Dulwich Park - Horses and poorly trained dogs (from the Times - 11 August)

[Siduhe]

Will be a shame if the horses stop exercising in the park entirely....

 

Around the perimeter of Dulwich Park is a sandy track, put down in 1961 so the nearby stables could exercise its horses or give lessons in a pleasant space. But last week the stables owner halted this 60-year tradition after an Alsatian attacked a horse in the park. The dog chased the 19-year-old Irish cob, going for its back legs. The horse tripped and toppled while the (very experienced) rider was taken to hospital with damaged ankle ligaments.

The stables manager, Jaye Montebello, tells me dogs have always reacted to horses but owners would usually seek to control them. In the past two years a spate of new owners believe their dogs can do no wrong. In half the park dogs are supposed to be on leads but wardens refuse to enforce this, even for one set hour a week while the horses exercise.

The Alsatian's owner told Montebello she knew her dog was aggressive but was testing to see if it would come when called. Indeed, she later visited the stables, not to beg forgiveness but to ask for help training her dog to be more relaxed around horses. This request was not received well.

[KidKruger]

Dog ownership is huge now, esp post lockdown, horse traffic is pretty rare in Dulwich park tbh.

Is mixing the two realistically practical ?

Many dogs off lead are going to react to horses turning up nearby, very few I’d imagine being trainable to the extent they’ll ignore a massive horse(s).

What happened as described in OP is not ok and could have ended far worse.

[malumbu]

Once in ,60 years is hardly a regular event. I expect occasionally a car frightens a horse but I don't see any call for culling cars. Although I'd happily impose refresher training on drivers!

Let's keep it in proportion rather than knee jerk reactionary.

[mrwb]

I've seen dogs go for the horses a year or two ago. Quite unpleasant, especially for the horses. It was on the outer ring though were I think dogs are allowed to be off leads.

[Earl Aelfheah]

People need to be able to control their dogs. If they can't, they shouldn't have them off the lead.

[smooch]

that is appalling - cannot believe someone would 'test' their dog like that. As a dog owner I am very aware of the potential injury to a horse or rider that an unsupervised dog would cause.

[Jules-and-Boo]

I am in the park everyday and have not seen horses.

I can therefore imagine that a number of people are also not aware that horses may be in the park.

Many dogs will not have seen horses before and it's known that they will be scared and could chase the horses.

It's awful to think about what could happen. Dogs attacking horses have led to horses being put down.

Even a dog barking is enough to spook a horse.

Dogs need to be socialised around horses and need to be trained to heel and come on command.

We know that the large majority of dog owners do not have this level of control.

All dog owners who cannot control their dogs should keep them on a lead around horses.

It would make sense for the times the horses are out to have signs up on the gates - and all dogs to be on a lead in certain areas.

I have never seen a sign or known when to expect horses in the park.

It's the most sensible way forward - the park should be for everyone.

And everyone should be safe.

I'm actually impressed the owner went to the stables to see if she could socialise her dog. That's the safest way to control a dog around horses.

[Kathleen Olander]

The sandy bit circling the park is for horses!

Horses have used the park for "donkeys" years, from Dulwich Stables and the Police Station. They visited more frequently in the past, but riders are put off by all the off lead dogs.

The area for exercising dogs off lead are clearly marked and under used.

[AylwardS]

The trail map for Dulwich Park shows the dog exercise area around the edge. This would be far more interesting for a dog than the area near where the horses go and the owner wouldn’t need to be constantly on the lookout for children who might ride or scoot into their dog. The council webpage for Dulwich park says

“dog walking area - dogs may be walked off the lead on the perimeter path around the park”.

The dog owner had the right idea going to the stables to socialise her dog knowing it had an issue with dogs but should have done that first. We had dogs growing up and even though we knew they’d come back when called or walk next to us with no lead on they went on leads in areas requiring them and when they were to walk next to us. My sister’s current dog was attacked by another dog which meant he didn’t like dogs coming up to him and would react aggressively. She took him to training and he’s getting there but still has issues with certain breeds. If he’s off the lead and she sees a dog he might react to she calls him back and puts him on the lead until they are past and then let’s him off again. Just as with children you need to look out for things that could cause a dog to react or dangers.

It doesn’t matter how well trained the dog is something could shock it the same way it does you and you don’t know how it will react or what people will do to it. In this case one kick from the horse could have done serious injury to the dog, maybe even having fatal consequences.

[i*Rate]

What a nerve that dog owner has to go to the stable and ask them to help get their dog trained!

Always amazes me how dog owners decide to walk their dogs on the road when they have the entire park to go to and a special dog walking track which is very nice to walk along.

Also, when I am cycling, why do they throw balls across the road in front of me for their dogs to chase, do they really want me to crash and break my neck? There certainly are some thoughtless/stupid people using the park and what a shame that we will not see the horses trotting around the park anymore, I have always enjoyed seeing them there for the past forty years since I move to ED.

Condolences to the stable owner and riders and a big thank you for all the bags of manure I've had from them over the years.

Cheers!