OVER the past 11 years, seven dogs have been introduced to the horses kept at our home. One of these was an older dog (a Cavalier King Charles); the rest were all puppies and had no prior contact with horses. The puppies were of varying breeds including: two terriers, one Lurcher, two hounds which we were walking for our local hunt, and a Labrador. Of the seven dogs introduced to the horses, one unfortunately had to be rehomed as she developed a tendency to nip and chase the horses when unsupervised.

The best advice I was given, in regard to familiarising dogs and horses, was to bear in mind that success or failure begins with the individuals involved. In some cases, certain horses or dogs are just not going to get along with the other species. Owners need to be conscious of this because safety has to remain paramount at all times.

Remember, domestic dogs are descended from a predatory species that hunts other animals for food. Dogs were bred to do different things and will have instinctive behaviour traits, some stronger than others. Today, most dogs are kept as pets, but their chasing and hunting instincts may still be present.

STARTING POINT

Before introducing dogs and horses to each other, make sure you have a well-established, trusting relationship with your horse and that your dog knows basic obedience i.e. come, sit, and stay. This enables you to assure and calm a nervous horse and help maintain control over your dog.

In the beginning, introductions should be gradual and carried out in a calm and controlled environment. Start by letting your horse and dog see each other from a distance. Your dog should be kept on a lead at this stage and your horse loose in a paddock. Encourage your dog not to bark at passing horses. Rewarding calm behaviour can help reinforce that staying calm and quiet around horses is a good thing. Try this for a few minutes each day for a couple of days.

You can then let the animals get a little closer – I would advise having your dog out around the yard with you while the horses are in their stables – this way you don’t have to worry about your dog getting stepped on. Once you have socialised the animals and they are calm in each other’s presence you cant try for more intimate contact and eventually let them get close enough to each for nose-to-nose contact.

If either animal gets nervous, try to calm them with pats or a reassuring voice. Don’t force it – just try again the next day.

It is not advisable to leave young puppies run loose around horses, as it could startle a horse and get the puppy kicked. When both horse and dog are at a stage where they just go about their own business, ignoring each other in a relaxed, calm manner then you can start to leave them roam around each other more freely.

If you come into difficulty when training your dog or familiarising them with your horse, seek the advice of a reputable dog trainer.