From Hereford Police (West Mercia Police):
“We have received reports of two incidents involving dogs being off the lead and out of control around horses, leading to riders falling and injuries occurring.”
Incident 1 – Rystone Lane
At approximately 3:35pm, on 25th February a horse rider was on private land when a dog walker entered through a gate from Rystone Lane.
The dog was off the lead on a public footpath where signage clearly states that dogs must be kept on leads.
The dog had no recall and began intimidating the horse, which spooked, causing the rider to fall. The horse then bolted.
Incident 2 – Sprees, Bartestree (Tuesday 18th February, 10:47am)
A 13-year-old girl was riding her pony on private land owned by the yard when an uncontrolled dog off-lead ran off the public footpath and spooked the pony. The pony slipped and fell, landing on the rider’s right side.
The dog owner, described as a woman in her late 20s or early 30s, with dark hair and a foreign accent, saw the injured girl on the ground.
Despite the rider crying and being visibly shaken, the dog owner ran off with her dog, leaving the child alone and without seeking help.
Legal Considerations & Advice
These incidents breach public footpath regulations and potential criminal offences under the Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 (Section 3 – Dog Dangerously Out of Control).
This applies when a dog is not under proper control and causes injury, alarm or distress.
Key points for dog owners:If a public right of way crosses private land where horses are kept, dogs must be kept on a lead.If a dog injures a person or causes an accident due to being out of control, it can be classed as an offence.
Both incidents have been logged and will be investigated.
