Tell me there was no harm done, then offer to adopt two filthy stinking dogs

[Toooldtobearsed]

I don't need any lectures - I am beating myself up enough about this, just want some feedback please, if you know about horses.

My two are reasonably obedient usually and I am working hard with their training. I do not let them off lead unless we are in an area where I have a clear line of vision because they are over enthusiastic greeters of other dogs, and being Labradors, it must be frightening to see two of them charging towards you!

So, today on a track, off lead, ddog1 finds a way into a paddock with 8 or so horses in it. How, I still do not know. Pup follows him in by squirming under barbed wire.

Dogs chase horses to end of field then stop. Horses then chase dogs to other end. Repeat ad nauseum, whilst I am frantically screaming at them and trying to get into the field. The horses did not seem stressed, ears were not pinned back, they almost seemed to be playing with the dogs.

Eventually, because they were knackered the dogs responded to me, came back and I managed to drag them under the barbed wire.

Horses came over, en masse and looked over the hedging.

So, after an essay, my question is; were the horses upset? It has been on my mind since I flung the dogs into the utility room to dry off. I hate the thought that they may have been in distress and just want a horsey person to put my mind at rest please.

I am in the wrong section aren't I?

Should I move?

Yes they were upset. Probably terrified and you are very lucky that your dogs didn't chase them through fences, or the horses kick the dogs or fall and break a leg.

You are equally lucky that the owner of the horses didn't see and shoot your dogs which they could have done.

Until your recall is 99.999% keep them on the lead.

I am a horseowner and have been for nearly 30 years.

My dog did this with cows once. Went charging off across the field towards them before realising Father Dougal style that cows are big when close up. She came charging back with a herd of cows chasing her.

She never went near a cow field again.

It really depends. I've seen horses round on a dog before and had to stand there waving a stick to keep most of them away whilst I finished putting the head collar on the one I wanted to lead home. So a herd animal in a herd is not always a defenceless animal.

Saying that though you've certainly been very fortunate that none of the horses cut themselves to smithereens trying to bolt out the field or kick one of your dogs do hard it had to be put down.

You need to keep you dogs on a lead.

Yes, the horses were probably scared and could have injured themselves, which you would bear responsibility for.

In addition, though most horses are not aggressive they are big, powerful animals with metal shoes on their feet. If a frightened horse kicks a dog then the dog will be severely injured or dead.

Keep your dogs on a lead.

My dog managed to break off his lead ( husband had attached it to Id tag ring by mistake) and got into a field with horses in. They seemed used to dogs and though he is a big dog were unperturbed when he went belting up to them. Luckily he came back, and the owner who was there was OK about it. Sometimes these things happen. You learn from them. I was incredibly lucky that my dog was not kicked, or killed, or horses upset or injured. It scared me no end. I now double check lead every time. You are obviously upset by the whole incident, and I would imagine will never let your dogs off lead anywhere near there again, and you will know that it could have ended up much worse for the horses or your dogs, so lesson learnt. I would say that a dogs recall is only ever 100%, until it isn't. Sounds like the horses will fortunately be fine, so as I was, be very thankful and do all you can do it doesn't happen again.

your darling dogs could have had the shit kicked out of them by a group of horses and been killed. You and they are incredibly lucky

Okay, I feel really shit about this. It has never happened before and will never happen again.

To everyone saying keep your dogs on a lead, I do, unless I am sure that the surrounding area is clear. I was aware of the horses in the paddock, but there was (this is hard to describe), 2 barbed wire fences, about a metre apart. In the middle was thick hedgerow. It looked more secure than Fort Knox, or I would never have let the dogs off.

I am upset about the horses. I just was not sure. To my eyes, it almost looked like a game, but from your responses, it clearly was not. Bugger.

nellie I am upset. I am a responsible dog owner, I am training them every day, I try to do the right thing.

On this occasion I got it terribly wrong and I feel like shit.

Bran your darling dogs, was, I hope, not a sneery remark? If not, then I am sorry, I am feeling raw about it all, but if you are being sarky, there really is no need.
I am not precious about my animals.

tooold all you can do is learn from the experience, it's done now and your dogs aren't hurt and hopefully the horses are fine too.
I always, always keep my dogs on leads when there are horses around but a few months ago, I was walking in the woods and coming up to a crossroads and my lab was ahead of me and he saw the horses before I had a chance to grab him and he barked at them while I shouted to him to come back. He did come back but thinking of those few seconds where he could have been kicked had the rider not had such good control of her horse still gives me the cold shivers.
I apologised profusely to the riders and they were fine but if they had given me a bollocking I would have deserved it. I'm even more hyper aware of my surroundings and what could be ahead than I was before, but we all have lapses of judgement.

Bubz thank you for your kind words.

I just feel so badly about this. I am usually able to get over things quickly, but this has really shaken me, especially now that I know those poor horses would have been upset.

The thing is, the dogs behave impeccably around horses with riders. They sit on command and wait until I give the release, they watch, but never bark or make any move towards them.

Sorry, I know I am banging on. Will stop now!

Was it a bit like this

Oops posted too soon sorry. Like fentons owner I guess you won't be doing that again!!

You sound abashed and a responsible owner. Everyone's okay so please just live and learn, that's all anyone can do really

Don't beat yourself up to much OP. No harm was done. The horses could have been horribly injured but it sounds in this instance as though they could have been enjoying the chase. My mare used to love chasing dogs and scaring the shit out of them when she was in her field, but for some reason was petrified of off lead dogs when she was being ridden.

Contrary mare.

Oh, Nell don't make me laugh thank you!

It was like that, but with terrible language being screamed at ear blasting volumes and the pursued turning into the pursuers!

Wow that's a very precarious scene nell.

Exit thank you.

I was not trying to downplay things when I was asking if this was a bit of a game. To my eyes, it really looked like it. They seemed to be taking turns in playing chase.

BUT, I know now that I was wrong (unless one of them was yours)!

I think the fact they came across to the hedge once I had restrained the dogs and we're looking over, all friendly like, gave me the wrong impression.

It's one of those clips that you know is wrong, but can't help laughing.

Did Fenton come back eventually? My two are still crashed out.

My dogs got into a field with horses last summer. They didn't see the horses at first, but the horses saw them. My Bastard Spaniel has a high prey drive and my heart was in my mouth. I whistled and he trotted back to me no problem. The Poodley Thing was busy rolling in horse shit and ignored me. As he luxuriated in his vile bath, one of the horses mosied on over to investigate. Now Poodley Thing won't even tolerate Game of Thrones because of the small horses riding across the screen, and I really panicked. The horse loomed over Poodley Thing. Poodley Thing froze on his back in the shit pile. The horse sniffed him a bit. Then snort/sneezed. Poodley Thing bolted for the fence. Inquisitive horse followed at a leisurely trot. Shit covered Poodley Thing ricocheted off of the fencing and I grabbed him by his harness. Woman clearing the field nearly died laughing as my dog cowered in my arms, covered in excrement. Horse did that lip flouting grin horses can do. Scary and could have gone badly wrong, but in the end the dogs were fine, the horse was fine and I got covered in poo.

Snakey

ddog1 was rolling in shit when i first saw him, i think that was the initial attraction.

Might think again after the hosing down he got!

Hello Snakey

Horses are flight animals and they can kick, well, like horses. And they can move fast. I should think the horses are fine as long as they haven't been bitten or fallen over. I would be very worried about my dogs being kicked. What a horrible thing to happen. Bloody dogs!