Horses can sense the threatm and have been known to display obvious signs of fear when cougars are about. Even though adult horses might be able to defend themselves by stomping or kicking their predators to death, coydogs remain ruthless in their predatory behavior.Ĭougars are clearly large and strong enough to do severe damage or kill any type of livestock - including horses - even on their own. Coydogs are especially threatening as they do run in packs, won’t think twice about taking down an adult horse, and attack much more aggressively. The lone roaming of coyotes is not the case when it comes to larger animals such as wolves or coydogs (cross between a coyote and a dog).

Such circumstances put horses more at risk and the threats are very real to any horse owner whose herd has experienced predator attacks. These night predators are all intent on finding another meal and often become more aggressive if they are having a tough time finding enough food, such as during a difficult and snowy winter. And coyotes don’t always run in large packs, but instead as singles or in groups of two or three.Īny night predators, of course, will chase horses even if they’re not going in for the kill, causing the horses to bolt into or through fencing and resulting in serious injuries. Coyotes are less likely to attack a healthy, full grown horse except out of desperate hunger, which then requires the help of a pack. Will a coyote attack a horse? Coyotes are most likely to threaten foals and injured or less mobile horses. Comparative Threats of Coyote, Coydog, Cougar & Wolf Physiological stress, behavioral stress, and crippling bodily injury often occur. The trauma inflicted on these well-loved animals when a predator attacks is heartbreaking to witness, and the costs can be immeasurable.

The damage and injury to horses - especially defenseless foals - from any nocturnal predator can be serious. So do coyotes attack horses? While adult horses are absolutely more of a challenge for a coyote because of their size, the sizes of foals and miniature horses are less frightening. A coyote’s ability to adapt intelligently to its surroundings - and capitalize on opportunity - is nearly unparalleled. Coyote get bolder as we humans continue to encroach on their native territory. While coyotes used to be found mainly west of the Rockies, they’re now found throughout North America, as far east as the coast. Your job, then, is to eliminate any opportunity for attack - and not just coyote attack, but any smart and mobile predator attack - in every way you can. While a horse typically weighs about a thousand pounds (compared to a coyote’s 40), a vulnerable horse can easily become a target - to more than coyotes. Even if they’re not yet attacking your herd, coyotes will absolutely attack horses if the circumstances are right.

The one about coyote going west