A COUPLE were attacked by a pack of dogs while out riding in Epping Forest.

Ash Scott-Lockyer, 51, and his wife, Fiona, 38, were out riding in Taylor’s Ride South in Epping Forest on Thursday, April 28, when they were attacked by three Huskies at around 12.30am.

The dogs leapt up at the horses, isolating Mr Scott-Lockyer’s mount and trying to climb its hindquarters before he beat it off with his riding crop.

One dog pursued the couple as they tried to get away and stop the horses bolting in to the traffic in nearby Epping New Road. It only broke off the attack when one of the horses kicked it.

Mr Scott-Lockyer said: “They came charging out at us.

“They were muzzled but very aggressive. They were going for our horses’ stomachs and hindquarters.

“The dogs reverted to pack mode. They were like hunters trying to cut my horse out from the pair. When I hit one of the dogs with my crop I it did not seem to feel a thing it was in such a frenzy.”

“Our horses were spinning round trying to fend off the attack and we were fighting to keep them under control.

“The owners came, swore at us, and told us not to hit their dog before making some half hearted efforts to pull them off.”

Mr Scott-Lockyer said that the decision to scrap the mounted Forest Keepers in 2009 had made Epping Forest more dangerous.

"Huskies are among the top ten most dangerous dogs and in my opinion should never be allowed off the leash near potential ‘prey’ that will cause their barely restrained pack instinct to surface.

“The signage asking people to keep dogs on the lead is very inadequate.

“There are not enough rangers there to enforce the rules. It is no good them just sitting in a car park in a 4x4, we need feet on the ground to keep people safe.

“What if it had been a child who had been attacked or a beginners riding school? It could have been carnage.”