Horse saves Female rider's life.

[Moxie]

15 September, 2009


Police in Chingford are investigating an attack on a 25-year-old woman who was riding in Epping Forest yesterday (14 September).
The woman was pulled from her horse by a man as she rode close to the corner of Bury Road and Hornbeam Lane in Chingford at 5.15pm.

It is not known what the man's aim was but the woman was saved by her horse, which reared up then kicked the man with both hind legs, knocking him to the ground.

She quickly remounted and galloped back to her stable yard.

Police and forest keepers searched the area but the man was not found.

Adrian Liddle of the Epping Forest Riders Association told H&H: "This is quite disturbing as we have not had something like this for a number of years, the last being approximately eight years ago."

The assailant is described as being a white male, possibly eastern European, with short brown hair and in his late 20s or early 30s.

He was wearing a white T-shirt and jeans and was taller than 6ft and of muscular build.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Loughton police on 0300 333 4444 and the forest keepers on 020 8532 1010.

Source: H & H.

[NightRider]

Wow that's really crazy to hear.

[sophie33]

Wow! I ride there sometimes so I really hope they catch him - but well done horse - what a star!

[vixie]

my horse would never do that....he'd just be glad that he was free and eat grass/hedges/anything in site and not be alarmed at all

[Skippys Mum]

I'd have to ask the man to give me a leg back up :o

Lucky lady - what a horse!

[Joyscarer]

Thank god she could mount from the ground.

[julia gulia]

I'd have to ask the man to give me a leg back up :o



:p:p:p

[Alice1992]

I think anone could mount from te ground in tha situaton! Youd get back on some how. What a horse.

[lhogg]

Maybe they should add to the description:

"with 2 horse-shoe shaped bruises to upper body - and possibly cracked ribs"!

[Shanik]

lhogg that made me smile, here's hoping! ;)

Some horses are amazing in their perception of situations. When I was a teen, I had a part bred TB. My sis had just sold her Welsh A (outgrown) and bought another Welsh D mare who turned out to be an evil sod. Poo picking one day, the new mare went for my sister in the paddock, knocked her clean over and gave her both back feet, sis was half-concious on the ground but can remember a scuffle and when she came to my mare was standing over her guarding her, the Welsh mare tried a couple more times to come in but was held off and my mare actually helped her, protecting her until she got out of the paddock safely. She was only 3 years old at the time! (My mare not my sis :))

[kayjayhorses]

OMG thats scary, I hope he's caught soon!

[titch_]

Thats a Scary thought!

[IrishDQ]

Scary! smart horse though!

[Peace]

Awww. That's a nice story, but I believe whoever made it up (I mean the rider or the reporter, not you, OP!) has read too much Nicholas Sparks.;)

[Jan516]

Skippysmum......cried with laughter at that!!!

[cookster1975]

I'd have to ask the man to give me a leg back up :o

Lucky lady - what a horse!

You could have used the bad man as a mounting block!

What a good horsey though for saving his mummy.;)

[Hammie]

If anything happens that my share horse doesn't like she just plants. That would be good, wouldn't it? Run, run.. oh never mind, I'll just get off and carry *you* instead :rolleyes:.

[Cazie]

I'd have a problem getting back on, definitely..

My horse did protect me in the field once from 3 other horses..

[Portia]

That'd be me done for, there's no way I could mount from the ground :(

[Chestnutter]

Awww. That's a nice story, but I believe whoever made it up (I mean the rider or the reporter, not you, OP!) has read too much Nicholas Sparks.;)

Well said!

[nicolawx]

Wow what a horse! They must have some bond for the horse to realise something was going wrong.
Glad she got away safely.

Millie wouldn't do that, she'd probably look for the nearest patch of grass :rolleyes:

[dessert_storm87]

Agh that's scary. I hope they find the man :/

[Mimi + Me]

Serve him right, he won't do that again in a hurry :mad:

[tashanoodles]

I spent a few hours with the mounted section of the police last year, and was told how some of the horses have learnt how to protect themselves/riders against the usually drunken idiots at football matches etc who come up wanting to "pet the pony" - if the person doesnt move away after warnings from the rider, the horse dips his head into them - protective gear & all - and gives them a good head butt!! - Not sure how true this was mind!!

[Star_Piper]

That's scary. Hopefully taught him a lesson that'll stick though. And the lady is ok, if shaken.

[flinglebunt]

Awww. That's a nice story, but I believe whoever made it up (I mean the rider or the reporter, not you, OP!) has read too much Nicholas Sparks.;)

I am glad someone else saw it that way .... jusr could not put the incident together in my head. Women and girls being attacked by strangers is a primeaval fear in most women and not something to be made up or embellished. I am surprised the magazine did not see through that story.

A very dear freind of mine was attacked once and was saved by the dog she had spent the previous few minutes calling suddenly appearing frpm the bushes. The bastard did not get asny further than trying to push her down a couple of times and legged it when the dog went ballistic. The police were fantastic but this was in the pre mobile phone days and the man had a good head start.

