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Sanctuary wrote: We've often mentioned the dangers that cows present when crossing fields to reach sites of interest, but not too often horses/ponies, unless trekking across moorland that is.
Well yesterday, an elderly family friend and past stonehead moor tramper with me who now gets about slowly with the assistance of two sticks, was taking her new puppy out for it's first walk. She chose a well-used local field with a public footpath through it and the puppy was kept on the lead. No stock have been put in the field for years that's why it is used by the local dog walkers.
Well I was informed this morning that midway across the field she was attacked by two horses that knocked her to the ground and according to a witness was then purposely trampled all over and stamped with their front hooves.
The bottom line is that one of her arms has been severely damaged (shredded was the term used) and has other multiple injuries, all requiring surgery until 3am this morning in the main Exeter hospital.
This poor lady lives alone, has no family and only just recovered from her second knee replacement. She walks with such a stoop that she is constantly gazing at the ground. She had no chance!
The irony is that she spent the whole of her working life as a herdswoman/shepherdess/stable hand with a great understanding of all stock - but they got her in the end it would seem!
She wasn't able to escape like most of us probably would have done but please do take extra care when crossing fields whether you feel safe or not.
I'll report back when I find out more.
Thank you for those who offered their best wishes for the ladies recovery.
The latest update - as told to me by the pre-owner of the young dog - is that on admittance to hospital the lady had bones sticking out of her damaged arm. They were pinned and plated but because there was so much flesh and skin missing she is going to have re-construction surgery and multiple skin grafts over the days/weeks ahead. I was given no updates on other injuries but my guess is they are not anywhere as bad thankfully!
You may well be correct about the dog tjj as I was told it was on a flexi-lead which are an accident waiting to happen and in my opinion should be banned! They are the ones encased in a plastic carrier with a handle and a 'trigger' that stops and releases the leash. Umpteen times I have seen dogs pile into others when on this lead when in the 'open' position and the owner not aware another dog is approaching from behind or when they have been distracted. If the dog runs to the end of it and pulls to get to another dog/anything, it can't retract on its spring and the handler left stranded with a disobedient or fighting dog on the end of it. Could this be why the horses behaved like they did?
The dog is back with the previous owner now and will not be returning to the injured lady.
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