Is this true about horses?

Question

I'm going to stay on a farm for a few weeks, and I want to bring my dog (a lab mix). My mom told me I shouldn't because horses kill dogs. Really? I've never heard of that (but i've never been around horses either).

Answer 1

Some horses (including one of mine) try to kill dogs e.g. chase them, kick them, and bite at them. BUT some horses (like my quarter horse) LOVE dogs, she plays with them and she even is protective of them. But it depends on the horse.

Be Very careful, My horse vet has emergency calls like 9 times a year about dogs chasing horses thrue fencing, so be careful.

~Good~Luck~

:>

Answer 2

Some horses kill dogs and some don't.  Your dog could be a problem if he is not used to being around horses, and would be okay on a leash but not running around free.

Answer 3

Horses don't kill dogs, but dogs do get in the way of a horse. Believe me, my horses hate dogs. Of course, you never know. Every horse is different. If you want my advice, don't bring your dog. If you never been around around horses, your dog probably hasn't either. So it doesn't matter how trained you dog is, don't bring him. You really have no idea whats going to happen. So I suggest you don't bring your dog.

Answer 4

Has your dog ever been around horses?  If your dog knows how to act around horses and is obedient, you could probably take him along if in a pinch there's someplace to keep him if you see that the horses are nervous.  

Some horses will kick/kill dogs, but most won't if the dog is well behaved and keeps its distance.

Horses ganging up and killing a coyote, dog, cougar etc. doesn't sound unusual to me.  Coyotes and the like can take down small or injured horses, so the herd was only protecting themselves.

Also, I completely agree with John r :-)

Answer 5

Most horses are very friendly toward dogs. The worst my mare has ever done was pin her ears at a dog that was getting too close to her grain bowl. But since your dog has never really been around horses before, you might want to be careful. If a dog has never seen or been around a horse before they may try to attack it or constantly bark at it.

At my previous boarding ranch, someone brought a dog that wasnt use to horses, and he used to bite their tail and hang from it while someone was riding. Some horses tolerated it but most freaked out and they eventually had to get rid of the dog.

Answer 6

Some horses don't like dogs and won't tolerate them in their 'territory'.   My old foundation Appy stallion would go after a dog in his area but ignore them when he was out.

Many horses are hostile to yappy dogs or dogs that insist on getting in their personal space.  It's perceived as a threat and it's irritating.

Keep your dog away from the horses.  It's never a good idea to let your dog run loose in a strange (new) place.  The farm owner probably wouldn't appreciate it, either.

Maybe leave your dog at home.

Answer 7

ive seen it go both ways...

3 horses....

my horse that i used to lease didnt like dogs and would chase them away.  the horse i used to own would kill anything on 4 legs.  he hated both horses and dogs.  if my dog got into his stall he would pin his ears back and charge at her.

my current horse only sniffs dogs and normally the dogs are afraid of him but he would never charge at a dog or hurt anything intentionally

it really depends on the horse

i would ask the owner of the farm but most likely it would be fine if you bring your dog.  just keep him/her on a leash and when hes not on a leash keep him really close to you

Answer 8

As a general rule, no, horses do not kill dogs.  However, use your common sense.  Has your dog ever seen or been in the pasture with horses?  If not, your dog may bark or snap or chase the horses.  In that case, a horse may turn on your dog, and if your dog is not adept at dealing with horses, your dog will lose in the confrontation.  My horses are great with my dogs but if the dogs get out of line with my quarterhorse, he will stomp and kick at them and try to run them over.  He doesn't put up with any foolishness.  A lot can depend on the personality of the horse.  So I would use caution with my dog until I was more certain of his behavior.  Better safe than sorry.

As an aside if there are other animals on the farm:  Donkeys and llamas are "guardian animals" and they innately protect their charges from "canine" animals.  My neighbor didn't realize this.  She visited with her friend and took her dog.  Her friend's donkey killed her dog in seconds.   Many farmers use donkeys to protect their calves, goats or other smaller animals from coyotes.

Answer 9

Not all dogs kill horses!! Some herding dogs e.g. border collies, kelpies are trained to herd them..

Also some may chase them but I've never heard of a dog killing a horse before..

Is your dog trained? If not, just to be on the safe side don't bring it..

Answer 10

When horses are around dogs when they are young they will most probably get used to them...But when a horse is in a situation where it has never seen a dog before it will probably freak out and bolt....When horses are scared they will flee...If a horse tries to kill a dog it would be the most bravest horse I have ever heard of..!!

