Thankfully we trade pet sitting so it’s not that expensive.
It does suck. With horse shows I don’t trust people even with the enforcement of leashes. My dogs safety is too important to risk dealing with idiots. So as much as I would love for him to come he stays home. It’s better for him and me.
I totally support your small children ban!
I guess maybe I feel better about it because my dog is well removed from any high traffic areas. I have a big trailer, so always have to “park in the back”, meaning no one is ever really over where we are. She’s on a 6 foot lead in the trailer, enough where she can move to where there’s shade and sprawl out, but not enough she can go outside or get tangled in crap. I have a 2+1, she’s in the +1 area.
I seriously don’t feel comfortable leading my on-edge mare through some of those show aisles, so I surely would never bring my dog in there to get stepped on. Sometimes I’ll take her for a jog in the mornings, next to my bike.
I guess my sadness is that my dog is my buddy at shows. I don’t go with friends or a trainer or anything. Rarely does anyone show up to watch. It’s just me, and that’s ok. But it’s like… 200x better if I’ve got my pup with me. 
Oh I totally understand and good for you for having a smart set up. I just have zero faith in people. I mean the woman in question has already had her dog attack at other shows and she still brings it.
I’d come cheer you on and groom if your in area II
I just spent a bunch of time looking up fatal dog attacks and there are a darn lot of them. Many of the dogs were family pets that supposedly attacked for no reason. Show management needs to be aware that in at least two of these attacks the apartment complex where the dogs were kept was sued for millions.
And the plaintiff won.
Given that my trainer when I was riding ASB was adamant about no dogs and I cannot recall ever seeing any kind of loose dog or even tethered dogs at ASB venues it may be a dangerous habit at other venues. It’s a pity for those of us with well socialized dogs to have to lose the privilege of bringing them.
Many of the deaths occurred to infants or toddlers and I sort of wonder if the dog in question would attack a babe in arms after attacking a puppy being held.
I’m really tired in this country of “banning” everything that causes a disturbance when a handful of people are really the problem. (Except guns, we can’t seem to ban those.)
Aggressive dogs need to be reported and a registry needs to be in place. Loose dogs also need to be reported and people should have a two strikes chance before having the dog permanently removed from shows.
I am also sick of loose dogs, but the DOGS aren’t the problem - the PEOPLE are. My dog is perfectly well behaved and either crated or leashed whenever she is at shows. I do this for myself more than other people because I don’t want her to get hurt. I also keep her in the barn area at all times. She’s just as much a part of the barn family as a child. I like taking her to shows when I have to stay at somewhat sketchy hotels because she acts like my alarm system.
I can get behind a rule that states no dogs may be in the showing part of the show. I will fully support that. I can get behind a rule that charges people very high fines for loose dogs, even in the barn areas. I cannot get behind banning dogs outright because that’s completely unfair to responsible dog owners and a huge cost.
I hear that, and would 100% get behind actual rule enforcement. I show at smaller shows, nothing rated, but have no problem calling someone out. I mean, I already have no friends, right? (jk, but seriously… I’ve been a loner since I was a kid according to my mom, too many people are overwhelming to me for some reason). I’m on the border between area VIII and IV. Thinking of doing something recognized this year but we shall see!
I even tie my dog in a 2" wide martingale collar because I’m too nervous she could pull out of a normal one. The martingale makes it where she can’t choke to death, but she’s not getting away either. She just snoozes - and gets into my horse’s grain >=(
My personal take - I don’t think dogs need to be banned, but they need to be on leashes of a designated length. Any discrepancy would be cause for fines, followed by a suspension of the individual’s ability to bring dogs of any kind. If the person insists, they can leave. It’s a safety issue, and the second one of the show ground property owners have to appear in court over it, it will be dealt with.
As an aside, I looked at the facebook post - are they seriously insinuating the show owners have no idea there’s a problem with loose dogs? Now that is willful sticking the head in the sand…
what you need is people on the showgrounds who enforce the rules. make it a 4foot leash rule, no dogs tied in aisles and have it enforce. Sadly, who in show management is going to pay someone specifically to do this. But the fact of the matter is, if you rule it like an iron fist people won’t push the buttons as easily.
