This is the most unfriendly place for dogs! Does anyone know if dogs are allowed in the bleachers at the main ring? I go every year as a spectator for at least one or two days but don’t think I have seen any dogs in the stands. I know they are not allowed in the shopping area or main food area which limits us to the hunter rings and that small jumper ring and very limited food options. In the past my friends have parked their dog with a sitter while we go off for the day but I have friends who happen to be visiting that week and when they realized its the same time as the show they want to go, along with their Australian shepherd who will be with them. I’m going to encourage them to leave him with a sitter but in case they don’t want to do that I would like to know what areas of the show will be available to us. TIA
*** NO DOGS ALLOWED IN THE GRANDSTANDS ***
Thank you! I don’t know why I never noticed that before.
I am likely in the minority here, as I know lots of horse people are generally animal people / dog people. Dogs are much happier in not such a stimulating / loud / often hot environment. I really don’t enjoy folks who bring dogs to a horse show and then try to bend rules / allow for inappropriate or dangerous behavior.
Best is to leave dog with sitter.
Next best is to leave dog in show approved location (perhaps the shed-row / stall block) secured preferably to a human via waist / canicross leash and harness who is an appropriate, dog specific full time on duty for dog supervisor armed with plenty of water, a fan, and really good recall of the dog in case the dog gets loose.
Is the dog socialized to horses? My sister’s suburban Aussie is CRAZED around horses - barks, chases, goes absolutely nuts trying to “herd” them even when on a leash. Doggo stays home and hikes with sitter for 5 miles at the river vs ever going to a horse show.
I agree with you. No one brings other species to dog shows…
ETA my aussholes are my “babies” but I acknowledge they are little jerks. My red boy is not friendly and my merle is like you describe, overstimulated and triggered by the horses. The number of times I yell “Eli! No!” at home just during turn in/out is enough to make me hate his name sometimes. Bark collar helps.
I’m not asking to bend the rules, that’s why I’m inquiring about them! And yes, dog’s owner is a polo player; he goes to the barn, to polo matches and even on the trails with her. He’s been around horses his entire life and is very well behaved.
I don’t know what you think is so stimulating about horse shows, just about every stable I have known brings at least one dog with them to shows. The policy at the Hampton Classic is unusual compared to many shows I have been to so that’s why I’m asking. And I happen to like the policy about not allowing them in the shopping area, I don’t blame the shop keepers for not wanting dogs lifting their legs on the merchandise.
The problem with allowing dogs in various places is that while some dogs are absolutely awesome and chill, and can go with their owner to restaurants/grocery stores/horse shows making fewer problems than the average child, some aren’t (or have owners who aren’t willing to put in the training). And often the owners of the latter type of dog have zero ability to appreciate that their dog’s behavior isn’t appropriate when the dog lunges at horses/spectators. If everyone was good at evaluating their dog’s ability to behave well in a horse show situation, there wouldn’t be the need for the rule!
well the statement was not easily found so I can understand the problem finding it.
But since people are allowed/encouraged to drag their emotional support animal onto airplanes I can understand that people in general assume they can have their dog/or whatever animal with them anywhere
Not everyone likes dogs and horse shows aren’t a dog show. Dogs at horse shows that aren’t left at the Airbnb or on a harness, leashed and attached to the body of a responsible human at all times are often a a nuisance at best (dangerous at worst)… your friend’s dog may be the exception, but that is why rules exist globally.
Also, one of my lease horses growing up would kick the ever-loving shit our of dogs that got ANYWHERE close to them / has stomped / shook 3 to death - I always wonder why dog owners think all horses are cool with dogs? Horse wasn’t in “flight fear” - horse wanted to “get that dog before it got them” sort of behavior. Rumor was that horse was stalked by coyote when a foal and the mare kicked the shit of the coyotes - very Disney movie-eque…
Idk I also experience people bringing dogs to grocery stores, doctors offices, and restaurants (inside) - they are not service dogs - I am visually impaired and absolutely know the difference between fake ESA/ true service dog.
People are strange about their dogs…
Edit: also tell me you know little about animals if you think a horse show is an overall pleasant environment for most canines… we anthropomorphize so much. Dogs really don’t give a f*ck if they attend a horse show or not and certainly dogs don’t care as much about our presence around them as we think they do. They honestly rather sleep, sniff around, eat and not be micromanaged by hoards of humans, sounds, smells and activity. As long as SOMEONE is attending to their basic needs - they’re Gucci.
