Dog attack today

[fidleyspromise]

I was riding my 22 year old highland in the forest when 2 Bernese mountain dogs came racing up to us and started circling.
I commanded them to sit but they ignored me and came closer before jumping up at my horse. She was spinning trying to take off and the dogs were jumping up at her shoulders, hind quarters and at her head. One of them got my boot in it's mouth but slid off due to my cage stirrup.

They wouldn't leave her alone so I started shouting hoping the owners were nearby and would run to help. A woman walked around the corner so I screamed at her that her dogs were attacking me and my horse. She tried to grab the dogs but they kept evading her and were still jumping at my horse.
A man then came around the corner and it took him a few attempts but he managed to grab one of the dogs. The other one was distracted so I jumped off. I nearly fell off a couple of times when my horse was going sideways up an unlevel verge with the dogs still leaping about.

Finally the woman grabbed the other dog and I checked my horse over. I couldn't see any cuts or bites (she's grey).
The couple did ask if me and my horse were OK before stating their dogs have a thing about horse scents! I was too shaken to ask what on earth that meant.

They disappeared and I just stayed standing trying to calm down. My horse was calm and eating grass. 3 people came over and asked if we were OK. They were up on a bankment further ahead and saw the dogs attacking us. They were horrified.

I got my horse home as quickly as I could and she has a couple of tiny scratches and blood. - on her hind leg and the opposite flank.
18 years I've had this horse and despite having been chased, growled at and circled by countless dogs this is the first time I felt fear and was shaking.

Not once did she kick or attempt to bite the dogs although I wish she had.

 

[FFAQ]

Gosh, I'm so sorry that happened to you! I don't suppose you happened to have a hat cam? Regardless, I think it's worth reporting to the police.
It sounds like you have an absolute superstar of a horse xx

 

[SaddlePsych'D]

Oh blimey that does sound very frightening (also enraging, what a pair of absolute knobchops). I am glad there was no serious injury to you or your horse but not surprised you were shaken up.

ETA - I agree re: reporting to police and/or dog warden

 

[ArklePig]

Definitely report! I hope you and your mare recover quickly from the shock.

 

[holeymoley]

How dreadful. I hope you’re okay. Definitely report, even to BHS. Police would be good too as these are uncontrollable dogs in a public space. Also please clean any wounds thoroughly and keep and eye for infection.

 

[TheOldTrout]

Glad you're both safe. Stupid people with out of control dogs off the lead. Hope your scratches heal up, might be worth keeping an eye on them in case they get infected.

 

[fidleyspromise]

Thanks everyone. Sadly no hat cam as I've misplaced it and am so mad at myself for that.
I've reported to BHS and will definitely be reporting to the police too. - this is a woods where a riding school is so beginners and children.

Pony is an absolute superstar. I had planned to ride and lead with my young Arab but so glad I decided to leave him behind.

 

[Miss_Millie]

Wow that sounds awful, I would have been terrified too. I've been attacked a couple of times in the past by loose dogs and it was very scary (not whilst on a horse, which would add a whole other element of terror). I must admit that I'm now scared of any dogs off lead, as you just don't know what they might be capable of. A large breed like a Bernese would be particularly scary.

I would report to the police too, especially as it sounds like this has happened before. They could have caused a terrible accident. Hope you will be okay, your pony sounds like a saint.

 

[Fjord]

Oh hell, that sounds terrifying! I'm so glad you and your horse are ok. Definitely report to the police, and maybe post on local FB groups to warn people.

 

[southerncomfort]

Yes definitely report.

The fact that they know the dogs have issues with horses but let them off lead in an area they might reasonably expect to meet horses is very worrying.

If you ask on your local community FB page, someone will know who they are with such distinctive dogs.

I'm glad you're OK, that must have been incredibly frightening.

 

[Melody Grey]

Glad you’re ok, what an ordeal.

Definitely report to the police and as said above, write about it on social media and share around local pages- they will be known, particularly if this has happened before. Public shaming may hopefully be enough to ensure that they don’t let it happen again.

Might be worth a phone call to your vet seeking advice for the minor injuries and ask it to be logged. I was involved in an RTA with my horse earlier this year and the police asked as part of my witness statement what my course of action was regarding the horse and whether the vet had been called/ contacted/ could be important in the unlikely event it does come to something?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

Something similar happened to me and mine last summer. A dog - totally out of control - came up out of nowhere in the middle of some woods we were in and started biting at my pony's teats. The woman owner had absolutely no recall over it and was screaming and yelling. Not helpful. There wasn't room where we were in the close woodland to run at the dog and chase it off. We were sitting ducks essentially.My mare wouldn't kick at the damn thing, bless her, coz at home she's so gentle that she lets the cats rub up against her back feet. But this dog wouldn't leave her alone and she reared up to try to get away from it, and at that point I came off, then this dog then chased my poor scared little pony off and I saw her disappearing into the woods. Thankfully my clever little pony made her way for home, as I knew she would, and thankfully we didn't live in the other direction across the nearby very busy main road.......