I saw the efffect that incident had on her at the time and twenty one years later she will still not go near woodland or overgrown footpaths and will not go anywhere without a photograph of that dog.

[clarabella_78]

I am glad someone else saw it that way .... jusr could not put the incident together in my head. Women and girls being attacked by strangers is a primeaval fear in most women and not something to be made up or embellished. I am surprised the magazine did not see through that story.

A very dear freind of mine was attacked once and was saved by the dog she had spent the previous few minutes calling suddenly appearing frpm the bushes. The bastard did not get asny further than trying to push her down a couple of times and legged it when the dog went ballistic. The police were fantastic but this was in the pre mobile phone days and the man had a good head start.

I saw the efffect that incident had on her at the time and twenty one years later she will still not go near woodland or overgrown footpaths and will not go anywhere without a photograph of that dog.


Yep, I think in that situation a dog is a better bet than a horse! They are much more protective by nature. When I was a teenager I did martial arts and my Dad brought our dog along to an outdoor display. I was sparring with a man and the dog went mental, thank goodness Dad had her on a lead! She ran to the end of the stretchy lead so hard that she did a back-flip. Bless her :p

[lottie.dot]

my horse would never do that....he'd just be glad that he was free and eat grass/hedges/anything in site and not be alarmed at all

Either that or my horse would more than likely spook at the man and chuck me off... into his arms!

On a serious note though, that's bloody scary!! I cannot believe someone would do that. God only knows what his intentions were but it wasn't to ask for directions... Thank god they are OK and well done to this horse (I think someone will be getting a few more carrots for the time being:D:D

Edited to say; I just assumed it was true and it might well be, the horse may have spooked at the situation and happened to get the man - Not necessarily aiming for him per se but who knows. Pretty cheeky to make up a story about something like this, so I will believe it until I here otherwise.

[HJ]

Im confused, did it happen or not?

[fairlady]

I think it would have been ME kicking the man then picking my Horse up
and running off to keep him safe if it had been Egbert the Shettie:p

[flinglebunt]

Im confused, did it happen or not?

I very much doubt it, it is all too twee ... got back on and galloped away. I have been around horses for a long time and have never known a horse to behave like a dog, they are flight animals and their instinct is to put a lot of ground between themsellves and a threat.

I do not even accept the possibility suggested here that the horse accidently kicked this man of eastern European appearance .... wasn't he suppose to be struggling with his victim at the time? the horse so spooked that it double barrelled but still hung around for her to get back on?

It is bull****. Rape and attempted rape is a very serious subject and has nothing to do with a world where naive females are lulled into a false sense of security because they are up on a horse.

[colettybetty]

I have been around horses for a long time and have never known a horse to behave like a dog, they are flight animals and their instinct is to put a lot of ground between themsellves and a threat.

I have had my neck saved several times by two of mine. Malachy once stood over me when I fell, in the path of a herd of galloping horses,actually swinging his bum out to protect my head. He has also cantered over to place himself between me and a kicking horse and he's come over and escorted me to the gate when youngsters in the field were misbehaving.
Santa, my mare once went wild. She was tied up outside her stable and kept trying to kick out and repeatedly swung her bum across the stable door to keep out an unknown man who was shouting at me, I was so alarmed at her uncharateristic behaviour that I thought she'd hurt herself, but she became her sweet self again once the man had left.
My (then) 11 month old filly was protected by 2 mares when a stallion got in the field and attacked her. Local dog walkers apparently saw the 2 mares leaping several feet in the air over several hours, taking turns as one became exhausted.
So, no, I don't find the report of the horse prtecting its rider fanciful at all.

[Tiy]

I don't find the thought of a horse protecting it's owner odd at all. I had a lovely mare (who I rescued) who was incredibly protective.

She pushed me out of the way of someone she thought was a threat and planted herself squarely between us so they couldn't get near me more than once. She used to do this with humans, dogs and other horses.

She always saw loud, agrresive acting people as a threat and her whole manner would change around them....lovely (if slightly unstable) mare.

[suseh97]

Yep, I think in that situation a dog is a better bet than a horse! They are much more protective by nature. When I was a teenager I did martial arts and my Dad brought our dog along to an outdoor display. I was sparring with a man and the dog went mental, thank goodness Dad had her on a lead! She ran to the end of the stretchy lead so hard that she did a back-flip. Bless her :p

Not my dog. A drunk, aggressive man started shouting at me in the street one night while I was out walking her. She first of all tried to run away but because she was on the lead had to hide behind my legs and peek out :rolleyes: Any animal would be better than her!

[Mini-me]

Hey all. This is a true story :eek:. I have now heard that it has happened again to someone in the Chingford area somewhere else and the woman has been raped!! So if you ride out alone in this area don't.

[sjmcc]

haha if its true hel think twice if he isnt horsey to do that again hope hes very sore nice 1

[hannah_xx]

i think it could be true, the horse might not of been protecting her :o he might of got scared by the man suddenly pouncing on him! so he understandbly reared and kicked the man due to fright. he could of been thinkning more of himslef than his rider lol. Although i could be wrong :)

[cloudandmatrix]

either way itworked!!#

[Peace]

Rape and attempted rape is a very serious subject and has nothing to do with a world where naive females are lulled into a false sense of security because they are up on a horse.

