Rider attacked in Epping Forest

Vary Scary as to what might have happened! Especially as my friend used to live just down the Road and was always riding in the forest which was near her land!! Have walked the dogs there many times whilst visiting.
 
Mmmm, is it just me that was a tad sceptical when they read this story? I got it on email a couple of days ago. Just seems very weird, especially for a horse to 'attack' like that.

But if it is true (and I'm sure it is, I'm just ultra cynical!), I would imagine the horse kicked the attacker as a result of a rear or spook rather than deliberately kicking out to defend its owner??
I know mine would wish me luck as he high tailed it in the opposite direction rather than stay to attack on my behalf
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I suspect the horse was panicking. I imagine the rider still had hold of the reins and a struggle ensued. Henry would be checking his pockets for treats, too and if the reins were dropped, he'd be attacking the nearest patch of tasty foliage. Bet she loves her horse even more, now!
 
there have been similar stories in the past of horses and ponies defending their owner/rider, this isn't a one-off.
animals can do strange things sometimes. there was a story a few years ago about a farmer being gored by a bull, and all the cows made a circle around him, kept the bull away from him, and slowly moved along with him to protect him as he crawled across the field to safety.
 
Have just had a phone call from friend in that area, who has asked me to post - Apparently there has been another attack and therider was pulled from her horse and raped..... I really really hope this isn't as bad as it sounds and that this didn't happen..... but all those riding in that area, dont hack out alone!
 
i think connor would be a horse to kick out at somthing like that, if he spooks he tends not to run straight away he tends to bronc that try and run however if you fall he will always keep circleing you till your on your feet then he will come and let you catch him, its odd i think he always try to attack the thing that spooks him and if i fall he always want to know i am okay, he trust me with everything and shows it all the time.

its good that connor can be warey of stranger when hacking alone as well, he often will try not to go to close to people when we are hacking on the road on our own
 
The rape story is, as far as I am aware untrue...however

Aug 2009:
A WOMAN was left frightened and shaking after a man set his dog on her German Shepherd.
The lady was walking her dog along a footpath in Epping Forest near Abridge when she saw a couple coming towards her.
She said: “He was staring right at me and all of a sudden he called his dog and this Staffordshire Bull Terrier jumped up the bank from the water and it came straight for my dog and attacked him...the man just stood there laughing
Sept 2009:

Police in Chingford are investigating an attack on a 25-year-old woman who was riding in Epping Forest yesterday (14 September).
The woman was pulled from her horse by a man as she rode close to the corner of Bury Road and Hornbeam Lane in Chingford at 5.15pm.

Also in 2009 the City of London took the step of abolishing its mounted keeper section in Epping Forest...In what world are the City of London living?
The expansion of paths open to riders around the forest area and the coming of the Olympics will almost certainly cause a renascence in horse riding in the Epping Forest area...not to mention cycling, running etc...yet it at this very time when they scrap mounted patrols (a wonderful visible deterrent to crime and a great PR opportunity) in favour of bikes and four by fours. Will a touchy feely less military uniformed cycle mounted Warden that the City want command the same respect as a neatly turned out mounted keeper? The regular police know how important the reassurance of a visible uniformed presence is on our streets...hence the PCSOs...like them or not...how come the City is not as clued up?
What can we as riders in the forest do? Well the interests of everyday forest riders are purportedly represented a the toothless anachronistic ‘Darby and Joan Riding Club’ EFRA (Epping Forest Rider’s Association) who in truth have only half of the riders in their membership and have lost every major battle they have engaged in with the City. It is no use in approaching that national waste of space that is the British Horse Society for any assistance either, as it was their ‘behind closed doors’ dealings that helped to barter a scandalous trade off: opening other routes in Essex to horses in exchange for supporting fencing and putting in cattle grids all over the forest... against the wishes of the vast majority of properly informed forest users.
We as riders in Epping Forest have been let down by the City of London, EFRA and the BHS...and it is only a matter of time before we have a fatality amongst our number either from traffic or from crime.
 
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