Horses and riders 'terrified' in dog attack

By Justine Thompson

General news

16 March 2010 14:22

A rider has described the terrifying moments when her own and her friend’s horses were attacked by a bull terrier type dog.

Paula Atyeo-Pearson, 33, said the dog hung by its teeth from the neck of her friend’s horse, Basset, before attacking her own.

She said: “It was the most horrendous thing I have ever seen. Basset was bucking and rearing.

“Then the dog came round the corner towards my horse, Charlie. He reared up and I ended up on the ground with a cut lip. It’s really put the wind up me. I was absolutely petrified.”

The mum-of-two was riding with friends through woodland in Dorset when the attack took place.

The dog’s owner has denied that his pet was out of control and said he helped to catch it, apologised to the riders, offered further assistance, and had not been contacted by them since.

After a veterinary consultation the dog has since been rehomed.