A horse and rider have survived a terrifying incident after being attacked by a Pit bull-type dog while out hacking alongside a public right of way, earlier this month.
While having a steady canter alongside a field hedge in Hampshire, the horse and rider who cannot be named at present for legal reasons, became aware of a white dog that appeared to be of Pit bull breeding, snapping at the young competition horses heels.
The rider says, I didnt see it until it was going at full tilt beside my mare, trying to grab her legs with its wide jaws, so I turned back thinking I might lose it.
The dog continued in its pursuit, inflicting wounds as it went.
The rider says, Id passed a group of walkers earlier so I headed back towards them shouting, Please can you help me, but I really didnt know what anybody could do and I was also really worried for them too but they were my only hope.
While the dog was hanging on the horses back leg, one man tried to tempt the dog away with his sandwich and calling at it but it paid him no attention instead jumping up at the horses throat.
I thought she was done for when it went for the jugular it was really on the kill but I swung my foot round under her neck to try and kick it and it then hung on my boot, its teeth going through the thick leather, and its weight nearly dragging me off my horse, says the rider.
Although the owner was now on the scene he was not able to take control of the situation and the walkers formed a large circle around the horse and rider and beat their hiking poles and sticks into the ground, gradually forcing the dog away from the horse.
The rider says, The dog had no collar or lead but one very brave walker grabbed the dog and put a belt around its neck as the walkers said, if Id have fallen off it was on such a mission I think it would have killed me.
Although the horses legs were partially protected with boots, they were bleeding profusely and covered with a mixture of blood, mud and the dogs slobber and the rider was mostly concerned with getting veterinary attention for her mare but was able to get the address and details of the unapologetic owner of the dog and the walkers offered their details to act as witnesses, as the police were called.
The rider says, The vet arrived before the police and was able to treat more than 15 wounds where her flesh was ripped open in such a way that stitching was made impossible.
Although the police have visited both the rider and the dog owner, and are due to organize for the dog warden to ascertain the breed of the dog, as yet the police have not taken further action.
The rider says, The policeman said he was going to be away for a week on holiday but I also wonder if, not knowing how to handle the situation theyll leave it alone, adding, In the old days every dog had a license.
The horse is currently recovering both physically and mentally from her ordeal, while the rider says, I wake up at nights thinking what could I have done and what might have happened if my horse had panicked or if it were a child riding along that route. Even if Id had a whip to try to beat the dog away it would have come back but if Id had a gun I would have used it rather than put myself and my horse through that experience, even if it meant answering questions later.
This is a second incident after two horses and riders were attacked by an English bull terrier while riding on the South Downs.
The rider concludes, I am waiting for the prosecution to proceed with my case as speedily as possible as it is obvious that others, and particularly children, are at risk and dog owners need to be made aware of the serious responsibility they undertake if choosing to own a breed of dog such as this even if it has never attacked anyone or anything before.


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