Right of Way, Horse & Dog

[Beastiee]

I'll try to keep this short.

I've got a dog, he's always on a lead when we're out. I live rurally, the field next to my garden is the only route to reach any public footpaths to walk my dog. The field has a public right of way across it as it's on a designated national trail.

It's owned by a neighbour who has just put a horse on the land. My dog has no reaction whatsoever to horses, he ignores all livestock. The horse he's put on the field is clearly agitated by my dog, as I try to walk across the field (I pick my time, when the horse is the furthest away) the horse will run up and sniff at the dog's back end and sort of push him, I'm assuming this is a warning of 'get away'.

Again, my dog ignores totally as I swiftly walk across the field, but the horse will follow and keep pushing him until we're out the gate. It's happened twice now.

Obviously I don't want the dog, or me, to get kicked/attacked by the horse so I can't walk across the field again to risk it - would I be unreasonable to tell the owner his horse is causing an issue? Neighbour has form for being difficult.

I’ve kept horses and dogs all of my life.

Nothing would make me cross a field with a random horse in it with my dog. It’s not worth the risk. I’ve seen dogs killed by one kick. I’ve also been picked up and thrown by a horse for pushing it away by the shoulder as it wouldn’t leave me alone (a friends horse not a random one!) Horses are easily startled and also unpredictable. I would have my dogs in the field with my pony off lead so they could run out of the way if required, but that’s about as far as I would take it.

You could ask the owner but if he refused to move the horse I still wouldn’t go in. Could you drive to the walking route or walk along the road?

As a side note, if it’s alone without any other equines it’s probably lonely and bored which makes it more likely to come and investigate.

No worries! Basically, the law says that certain animals (cows, goats, sheep, horses, dogs) aren't generally considered a danger and can be kept in fields with public access.

However, if the landowner is informed that those animals are causing problems, they have a responsibility to either remove those animals from that field or secure them away from the public via fencing.

Bulls are different and must be kept away from the public at all times unless they have cows with them and are of a certain breed/type.

Hopefully that all makes sense - I studied this when I became a dog walker and found it quite interesting. There have been multiple occasions where I've had to turn back with the dogs because there been cows with calves in the field and I've been too scared to cross - cows terrify me 😂

I would maybe contact the owner, explain what it happening but approach it from a 'I'm a little worried - what's the best way to approach this' angle.

I would also follow the same guidance given around cattle, and if it ever turned sour I'd instantly drop the dog lead, it's the best way of keeping you both safe.

I think it would be sensible to contact the field/horse owner to make them aware of the situation, not as a complaint, but more as concern for the horse.
You seem to be treating it nicely and with care. Someone else may walk through the same public right of way and panic or dislike it and not treat it so well.
At least if the owner is aware of the horse wanting to approach people and dogs in the field then they can act accordingly if they wish.

Thank you very much for the reassuring posts and the posters with experience - I feel more confident now in how to approach this.

My dog isn't bothered at all but I don't want the horse to feel frightened because of his presence, and equally I don't want to miss out on the beautiful walks from my doorstep. It does my mental health the world of good, as well as being good for the dog.

Having to get in the car to drive to get to a walk is not a good solution, it would be a miserable, stressful last resort. And as I've acknowledged, the owner has a right to put a horse there so the ideal solution is the horse ignoring us.

He's huge (beautiful though)

huge as in heavy horse type e.g. Clydesdale? These are known for a friendly and gentle temperament. Shetlands I would not trust an inch.

Keep your dog on a lead, do not let it run around the horse and you should be fine. It is just curious, especially if on its own.

Loads of public footpaths go straight through fields of cows.

huge as in heavy horse type e.g. Clydesdale? These are known for a friendly and gentle temperament. Shetlands I would not trust an inch.

Haha I was going to say this too - the bigger the horse, the steadier the temperament ime

The route isn't accessible by car, I'd have to drive elsewhere. The lane is narrow and one car width wide so it's dangerous to walk on, I've nearly been hit several times by drivers without any common sense. I can be lit up like Las Vegas and they say "I didn't see you.."

My dog is large and he's not the easiest to manoeuvre into the hedges either.

It's brown.

That's the extent of my horse knowledge.

But I googled and no, it's not a Clydesdale. Or a Shetland.

Yes, that would generate an arse-ache of paperwork, since you would then have two fields and need separate field numbers for them.

