As I take part in both I try to be as understanding and respectful as I can to the 'other' in any given situation - be it on horse back or end of lead!! But, I have just come back from a ride where I experienced what could have been a potential disaster. Six riders in single file and a Jack Russell came bombing towards us growling and showing its teeth. My horse immediately tensed and went up on his toes - I prayed for the dog's owner to show up soon to see how their dog was behaving. She did and just watched :( - Her dog continued to try and 'round' us up, he went under my horse who put his ears back and kicked out at the dog - Dog's owner said to her dog "if you get kicked it's your own fault" !!! I couldn't believe the response, It really wound me up, it was on a bridle path and many people ride along there especially on a weekend so why cant dog walkers be more vigilant? Like I say - I do both so not siding with one or the other, but cant we all just get along????
Sarah.

I would have thought any decent dog owner wouldn't want their dog in a position where it could get kicked! Did have a Lab once though that tried to follow horses as it liked to clear up after them! I do wish horse owners would make some attempt to clear up after their horses in public areas (obviously not bridleways and countryside), they occasionally ride down our road and leave deposits all the way along :(

Hope your horse is okay now

Hayley

This is it Hayley, I was really more surprised at the owner! Luckily we have lots of yard dog's so the horses are quite tolerant of them but you couldn't blame them for a kick if a dog was snapping at their legs! Yes, the horse was ok thanks, he soon went back to trying to munch trees once the dog was gone :)
Sarah.

Its not the kicking of the dog I worry about in these situations - its the potential bolting of the horse :(

Chloe

I suppose it is a two sided coin. I, as a responsible owner would not want my dog kicked or to be the reason for a horse bolting. I found it hard to socialise my dogs with horses as where we lived before there were none for miles that you could even get close to (especially as Foot and Mouth was around when they were young) so when we moved it was a bit of an eye opener as Honey has a high prey drive. Luckily we joined an Agility Club held at a large horsey training centre which has helped a lot, when we get our pup we are going to go to Roger Mugfords training centre where they centre some of the puppy classes around sheep and cows etc, brilliant!

Sorry, went off the subject a little, my point is that if we all socialised and prepared our dogs better, the above events would never happen!

Hayley

When I used to ride out (my horse is now retired due to leg injury) it surprised me how many dog owners would use the bridlepath when they have a perfectly good path of their own. Often the bridlepaths are in need of repair and theirs has a good surface.

The woods where we walk Gus has a path for horses too and I will always put him back on the lead when a horse is about - and constantly keep an eye open .
We try to walk him past the horse while on the lead so he is quite unphased with them , which he seems to be luckily .
The only time I worry is when a horse comes out from the undergrowth so to speak although there are signs up telling the horses to keep to the path only .
Well it actualy advises the riders as obviuosly horses cant read ;)
Lel

Byways are open to all, Bridleways can be used by cyclists, horseriders, and walkers, footpaths are for walkers only.

I often prefer to use bridlepaths because they should be wider and they are often a better walk than the footpaths even if the footing is not :) I too am a horse rider and dog walker/owner and try to make sure that neither animal that I am in charge of at the time interferes with anything or anyone else.

Many years ago I read that at one time bridlepaths (I don't know about bridleways though)were not to be ridden over - the horse was to be led "by the bridle", so the surface wasn't damaged by horses being ridden at speed on them. Anyone know when (if?) that was changed?
:)

I don't know - but I do know that around here there are 20 footpaths to every one bridleway. I wanted to go for a different hack yesterday, so rode Josh into the village to get to another bridleway (they are so far apart). Never again. In the space of half hour a rotti nearly barged through a gate at us, this dog was literally throwing himself at the gate :(, two other dogs nearly pulled their elderly owner over trying to get to Josh (on a bridleway), whilst the owner YELLED at me to hurry up, and NOT ONE car slowed for us.

So, I shall be sticking to my local bridleways - and if a dog gets kicked for running up to my horse, its their lookout.

I too rode until a few years ago, and have to say never had a bad incident with a dog.

However, when my current BSD was a youngster, i had a problem with 3 very very badly behaved ADULT riders !!! Came galloping along a path towards me (and i do mean gallop) and came between my and my young dog who so far had been excellent with her training around horses, necessary because of Forest walking with loose horses and also riders.

