Q: My pony really doesn’t like dogs and can get quite aggressive when they come near him. Is there anything I can do to make him more comfortable around them?
A: Ponies often have past trauma we know nothing about.
It’s possible your pony has had a negative experience with dogs and, as a result, has become defensive.
If this is the case, you may never completely get rid of his fear.
Desensitising your pony to dogs and treating him when he doesn’t display an aggressive reaction to them could help calm him, but you would have to be careful as his aggression could potentially harm the dogs (and you!).
If you want to give desensitisation a go, ask an adult to help you and get them to bring a dog up to a distance where your pony is comfortable (i.e. he is still calm) and start giving treats. From here you can very gradually bring the dog closer and closer continuing to give your pony treats if he stays calm. Don’t bring the dog up to the pony from the front, but rather from the side so he can see the dog properly. As soon as your pony shows any signs of agitation or aggression, move the dog further away and start the whole process again. It will take time, but if you keep working on it, you should see an improvement.
