Preventing Dog Attacks on Horses
January 18, 2013
Safeguard horse health by taking precautions and laying down the law.
Katie was lucky to be alive after an encounter with the family dogs, but the Hornbacks have taken steps to keep it from happening again. Photo courtesy of Lori Hornback.
From The American Quarter Horse Journal
Editor’s Note: These tips are a follow-up to “Man’s Best Friend?,” a story that detailed what American Quarter Horse breeders Lori and Bert Hornback went through after discovering that their newborn foal, A Smoking Miracle, had been savagely attacked by their three family dogs. Here, the Hornbacks and their veterinarian, Dr. Christa Bruns, offer suggestions to prevent such a scenario from happening to anyone else.
“People in the area get dogs and let them run loose, and they don’t understand the dangers,” Lori Hornback said. “Our dogs wanted to get out of their kennels because our neighbor dogs were allowed to run free. So many people living close to farms don’t understand that they shouldn’t let their dogs run loose.”
Dr. Christa Bruns shares their concern at her own horse facility.
“Dogs like to chase things that are their size or a little bit bigger,” she said. “It’s natural for them. Many dogs are bred to herd livestock. To my dogs, a foal is another dog because of the way they were trained.” But the neighbor dogs haven’t been trained to coexist with horses, and Dr. Bruns doesn’t tolerate them wandering around her horses.
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“They all have teeth, and they all have the
ability to attack a foal if they want to,” she said. “It happens.”
Dr. Bruns researched the issue and found many horse communities with similar concerns. “People move out to the country with dogs of all breeds and let them run around and herd the farm animals,” she said.
The solution? Dr. Bruns and the Hornbacks have several suggestions:
- “The trick is to keep our dogs on and other dogs off,” Lori said. To control their dogs, the Hornbacks purchased an invisible underground fencing system with transmitters that send signals to their dogs’ collars when they get too close to property boundaries.
- To keep other dogs out, they’ve installed 6-foot-high welded pipe fencing with V-mesh on most of their ranch’s 20 acres. “We’re investing a tremendous amount of money in fencing,” Lori said. “We run 50 horses on our property, so it’s worth the investment. I don’t have to worry about patrolling my property and running off animals.”
- Their new, custom stalls have closely spaced rails and welded wire around the bottom of the adjoining turnouts.
- They also bought a donkey that, by nature, doesn’t like coyotes or dogs. “When we turn babies out, we put the donkey out with them,” Lori said. “They won’t tolerate any kind of dog in their area. They’ll herd with whomever they’re with. She’s tolerant of the babies and keeps other animals away from the babies. She’ll go after the dogs and chase them off. She’s vocal if something’s out there.”
With an AQHA membership you’ll get great benefits including help with registering a foal from AQHA’s customer service and many more.
- Finally, the Hornbacks have instituted a steadfast rule: “No dog out on the ranch loose when a horse is being handled,” Lori said. “They have to be locked up. I have my own horses and other people’s there, and that’s our rule.”
Comments
8 Comments on “Preventing Dog Attacks on Horses”
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January 18th, 2013 at 7:04 pm
Very good
January 18th, 2013 at 8:54 pm
We lost 7 sheep and two precious mini horses to our neighbor’s dogs. It was horrifying and tragic, and a terrible lesson to learn. You can’t be too careful with your little ones.
January 21st, 2013 at 6:02 am
We keep our dogs in our home. They are a part of our family. They are very socialized and have been out with all our chickens, goats and horses and we have NEVER had a problem. Not saying it couldn’t happen but they are not even interested. I believe this has to do with them living in our home and getting attention and being loved on. Dogs that live in kennels are known to not have “manners”. Dogs are not meant to live without the love of their “masters”. I have never met a dog that lived in a kennel that was perfectly well mannered. I believe that could be part of the problem.
January 21st, 2013 at 9:42 pm
I love dogs; I couldn’t live without them. But dogs not used to horses or other livestock (or even other dogs) should really be on a leash or resonably contained. I had a bad experience on the trail involving a dog that could have been much worse. I was taking a break standing next to my horse while he was grazing, my cousin (who does not ride, but came along to the hike) was sitting on a rock nearby. Out of nowhere a black lab came running up the path, fur raised, teeth barred and snarling…he ran right under my horse who in turn, reared up…his hoof just grazing right my cousin’s back. She had a nasty bruse after but another inch and he could have broken her spine!