My dog was scared and flinched away, and then in true BSD style started to chase, i called her back and she came, but just as i reached out to get her collar, the second rider came, and exactly the same thing happened. My dog behaved very well to come back straight away, but the worry that she may have been trampled was deeply upsetting. The third rider did slow up but had the damn b****y cheek and audacity to yell at my dog "Stay! Stay!" and then galloped off again.

I was so angry, it put back my training for weeks. Supposing my dog had been elderly or deaf? Lots of people/dogs/horses/riders use that path and so they should have anticipated, but what got me was that, even when they SAW US,they still kept coming!!!

Normally though, i always call my dog to side out of courtesy, and all the riders i know slow down, and we all thank each other and it's nice :D :)

Lindsay

Thats a fair comment - I would be furious if someone galloped up to me, even without a dog! There are good and bad in all - I just wish people would show others some simple consideration just for once!

Spot on Chloe :D

That's it, if everyone showed courtesy and put themselves in other's shoes, there would be no problems :)

Lindsay

Two way thoughtfulness is whats required, however I do find that non horsey people often have no idea of the potential dangers of a horse, and thats usually the crux of the problem :(
They do not understand that their dog running upto a horse can cause it to bolt, maybe into path of traffic or for the rider to be thrown & injured. both have happened to me thanks to an irresposible ignorant dog owner.
Likewise they assume that a horse being ridden along a road is traffic proof. Well my youngster is traffic bomb proof but if something (like a dog for example!) frightened him on the otherside of the hedge, then he may jump away from it & into the road. So if non horsey car driver is going too fast and/or too close, then they may well hit the horse. :(

I think you have hit the nail on the head Sam, a lot of the problems are caused by people having no idea of the potential dangers.....

Lindsay

Know I'm a bit late joining in on this one, no modem for a few weeks!!!

Anyway I had to move from Dorset to London many years ago due to work, I took my horse as I was able to stable her at the local army barracks. The only place close enough to ride apart from Woolwich common, was on a bridleway at Shooters hill. If I remember it was about 1/4 mile long, no where near long enough for my 17hh German mare!

One day whilst I was 5 months pregnant I hacked out along this trail, to be met by a rather large out of control Boxer. I looked around for it's owner, but no one was in sight, I attempted to ride onwards but the Boxer lunged at my mare and eventually for some unknow reason jumped up at her face and bit her on the lower lip. The dog was hanging from her lip for quite a while. It was an absolutely terrifying experience especially as the mare reared up with me still on board. Eventually the dog let go and a chap appeared form the trees, hurling obscenities at me including threats to my horse!!!!!!!!!!

This was an awful experience and one I would not wish upon any one. We now have a kennel of sleddogs and both my husband and I ensure that we do not train in the forest during hours when other users are out and about (particulalry horse riders).

Sledgirl

No offence but I am terrified of horses. So I have asked my mother to socialise Bradley at the the local stables. But I am sure that if I came into contact with a horse with my dog. My fear will be transferred to him. I have to confess to hiding or pulling off roads if I see a horse.
Sorry not a horse lover.
regards Emma
p.s I think my mother should socialise me and not my dog at the stables :p

I'm still trying to imagine the size of the poo bags I would need to take out with me on a hack to be able to clean up after my horse ;)

At least you'd be able to sell it, Lisa!

Lisa I was thinking more of a dustcart following at a safe distance. Instead of this vehicle is reversing it would say 'this vehicle is s*#^t shovilling'.

Could always use the method that most Albuquerque mounted police and Old-Town cart horses do... 'nappies' on the horses. Means there's no horse stuff left on the streets - and I suppose it COULD be used for fertilizing fruit trees, too... *grins* We had a (dog)manure-fertilized apricot tree that made fruit the size of peaches.

:D @ Emma. Nobody would offer to clear up after my beast as at16.3 he manages more than a shoveful. Combined with the special diet he is on for his ulcers which produces foul smelling poo I think most lorries would stall out of protest. Seriously you only have to wlk on the yard with 14 boxes and you can smell immediately if he has been! My Mother who is a fanatical gardener always advised NEVER to put fresh on your plants it needs to be well rotted otherwise it burns the plants. I reckon my horses could be rotted for years and it would still 'nuke' the plants :)

As for selling it? - anybody got any contacts in British Nuclear Fuel :)