www.nfed.co.uk

I've also reported this to HHW. Yesterday (Sunday) lunchtime our horses were chased by a collie on the track that crosses the valley mire near Longslade Bottom car park. The dog was in a group of four collies walked by a couple. This wouldn't be unusual except that it was also chasing the Forest ponies, and there was a mare with a newborn foal beside the track. Eventually one Forest mare walked off and then returned at a full gallop down the track to charge the dog, and continued to pursue it for some time. It takes quite a persistant dog attack to provoke such a reaction, and the tourists on the track had to make a very quick escape. Even after this, and with the herd in panic the owners didn't put the dogs on leads!

Unforgiveable!!!!!!!Need to carry a gun!!!!

agree with ashlett!!!!

You mean to shoot the owners not the dogs of course!

we definitely need a 'like' button

like!

if it was not bad enough ponies getting injured or killed by cars. I say shoot them both!!

I'm afraid I'd shoot them both too! Although the owners are at fault, the dogs are the ones with the teeth doing the damage!

Yeah, perhaps all dogs should be shot to stop this ever happening again

its not the dogs fault its the owners if a dog is dangerours to other animals it can put itself on a lead thats down to the owners not the dogs plse dont blame dogs

our pony stamps on dogs should he be shot? i have warned poeple that have dogs if they are in our paddock theyll be stamped on not my ponies fault or the dogs the owners! (he doesnt stamp on them outside his paddock)

Exactly, I hope you realised my last post was written in anger at the people blaming the dogs

Of course there are many occasions where the blame lies with the owner but sadly not all dogs are nice safe sane family pets and where they are a danger to people and/or animals then you have to take it seriously. A vicious dog has the potential to kill - another animal or a human. When I was a child my parents got me a pup that we had to re-home after a couple of weeks after he attacked me (I was only 5 years old and he ended up biting me in the face just missing my eye) and no, I hadn't tormented or provoked him in any way. He went to another home where, although he was loved and cared for, he ended up having to be put to sleep as he was medically diagnosed as a very disturbed dog mentally. For whatever reason (bad breeding maybe) his brain wasn't wired up right. And no, I don't hate dogs as a result! The majority of dogs are nothing like that but there are still a small percentage of dangerous dogs out there that shouldn't have excuses made for them!

I know of a couple of dog breeders of the larger breeds (Rotties being one) that will have puppies put to sleep if they show agressive traits rather than allowing them to mature into a potentially dangerous animal.

There is an article in the Lymington Times about 2 St Bernards chasing a ridden horse last week. This is sadly becoming more and more of a regular occurrence.

A month or so ago I was driving through Norleywood to collect my children from school and came across 2 St Bernards chasing donkies along the road. Myself and another driver managed to get our vehicles between the dogs and the donkies after over a mile of the donkies being chased. The dogs owner finally caught up and when I sugested he not let the dogs off the lead if he couldn't control them, he unleashed a barrage of foul language at me, shoved the dogs in the car and off he went! I hasten to add I did get his number plate and did report this incident.

Not wanting to point the finger - but 2 St Bernards chasing horses/donkies - coincidence?!?

People with any animal should take full responsibility for their animals, but sadly we all know this does not always happen. If you confront these owners, it is usually a fruitless conversation, which can often lead to verbal abuse or worse. The only thing we can do is to keep reporting these people and passing on as much information as possible in the hope they get more than just a warning.

I do agree, unfortunately, not all dogs are 'nice fluffy puppies' and I know if a dog was attacking our livestock my husband would not have any hesitation in using his gun.

Goodness this is getting so far away from the original posting, dog chased ponies, no not in any way acceptable but it did not bite or injure anything but they should be shot!? As far as the dog breeders are concerned, as long as they are making money out of the good ones that is all that matters eh!!

In fairness I don't think it's off the original topic, I think that what people are trying to say is that in instances where dogs are attacking stock, injuring them badly (as has actually happened to a Forest foal - see another post on here) or killing them then I doubt that the injured animal's owners would take the view that it's the dog owners that should be blamed and not the dog. Sadly dogs that chase and bite literally get a taste for it and given the chance they'll attack stock again. A young animal like a foal is helpless against a dog attack.

No one is thinking or suggesting that all dogs should be shot for simply being off a lead! But bear in mind that dogs can also do damage simply by chasing animals - they can cause sheep to lose their lambs when they run in a panic and that's why farmers have the right to shoot a dog that they see running amongst a flock.

