A WOMAN left with a fractured spine when she was thrown from her horse has urged dog owners to keep their pets under control.

Donna Walker, 37, was riding with friends in Hainault Forest, near Lambourne End, when her horse was attacked by an English bull terrier running out of control from its owner.

She said: “The dog was running under the horse and its front legs. The horse stumbled back and trod on the dog’s foot. The dog started attacking her back legs and at that moment she just bolted.

“I came off and landed on my back. I tried to jump up but realised something was really amiss and sat back down.

“It was totally traumatic. I had no control over the situation. I didn’t know if my horse was ok and I was lying there in this immense pain.”

Ms Walker, from Romford, was taken by ambulance to Queen’s Hospital where she was diagnosed with a spine fracture and forced to take two weeks off from her work as a medical secretary.

She said: “I’ve only been out riding three or four times since. I’ve lost my confidence. I still get back ache, but I feel I came away lucky. It could have been a lot, lot worse- it could have left me paralysed.”

Following Ms Walker’s accident there has been a further serious incident in Hainault Forest in which a rider had to have her horse put down when it fractured a leg moving out of the way of a speeding cyclist.

Judi Thurlow, of London Road, Abridge, a fellow rider of Donna, has said more should be done to make people aware of horse riders.

She said: “It was very upsetting for everyone. It doesn’t just affect the person concerned. If you go out on a riding outing you’re looking out for cyclists. I’ve been riding for over 40 years and it takes a lot to put you off but you’ve got to look out.

“If you are riding a bike in the forest think of others- don’t just go past at speed.”

Ms Walker added: “With a dog there are certain laws if you’re in a public place: you must be in control and it must wear a collar with it’s name and address on it. That dog did not and shouldn’t have been off a lead. Next time it could be my daughter out on a horse.”