I recently went horse camping with a few friends who insisted on bringing their dogs.  Now, I brought my dog too, but she stayed behind when we rode the trails.  These trails would probably be classified moderate by most seasoned riders and horses, but I was on a horse new to mountain trails, big rock step-ups, narrow with drop-offs;  so for him these trails would be more extreme than moderate.  One of the dogs ran back and forth from the front horse to the back horse the entire time, spooking my horse when he burst out of the dry brush.   The other dog, quite old, struggled to keep up and refused to move over and get out of the way.  I had to pull up suddenly many times to avoid going over her.  The worst was when my horse was literally leaping up some huge 2' steps of rock, requiring a big effort on his part, and this old dog stopped right in front of us.  I could not pull my horse up in mid-jump or it would have been disastrous for me and for him... so we ran completly over the dog.  I felt terrible.  Turns out my horse did not even step on her, but must have bumped her with his foot as he hopped and leaped over her.  She was fine, but I was really steamed about those dogs making a difficult situation much worse.  I was wondering how some of you felt about dogs on the trail.  Or if it really depends on the combination of horse and rider experience and trail difficulty?  It was really dangerous a few times because of those dogs.  How would you handle if they wanted to join you on future rides?

It's not the dog, it's the owner.  Anyone who owns a trail dog, must have their dog trained well, and must respect others.  I am training a puppy to trail ride with us, if he doesn't mind he doesn't go.  If one of my friends are on a young horse he doesn't go, Kids, that don't ride good he doesn't go.  It's all about having control of your animal. 

Last year I was riding my 2 year old mule and a guy we were riding with was riding a 2 year old filly.   He had no control over that colt, and he kept running over my young mule.  You can imagine I was not a happy trail rider.  So just like horses you have to have control of your dog.  I told this guy he had to get away from me since he could not control his horse.  Same with the dogs.  If you are not comfortable riding with thier dogs, TEll them! 

If the trails are crowded, dogs should be left secured at camp. Wife & I have seen dogs tear into each other on trails when different groups meet from opposite direction. We have also found many a lost dog on trail and called the owners whose name is on the dog's tag. My pet peeve is the owner who brings his dog out for a run and the dog doesn't stay with the owner. These are usually the ones we find. Some have been lost for days and days. Once we found one that owner had been trying to find for 3 days. We ran across owner on one of the less traveled trails and he asked us to watch for his dog. We had gone about a mile when the dog came running out of the brush to us. We called the owner to let him know we had found it. Here at LBJ Nat'l it's best to leave the dogs at home or camp on weekends as trails are quite used. During the week, no problem usually taking dogs out on trail with you. Just use common sense.

I have been trail riding with dogs many times. I was on a very green horse who did not like dogs. She would try and kick at them every time. Before we went out, I told the owners that my horse likes to kick and strick out at dogs and I am no way responsible to what happens with her dogs. I kept my horse in the back and she kept her dogs away from me. Another lady left her dog back as she didnt want to take the chance of her dog getting hurt. I even brought my dog along who has been kicked by her before and he stays away. A year later, my horse doesn't mind dogs on the trail. I look at it as a good training exercise. If someone was on a green horse, I would keep my dog away from them. I think that the owner was inconsiderate/ignorant to the problems you were having on your horse. I should also add that when we go trail riding, there could be up to 10 dogs with us, sometimes more dogs than horses. I have 2 dogs. One always goes on the trails with us. The other will be left behind many times since she does not have the "respect" for horses yet.

 Open, honest and direct communication among a trail riding/camping group is imperative.  If I am on a relatively inexperienced horse, I will tell my buddies and ask for consideration.  Happy trails. 

I trailride with dogs occcasionally and respect my fellow riders about their opinion, but if I am riding public ground where I can take them, that is my perogative and perhaps Rostrenga, you should ride on private grounds that don't allow dogs period. Taking a dog on a trailride does not always mean a fox hunt.

Best dog I ever met out on the trail was trained to lay down as soon as we came up to them.  The dog was told to stay and stayed until both groups had passed by and then they called their dog.  We was all impressed and commented how we wished everyone riding with dogs would do the same.

I'm a dog lover and use to ride with my lab. I believe a lot is training but in general feel the best place for the dogs are back at camp.  It's safer for the riders and for the dogs and that's what's most important.  

