A HORSE rider told how had a lucky escape after being chased by an out-of-control dog.

Amanda Gillett, 54, is calling on owners to keep their dogs on leads after her beloved horse Aubrey was bitten on the leg.

The pair had just made their way through a gap joining two bridleways in Woodside Park, Thundersley, when they came across a woman with two Staffordshire bull terrier-type dogs.

Mrs Gillett said: “They were about 20ft away but as soon as one of the dogs saw us he covered the ground in no time.

“It went for Aubrey’s leg and got its jaws round one of his back legs.

“Aubrey kicked out and I was expecting the dog to yelp but it didn’t.

“Aubrey bolted with me and the dog was chasing us.

“The owner was screaming for the dog to come back to her.”

She said she is unsure how long the dog chased them for.

Mrs Gillet and Aubrey circled round to make their way back towards the owner, who grabbed the dog and apologised for the incident.

Mrs Gillet said the outcome could have been a lot worse.

She said: “We were heading towards a gravel lane and after that there are football fields.

“It was lucky I had the presence of mind to turn him round or there would have been a worse outcome.

“I am an experienced rider of with 45 years of experience, but there could have been an elderly rider or a child that was chased.

“I could have fallen off or my horse could have fallen and that could have been very serious.

“It was very, very scary and I am not scared easily.

“I know that Staffies have a poor reputation, but that one was dangerous to my horse.

“I don’t know if it is dangerous to anyone else, but that was my experience.”

Aubrey was not injured in the incident, and thankfully has not been left scared of dogs.

She is calling on dog owners to make sure their pets are kept on leads if they cannot be recalled easily, and for horse owners to be aware that there are loose dogs around.

Mrs Gillett said she has heard of other incidents of dogs chasing horses - including one in which a seven-year-old girl fell from her pony.

Mrs Gillet added: “There are a lot of dog walkers around Thundersley on bridleways.

“It is lovely to see the dogs playing off the leads, but only if the dog can be recalled.”

It is illegal to have a dog dangerously out of control in a public place.