Also, there is a reason that most farmers repair fences repeatedly, often until the fence is 50% bailer twine, 30% old pallets and 20% hope. The cost of fencing is extortionate and many farmers are already struggling, without added extra costs.

As others have said, the horse sounds curious, not aggressive, and it is rare for horses to go for dogs unless they have been attacked or chased in the path. The risk is more than if the horse gets startled, then it may turn and kick out as it runs off- how likely that is depends on the horse and the circumstances.

In terms of fencing the field, most horses are respectful of electric fencing, even if run from a car battery or similar, so that could be a cost effective solution for fencing the field. Splitting the field isn't ideal, but unless it's very small, it's likely to be manageable, and may actually help with the management of the field. However, I agree, at this stage, the horse owner doesn't have to do that.

I'd definitely speak to the owner/neighbour just to explain the situation, and ask what they suggest. It might prompt them to fence the field, anyway?

If you think of the top of its "shoulders" where its neck joins its body, how high does that come up on your body roughly?

I'd say his shoulders were roughly as high as I am - 5'3.

Speak to the Rights of Way team at your local authority (this will usually be the county council). You can also raise it with the National Trail team for that specific National Trail, Google them, each NT has its own management team. Both the local authority & NT team will want to know about this as it’s a potential public safety risk.

@CharlotteBog My horses are nowhere near the right of way we have at the edge of our land. We have fenced it off (cost thousands to do so) and the paddocks don't start for about 20 foot as well. I don't want the risk of people feeding my horses, or coming in the fields. If a dog managed to get through the fences and chase my horses on my land then the owner of the dog would be at fault for not having their dog under control.

Oh I see. I thought we were talking about horses being in fields where there is a right of way.

Okay, so big enough but not absolutely massive? I understand horses of this size can seem really intimidating, but often they are pretty chill. Usually, with horses of this size, they will have been taught "manners"- which can be an issue with some smaller ponies.

As others have said, if you want him to go away, just give him a bit of a shove on his chest/shoulder and tell him to "back up" in a firm, low voice. You can also push his head away from you (obviously don't poke him in the eye, or anything). If you're boring, and don't interact, he will likely learn to leave you alone.

As others have said, if he's alone in the field, he's probably bored and desperate for interaction!

If you keep walking, he may well walk alongside you or behind you- this is nothing to worry about, either. You can push him away from you whilst walking too, if he's coming into your space next to you- don't be afraid to be firm, as long as you're pushing around the shoulder area, you won't hurt him.

I fully understand horses are large and can seem intimidating, but most of them are well trained to give way to pressure. If he isn't responding, adding a bit of a growl to your voice may help- it doesn't really matter what you say, something like "go away" or "get away" won't mean anything to him but he'll understand the tone.

A horse in and of itself isn't a public safety risk, though...

They won't be remotely interested in a horse being kept legally in a field

It's not a public safety risk unless the horse behaves in a way that puts people in danger - at the moment it's not doing that, it's just being curious/friendly. If it had kicked out or tried to bite that would be different.

The horse definitely isn’t frightened of your dog, if he was he wouldn’t sniff and nudge him. It looks like the horse and dog are completely cool with each other.

The behaviour of a scared horse is very different. They have to be trained to approach and interact with things they’re scared of. Horses are hard wired to respond “Scary thing! I must RUN AWAY!”

I’m just speaking from my experience as someone who used to work in rights of way policy & for a National Trails team.

Ignore if you can - if you can't, turn around, face horse and do a firm ' PISS OFF', voice of doom style - most horses will get the tone and gist even if the words are not what they're used to.
I think if the horse meant harm, harm would have been done by now BUT, horses get cheeky and can push for a reaction, particularly if bored.

If it carries on I would have a word with the owner and suggest that possibly others are feeding it and encouraging it to follow and be pushy. If the horse actively starts biting people, and they're aware the horse IS a risk, they shouldn't keep it on land with a ROW through it and will be liable for injury/damage caused: https://www.ramblers.org.uk/go-walking-hub/rules-around-keeping-animals-fields-paths

I don't feel that one trumps the other, but I'm absolutely gutted if I've lost my dog walking route. There's just no alternative route whatsoever.

Oh I dunno, one owns, pays and maintains it, the other doesn't.
It's a shame but it's an "at your own risk" thing and if it's not worth the risk....

No, it doesn't really work like that. People who don't pay road tax are as entitled to cross the road, or use their bike and to be protected by the same laws as road tax payers.

If the public have a right to be there, they should be able to be so safely, not 'at their own risk'.