I was more concerned for my pony than the dog or its owner (dog was unharmed - I actually wish it HAD needed the vet, hating to say it, as owner might have learnt a lesson), and went looking for her in the direction of home. Bless her, she'd galloped down our lane (a busy lane, on a bus route & lots of lorries) and our lovely postie & another guy had caught her. When I caught up with her she was standing in a gateway looking bemused.

I'd completely lost the woman and the dog at this point. Stuff them I thought. Later that day (evening) I put a post up on social media asking if anyone had been around at the time (it is a busy dog walking area) and had witnessed it, and perhaps the owner would come forward as because I had fallen I needed a new riding hat.

Unbelievably, the owner DID come forward. A nasty piece of work, she accused my pony of "spooking" at her dog rather than her having it out of control. Then the "partner" came on, and he was an even nastier piece of work. They said they were "local business people" and I was "slandering them in public". They let it out that they run a local garage; there was a picture of it on the guy's profile - and it didn't take long to work out exactly where it was. That's how stupid they were! Trying to threaten me and intimidate me. Also someone else came on the group and said that a dog fitting the description had gone into their garden and frightened their kids. They then tried to bully them and said oh no it wasn't their dog etc. And a friend who's Ex was a mechanic, was able to provide the information that the garage they run is about as dodgy as a dog's hind leg. Funny that.

Anyway, I did report it to dog warden - who never bothered to get back to me; and the police. The police DID come back to me: A PCSO got in touch quite a while later and said that they were giving the owner a Dog Control Order. Also that a dog fitting the description of the one who attacked us had apparently gone into a garden in the locality and frightened some kiddies by growling at them and being threatening.

The woman effectively admitted liability by very surprisingly giving me a payment of £100 towards a new riding hat! Which I used to put towards a hat-cam.

Hoping you and your horse are all right OP. Yes you should report this to the police and the dog warden. It really shakes you up when stuff like this happens, and I'm far more aware of where I am now when I'm out riding, and what dogs might be around. I tend to ask people to please put their dogs on a lead; tho' unbelievably we were up on our local common a while back and met someone with a dog off-lead (and boisterous with it), and the response was "oh Fido hasn't seen ever seen horses before, and let's see what he does when he sees yours". With numbskulls like this I really despair.

A hat-cam is really the only way to go though; when a dog-owner (or a motorist) is aware that you are filming, it tends to sharpen their minds a little if they know they could be featuring in a police report.

Here's a pic of us doing a fun ride, just a Walk & Trot one, a week after the attack. We did it with friends, just to get our confidence back. Sorry this has happened to you too. Tek care & stay safe. X

 

[Dave's Mam]

What an awful experience for you OP & others who have had this happen.

 

[AthenesOwl]

How terrifying, I’m glad you and your pony are ok, and I hope you’re not feeling too shaken. What a dreadful experience.

 

[fidleyspromise]

Reported it online and I have an appointment with the police to discuss it tomorrow as well as an incident number.

I'm still shaking and feel ill. I've only just started getting my confidence back having fun in the woods after my fall last year.

I have now found my hat cam after pulling the house apart so its charging ready to go.
I m not sure what I've done but my shoulder and neck is really sore.

Wow that sounds awful, I would have been terrified too. I've been attacked a couple of times in the past by loose dogs and it was very scary (not whilst on a horse, which would add a whole other element of terror). I must admit that I'm now scared of any dogs off lead, as you just don't know what they might be capable of. A large breed like a Bernese would be particularly scary.

I would report to the police too, especially as it sounds like this has happened before. They could have caused a terrible accident. Hope you will be okay, your pony sounds like a saint.

I'm sorry you were attacked and now scared of loose dogs.
It's crazy as I'm more likely to want to cuddle big dogs (I have a German Shepherd) but suddenly seeing their size during was scary.
She is a saint when she needs to be and a terror the rest of the time. Lots of carrots coming her way tomorrow. She had a danilon tonight.

Glad you’re ok, what an ordeal.

Definitely report to the police and as said above, write about it on social media and share around local pages- they will be known, particularly if this has happened before. Public shaming may hopefully be enough to ensure that they don’t let it happen again.