Answer 11

i have seen it go both ways,i have seen dogs kill horses(mostly foals)and my neighbors prize roping horse was chased by a dog into a t post killing it when it was impaled by the t post,i have seen dogs chase horses thru fences and into enclosed places where the horse broke its neck trying to escape.my horses are pasture trained and they have killed and injured dogs and coyotes,the dogs and coyotes were going after my pasture dogs but my horses protected them.so bottom line if your dog was not brought up around horses dont bring it with you.

i might add that another neighbors dog was chasing their horse and the horse kicked shattering the dogs hip.they had to put the dog down,a horses hoof can shatter bones in dogs including skulls plus ranch dogs are very territorial and tempermental.

Answer 12

1. is your mom ok?

2. A horse would not kill your dog

Answer 13

well it depends if the dog barks and bites, which i dont think does. my horses when i first got them were pretty skittish about my dog, but soon warmed up to her. horses wont injure, or "kill" unless they feel threatened, horses are animals of prey and they have 2 choices, flight or fight, and they usually pick flight first but if they can't then they will fight. but i dont know about it. have the horses been around other dogs besides the coyote? if not, maybe you should leave your dog at home. for his/her safety, just to be sure, you dont know what kind of horses your going to be dealing with.

hope i helped.  

Answer 14

Horses can kill dogs.  They are a much bigger, ruffly weighing around 1000 pounds for so.  But most wouldn't do it on purpose.  If the dogs is aggravating or scaring the horse, the horse may kick the dog. That can kill the dog depending of where the dog is kicked and how big the dog is.  But the horses would not be intending to kill the dog.  It would be an accident.  

Answer 15

um.. a lot of horses like dogs. call the farm and ask if they have a dog, they probably do. ppl use dogs bred for herding cattle, horses, sheep, etc.

ive never heard of a horse killing a dog. if they are scared they'll run away from them.

so just ask the owner anyway. but bring your dog!

Answer 16

MOST horses won't bother dogs. Some even enjoy their company. Other horse how ever are terrified of dog and will kick at them etc. I would and ask the owner if there are any horses on the farm that would be bothered by a dog, and if it is ok to bring your dog

Answer 17

NO, a horse will NOT kill a dog unless they are really mad! They are flight animals and will normally run from danger instead of fight it. Just keep your dog away from the horses and they won't get scared.

Answer 18

Let the dog sniff the horses and let the horses sniff the dog for a few minutes.... if they don't bak off it should be fine!

Answer 19

your dog might get a swift kick in the butt if it goes yapping around the feet of a spookier horse, but if he's quiet and smart, there should be no danger.

Answer 20

no your mom is just really DUMB (no offense) but horses will not kill dogs they wil only sniff them or accationally get scared by the dog running around but most horses dont even care bout other animals......

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my dog sits right behind my horse(touchig his hind legs) and ive never had a problem with it

Answer 21

uhhh nooooo.

inless the horse is like totally tarifide of the dog.

which it shouldnt be if its trianed right..

and u should get prmision by the owners before you bring the dog around them.. alsooo... make sure hes on a lese all times.

bc one of my horses hates dogs and she kicked him but he staysed outta the way..

Answer 22

no, generally horses will not attack or attempt to harm other animals. they are flight animals, so if anything, they will avoid your dog.

much love xx

Answer 23

Some horses don't like dogs, and if I were you I would leave my dog home. Especially because the horses killed a coyote. Not very smart...leave the dog home. BTW I would trust the owner over the people in the Yahoo! horse section. The owner is warning you not to bring your dog, so don't bring him. Despite what the people on here are telling you, the owner knows his horses and they killed a coyote so they would kill a dog too. Your mom is right, some people here just think that because it's true for one animal means it's true for every animal...so just don't bring your dog. It's really not safe for him, nor is it polite because the farm owners are kind enough to let you stay there for a few weeks, and adding your dog to the mix isn't saying thanks.

Answer 24

No horses will not usually kill dogs, sometimes they will chase them around for fun for something (like my gelding lol) or they might be scared of them but they won't usually kill them although a really angry/annoyed horse might bite and kick the dog which might kill it.

Answer 25

NO! horses don't kill dogs.  the only time a horse would kill a dog it would be because its scared and accidentally stepped on it!

no way! bring your dog!

Answer 26

we have 3 horses in our back pasture(unfortuanatly) and they have kicked my dog in the head before but it was probably just because he was running around the horse and bugging him, so just keep your dog close to you and dont let him by the horses alone, or just put a leash on him.

Answer 27

For the most part dogs and horses get along great. The exceptions being - if a horse feels threatened by the dog(maybe it's barking or biting) they may lash out. Or a mare with a foal may in some cases attach if they don't think they can just get their baby away. Our dog gets along great with our horses, but then she learned at an early age not to chase or nip heels(the little old shetland had to teach her that one twice). Puppies/young dogs have more to learn so have a better chance of getting kicked or bitten by an irritated horse. I would ask the farm that you are going too before considering it - most don't allow pets except those that they own since they know the nature of them. But no, horses very rarely intentionally kill dogs...