[Vix]

I'd like to say I'm proud of my two year old for being as gutsy as she is, but enough is enough!

Mocha has never been afraid of anything (except deer, her one OH MY GOD I'M GOING TO DIE! animal). For the most part I like my horses to be able to stand and face off against loose dogs that we come across on rides, most of the time we train them that way, its too dangerous to have a horse bolt with a dog after them, the whole chase instinct on those puppies kicks in even if they are sweethearts.

But with Mocha?

She HATES dogs. With a fiery passion, and I am not exaggerating in the least. Our other mare does too, but only to the point she'll chase the strays out of the pasture but with our dogs she could care less, afterall they're HER dogs too, she's used to them.

Mocha on the other hand? Anything smaller than her with four legs is fair game. To give an example of what I mean, when I was out the other weekend my aunts golden retriever was laying by the fence and Mocha went over to investigate. Instantly ears flat back, nose to the ground snorting and trying as hard as she could to get her head under the fence to bite at him. A growl from me stopped her, or seemed to for a minute, but as soon as my back was turned she was right back at it, and not just trying to bite him, trying to strike! I don't tolerate striking so I can tell you she did not have a good afternoon.

Now my aunts golden is a bit...umm, how to say this? Slow might work. He was oblivious she was there and was infact wagging his tail so it was hitting her in the head. Dumb dog. There is a 900lb horse on the other side who wants to eat you! Move!

I know how to deal with aggression, but this isn't an active thing. And for the record Mocha is NOT aggressive with people at all so its not a temperment issue persay. I'm worried that one of our pups are going to get hurt by her or a neighbours dog (who we have all warned about their dogs coming into our pasture, and still don't seem to care because they are still loose all the time) is going to get seriously hurt because there are a few that think barking and chasing the horses is a fun past time.

Anyone think of anything I could do to at least get her less fighty with them? I don't think its a desensitizing issue, the dogs are around all the time. We've never had a problem with the horses and our own dogs, but Mocha doesn't seem to care one way or the other. If its four legged and says woof its evil.

As to why she's like this, I honestly don't know. When we bought her at 13 months she was turned out with a mare and foal, and another broodmare. I'm pretty sure they didn't protect her in proper herd fashion and possibly she was chased and left to fend on her own? I don't know.

Any advice would be great!

[*BaRrEL_BaBE*]

Bullet hates dogs, too. I will not let any dog go near her, because she will try stomp it.

[Julia Gulia]

We have a mare called Dixie who is like that. She seriously HATES dogs with a passion. To be honest with you, even though it can be very stressful when people bring dogs to the yard...I prefer a horse to be that way rather than be terrified of dogs. Only advice I can give you is to watch those ears like a hawk if you are on her. Dixie will be happily munching grass one minute and in a split second..she will turn into Hannibal Lector and will be asking for a glass of Chianti to drink with her meal
Try to look on the bright side...if you ever come across a bunch of crazed, wild dogs while on a hack..your little dog eater will be saving the day. Good luck!!!!

[Quick2Skip01]

Our mare hates dogs too! Skip doesnt really pay them much mind, except when they go chasing after him. But Billie, dogs definitely need to watch their butts or she will go after them.

Our cattle dog doesnt dare go near Billie, and shes tried chasing Skip once or twice. (Needless to say Skip wasnt very happy, and it ended up the dog got a swift kick to the head, it only knocked her out, we took her to the vet and she was fine)

Sorry I dont really have any ideas for you, just pray that the dumb neighbors dog doesnt go in there.

[Haas Horse Farm]

There is nothing you can do... This is very normal for some horses. My trained cutting mare will kill a dog. Two yearling fillies I had would kill the dog in a heart beat. One would cut it and hold it and the other would run in and stomp it. Dogs will learn or die! They did kill a couple of Coyotes who were trying to harvest small game at the farm... LOL

[Top Dun]

I live way out in the woods I personally I prefer if my Critters are a bit dog/coyote etc aggressive. we have nasty stray dogs comming in all the time. I NEVER let my dogs run in the horse pasture either.

[Vix]

Thanks everyone! Oh I definately agree with wanting my horses to be aggressive towards dogs, but I guess up until Mocha I'd been lucky that our dogs were considered part of the herd by the others and left alone except for being scared out.

We defiantely don't let the dogs run in the pasture though, they're always on the outside when we're around and if we're not there, they are in the yard.

I guess I'll just have to let her have her little furry nemesis.

[Nevada_Silk]

I have three dog hating horses. Very funny to watch when a stray gets into the pasture! The mare hates them the most and leads the chase. You see a dog and then 3 big horses barreling at it. Dogs learn pretty quick what horses to avoid.