Given the history of this person’s dogs at previous events, they should be banned from the show grounds. One attack is one too many.
If people don’t lodge a complaint about drugging horses, shammatuers, go off the deep end about safe sport all while staying quiet about abuse in all its forms because they don’t want to piss off a BNT, what makes you think anything will be different with dogs?
The people handling the dogs are the problem, yes, but since they have zero self-awareness or just simply don’t care, the most practical solution is to remove the thing they can’t appropriately handle - the dogs.
Leash and confinement rules only take care of part of the issue regarding dogs at shows. As in the case at Saugerties, the large dog could have easily been on a leash, and the small dog was being held, but passed by close enough the large one could still jump out and grab it quickly.
Even with a 6’, or non-retractable leash rule, dogs can pull loose from their owners if they’re really determined or their owner isn’t paying attention. Like the video that made the rounds years ago of some little dog (small yorkie terrier or similar) running around the show ring chasing a pair trying to complete their round, with its leash flapping in the wind behind it.
There is little that is more annoying than being at a show and being stuck next to someone who leaves their dog in their stall or trailer and it just WON’T.SHUT.UP. It may not be a safety issue in your opinion because the dog is confined, but it’s still an extreme annoyance that puts a damper on the entire show experience.
I’m slowly reading through the facebook comments, and people are saying the big dog needed to be on a leash, but their dog doesn’t because it’s only 10 pounds and isn’t trying to hurt anyone.
The disconnect is huge, and denali may be correct. Maybe totally eliminate the dogs from any horse areas, AND require a 4 foot leash? Doubtful anyone would leave their dog to roam free over by the trailer parking, but I guess I’ve underestimated people’s stupidity.
Me, too!
But do you like cats or their lack of portability?
I ask because if I ever get a good-traveling cat, I’m bringing it to the horse shows.
And this will not have been the first cat brought to shows. Way back in the day, I think there was a groom on the West Coast who had a Horse Show Cat.
Then you’d be like the rest of us who camp out at horse shows.
Come on over and party! We aren’t that bad. And we can go to horse shows by ourselves.
No weight exemptions. If it’s a dog, it’s leashed.
This is so awful and it goes back to a society full of entitlement and no accountability. I live in Baltimore and on a fantastic park and even with the posted laws and the dog parks people let their dogs run off leash- and while many are in open areas away from people every week there is an issue and the worst part is the owners who jogging 1/2 mile away or on their cell phone becomes aggressive and go into assault mode when asked to simply leash their dog because of and impeding issue- I cannot tell you how many times owners come running oh he is friendly he’s just a puppy while the dog is being a complete menace-= like its my responsibility!!! There is a whole facebook gropup dedicated to help those who literally want to break the law and stick it to the people who are upset by their off leash dogs- the irony the rest of the city has to follow the law but these people who all have the means and cars to drive to huge state parks cant be bothered - of course when it comes to other law violations they are the ones crying the loudest!!!
It’s the same at horse shows- dogs running loose not only potentially to cause a problem but in danger themselves of something happening to them.
Remember the grey hound or whippet that got loose and chased the horse around the derby course at Devon a few years ago- the laid down a great trip with a dog literally nipping on the horses heels- I believe the Chronicle did a write up?
Laws and rules are in place for a reason- so everyone can enjoy resources - I am not sure if we need to go as far as banning dogs at shows but this is an absolutely horrifying incident and it happened at a horse show— this is not acceptable.
I had a Cane Corso. When I went to meet the litter and pick out my puppy it was the first time I had ever seen puppies that stood back to survey me rather then jump all over me. Both parents had to be locked away when I was there to see the puppies.
I did a lot of research before I selected this breed. I agree with whoever said that some breeds are more ‘forgiving’. This breed is not, and when they have a bad owner it is super apparent.
