For the record, I am not opposed to well trained, well mannered dogs that stay right with their owners on the trail; most horse owners have dogs, so their horses are not spooked by dogs. But that’s not the case; a lot of dogs are running way ahead of their owners out of site and out of the owner’s control. As the US Forest Service opens more and more hiking trails to horses, we encounter more hikers as we share the trails. A loose dog is not much of a threat to a person sitting on a well trained horse, but it’s a real threat to a hiker or someone on foot when a dog charges out of the brush. The public land is just that,  its open to horse riders, hikers, campers, picnics and others. We must all respect each other and be considerate.  It’s kind of like running a loud commercial generator or letting dogs bark after, no regard for others.

Boy, am I glad I trail ride on 1000's of acres of private land. The owners don't care if there are dogs and horses riding.

I see more accidents going to these trail/poker rides and people bring their "arena" horse out on the trail. 100's of people and horses and the horse is high strung and been on the trail 2 times in his life. Every time, an ambulance always shows up. Trail riding with 100's out there on a green trail horse is not smart. I have even had to call 911 when a lady fell of her horse because it spooked at some birds! Dogs are a very, very small problem of the injuries that happen out on the trail. Most are do to inexperienced horses/riders.

We ride once in awhile on a private working ranch that some friends own. About 800 acres. One stipulation that they have on anyone coming onto their property- NO DOGS ALLOWED.

I don't like dogs on the trail.  Most are not well behaved in anyone's eyes but the owners. 

My horses are well trained but since I choose not to ride with dogs, when I do have  to ride with dogs they are not used to it.  When the dogs are in the forest I have had my horse spook.  Why wouldn't he, there is noise in the forest and he can't see anything.  Since a horse is a flight animal, of course he chooses flight. 

I get tired of the owners calling the misbehaving animal, the dog that stop right in front of your horse in the middle of the trail, the dog that chases cattle in a pasture, the dog that gets to the water hole first and lays in it before your horse can drink, and I hate that my horse kicked a dog once. 

I leave my dogs at the trailer.  I too would love to let them roam and have fun, but not at the expense of others on the trail and or the safety of the dog.  I spend quality time with my dogs instead of expecting others to put up with them. 

Most of the problems I've seen stem from trail riders refusing to take responsibility for their own actions and that of their pets. If they have a dog along on a trail ride and the dog or dogs decides to chase some cattle and get shot they feel it is not their fault they didn't have the dog under control . It's the ranchers fault.

This very thing just happened not to long ago on a private grazing property in SE Arizona. The dog owner wanted the rancher arrested and was going to sue. He said his dog was well trained and was only chasing the cattle and wouldn't hurt them. The law was on the racnchers side in this instance but the dog owner may be able to  find and attorney somewhere who is hungry enough to try a law suit. The owner thought he had a well trained dog. 

If we take and unleashed dog on a trail that is NOT restricted by a, no dogs allowed sign, then we must be willing to deal and take responsibility  for the sometimes tragic consequences.

If you choose to bring your dog on the trail, I have one favor to ask.  When my horse accidentally injures your dog...don't call me names and talk bad behind my back.  I have been in situations with good and bad trail dogs.  About 10 years ago I was riding a good trail mare of mine in central Oklahoma with a group.  Someone brought their dog and about half way through the day, the dog decided to travel with my mare.  Not a problem usually.  I have dogs, they ride with me AT HOME.  This dog kept leaning in harder and harder on my mare's hind legs.  She kept trying to move over and move over but there wasn't enough room.  After 20 minutes of this battle over the trail, my mare had enough.  She unloaded both hind feet, something she had never offered to do before or since.  The feet both landed solid on the dog's right side sending the dog screaming into the woods.  Yes, my mare was reprimanded for this display so don't even begin to think this behavior was even remotely tolerated.  Needless to say, the dog was never seen again and his irresponsible owner spent the rest of the day complaining about me and my horse.  So, go ahead, take your dog, but when your dog gets injured or killed--bite your tongue and DON'T say a word.  Trail rides are meant for horses and mules, not dogs.

Montana & Cowgirl,

Please re-read my posts regarding repellant sprays...

I did not suggest, nor would I ever use something like that on dogs that belong to the people I ride with.  If I had a problem with those dogs, I would probably choose not to ride with that group, or I would ask the owners to restrain or control their dogs.

My reference was to any predatory animal that I would be likely to encounter on the trail, ie. a bear, a coyote, possibly a stray or feral dog (without owner present).  I can see the possibility that my own horse or myself could be affected by these repellents blowing back in the wind, but what would you suggest as an alternative?  I recently rode upstate NY through an area of berry patches.  There was lots of bear skat along the trail.  If momma black bear decided we looked more appetizing than the berries, what do you think our chances of outrunning that momma would be? 

Has anyone come up with a reasonable method of defense against this type of danger?  So far, I haven't heard of any bear attacks against horses on the trail, but here in NJ we have had several instances where bears have attacked, maimed and killed horses and ponies (as well as dogs)in their pastures and back yards.

"If you encounter an unrestrained dog (or any predatory animal) on the trail that is threatening your or your horses well being, you might want to resort to this non-toxic method of self defense."

Jakey 1, I did reread your post. You speak of using the spray on an unrestrained dog, does not say wild dog.  The original discussion was about people taking their dogs on trail rides with them.  Not wild dogs or bears.  I definitely would carry the spray if you are out riding with bears.  I'd even buy some extra's to practice with to make sure I know how to shoot it.  What happens if you miss?