Might be worth a phone call to your vet seeking advice for the minor injuries and ask it to be logged. I was involved in an RTA with my horse earlier this year and the police asked as part of my witness statement what my course of action was regarding the horse and whether the vet had been called/ contacted/ could be important in the unlikely event it does come to something?

I'll figure out a post for social media tomorrow and see what happens. I need to pop into vets anyway so will speak to them about this.

Something similar happened to me and mine last summer. A dog - totally out of control - came up out of nowhere in the middle of some woods we were in and started biting at my pony's teats. The woman owner had absolutely no recall over it and was screaming and yelling. Not helpful. There wasn't room where we were in the close woodland to run at the dog and chase it off. We were sitting ducks essentially.My mare wouldn't kick at the damn thing, bless her, coz at home she's so gentle that she lets the cats rub up against her back feet. But this dog wouldn't leave her alone and she reared up to try to get away from it, and at that point I came off, then this dog then chased my poor scared little pony off and I saw her disappearing into the woods. Thankfully my clever little pony made her way for home, as I knew she would, and thankfully we didn't live in the other direction across the nearby very busy main road.......

I was more concerned for my pony than the dog or its owner (dog was unharmed - I actually wish it HAD needed the vet, hating to say it, as owner might have learnt a lesson), and went looking for her in the direction of home. Bless her, she'd galloped down our lane (a busy lane, on a bus route & lots of lorries) and our lovely postie & another guy had caught her. When I caught up with her she was standing in a gateway looking bemused.

I'd completely lost the woman and the dog at this point. Stuff them I thought. Later that day (evening) I put a post up on social media asking if anyone had been around at the time (it is a busy dog walking area) and had witnessed it, and perhaps the owner would come forward as because I had fallen I needed a new riding hat.

Unbelievably, the owner DID come forward. A nasty piece of work, she accused my pony of "spooking" at her dog rather than her having it out of control. Then the "partner" came on, and he was an even nastier piece of work. They said they were "local business people" and I was "slandering them in public". They let it out that they run a local garage; there was a picture of it on the guy's profile - and it didn't take long to work out exactly where it was. That's how stupid they were! Trying to threaten me and intimidate me. Also someone else came on the group and said that a dog fitting the description had gone into their garden and frightened their kids. They then tried to bully them and said oh no it wasn't their dog etc. And a friend who's Ex was a mechanic, was able to provide the information that the garage they run is about as dodgy as a dog's hind leg. Funny that.

Anyway, I did report it to dog warden - who never bothered to get back to me; and the police. The police DID come back to me: A PCSO got in touch quite a while later and said that they were giving the owner a Dog Control Order. Also that a dog fitting the description of the one who attacked us had apparently gone into a garden in the locality and frightened some kiddies by growling at them and being threatening.

The woman effectively admitted liability by very surprisingly giving me a payment of £100 towards a new riding hat! Which I used to put towards a hat-cam.

Hoping you and your horse are all right OP. Yes you should report this to the police and the dog warden. It really shakes you up when stuff like this happens, and I'm far more aware of where I am now when I'm out riding, and what dogs might be around. I tend to ask people to please put their dogs on a lead; tho' unbelievably we were up on our local common a while back and met someone with a dog off-lead (and boisterous with it), and the response was "oh Fido hasn't seen ever seen horses before, and let's see what he does when he sees yours". With numbskulls like this I really despair.

A hat-cam is really the only way to go though; when a dog-owner (or a motorist) is aware that you are filming, it tends to sharpen their minds a little if they know they could be featuring in a police report.

Here's a pic of us doing a fun ride, just a Walk & Trot one, a week after the attack. We did it with friends, just to get our confidence back. Sorry this has happened to you too. Tek care & stay safe. X

Wow, I'm amazed the woman admitted liability but pleased for you she did. They sound like a nasty piece of work.

I was scared to come off or let my horse go as the hills heading home are steep and then she'd be crossing old dangling wire, an old railway line and then crossing 2 roads where a horse was killed a few years ago after a dog attack.

I meet so many dogs that have never seen a horse so offer for mine to stand so they can see one not moving and have a chance to relax around one. My pony is amazing and will ignore dogs unless they're in her field.

I'm glad you had a fun ride with friends for confidence. My friend is coming out with me at the weekend.

 

[Birker2020]

This happened to me too
https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...istressing-story-warning.832129/post-15343019

It has, perhaps unfairly, given me a life long fear of staffing, reinforced when one trespased on our land yeats ago and killed my favourite hen.

