Four years ago, I lost a mini gelding to something (we found a neighbor's dog chewing on the carcass, but no proof that he killed it) then nearly lost a mare, too. This time, I saw the culprits - the two black labs from down the road. Two days later, I bought a standard size donkey jenny who was a proven dog killer. The seller had personally witnessed her stomping a dog that was dumb enough to come into her pasture.
I've had no trouble with dogs or coyotes since then, except for a couple of possible "near misses." The donkey came in with teeth marks on her nose one day, and another on her hind cannon. Looks like she got something! Then, just last week, when I called the herd in from the pasture, the donkey came galloping in (I swear, she was coming to get help!) then galloped back out, braying like crazy. I never did find out what she saw, but she brought the herd in at a dead run.
It did take the minis awhile to accept her, though. Believe it or not, they chased her away from her food, and still would, if I didn't feed her seperately. Now, though, she has several friends in the herd, and seems to love all of them.
The only problem with her is that she won't tolerate new horses in her herd, unless they've been in an adjoining pen for a few days for her to accept them. Otherwise, she'll try to chase them away from her "babies."
She even chases my cats and the local squirrels out of their night pen!
Pat Elder
Rosa Roca Miniature Horses
Oklahoma City, OK
Author of "Outstanding Miniature Horse Stallions, Past and Present, Volume 1"