Dog owners warned over horse attacks

Horses are being attacked or harassed by out of control dogs almost “every day” in Scotland, it has been claimed.

A multi-agency campaign was launched this week by the Scottish Partnership Against Rural Crime.

The campaign, called Your Dog – Your Responsibility, aims to highlight the impact of attacks on livestock and other animals by out of control dogs. Helene Mauchlen, of the British Horse Society, said: “We have seen a marked increase in attacks on ridden horses, horses in their fields and even, occasionally, in their stables.

“The horse is a prey animal and the dog is a predator, and dogs have an instinct to chase.

“A horse attacked by a dog is usually traumatised forever.”