A riding school owner says she will have to stop training in the park after her horse toppled over while fleeing a dog.
A 25-year-old voluntary staff member of the club was reportedly riding nineteen-year-old Tomas at at 6pm on Sunday, July 31, when an Alsatian bounded towards them.
Jaye Montebello, 54, proprietor of Dulwich Riding School, said: “The Alsatian chased him and took the horse down. Dogs unnerve horses and he lost his balance.”
Spectators gawped as the rider was launched off the Irish Cob. Despite falling off, they kept hold of the reigns, preventing it from charging off. Tomas was “shaken” while the rider has suffered torn ankle ligaments.
“The horse will never go in the park again because we won’t risk it having a flash back but I would like to think it wouldn’t knock the rider’s confidence too much”, said Jaye.
One Facebook user wrote: “Oh my gosh…..how terrible. What on earth was a vicious dog let off the lead for!!!!”
Another Facebook user said: “Tomas is a gentle soul! This makes me angry as an owner of a wolf-dog myself and I walk my dog three times a day. I would never let her off lead and put other animals at risk!”
Jaye said the riding school has suspended park practices, especially given that horses have been getting chased by dogs “three times a week” recently.
Six or seven weeks ago, a dog chased one of their horses, resulting in a rider falling off and breaking her coccyx.
Nine years ago, a horse had its “throat ripped out” by a dog and required stitches, according to Jaye.
Jaye said: “People need to keep their dogs on the lead. I’ve got a German Shepherd myself. I wouldn’t take my dog off the lead in the park because I don’t know how she would react to everything.
She is speaking to park wardens about how to best tackle the problem, and is suggesting introducing an hour where dog walkers are told to keep their dogs on leads while the horses are out.
Dulwich Riding School has used Dulwich Park ever since it was founded in 1961 by Jaye’s grandfather.