Horses can come across foxes in different settings. When you’re out on a trail, you might encounter a fox that’s curious about you and your horse. While grazing in a pasture, your horse could run into a fox that’s looking for a meal.
The third, and perhaps the most dangerous scenario, is where a fox enters your barn or stable in search of food or shelter. Now if, in addition to horses, you have smaller animals like chickens or rabbits, the fox’s visit could turn deadly.
So what do you do? Do horses keep foxes away? Or do you need to take matters into your own hands?
Quick answer: Don’t count on your horse!
Let’s dig deeper and see why.
The horse may keep the fox away from itself but there is no guarantee that a horse will keep a fox away. In fact, if the horse is in its stable and your other animals are elsewhere there is nothing the horse can do about it.
Let’s look at this topic more closely.
Why Are Foxes a Problem?
Foxes are a definite problem for many reasons. Foxes are predators and are always on the lookout for an easy meal. They will eat just about anything they can catch including chickens, rabbits, rodents, and even lambs and kids.
While a horse will be able to defend itself, other animals are not so lucky. Chickens and rabbits are particularly vulnerable because they are small enough to be carried off and eaten.
In addition to being a threat to your animals, foxes can also carry diseases. Some of the diseases that foxes can transmit to your animals include rabies, mange, and distemper. While these diseases can be vaccinated against, they are still a risk.
Do Foxes Attack Foals?
Yes, as we saw above, given the chance, foxes will attack foals. Foals are small and vulnerable and lack the strength to defend themselves. If a foal is near its mare or another adult horse, it will be better protected, but if it is separated from the herd, it becomes a target for foxes.
If you have foals grazing in the pasture, with or without adult horses, and if your area is known for its fox population, you or another human may need to be out there to protect the horses and the foals if needed.
What Attracts Foxes?
There are a few things that will attract foxes to your property. If you have a food source like a chicken coop or rabbit hutch, that will definitely attract foxes. Likewise, if you have an open garbage can or compost pile, that will also attract foxes.
Another thing that can attract foxes is if you have a den on your property. If you do have a den, you should get rid of it as soon as possible as it will only attract more foxes.
Do Horses Keep Foxes Away?
So, do horses keep foxes away? Unfortunately, the answer is no. Even though horses are prey animals and foxes are predators, foxes are not really natural predators of the horse. Instead, foxes tend to go after smaller, easier prey.
This doesn’t mean that a horse will not be wary of a fox. After all, horses fear coyotes and to some horses, a fox may look like a small coyote.
Horses may be able to keep foxes away from themselves and their foals but they cannot keep foxes away from your property or from other animals on your farm or ranch.
If you have a horse, the best thing you can do is to keep your horse indoors at night. This will help to protect your horse from foxes as well as other predators.
What Can You Do To Keep Foxes Away?
Since this blog is about horses, in this section of the article we’ll limit ourselves to talking about what you can do to keep foxes away from your horse.
First and foremost, you need to make sure that there is nothing on your property that is attracting foxes. This means getting rid of any food sources, removing any dens, and keeping your garbage can closed and your compost pile covered.
If you do have a horse, the best thing you can do, as we’ve discussed in the previous section, is to keep your horse in its stable at night while making sure that foxes cannot get in. If you do keep your horse outdoors, make sure that it has a safe place to go if there is a fox around.
You can also take some steps to make your property less attractive to foxes. This includes installing a fence around your pasture, using motion-activated lights or a water sprinkler, or even products used to keep away coyotes.
If you’re interested in knowing how to do the same with other animals, I’ll leave some links in the References section below.
Final Thoughts
So, do horses keep foxes away? The answer, unfortunately, is no. Even though horses are prey animals and foxes are predators, foxes do not see horses as natural prey and if they can get away with ignoring the fox, a horse will do just that. Some horses may freak out at the sight of a fox but they will not do anything to get rid of the fox.
The only exception to this is when a mare is protecting its foal from a fox. A mare will do everything she can to protect her foal and this includes fighting off a fox if necessary.
Your best bet is to take some steps to keep foxes away from your horse. This includes making sure there is nothing on your property that can attract foxes and keeping your horse in its stable at night. You could also consider installing a fence around your property or using some type of product that will keep foxes away.
References
What to do about foxes – The Humane Society
