United Kingdom: Woman thrown from horse after dog attack

UNITED KINGDOM -- A North-east woman was thrown from her horse after it was attacked and chased for two miles by a dog in an Aberdeen wood.

Pat Dorward and a friend were riding their horses in Countesswells Wood when a dog and its owner approached.

Pat said the dog began biting her horse Dhabi, who threw her off in fright before galloping away.

She said the other horse ran away and came within an inch of being hit by a car on the roads.

Pat, of Drumoak said the incident happened on Sunday, January 31, as they came out of the car park at Countesswells Wood.

She said: “It was around 1.45pm on Sunday and we came out of the car park of Countesswells Wood.

“The other horse ran away and came within an inch of being hit by a car on the roads. The dog then began to bite my horse as it galloped away on the Blacktop road. I fell off and was then helped by a man in a car who took me towards the horse.

“Lots of cars stopped on the road and watched the horse as it ran away. The driver helped to restrain the dog and I managed to bring the horse towards me.”

The 56-year-old said Dhabi had been badly shaken by the incident. “He’s totally traumatized, he’s going to need rehabilitation if he’s ever going to go out riding again,” she said.

“I spoke to the owner, but he did not see the issue. He said it was just because the dog had not seen a horse before. Police have said it is not a criminal matter.”

(Aberdeen Evening Express - Feb 9, 2016)