What should I do when loose dogs approach my horse and I on the trail or in the park?

Loose dogs approaching a horse and rider on the trail is one of the most common and genuinely dangerous situations in recreational riding, and having a clear, practiced plan before it happens is far more valuable than trying to figure out your response in the moment when the horse is already reacting and the dog is already closing ground. The combination of a horse that has not been thoroughly desensitized to dogs, a dog that is in full predator-chase mode, and a rider who is surprised and unprepared is one of the more reliable recipes for a serious accident in trail riding. Your first priority in any loose dog encounter is maintaining control of your horse. Everything else — managing the dog, communicating with the owner, protecting yourself — is secondary to keeping your horse from bolting, spinning, or doing something that puts you on the ground. The moment you see loose dogs approaching, before they are close enough to trigger a strong reaction, shorten your reins, sit deep, and prepare yourself mentally and physically for a spook. If the dogs are still at a distance and you have time, stop your horse and let the dogs approach rather than continuing to move — a moving horse triggers the prey drive in dogs far more powerfully than a stationary one, and stopping gives both the horse and the dogs a moment to assess the situation at a lower energy level. If a dog comes in aggressively and the horse is reactive, use your horse's body to manage the dog. Turning the horse to face the dog directly — nose pointed at the threat — removes the flank from the dog's reach and gives the horse a sense of being able to confront the threat rather than flee from it. Do not let the dog get behind the horse if you can prevent it — a dog worrying at the hocks is a horse-kick waiting to happen, and that outcome is dangerous for the dog, dangerous for you, and dangerous for everyone in the vicinity. Carry a deterrent. A small air horn is inexpensive, compact, and remarkably effective at stopping most dogs cold without harming them. A can of citronella spray designed for dog deterrence is another option. Whatever tool you choose, practice accessing it while mounted before you need it on the trail, because reaching into a pocket or bag while managing a reactive horse and an approaching dog simultaneously is considerably harder than it sounds. For recurring problem locations where loose dogs appear regularly, document the encounters and report them to animal control or local law enforcement — persistent reporting builds the record that motivates action, and most dog owners genuinely do not understand the danger their loose dog creates for horse and rider until someone explains it clearly.