Out-of-control dogs in the New Forest worsening, says horse rider who no longer feels safe after three worrying incidents in two weeks

A HORSE rider says she no longer feels safe hacking in the New Forest due to her pony being repeatedly chased by out-of-control dogs, one of which even attempted to bite its face.

The local resident, who wishes to remain anonymous, has been riding in the area for 25 years, but has been left “deflated” after she was pursued by growling and barking dogs three times in the last two weeks while out near Holmsley.

Having been forced to take a break from riding, she told the A&T: “In one incident I was chased and growled at by a local dog – my horse is, luckily, extremely calm and I managed to dismount safely to try not only to keep him safe, but also to protect the dog from being kicked.

“I asked the owners if they could recall their dog and I was told, ‘We can walk our dog how we like on the forest – what gives you more right than us to use it how we please’.

“I then experienced another incident in which I was run at by a dog which then proceeded to jump up, trying to bite my horse’s face.

“Luckily, I was with another walker at the time who managed to jump in between and move the dog back.

“The owner on this occasion told me her dog didn’t have good recall skills and she wouldn’t trust him around the horse – so she thought the best thing to do was keep walking and hopefully it would follow.”

She added: “The third incident was a young lady on a bike who had her dog off the lead. He was running around my horse’s feet so I asked if she could control her dog and her response was, ‘Don’t worry, I have horses, he does this to mine’.”

According to the British Horse Society, dog related incidents reported on its app have risen nationally by 111% in the last two years, from 170 in 2020 to 359 in 2022.

The resident said she felt the problem was Forest-wide and explained how she had also witnessed a foal being chased by a dog that the owners could not recall.

She said: “It just makes me feel extremely sad that people are so irresponsible they don’t consider the repercussions of what could happen.

“Although horse riding is a dangerous sport in itself, you don’t expect to be chased by an out-of-control dog, and to have such inconsiderate communications from the owners.”

The experienced rider said the problem with out-of-control dogs had “almost certainly” gotten worse in recent times, but felt the blame did not lie with tourists.

She explained: “It is always easy to put the blame onto tourists and people not from the area that may not understand how forest etiquette works; however, most people I have met whilst out and about that have been on holiday here have always been very sensible, very willing to stop and have a chat, and in my experience have been very responsible in the way they have been walking their dog.”

The rider also highlighted a further incident that occurred while she was out walking her own dog, a rescue who is kept on the lead due to being anxious.

Another dog had run out of its owner’s front garden and attacked her pet.

“In the process of separating the dogs, with no assistance from the owner, I did suffer a bite on my finger,” she explained.

She added there was no apology from the owner, and after reporting it to New Forest District Council’s dog warden, she was told that her pet had most likely provoked the other dog.

She branded it “the most unhelpful experience I have ever encountered”.

“I am not for one minute suggesting that all dogs in the New Forest should be on leads, but some sort of consequence for when incidents happen should be mandatory,” she continued.

“If you are well aware your dog has no recall, put it on a long line.”

Chairman of the New Forest Dog Owners Group, Heather Gould, said: “This is both worrying and understandably upsetting for the lady involved.

“It doesn’t matter that it’s a minority [of dog owners] to her, the effect is clear.

“Dog owners have a clear responsibility to keep their pets under control, and if they can’t they should be on a lead, or not out on the forest.

“But it is a minority, and their behaviour affects the reputation of all dog owners.

“We and our partners work hard to try to make owners keep control of their dogs, and I’m sorry we’ve failed in this case.”

The organisation, along with the NPA and Camping in the Forest has launched an awareness campaign on responsible ownership, including leaflets for all visiting campers, and posters.

A spokesperson for NFDC said: “Our dog warden service primarily deal with stray dogs. Offences under the dangerous dogs act are passed to the police for investigation and action.”