OK I was all excited to go horseback riding on the beach....until....I....saw....a VERY skilled mexican local cowboy riding his horse on the beach.
For about 10 minutes he managed to stay in the saddle and manage his horse while 2 stray dogs kept barking and appeared to want to attack the horse. I
was very impressed with the horseman's ability to keep the horse calm and from not kicking the dogs. Those dogs were lucky that day. The rider kept
horse tucked in tight so it didn't lash out, take off or buck off the rider...very impressive.
Needless to say my baja horseriding will probably be in the backcountry. Not to say stray dogs wouldn't be an issue there either. I'm an average rider
so do not have confidence riding a horse I don't know when approached by aggressive dogs.
Has this ever happened to anyone while riding a horse? What was outcome?
pacsidenbacc - 1-11-2010 at 11:57 AM
Where were you in Baja?pacside - 1-11-2010 at 12:04 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by nbacc
Where were you in Baja?
Near Todos Santos in BCS.k-rico - 1-11-2010 at 12:04 PM
I keep my dogs on a leash when horses are around. One time, on the TJ beach, a rider asked me to bring my dog (leashed) around in front of the horse
and let him bark while he controlled the horse. He was training the horse to behave in the presense of a barking dog.
Glad to oblige. Interesting event.DENNIS - 1-11-2010 at 12:06 PM
Maybe you should have a car ride behind you to block those pesky dogs from bothering your horse. [sorry...couldn't resist.]pacside - 1-11-2010 at 12:09 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Maybe you should have a car ride behind you to block those pesky dogs from bothering your horse. [sorry...couldn't resist.]
pacside - 1-11-2010 at 02:24 PM
"A friend of mine swore that if you got off the horse, the dogs would run away. Somehow I was never tempted to try this. "
Morgaine7 you must be a very advanced rider to deal with all those dogs in Egypt.
I think why this situation freaked me out so much was I had a bad experience trail riding near my house here in BayArea. I was riding a friends horse
while she was walking in front of me on a backwoods trail. All of a sudden two huge kujo like dogs came running full speed downhill toward us barking
ferociously and trying to bite my horses legs from the front sides and rear. My horse reared and I slid off the side on my feet trying to hold onto
the reins so the horse wouldn't run off. Well horse ran off with dogs chasing leaving my friend and I standing there wondering what the heck to do. I
felt bad for the horse and scared the dogs would return to attack us. Horse ended up trotting back to us as if nothing happened.
We later found out those dogs belonged to a deliverance type occupied home at the end of the trail. The town scheduled a hearing and the owners
removed said dogs from property even before the hearing. I heard this was the third episode within 30 days so owners saw writing on the wall I guess.
Needless to say this was a very frightening experience and I haven't ridden much since. Folks ride with long whips for these types of situations
around here I later found out.
pacsidePaulina - 1-11-2010 at 08:38 PM
Kate,
I can tell you have tons of horse sense and experience.
My first horse was stabled near Griffith Park. He and I used to ride the fire trails in the mountains surrounding the park at least 3x a week. I kept
a pocket sized bottle of pepper spray hooked to the inside of my right side riding boot that I could easily whip out and spray at a dog that wouldn't
back off. I also rode with a jumping crop that gave a sharp sting at dogs if I didn't want to pepper spray them in front of their owners.
Horses have the right away here in the states, but in Baja it's everything goes. Like you said, the horse relies on the reaction of the rider.
Something I've noticed about Baja horses compared to our stateside horses is that the baja horses seem more easy going and less skittish. Maybe it has
something to do with being tied to the side of the road for hours on end to get used to big rigs and traffic noises.
Sometimes we can be taken off guard no matter the horse we are riding and in those times just remember, keep your heels down and don't tighten up on
the reins!
P<*)))>{David K - 1-11-2010 at 08:57 PM
Hey... isn't horseback riding in the FEDERAL ZONE illegal!!?? arrowhead - 1-11-2010 at 09:00 PM
Dogs chase horses because dogs are wolves. Same canine species. Horses are afraid of dogs because, well, wolves are natural enemies of horses.BajaWarrior - 1-11-2010 at 10:01 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by arrowhead
Dogs chase horses because dogs are wolves. Same canine species. Horses are afraid of dogs because, well, wolves are natural enemies of horses.
Then why do they chase cars?Steve&Debby - 1-11-2010 at 10:34 PM
Rope the aggressive dogs and drag them done the beach for a while.The dog will think twice about being so aggressive around a horse next timeBajaNuts - 1-11-2010 at 11:07 PM
Quote:
Originally posted by DENNIS
Maybe you should have a car ride behind you to block those pesky dogs from bothering your horse. [sorry...couldn't resist.]
DENNIS! Shame on you! You shouldn't put amigo Pacside in danger by suggesting a CAR for his chase vehicle!
does that count as a hijack? sorry..........
"tail between legs, slinking giggling into corner....."
[Edited on 1-12-2010 by BajaNuts]David K - 1-11-2010 at 11:10 PM
Very good Dennis... funny!
If they ride at night, I will turn my Hellas on, too!Paulina - 1-12-2010 at 08:17 AM
Kate,
There were other elements hanging out in the brush in the hills above Griffith park that I also had to be prepared for.
Arrowhead, most horses also dislike pigs although I highly doubt they are a natural enemy. Maybe we have to start watching out for the maurading baja
pigs now too.
P<*)))>{mulegemichael - 1-12-2010 at 08:49 AM
i don't ride horses....however, we do ride our atvs around here all the time and we are also chased by packs of dogs...or should i say we USED to be
chased by dogs...i started carrying a squirt bottle of ammonia with me and whenever the dogs would show up, i would start squirting...it usually would
only take one or two squirts....now the dogs recognize us when we show up and stay put...they NEVER chase us now...works everytime.Cypress - 1-12-2010 at 09:08 AM
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