worked with pigs and cattle and worked around (but not really with) horses many times. I've never even heard of a horse going out of it's way to attack a peaceful dog on a lead.

What should I have done in that situation? And AIBU to have reported the landowner to the council?

I know blummin' Shetlands that chase dogs

The average Shetland would probably chase a lion

It's not unusual behaviour, it's completely normal. Horses that consider dogs a threat will chase them. You can try throwing your arms up and shouting to scare the horse, but don't get kicked. Let the dog go off you have to.

@MissLucyEyelesbarrow

I know blummin' Shetlands that chase dogs

The average Shetland would probably chase a lion

They do have Short Man syndrome :D

“Unusual behaviour” except that about 20 people on this thread have said their horse would do the same 😂

*I know blummin' Shetlands that chase dogs

The average Shetland would probably chase a lion*

Our Shetland might chase a dog for a laugh although you could distract him easily with a morsel of food - a dog biscuit would do! (Disclaimer- don't really give strange horses dog biscuits). The little welsh though hates dogs and the ears are pinned whenever our pup goes anywhere near him. I'm certain he'd react like this. He's not a dominant mare or a stallion, he's just a bit of a prick!

Re the short man syndrome my terrier suffers from this also so it's a bad combination. I'd never let go of her as she wouldn't run off. She's even game for the yard Clydesdale. We keep her on the lead all the time.

@midnightstar66

*I know blummin' Shetlands that chase dogs

The average Shetland would probably chase a lion*

Our Shetland might chase a dog for a laugh although you could distract him easily with a morsel of food - a dog biscuit would do! (Disclaimer- don't really give strange horses dog biscuits). The little welsh though hates dogs and the ears are pinned whenever our pup goes anywhere near him. I'm certain he'd react like this. He's not a dominant mare or a stallion, he's just a bit of a prick!

Re the short man syndrome my terrier suffers from this also so it's a bad combination. I'd never let go of her as she wouldn't run off. She's even game for the yard Clydesdale. We keep her on the lead all the time.

I'll never forget a Shetland bolting at a trot, with my riding instructor on him. Instructor was a 3 day eventer and normally rode a huge hunter. Her feet were virtually dragging on the floor, either side of the Shetland, but she still couldn't turn the little sod

If you can pick up your dog, I would do this. The horse won't "see" the dog in the same way if it is being carried. Same applies to cattle.

@YenneferOfBattenberg

If you can pick up your dog, I would do this. The horse won't "see" the dog in the same way if it is being carried. Same applies to cattle.

Best advice on this thread. Without question.