The dog continued to lunge at my horse. Foolishly I tried to hang onto the lead as my horse ran and was drug a good 3 yards before the owner, a jogger, caught up and caught her dog.
She apoligized and placed the dog in the car, but we could have avoided this situation my having our dogs on leashes at all times. I don’t blame the jogger for what happened. This was, after all, an accident. I just wish people were more aware of the dangers of letting even the calmest sweetest dogs run loose.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:08 am
I was attacked while riding two years ago by the neighboring farms dogs. They were known to be vicious. They attacked horses and people regularly. The dog warden was called on a regular basis and did nothing. The dog came on our property and went after my horses back legs to hamstring him. He of course reared and bucked to repell the dog. I wish he had made contact with the dog. When my horse whipped around to kick the dog I came off and hit the ground hard. I was wearing a helmet and a protective vest thank God other wise I would have been seriously injured. It took legal letters to the dog warden, the sheriff and the dog owner before they put up a fence and confined the dogs.
Dog owners are responsible for the behavior of their dogs. All dogs, vicous or not, should have confined areas to exercise in or be on a leash. Dogs are predators and given the correct circumstances, an other wise friendly Fido can become a predator in a flash.
January 23rd, 2013 at 9:18 am
Those of you who posted about your horrible loses need to go to the local prosecutor. If they brush you off go to a lawyer who specializes in criminal law. They will do what is necessary to get the neighbors to control their dogs. Many people say it’s too expensive but how expensive to your heart and pocket were your loses. Don’t be afraid to get agressive about it. Your neighbors are in the wrong letting their predators run lose because your livestock and horses are prey. HOpe this helps. Good luck in keeping your animals safe.
PS The dog warden tried to tell me that the law couldn’t make the neighbors confine their dogs. I happen to be married to a prosecutor. He sent letters containing what the law actually was which is the same in the country as in the city and then the dog warden and owners had to do as the law states. Stay on it and don’t give up.
I too am a great dog lover but you can’t allow them to be predators.
January 23rd, 2013 at 4:10 pm
Thank you for the information about the country vs. city laws. I too was told by police that in the country dogs can run wild. This was after a pack of three were trying to get in our horse pasture. He also told me I could shoot them if I wanted.!! ?? I did not want to shoot anything, I wanted them to talk to the new neighbors about keeping their dogs tied up. These people have moved but since then another neighbor lets its dog run and it too has scared my horses while I was riding it, when the dog ambushed us. One time I was thrown while ponying a horse and was trampled and my shoulder still hurts. Needless to say we do not sent Christmas cards but neither did we exhange words about the incident. I have one dog and he is wonderful. The horses tried to kill him the first day he arrived and he has stayed away from them since. I also had a horse almost cut his hoof off and I am fairly certain he was kicking at that neighbor dog judging by the wreck the fence and his fetlock was in when I found him. Are we liable if the horses kill the dog? I am sure there would be words exchanged then! Here nor there, keep these useful articles coming!
Thank you!
January 26th, 2013 at 9:14 pm
Thanks Jodi for keeping Katies story alive, even after she has left us. My message to all is that every dog situation is different and while we think we understand how to best manage them with livestock, there really are no guarantees if they will or won’t cross that line. Since Katie was attacked 10 years ago, we have heard from hundreds of people about their experiences. These are very emotional things to go through and we respect each and every heartache and decision. What I have taken away from this experience is leave nothing to chance. I love my dogs and horses equally and never again want to make that choice. Luckily I have not had to, but I have also not let down my guard. Our current dog Bindy, a young Australian Shephard, lives in our house, has been raised with horses, including newborn foal since she was a puppy. She loves them, she is a sweet and loving companion to me and my horses. But I have seen her struggle with that natural desire to cross the line and I stay ever vigilent and watchful to help her through those moments. I believe that if given the chance under the right circumstances she could do harm, whether it be running them playfully or something more preditory. It is their nature and I now really do understand that.