For those who tie their dogs at shows, is there little to no danger that a loose dog will attack them while they’re tied? Just curious, because I don’t tie my horses to the trailer anymore, because I don’t want them to get kicked by one of the loose horses who invariably escapes from their electric fence or tie up.
I would think twice about this issue if I were show management. Anyone who allows those dogs on the grounds is opening themselves up to a lawsuit, which would have every chance of being successful.
I don’t think that requiring leashes is the way to go. Too many people tie dogs up in a manner to where they are still a safety issue for others. Or, simply let them loose when no one seems looking. It’s time to not allow dogs on show grounds at all.
There’s no reasonable way for show management to track the credentials/history of dogs that are brought onto show premises. Neither would it work to ban breeds–this would be impossible to prove/enforce. The only reasonable solution is to not allow dogs. A person who needs to travel with their dog could still bring their dog, but would have to leave them at the hotel or campground where they were staying. Alternatively, shows could offer a doggie daycare service. Dogs should be prohibited from the remainder of the show grounds/barn areas. The proceeds of stiff fines could be donated to a local animal shelter. It’s weird how people seem to be able to enjoy many other types of sports and activities without involving dogs, I’m sure equestrians would be able to acclimatize.
I have been showing for over four decades and I’m scratching my head here but I have never had a bad incident involving children, at least not one I can remember. My horses are well acclimatized to both children and dogs, so children running around minding their own business does not bother them, so maybe I am less sensitive than others. I am also a dog lover and own quite a few dogs, but lately there seem to be negative dog incidents at just about every show I go to, whether it is to myself or someone else. I consider a negative dog incident to be: horse being chased/nipped or harassed by a loose dog, dog tied in dangerous manner (whereby it can still harass horses or risk entangling a horse), loose dog spooking a horse, or dog excessively barking or crying while crated or penned in stabling area.
I’m well aware that a lot of people dislike children, nonetheless, since as a sport we are trying to attract and retain spectators and participants, it would be foolish to discourage people from coming to spectate as families and equally bizarre and foolish to discourage the next generation of equestrian sportsmen and women. Maybe kids are attacking, chasing, harassing or otherwise endangering other people’s horses, but I’ve just never seen or experienced that. I think it is quite small minded and petty to talk about banning children.
Yeahbutt who is going to sit at the gate and keep them out? Or police the grounds 24/7? I wonder if the county AC was notified of this dog attack or the manager threw money at the victim to keep that from happening?
KHP is pretty good about controlling loose dogs but it’s a State Park with real cops…who have no issues incarcerating loose dogs in the county facility. Even then, they can’t be everywhere and in this case, the dog was leashed.
My understanding about this theory is that the way the USEF rule is written, the horse show manager is pretty much absolved of any liabilities due to unleashed dogs on their grounds. As members, we agree on our entry form(s) to follow the rules and any injury that occurs as a result of a member’s dog being non-compliant is solely on the dog owner/member.
I started an entire business based on your theory about ten years ago. I spent 2 years (and A LOT of money invested in a new venture) traveling up and down the I-95 corridor setting up my large, mobile, tented doggie day care facility on the grounds of various different large horse shows trying to convince managers that my service would help take a huge liability off of them if they’d only enforce the leash rules. Ask me how many blank stares or shrugged shoulders I got from both horse show managers and/or show stewards, including one steward that told me “I just can’t spend my day policing loose dogs”. Guess which show that comment happened at?? Yep. Saugerties(the one and only time The Pooch Paddock was on the grounds of a HITS show). In May of 2009. The very show where this latest incident occurred. I remember it like it was yesterday as I stood there with my jaw dropped. And although I reached out to Tom about providing the service at subsequent HITS Shows (at the time I lived 30 mins from Ocala), he ignored my requests entirely.
Someone else said it above: Horse show managers will not enforce it so long as the fear of losing trainers who bring gaggles of entries to their shows is a possibility. If one enforces the rule, they ALL must. And we members all know how good the USEF and its horse shows are at enforcing other “rules”.
There is similar outrage every time a public incident occurs, however, the outrage dies off quickly and things go back to the way they’ve always been.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
