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.

Fabulous stuff @Beastiee so pleased for you and your dog, and the horse and the owner!

Fantastic!
This also shows how dangerous it is to make decisions about an unknown horse's behaviour and intentions via the Net. A lot of horse people were recommending that you engage with the horse to move him away. As his owner was concerned about his behaviour it's clear that would have been a very bad idea.

Absolutely - the owner said the horse was agitated (not curious) and likely to escalate to a bite/kick/stomp and he was grateful to know about it.

He's got plenty of other land so thankfully wasn't an issue, he'll just keep the field as it is. Phew.

Definitely confirmed never to walk through a field with an unknown horse if you have a dog.

Very sensible OP and you've handled it brilliantly. While he's done the right thing now, really no owner should turn their horses out in fields with public access unless they are confident that animal is safe with dogs and people. Just common sense. They'd have difficulty justifying their position in court should the horse have hurt someone. If they'd introduced dogs and strangers to the horse and had someone around to observe things initially, it might be different. As a horse owner I'd have been extremely grateful for the way you've handled this, although I'd rather stick pins in my eyes than turn my horse out in a public right of way!

If it’s a short walk could you not carry your dog accross

It's a big field and my dog is huge and heavy - but the horse has gone now so thankfully issue resolved.

@CaroleSinger this is a popular myth, if you are injured by a farmers cattle whilst in his field he is liable and farmers have insurance for this very purpose. I live rurally and work with farmers.

I have horses. I would be worried if I saw my horse running across to walkers on a right of way. I’d be worried it could escalate into the horse kicking out, either accidentally or maliciously. I know I’d be liable if my horse hurt someone. I never understood how some owners think it’s not their problem! Wherever possible, we fence our footpaths off from grazing areas.