How to introduce my dog to my horse?

[Natalie]

My horse does not have a problem with dogs because the breeders we bought him from own 30 dogs so he just always grew up around horses. My dog is not to sure about horses I don’t think it is that she wants to hurt my horse but more so that she if frightened because she has never seen horses before. I would love for my dog and horse to become acquainted with each other and then eventually grow some what of a bond. How do I introduce them with out there being a mess. I can handle my horse rearing (I did it last time my sister lat my dog to close and she started barking and growling) but how do I deal with my dog? How do I get them acquainted with out a mess?

 

[C A]

I would do it gradually. You don't want to startle or upset either your horse or your dog. In some ways it's better that your horse is more comfortable with the situation; a rearing horse would not help your cause...

Try bringing your dog out to the barn with you a few times, without introducing him/her to your horse yet. Get him used to the environment and smells first. Then maybe walk him by your horse's field/stall, and then when you think your dog is comfortable, let him sniff around your horse for a bit. Once your dog realizes that your horse is calm and not a threat, he should be just fine.

Just remember not to try and force some sort of a relationship or bond between them, if it happens, great! If it doesn't, it doesn't, and maybe your dog just isn't all that horse-friendly. Good luck!

 

[Jordan]

Introduce them gradually for one thing. This may sound gross, but (when the horse is in the barn) take your dag into the pasture and let him sniff the horses 'droppings'. Let the dog sniff the posts and other things like they feed bucket. Next, let the dog and the horse meet through a fence. If the dog growls or barks, you may have to wait a little while. If the dog acts normal (sniffs, tail wagging, ect.) then you may want to let them meet without a fence in between. Take wour dog in the pasture with a leash on, and let them meet that way. Again, if the dog growls or barks, you may need to repeat the last step. But if the dog acts normal, then later on you may want to let them meet without a fence, or a leash. Hope this helps! This is how we did it with my dog and horse!
-Jordan