Horse doesn't like dogs... or likes dogs too much?

I brought my dog out to the barn with me last night. She's been out once or twice before and never bothers the horses, and since I wasn't planning on riding, just dropping off my check for board and letting the horses out, I decided the bring her along. Dublin is kind of funny about dogs. Every time she sees one up close she pricks her hears and tries to touch it with her nose. So she tried to do with Bella when we first got out there, but I shooed her away and started walking down to open the gate into the big part of the field. Bella was trotting along in front of me and some of the horses started to follow me down there. When I got to the gate Dublin caught up with us, and proceeded to start toward the dog (again with her ears pricked). It kind of escalated from a walk then when Bella started to move away from her, she picked up a trot and wound up chasing Bella clear out of the field at canter.

My dog weighs all of 20 lbs soaking wet, but fortunately for her she's pretty fast and had enough sense to make a bee line for the gate. When I caught up with her, she was hiding in the indoor arena, poor thing.

I don't know if Dublin was intentionally trying to get her not. She seemed more like she was trying to play than being aggressive. What do you guys think? Either way I don't think I'll be putting them together unsupervised again any time soon.

It sounds to me like she's interested in your dog. If she were intent upon harming it, I bet her ears would have been pinned back.

I agree, the ears pricked forward makes me think she is interested and/or trying to play with the dog.

A real aggressive horse probably WOULD have done something to the dog. Cinny for instance is ok with most dogs except MY hyper lab. He has pinned his ears, charged at her and even bit at he behind and tried to fling her! All the while snorting, pinning his ears and stamping angrily. Also, if dogs play under him, they are in trouble. Last week I went on trail with a friend and her dog. The barn dog decided to come with us and the two dogs started playing right under Cinny. My friend called her dog over, who immediately obeyed, but the barn dog did not and sadly got a good kick from the Cin man! He pinned his ears and snorted this time too...I guess that's his warning to get something away from him or he's going to blow up ha ha.

I think she was just curious "what? That the smallest horse I've ever seen!....wait it doesn't SMELL like a horse...maybe if I could get closer...waitM why are you running away small mystery animal!? What are you!"

My dog is funny with the horses. We have had a number of them come through our property while I was fostering horses before I brought my own. My german shephard has been kicked a few times and sat on once and although he gained a healthy respect for them he was never scared to come into the pasture. However with my horse he has only been kicked once for following too close when I was leading Blue to the stable. Other than that Blue is totally lazy and would never bother chasing him but the dog is completely scared of him and wont come into his pasture at all. Not sure what is different about Blue but its fine with me if I don't have to worry about the dog getting in the way! I've had horses that would chase him right up to the fence and he would come back for more, crazy dog. If the horse isnt being aggressive then I wouldnt worry too much but its probably best if they only interact when you are around. My cocker spaniel is not the brightest and doesnt pay any attention to the horses to the point that he will be sniffing the ground and run straight into their legs.

Our mares will not bother with any dog (cat, rabbit, etc) that is not aggressive even if they wander under them. Aggressive dogs (even if they are just constantly barking) are in trouble, though, and dogs don't understand that getting a horse butt turned to you means that a field goal attempt is coming soon....

Yes, my horse is like Painthorsemare's horses. She won't bother with calm, non-aggressive dogs but has a view of barky, bouncy, and aggressive ones. She also doesn't understand why dogs fail to comprehend horse body language.

My horse seems to hate my dog, which isn't nice. It doesn't help that my dog has absolutely no "horse sense".

The first time to met Rosie she ran up to her and started licking her hooves, because she likes licking strangers feet.

It's a shame because Charlotte (dog) loves being out there. The second or third time I was catching Rosie she spotted Charlotte and cantered after her trying to trample her or kick her or something. Very intense. I bring her out sometimes and she's learned to stay away from Rosie when she's tied up, but always goes too close to horses in the paddock.