Horse_amp_amp_Hound__06_February_2018

NEWSInsider
‘Amazing police’ step up in fight
against dog attacks on horses
A community resolution scheme signed by both horse and dog owner meant
both were satisfied with the outcome after a rider was injured in an incident
THE positive outcome of a
dog attack on a horse has
demonstrated how the law can
work for all concerned.
Viv Spencer fell when a loose
dog spooked her home-bred mare
Toynton Zaraah at her home in
Lincolnshire on 17 January. Both
escaped serious injury, although
Mrs Spencer’s new riding hat was
“totally smashed”.
Mrs Spencer reported the
incident to police, who paid the
owner a visit and asked him to
apologise to Viv, which he did, also
giving her a cheque to cover the
cost of a new hat.
“The police were amazing,” she
told H&H. “Apparently, he told
them he’d seen me limping off so
thought I was ok. They went to see
him straight after they came here
and he came round that night.
“The policeman who took
my statement asked me what I
wanted to happen: they could do
nothing, or start this community
resolution, which you both sign.
I said I wanted him to agree to
keep the dog on a lead and maybe
pay for a new hat, and they went
straight round to see him. I can’t
praise the police enough.”
The British Horse Society
(BHS) announced last year that
three riders and 18 horses had
died as a result of dog attacks
since 2010.
The statistics were released
after a parliamentary report called
for responsible dog ownership to
reduce attacks on livestock. The
report was instigated following
concerns about the “apparent
increase in incidences of livestockworrying
by dogs”.
It found ensuring responsible
dog ownership should be a focus
in tackling the issue.
BHS director of safety Alan
Hiscox said the BHS was not
By ELEANOR JONES
aware of many cases that have
been resolved in this way.
“It was really good to see Viv
had a positive experience with the
police after her incident, and we
are pleased she and her horse are
recovering well,” he told H&H.
“Although some riders have
reported that police haven’t
pursued an incident where it’s an
animal-on-animal attack, it is our
understanding that the law does
cover these attacks. It states that it
if the owner or keeper has allowed
their dog to be dangerously out of
control and as a result, injured or
caused fear of injury to the rider
through alarming the horse, then
there will be an offence under
section three of the Dangerous
Dogs Act (1991).
“We would recommend anyone
who has had a dog attack to report
it to the police or dog warden.
We also urge people to report
incidents to us, as our statistics
help us lobby the government.”
For the purposes of the above
Act, a dog has to be considered
“dangerously out of control in any
place… so that there are grounds
for reasonable apprehension that
it will injure any person, whether
or not it actually does so”. The
dog’s actions could cause the horse
to react and injure the rider.
CIVIL CASES
EQUESTRIAN solicitor Hannah
Bradley said if police do not
prosecute, and the owner of a
dog involved in an attack does
not offer adequate compensation,
riders can claim for damages.
“One route is under the
provisions of the Animals Act
1971,” she told H&H.
“Section 3 of the Animals Act
provides that where a dog causes
damage by killing or injuring
livestock [which includes horses],
any person who is a keeper of the
dog is liable. It is also possible
to bring a claim for damages for
losses such as personal injury or
‘It is important the victim
is happy with the outcome’
LINCOLNSHIRE POLICE
Riders whose horses are
attacked by dogs have
different options for action
damage to property under the Act.
“A civil claim will be long and
stressful but, if you are left with
significant losses and the dog
owner refuses to reimburse you,
it may be the only option. You
should check home or equine
insurance to see if you have legal
expenses cover for the costs.”
A Lincolnshire Police
spokesman said the incident could
have been investigated as a dog
being dangerously out of control.
“But the victim was content
we sought a restorative solution,”
she added. “A restorative solution
can only be effective, and is only
applied, in less serious cases. It is
also important the victim is happy
and that the accused has shown
remorse and a willingness to abide
by the conditions agreed.”
PC Robert Hauxwell, who
dealt with the incident, said the
dog owner was “very apologetic”.
“It’s great to hear how satisfied
the horse owner was,” he said. “It’s
fortunate she was not seriously
injured, and happy to engage in
the resolution, which enabled
us to get the incident resolved
quickly and with an outcome
which suited both parties. The
dog owner felt what was being
requested was reasonable given
the situation caused by his dog.”
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has retired after
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Criquette trained
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is aiming for
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8 Horse & Hound 8 February 2018