Just last week my horse just about kicked a small dog walking behind my horse and I would have felt terrible if the dog would have been kicked.  It was the first time my horse kicked at a dog walking by while I was riding her.

I've know of two different times of a dog going under a horse, horse spooking and riders falling off getting very hurt.   Both were on a week vacation riding and couldn't ride the rest of the week ruining their vacation.  Worst part was that it was the same dog that caused both accidents two years in a row.

I wouldn't hesitate to mention to someone about their dog if it was really bothering my horses.  If they can't respect your safety then I probably wouldn't be riding with them. 

CLASSYGIRL98  PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING Federal Law regarding Public Lands 

USC Title 16 (Conservation)

In general, pets are permitted but must be restrained either on a leash not exceeding 6 feet in length, caged or crated at all times. Park Superintendents and Managers have the discretion to further restrict areas open to pets (i.e., trails, buildings, campgrounds may be off limits).

Restrictions on pets in parks are as much to protect your pet as to protect park resources. Following are some of the reasons parks give for regulating the presence of pets:
--When a loose pet chases a squirrel or raccoon, the wild animal's ability to survive is threatened, and when it is threatened, it may react aggressively.
--There is a strong possibility in parks such as Yellowstone that your pet could become prey for bear, coyote, owl, or other predators.
--There is a possibility of exchange of diseases between domestic animals and wildlife. --Dogs, the most common traveling companion, are natural predators that may harass or even kill native wildlife that is protected within the park's boundaries.
--The "scent of a predator" that dogs leave behind can disrupt or alter the behavior of native animals. --Pets may be hard to control, even on a leash, within confines of often narrow park trails and may trample or dig up fragile vegetation.
--Dog and cat feces add excessive nutrients and bacterial pollution to water, which decreases water quality and can also cause human health problems.
--Finally, lost domestic animals sometimes turn to preying on park wildlife and must be destroyed.

First of all, I do not have a problem with other people's opinion regardless of how they agree or disagree. What I have problem with is arrogant, hateful people that voice their opinion like they know it all and everyone else is just plain dumb.

Second, I do not take my dogs into state parks or national parks or anywhere they are not permitted. I ride a lot in our local national forest and have yet to have one government official tell me that I need to take my dog back to camp.

Third, I agree with pasobeth that it is just as much responsibilty of the horse owner to have their horses get used to dogs. Not just because of dogs going with the riders but in case of an encounter with other dogs that may be along the trail.

I

I just had to add my 2 cents here.  We have been riding trails for years now.  Sometimes see people with dogs, sometimes not.  2 weeks ago we rode at Shimek park near Donnelson Iowa (awesome!).  We saw several dogs, and our friends had 2 as well with us on the trail.  I was totally impressed with the dogs we had with us, and all we came across.  My husband reminded me that with dogs, they spook up all the deer and other critters that may spook your horse!  I think both sides have valid points, but if a puppy dog scares your horse, maybe he needs more trail training??? 

I must adimt that I may have been "anti" dog on the trail before my personal experience, but a good trail dog isn't a big deal.  I would rather put up with a couple dogs than people letting their kids run their horses up and down the trail (but that's another can of worms!)

Also, my horse is 3 years old, and my husband rides a 2 year old.  Our 6 year old son also rides his own horse (she's 13).  So, it isn't like we were riding "seasoned" horses!!!

Happy trails

diane

A friend of mine had an experience where she was riding with a couple who always bring 2 or 3 of their 8 or 9 dogs along - anything from a german shephard to an italian grayhound to a pair of pugs.  The fellows horse spooked (probably not at the dogs) and he was thrown to the ground and injured.  He was not able to re-mount and ride back to the trailer.  His wife road ahead for help. As he attempted to walk back to the trailer, he encountered someone in a pickup along the dirt road who drove him back to his trailer.  However, this individual had his own dog in his truck so he could not take the other two dogs along.  This left my friend with 2 horse, 2 dogs, no leashes and no extra lead ropes to walk the several miles back to the trailers.  The hurt rider was taken to the hospital leaving my friend to drive his truck and trailer with all 3 horses and the dogs back home.  Luckily she is an experienced driver and was able to handle the large rig. Walking the dogs and horses back by herself was the difficult and potentially dangerous part.

Moral of the story...  Whatever you decide about riding with dogs, be prepared. In this case, the dogs did not cause the accident, but certainly made the "clean-up" more difficult.

happy trails....