Preach. I’ve been at two events at TIEC where a horse spooked hard in the GP night class because someone’s ankle biter lost its mind and there was chaotic echoing barking going through a silent stadium. In both instances the owner was in show clothing or clearly a competitor so it wasn’t like a novice non horse person made a poor call.
The problem is not the many but the one ‘friend’ who brings their poochy and the thing goes bonkers because to the uninitiated a horse show is extremely stimulating. The sights, the smells, and the interesting smelly things are running around.**
BAC isn’t the one trying to bend the rules. They were just trying to find out what the policy was - no need to make sweeping statements about their character there.
For anyone who is on the fence about dogs and horse shows: I had a recognized event this spring at Apple Knoll Farm in MA. I’m walking into the indoor warm up for dressage and dog on a leash with no human attached came galloping out. My gelding flinched but the horse behind us did a spin and bolt. It caused a chain reaction in an already congested indoor. Thankfully, no one fell off but it was completely unnecessary.
As I was on deck for SJ, there were two competitors standing right at the in-gate letting their dogs have a full out brawl while a round is going on. The dogs were making a lot of noise and getting tangled up in everything within a 10 foot radius. One rider behind me even moved away. The rider on course had her horse spook at them coming into a line that was facing the gate. They barely moved out of the way for us to get in and out of the ring. They were totally clueless. I ended up asking them to please move away from the gate. The entire time during my round their dogs were snarling and doing body slams against the ring’s fence. My gelding doesn’t usually care but even he was cautious going anywhere near them. Im sure the competitor that had her horse spook mid combo cared, though.
On the way back from XC we got chased by another loose dog while passing the trailers out back (we were parked in the Hawk Field). That was three poor dog experiences in one show. For every good dog there’s 3 bad ones. I’m over them – they can stay home. I spend way too much money to go to a show to have it or my safety jeopardized by someone else’s poorly trained dog.
I was only responding to the OP’s easily proven wrong statement above. OP, if interested in an opinion (fact) other than their own, can read more about overstimulation in canines here: https://wagwalking.com/condition/sensory-overload
Oh, I think some dogs love the environment of a horse show. But even if a dog is having an absolute ball trying to herd horses, challenge other dogs, and running after a horse on-course because the owner let go of the leash, that still doesn’t make it okay.
When I run in the morning, there’s a woman with a mini-Aussie who sometimes stands in the middle of the bike lane and lets her dog lunge at bikers, kind of like “lunging” him in the middle lane so he can burn off energy, while she stares at her cellphone. The dog is having a great time, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay (and not dangerous)
And now we know why it is so hard to ask a simple and reasonable question.
I agree - more of what I was indicating was doggo doesn’t sit with the dog sitter WISHING and LONGING to be at the show. They don’t care - they live in the moment and as long as their needs are met in the moment they can “have a good time” not at a horse show.
More often than not their presence is a nuisance due to owners like you describe above - hence rules.
Doggo “being sad and not being allowed to have a grand old great time that might be a safety hazard” is not enough reason to feel entitled to bringing them anywhere.
Mini Aussies are… ooof…I know a few (and their owners) like you describe
I highly doubt anyone in this whole thread thinks dogs are WISHING and LONGING to be at a horse show.
Dog might be WISHING and LONGING for their humans though.
Lots of dogs are not happy without their known humans.
Having their food and water bowl filled is not enough to make up for the lack of their humans.
But all of this is moot, the OP was asking a simple and basic question, it did not require a narrative on how to properly own a dog.
Like any other dog breed, training.
Do not stereotype.
Signed,
A Mini Aussie Owner
Not to derail further, BUT, what do these dogs do when said owner is at work? Surely they don’t go everywhere with Mom/Dad. Why can’t they stay home alone just like they do M-F 9-5?
ETA mine come to the show but stay IN the travel trailer until the show is over and most people are gone. One is lovely at the show and around horses/people but the other one is reactive. There’s no reason for them to be around the barns/rings during the day. Frankly they’re thrilled to be in the cold dark cave that is the trailer. 
I’ll never forget - late 80s - a loose dog running past & under a crosstied horse in the barn aisle at a show.
Horse flipped, broke it’s neck & had to be put down.
While teen owner watched.
LEAVE THE DOGS HOME!
