my horse HATES dogs!!?

Question

my horse was bit by a dog wen he was a baby, since he has hated dogs (wich is understandable), he chases them and tries to stomp them, or waits till they are close and them kicks them, any dog, anywere, its not so much a problem when he is in the pasture, but it becomes bad when im riding him in the neighborhood, i can control him, but it becomes a hassle to always have to fight it (there are alot of dogs, and the only way to get to the trails is to pass them). i have tried to let him see that not all dogs are bad by trying to let him get to know our old shepperd, i held him while he sniffed her for awyle but then he bit her...she ran and he took off after her, we have tried it a couple of times, but it never worked out.

Answer 1

Its in a horses nature to hate dogs. Horses are prey animals and dogs are predators. When a horse is confronted it chooses from 2 reactions Flight (run away) or fight. Since your horse was bitten/attacked by a dog, your problem is compounded because your horse is choosing to fight. Since you have a problem with him going after dogs when your riding you need to do something to take his mind off the dogs and focus his attention on you where it belongs. Try circling him or asking for a side pass to keep him focused.
I am assuming the dogs you are worried about are running loose. If they are you can call your local animal control office and ask about a leash law and file a complaint about loose dogs.
If this doesn't work you may want to consider riding else where. Safety first.
Good Luck

Answer 2

How is it understandable to hate dogs? It's wrong. Need I reming you that if you hate dogs, you hate wolves? And there are dog haters that like wolves, making them hypocrites.

Answer 3

Perhaps dog-horse relationships don't always work. I once had a dog that routinely bit horses' legs. A couple the horses' had to be put down because of it so perhaps it is good that your horse is defensive around dogs.
However, I know that dog-horse relationships can work because I've often seen people use both for hunting and many farmers have dogs that will follow horses. Perhaps just getting your horse used to being around good dogs. Either that or let the horse and the dog have it out in an area where the dog can get under a fence or something if its going to stomped. You might also try blinders while passing dogs but I 'm not sure that would help.

Answer 4

youthful horse desires to be doing some thing yet won't be able to because of the elements so he will make his personal mischief! I extremely have 17 horses and virtually as many dogs about this position and that i won't be able to tolerate any of the horses going for the dogs. in the journey that they do then they get a strong telling off interior this form of me scary the heck out of them through arm waving and going into attack mode. If I say that the dogs are portion of the herd and the horses are portion of the %. then that's how that's. that's strong for the horses to get use to the dogs, very few weeks in the past even as the farrier develop into shoeing between the TBs the dogs put up a rat and ran round and lower than the pony which by no skill grew to develop right into a hair. I do ought to tell the dogs off for going into the loose shed with the 4 yearlings at feed cases because the damaging horses won't be able to get into the feed bowls because there are a GSD, Border Collie, 2 Foxhound domestic dogs ingesting their feed!

Answer 5

Horses will instinctively have a mistrust of dogs, getting bit clinched it. You could try and keep her around dogs to get used to them but then she will likely only trust those dogs she knows. Personally, I would keep the dogs away from her. You can carry a whip and snap it at the dogs to keep them clear-notice I didn't say strike the dogs.
Also you should be aware that a kick from a horse could be enough to kill a dog or scramble his brains. Had a dog kicked once, he was out cold for awhile, afterward he seemed fine. He went totally beserk a few weeks later and it was proven he suffered brain damage from the kick. I won't go into details but the attack was bad news and we had no warning he would react this way.

Answer 6

Sounds like a problem. But Ur just going to have to adapt to not you know riding ur horse by a bunch of dogs. sorry and good luck

Answer 7

Hi,
Just keep on doing what your'e doing.Re: letting the horse sniff the dog. Soon he will get the hang of dogs and they will be just like pals.
-annai

Answer 8

that's sad to hear. You'd think even an animal is willing to learn and give other animals a second chance but I guess nature won't allow it. Good luck with however you're going to handle it.

Answer 9

i dont own a horse.but maybe u could try letting a dog sleep in the barn with your horse for a few weeks & see if they bond.
if not,i have no idea,guess theres' nothing u can do.

Answer 10

Try hiring an animal behaviorist who specializes in horses to break this cycle.