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  Discussion on Trail riding protection
Author Message
Member:
amara

Posted on Wednesday, Apr 25, 2007 - 10:02 pm:

i know its getting to that time of year again when we all get to ride out on the trails now that winter is (mostly) over and things are starting to dry up...(ok, maybe not dry up everywhere!)... i remember last year a few trail riding discussions about protection and there was some interest in pepper spray... after a recent experience, i'm LESS convcinved that it is a good option...

last week we had an escaped convict and every available officer was called in for the search.. during the course of the day myself and my partner searched MANY houses and talked to lots of people.. we also got attacked by a few dogs... so out comes the pepper spray.... (spray first, shoot later if possible when it comes to dogs)...one dog backed off, another did not... took several sprays for the dog to stop attacking us, and this was NOT a big dog... maybe 30 lbs, if that.... she never did leave the area, but did let us search the house (that the owner conveniently left wide open so we could search (obviously he ran as soon as he saw us come down the street, forgetting to even CLOSE any doors)...we were able to leave without TOO much fuss on her part, tho she did get loud and stayed within 10 ft of us...

yes, she was guarding her property and maybe that made her a little tougher, but full on OC Spray is absolutely miserable to a human (and we had to walk thru the mist and that was NOT fun...), but its obviously something an upset dog can work thru...

if this is your only means of defense when trail riding, be warned... it might not be as effective as you think...
Member:
dove2

Posted on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 - 6:48 am:

Very timely, Melissa. I was actually searching to buy some pepper spray. Would you recommend something else then, instead of pepper spray for attaching dogs?
Member:
mrose

Posted on Thursday, Apr 26, 2007 - 12:16 pm:

Melissa, thanks for posting. I've luckily never had to use pepper spray but have always been told it worked great. Did the kind you use shoot a forceful stream in the dog's direction? Or mist the general area? The kind I was told to use shoots a forceful stream, though I'm not positive about how much difference it would make.
Member:
amara

Posted on Saturday, Apr 28, 2007 - 6:50 pm:

ours is kind of inbetween a mist and a forceful stream... less need to aim in a struggle...

personally i'm thinking gun is the best choice... something 40 cal or bigger!...*LOL*...have not used an ammonia mixture that was mentioned at one point, i doubt it would be any better...
if you were going to go with pepper spray get at least 10% OC spray with a fairly forceful stream so that you can get a full jolt into the eyes.. get afair sized bottle too, as a fellow officer just about emptied his small bottle at a rottweiler the other day before it let up...

happy trails!
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