I agree. There are people who believe that they could kick an attacker or strike him in the face with a crop because if mounted they'd have the height advantage. Both are bad ideas and give the attacker an excellent opportunity to grab the rider's foot and dump her off the other side or grab her arm and pull her out of the saddle.

Best thing to do? Use the advantage you actually have, which is being on a big fast animal. Don't let anyone close enough to touch you or your horse. If someone approaches, yell STOP and if they ignore you, turn the horse's hindquarters toward the person and canter away.

If you're on the ground already, keep the horse between you and the person. Turn the horse's hindquarters towards the potential attacker and keep them there. If the potential attacker tries to go around to your horse's head, keep the horse turning so the quarters are towards the person.

You want to keep the horse's backside towards the attacker at all times, because a) that way the person can't get hold of the bridle and get control of your horse and b) a lot more horses will kick out behind than will strike at or run over a person. You want to maximize the chances of the potential attacker getting hurt.:)

[colettybetty]

Regardless of whether or not we agree about the horse's intentions in the article, this is very sound advice. There have been reports of attackers trying to pull riders from their horses and though its not a common occurance, it does happen and riders should be aware. Pretty similar to the safety aspect of dog walking alone, a horse or dog may be a deterent, but its not going to put every weirdo off.

[pharoah]

You're right they are weirdos who will be confident, even if you have a dog/horse. Many years ago i was walking thru woods with my dog (useless as a guard dog) when a strange looking man appeared from nowhere. He wanted to know if i'd help him look for his missing dog, he'd no dog lead and then from his trousers he pulled out a bag of dog biscuits and proceeded to feed my dog. All the time i just kept walking whilst answering his questions. Didn't want to upset him but neither did i want him thinking i was going to stand there waiting for whatever... Luckily he didn't do anything and got the message i wasn't going anywhere with him. Still to this day wonder if he was just odd, rather than someone who was going to attack me.
I do think we need to be very wary of strangers and i often carry my keys in my pocket. Took up Judo a few years ago so that certainly gives you an air of confidence that you're capable of lookin after yourself to some extent. Gut instinct about someone can also get you out of trouble.

[flinglebunt]

I agree. There are people who believe that they could kick an attacker or strike him in the face with a crop because if mounted they'd have the height advantage. Both are bad ideas and give the attacker an excellent opportunity to grab the rider's foot and dump her off the other side or grab her arm and pull her out of the saddle.

Best thing to do? Use the advantage you actually have, which is being on a big fast animal. Don't let anyone close enough to touch you or your horse. If someone approaches, yell STOP and if they ignore you, turn the horse's hindquarters toward the person and canter away.

If you're on the ground already, keep the horse between you and the person. Turn the horse's hindquarters towards the potential attacker and keep them there. If the potential attacker tries to go around to your horse's head, keep the horse turning so the quarters are towards the person.

You want to keep the horse's backside towards the attacker at all times, because a) that way the person can't get hold of the bridle and get control of your horse and b) a lot more horses will kick out behind than will strike at or run over a person. You want to maximize the chances of the potential attacker getting hurt.:)

Excellent advice. I might just add that letting others know where you are going and keeping a phone on you is always a good idea, especially on rural areas where it might be difficult to find you if there is a problem. A freind fell of her horse a short time back and the horse made its way the mile or two home.
She was ok and arrived back a little embarressed but what if she had been injured?

[Peace]

Scott Hansen gives clinics on self-defense for horsewomen. For a demo,
Click on this link:
http://www.horsethink.com/
And then click on the self-defense video link in the top left corner.

[bitsnpieces]

I used to ride around there all the time, Wanstead Flats (the far tip of epping forest) are worse tho - had someone jump out of a tree and pull my leg trying to get me off so Puz just kept trying to double barrel him! Knowing what some people can be like in those areas I wouldn't necessarily say they are making it up......anywho the forest keepers are pretty appalling at providing any support at all to the riders who now have to pay in order to be able to ride in the forest. I've had COUNTLESS arguments with them over the years and I mean countless.

[Bangers & Mash]

I wonder if she used parelli or clicked training to teach the horse that LOL.

[Kay2]

My first pony did that when we were attacked by a German Shepard dog....I was only 12 at the time and the dog's owner just stood there and watched! :confused:....he was such a great pony.

What a lucky lady though.....so scary. So sad you can't even hack out safely without these nutters trying to attack you!

[LisaJane]

As a local I can confirm that it is sadly not a made up story (in the first instance, although subsequent rape story is a hoax by a very unscrupulous person). We have had the police at our stables warning us to be cautious and no-one is riding out on their own for the time being. Such a shame that this has happened as I have always felt safe riding on my own in the forest and to be honest never really thought there was any risk from other people (malicious risk, I mean).

Very sad.