A mum in Oxford has revealed terrifying footage of an ‘out of control’ Rottweiler chasing her teenage daughter’s horse for more than three minutes.
Tracy Smith’s daughter, Ella, 14, clung on in fear when the large dog repeatedly darted at her horse, barking as it chased them in circles near their home on August, 12.
Mrs Smith, 40, who shot the film, was thankful her daughter is an experienced rider, particularly after a similar incident left a friend with broken ribs, she said.
In the clip, Ms Smith is heard yelling at the dog’s owner, ‘I’m calling the police – come and get your dog!’
Mrs Smith said she had confronted the owner after the incident occurred.
She explained that this was not the first time something like this has happened and urges dog owners to be more responsible around horses.
She said: ‘A horse’s reaction is to flee danger and that’s what Ella’s was trying to do.
‘There was nothing that could be done because we usually stop and stand to let dogs pass, but because it was at the horse’s legs, it wouldn’t stand still.
A Rottweiler begins hounding 14-year-old Ella and her spooked stallion near her home in Oxford. Dogs should be kept on leashes when around horses they don’t know
A Rottweiler begins hounding 14-year-old Ella and her spooked stallion, pictured, near her home in Oxford. Dogs should be kept on leashes when around horses they don’t know
‘These incidents happen quite often where dogs are out-of-control near the horses.’
She added: ‘It was scary for my daughter. As soon as the dog got close, her horse was up in the air on two legs.
Mrs Smith has been riding horses for most of her life. She once fell off a horse when a dog came charging towards her.
She believes problems between dogs and horses stem from a lack of education among dog owners about how to stay safe near bigger animals like horses.
Tracy Smith, 40, and her daughter, Ella, 14, pictured riding near their Oxford home. They are both experienced riders who have had similar incidents with dogs terrifying their horses
She said: ‘It’s a worry for horse riders when you come across dogs off-lead because you never know how they or the horses are going to behave.
‘I usually shout ‘the horse will kick’ and give the owner time to put their dog on a lead while we stop and stand.
‘I tried to shout to this owner but he couldn’t hear. The horse wouldn’t stop and stand.
After the incident Ella’s horse was a bit on edge. Later, the riding pair came across other dogs and the horse stood as normal.
A Rottweiler begins hounding 14-year-old Ella and her spooked stallion, pictured, near her home in Oxford. Dogs should be kept on leashes when around horses they don’t know
A Rottweiler begins hounding 14-year-old Ella and her spooked stallion, pictured, near her home in Oxford. Dogs should be kept on leashes when around horses they don’t know
A Rottweiler begins hounding 14-year-old Ella and her spooked stallion, pictured, near her home in Oxford. Dogs should be kept on leashes when around horses they don’t know
According to advice issued by the British Horse Society for dog owners, they advise dog owners to train a reliable recall or keep them on a lead when a horse is nearby.
The charity also advises dog and horse owners to socialise their animals from a young age so they are not scared by each other.
Mrs Smith added: ‘They don’t really teach you anything about horse safety when you’re learning to drive either, so people don’t know.
‘We can have up to five drivers in the space of 10 minutes who shout or beep at us when we’re on the road.’