[shygirl]

i have kept ponies for years and always walked the dogs amongst them with no major issues.
last year we got a young mule so like a typical mule will chase dogs with an aim to trample them. 
the mule is best friends with a young yearling filly - who is now showing signs of aggression to dogs. she is almost as bad the mule and will add a fast aimed kick to the equation. she is much more clumsy too so a bit more of a liability.

now today on our walk (they have a good 50 acres to roam so dogs come with me whilst i check the stock.) the older mare was aggressive for the first time, and the foal (5mths old) then copied her and actually trampled my poor dog into the ground.

im just wondering if anyone has experience of learned aggression with horses. i am sure they are copying each other - rather than having a bad experience with dogs and retaliating. they seem to relish the challenge and the mule and her friend will come over at a gallop when they see us - to chase the dogs away.
none are aggresive with humans.

my dogs are getting quite scared now and try to hide behind my legs which makes the whole situation a bit dicey.
my poor gsd was completed trampled and sore and she is a real tough cookie normally.

has anyone experienced this? it seems to be a cultural thing amongst the herd, that they are teaching each other ths behaviour, as the dogs are very rarely out without me to have done something naughty without me knowing.

[lord flynn]

mules and donkeys are well known for having low tolerance of dogs. youngsters will copy their elders and I expect there's an element of herd mentality-ie its safer for them all to join in and do a good job on the dog than risk it getting away.

Have always found mares much more likely to kick dogs-saying that, all three of my geldings will only tolerate dogs to an extent. am glad its that way rather than being scared of them! but I couldnt take my dog off lead in the field with my old horse. When he was a youngster he didn't mind them at all but a couple of livery yard owners later and dodgy, yappy collies around his box and being chased by dogs he just wouldn't tolerate them loose in his field at all. not sure if my other two learned it from him or being Exmoors, have a better built in survival instinct. Older horse was a lusitano and coming form bullfighting stock, he wasn't scared of anything much!

its an interesting observation-albeit a bad one for you and your dog.

[sabrina]

If I was you I would stop taking your dogs anywhere near the mule.