Lucky Lucy but not so Meg, poor Meg
Moored Kennet & Avon Canal
On my walk yesterday with the girls we had to cross a field with horses in. I usually don’t have any problem with that, but this time was very different. About half way across one of the horses came to investigate. I patted him and all seemed well.
Suddenly his chums took off from the other side of the field to come and investigate, except they were going full hog! I could see there was going to be trouble and how right I was. They were now a herd wanting to kill dogs!
Meg being Meg decided to round round them, as I tried to stop her from doing that Lucy decided to be a good girl and walk calmly. Suddenly the horses attacked her and with their heads down surrounded her throwing their front feet out trying to stamp her. I shouted at her to get out of there, but it was difficult, hooves everywhere.
She did as she was told. I couldn’t get close. Had I done so I feel I might have been hurt myself. Not only were there front feet trying to stamp Lucy, but they followed that up with wild back kicks at head height.
Lucy was so very, very lucky and got out of there, running around getting out of the way as they chased her. Another couple of minutes of attack on the dogs and they gave up thank God. We had no where to go.
Now I will never ever cross a field with horses in again. Talking to Wends this evening, she reminded me that these days owners feed their horses far too much corn especially in the winter. So my advice to you all is not to enter a field with horses however calm they look.
But Meg’s leg was like a balloon this morning, she couldn’t put her foot to the ground. I thought one of the horses might have got her, but there was no yelp in the field.
The vet was going to send me to the animal hospital after I told him about the horses. He took her temperature which was rather alarming.. infection somewhere, and on closer examination he could see something might be in her foot. He had time when I visited to sedate her and take a much closer look. He couldn’t see what had caused it, but a lot of puss was taken out. So a completely different problem to what I thought was wrong!
She is very sleepy but not in pain any more thank goodness. It will take more than a week to get right, but at the end of the day, I do have two dogs. I could have had none.
OK so yesterday’s Winter Wassat?
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Well done to Mark & Anjie. – “.. looks like the water line on a section of piling but I bet its not…” Good shout you two and trois point pour vous. Wends also guessed it on the phone.. “But I was going to put a comment on to say what it was when a customer came into the shop and then I forgot all about it” OK Wends you get the deux point!
No pictures of prancing horses I am afraid, so here is another Wassat? puzzler for you.
It’s a bit easier this evening and it’s on the boat! 
Sue
Updated 24th April 2012
February 8th, 2012 at 11:38 pm
That is your bow fender and a bit of its securing chain.
February 9th, 2012 at 12:45 am
I agree with Roger, it’s from picture #44 in the January 2011 gallery
Sorry to hear of your close encounter with the equines, I hope that Meg is feeling better soon. You are right to avoid fields containing horses, hope you avoid the cows too
February 9th, 2012 at 7:58 am
Bother! Roger beat me to it!
February 9th, 2012 at 8:26 am
The horses sound very scary! I had a similar experience with my dog also called “Lucy” and I had her on a lead which made it all really tricky to get her off so she could run away while I was trying to shoulder the horse in the other direction. I too am now very wary of horses when I am out with my Lucy!
Wassat looks like a part of the bow fender but I can’t work put whether the rest of it is ice of part of the hull …. ice i think!
February 9th, 2012 at 10:11 am
My heart was in my mouth reading that – I’m so glad that the hounds (and you!) got out safely – herbivores can turn nasty when they’re threatened – I’ve had the same problem with young cows (bullocks to be precise!) – very scary.
Keep us posted on Meg’s recovery – sending her bony greyhound hugs!
Sue, nb Indigo Dream
February 9th, 2012 at 12:31 pm
I’ve had apprehensive moments with cattle, but only one really bad situation where cattle were rearing up at us (I quickly let the dogs off) with flailing hoofs and I was completely surrounded. I’ve never had a serious incident with horses before (including all my years of owning them). I suspect that they were corned up for hunting and then had no exercise due to the freeze. This sort of incident is terrifying as you are on your own and completely helpless – worse, unlike cattle, horses have heavy metal shoes.
Hope Meg soon recovers; meanwhile she can convalesce in front of the fire.
February 9th, 2012 at 5:57 pm
Oh Sue, what a scary time you had. I know of an English Bull Terrier that was trampled to death by cows. She was the mother of my Eric. My friends were trying to put the cows back in a field that they had escaped from and they turned on Bella. As my friend said the most scary thing was, that the cows knew exactly what they were doing.
February 9th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
I am so glad that yourself, Lucy and Meg got away and have all lived to tell the tale. It is truly terrifying when something like that happens to you. Hop Meg makes a speedy recovery. Just in case don’t forget the Manuka Honey +10. Extra hugs and tlc needed me thinks.
February 9th, 2012 at 9:30 pm
Oh my gosh!!!
Bobs and my wife Bec walk in field of horses – Bobs, at times, might chase and hound them – they always just come together in a pack to protect each other as Bobs tries to prove he is faster than them!!!! They are working Gypsy horses (so I doubt the corn thing is a problem) who use the field for the winter and have dogs in there every day. However your story will certainly make me think again as I really hate them and avoid them at all costs – but I bet they could really do some damage to Bobs and even us!!!!!!!!
Give Meg a cuddle and I hope you are OK!!
As for the Wazzzaattt – is it the back of the boat with a bit of the rear mooring rope in view????? (or it could be the securing chain as seen above!)
Charlie
February 9th, 2012 at 11:42 pm
Roger, Sprocky, Mark & Angie,
Well done, spot on. But not the pic you found Sprocky!
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Nick,
Oh I never have the dogs on a lead in a field with livestock. Not even sheep actually. They stay to heel in a sheep field unless the farmer is around, then I put the lead on so I don’t get told off! I like to walk them through the sheep field with no lead so they know that they can’t run around even if the sheep come to take a look. If they do come to take a look I make them lay down and stay. That way I feel that if I miss a field of sheep as they jump a stile they know that they have to come to heel, and it has worked many times.
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Jill and Graham,
No, I have never had an incident with horses before and both Lucy and Meg are used to them. Lucy moreso as she was brought up with the families’ ponies all of her life. Meg has also been introduced to them too. I have worked with horses when I was younger and like you had them around all my life.
These were mad though, and really shouldn’t have been put in a field with a footpath running through it. If something had happened I wonder if a claim could be made on the owners?
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Kate,
That is awful. We were lucky for sure
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Michelle,
Yes, I have put that on Meg, but she keeps licking it off! I didn’t put a hood on her as there are no stitches and she is on heavy antibiotics. It is healing well this evening!
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Charlie,
Yes do be careful, it caught me out this time, I won’t give it a second go for sure!