As for dog breeders just caring about making money out of the good ones I can only say that the instances I quoted there are of responsible dog breeders trying to ensure that the dogs they breed have a good temperament. If it was all about making money then they'd sell the lot regardless of how they were!

I would just like to say that IMO the owner is always to blame for these incidents, the dogs are all owned by somebody and they should take responsibility for their actions, any animal will do what comes naturally, weather that be the dogs breed or a case of bad breeding, in the case of the sheep in minstead, the farmer had no option than to shoot to protect his sheep, had the owner been responsible then the dogs would never of had the chance to attack the sheep, the sheep and the dogs would still be alive! I believe humans have a lot to answer for! Oh and just for the record, I was bought up in the forest and have been around livestock all my life so only too aware of the implications of dogs chasing them

I'm pretty sure that you don't have a choice, as a dog owner (which I am), by law you are responsible for their actions. If you own a cat, it's different as they are treated as wild so you can't be responsible.
I am geting a bit worried now as I've got a dog & a bike, public enemy number 1
My dog isn't normally on a lead, but then again he doesn't chase ponies only rabbits but he's too old to catch them!

Usual problem I think, just a very small minority of irresponsible people so you have to be careful to put it all in perspective & not to over react.

i agree its ALWAYS the owners fault. if dog chases horses or kill lives stocks then thwey arnt under control by their owners! my terrier has tried to kill my hens but she now knows not to go near them and also not to go near ponies out in the forest as do my other 3 dogs. if i thought for 1 minute that they would chase then theyd be on a lead full stop.
my trerrier has epilepsy and sometimes she can get frightened of other dogs never gone for one but barked alot but cant be 100 per cent sure she wouldnt go for a dog so when off lead she is muzzled . again not her fault shes frightened but im responsible enough to muzzle her if i didnt and she went for a dog thats not her fault thats mine! the owner

Dont get too many complaints about cats chasing livestock though??

We've been attacked by dogs out riding on the forest so many times I've lost count. The owners of the dogs that chased and snapped at us had no control and didn't seem overly concerned at the effect their dog was having, despite the fact my horse was rearing/ kicking out/ shying/ trying to bolt away. I've even had people say "good" when I've warned them my horse will kick their dog if it rushes at him or gets too close!
If I knew my dog chased horses or behaved aggressively around them I'd put him on a lead. I'm not sure whether non-horsey people just didn't understand it's a) dangerous and b) unacceptable. We're now at a place that's away from the main car-park areas and don't get anything like the problems we did. Rides are a stress-free pleasure now- I hadn't realised how unhappy it was making me until it stopped.
There are many responsible dog-owners who use the forest and have well behaved dogs, it's the ones who aren't that bother me.

As long as the owner keeps trying to get their dog under control I don't have issues. But if I'm being polite trying to keep my dog and horse out of their way - I do expect them to be intellligent and do their utmost to get their dog under close control, not call it once continue with their jog and ignore the subsequent barking when their disobedient dog comes down a side track to investigate my dog who is standing in close position next to his mum and pony. My dog was badly bitten by another 18 months ago and avoids other dogs if possible rather than get in a shouting match, consequently I try not to come into close contact with other dogs if avoidable. We also got chased by a young boxer who just thought it was fun. 'Dad' was left calling and puffing far behind. I took the risk of stopping and the dog then heard her call and returned, but a bit of forethought by the owner seeing a galloping horse on a different track and the dogs ears going up, might have avoided the situation.
I am well aware how much effort it takes to train a dog properly, teaching mine to follow at hock involved many hours of intensive work on foot using a long rein tied around my waist so that he was pulled up short if he went after stock. I spent a lot of time on my arse, but he understands LEAVE, NO, and PONY extremely well.
So yes, other peoples lack of control of their dogs does spoil my riding but many owners are brilliant and friendly, others try which is fine its just the ones that don't bother really get up my nose.

How interesting, my daughter came back from her ride today and told me that a St Bernard type dog had chased her and Ted at Longslade. The dog's owner had just stood there and called "stop, stop". Titch wasn't sure if the woman was addressing her or the dog... Anyway it wasn't a problem luckily as when they pulled up, the dog stopped, grubbed around for a bit and then walked back to its owner.

Silly owners really ought to find somewhere else to walk their dogs if they can't keep them under control on the forest (and I you'd never "win" against a St Bernard, if they decided to go off).

I can't help thinking that IF their dogs were to be stamped on by an irritated horse/pony, these owners would go absolutely mental and they would not consider it to be their fault in any way for not having their dogs under control in the first place...