 

[PeterNatt]

So sorry to read of this incident. The law states that dogs must be under control in a public place, so hopefully the Police will take action against the owners of the dogs. Make sure that your horse gets a Tetanus injection, as dogs carry Tetanus. If you are in any pain, get a doctor to examine you and provide a written report.

 

[Peglo]

What a horrible experience for you and your horse. Bl**dy irresponsible dog owners!! Why can’t they control their animals! Its unfair it’s other people that have to suffer their incompetence.

I’m glad you’re ok but sorry you’ve been so shaken up. It sounds like such a scary encounter. Hope your horse is ok too and the police can do something.

 

[pinkfluffy]

How awful, very glad you're both safe. Your pony is a star! It's shocking how bad some dog owners have got recently.

 

[JackFrost]

My experience is that unfortunately this seems to be the majority of dog owners. Very few actually have their dog under control. I am getting really fed up with it.
Just got myself a hatcam + warning stickers - it will be interesting to see if dog owners act better if they know they are being filmed.

 

[fidleyspromise]

My experience is that unfortunately this seems to be the majority of dog owners. Very few actually have their dog under control. I am getting really fed up with it.
Just got myself a hatcam + warning stickers - it will be interesting to see if dog owners act better if they know they are being filmed.

I would suspect not as these owners were nowhere near the dogs. I don't know how long it was but at least a few minutes before they even showed up just walking around the corner. The owners had slip leads and although they may have been hidden in the fluff I'm not even sure the dogs had collars on.

Thank you everyone. I'm still trembling and crying. All I see is the dog with my foot in it's mouth and them jumping up from all angles.

My neck and shoulder are sore with the pain going down my arm so I suspect I wrenched it at some point.
I didn't think about tetanus. Will speak to the vets.

 

[Tiddlypom]

What a horrible thing to happen. I’m glad that you are seeing the police.

Please inform the police of your own injuries (pain) as well those sustained by your horse, that ramps up the degree of severity of what the owners should be charged with.

Hopefully posting their description on local FB will lead to a +ve id of the dogs and their owners. That’s a very distinctive and uncommon breed.

 

[maya2008]

I didn't think about tetanus. Will speak to the vets.

If you keep your horse fully vaccinated, they will be covered against tetanus already.

 

[Fransurrey]

Oh hell, that sounds terrifying! I'm so glad you and your horse are ok. Definitely report to the police, and maybe post on local FB groups to warn people.

If you do this, brace yourself for the comments posted by the local d*cks. Same with any post involving the word 'cyclist', 'runner' and so on. Such is the entitled world we live in. Glad she and you are relatively unscathed.

 

[SEL]

That's shocking - I'm not surprised you're feeling it today. I can't believe how irresponsible a lot of dog owners are. Imagine if it had been a little child on a panicking pony

 

[fidleyspromise]

It doesn't bear thinking about as there are several children use these woods.

Poor Til. I got a look and there's a puncture wound inside her nostril.
I've spoken to vets and they're happy she's covered for tetanus as she had in March but they're sorting me antibiotics ASAP.

I have danilon and gave her yesterday but she was super stiff behind today. Ive cold hosed her legs too. I've given her a massage all over and she's feeling sorry for herself. Took her out of the field to graze and she just stood (typical Highland usually drags you to grass).

 

[Fjord]

Oh poor girl. I hope she is less stiff soon x

 

[dorsetladette]

Hope she's feeling better soon.

This seems to be more of a problem since lock down. The forest that I ride in seems to always have dog walkers who often have upwards of 6 dogs off leads at any time with limited recall. They are always little yappy dogs here - I don't know what I'd do if they were huge dogs like you encountered OP, my pony is only 12.3hh.

 

[I'm Dun]

What an angel your pony is. One of mine would have killed them. His party trick is to go up and come down both front feet out to pound anything he doesn't want in his field. He was cut very late and doesn't tolerate nonsense like that. I'm not sure if that would have been a better or worse outcome! I hope you feel better soon, and the same for your lovely pony.

 

[pastit]

Awful story. My friend and her pony was also attacked by 2 Bernese dogs - she was able to let her horse run. It took about half a mile before the oldest dog got tired and gave up. The second dog stopped as well. My own horse does not like dogs. If they come in his field, they exit either under the fence or over it - he's not fussed. But would he be so brave if a pack surrounded him - luckily I've not had to find out. Unfortunately I feel more pressured to use a Go-Pro which I really would prefer not to do. I don't ride with a whip, but if I take him for a walk in the woods, I carry one just for protection against an aggressive dog. Dreadful that we have to think like this.