Incidents between horses and dogs increase by a third

Blue Cross and The British Horse Society (BHS) have joined forces with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to advise dog and horse owners in the face of a sharp rise in clashes between the animals.

With the number of incidents between dogs and horses reported to The British Horse Society rising from 166 in 2014 to 250 in 2015, the group hope that the information will help to ensure that dogs and horses can continue to enjoy sharing the same spaces.

Gemma Taylor, Education Officer at Blue Cross said: “As a charity that cares for both horses and dogs we know that situations can easily arise when owners don’t anticipate the way that their animals might react when they meet.  One of the most important things for owners is to know how to control their animals and train both dogs and horses to remain calm around each other from an early age. If in doubt, dogs should always be kept on a lead around horses, especially in unfamiliar surroundings."

Sheila Hardy, Head of Safety at The British Horse Society said: "Sadly, the number of dog and horse related incidents being reported through our horse accidents website is continuing to grow. The consequences of these incidents can be particularly nasty with serious injuries often being caused to horses, their riders and the dogs involved."

The two charities have now issued a new advice  leaflet with the approval of the National Police Chiefs’ Council, whose officers are often called to respond to serious incidents involving dogs and horses.

PC Keith Evans, Dog Legislation Officer on the National Dangerous Dogs Working Group, said: “We are extremely pleased to support this campaign emphasising the importance of the mutual respect, and responsibilities, that dog owners and equestrians share.

"There has been an increase in the number of incidents between dogs and horses in recent years, and this informative and impartial leaflet will undoubtedly improve the lifestyle and safety of many like-minded animal lovers within our communities. That this campaign comes from the partnership of the The British Horse Society, Blue Cross, and the National Police Chief’s Council, evidences the importance being placed on this issue across the broad of spectrum of organisations committed to improving both animal welfare and public safety.”

The new ‘Look at it from my point of view!’ leaflet outlines advice for dog and horse owners, explaining encounters from the point of view of both animals. Tips include:

For dog owners:

• Introduce your dog to horses at an early age and train him to remain calm around them
• When out for a walk, keep your dog under close control and keep him on a lead if he does not have a sound recall
• If you see a horse approaching, call your dog to you and keep him as still as possible in a visible but safe place
• Encourage your dog not to bark at horses and reward him with treats for staying calm

For horse owners:

• Introduce your horse to dogs at an early age and train him not to react to their presence
• Always slow to a walk to pass dogs and communicate with the dog owner in case they haven’t seen you
• If necessary, stop to allow an excited dog to be caught
• Give nervous-looking dogs a wide berth so they do not feel threatened and do not shout or wave your arms around