West Yorkshire Police have confirmed that they would like to identify and speak with a man who was walking a chocolate-coloured Spaniel off its lead on the afternoon of Saturday January 25 in Lofthouse Colliery Nature Park.

Last week, Your Horse reported that a loose dog had run around nine-year-old palomino Loki’s legs while he was out hacking in the nature park with 17-year-old Lili-Anna and three friends.

According to the rider’s grandmother, Rosita Pyne, Loki (pictured above) was frightened by the dog and bucked his rider off, before bolting. Tragically, he was then hit by a car travelling along Leeds Road in Lofthouse, a village between Wakefield and Leeds, and suffered catastrophic injuries, including four shattered legs.

Emergency services attended and the pony was put to sleep on the road. The driver was unhurt, but the vehicle was written off.

A statement from the police said: “Roads policing officers were called to Leeds Road, Lofthouse at 4.31pm on Saturday January 25th to a report a horse and car had been in collision.    

“Officers attended and established the horse had thrown a female rider in a nearby field before bolting into the road in front of the car which was in motion.  

“Following new information supplied in the days after the incident, the Wakefield West NPT would now like to identify and speak with a male walking a dog on fields near the old Lofthouse golf course.  

“It is believed the man, described as [being in his] 50’s or 60’s, was walking a chocolate-coloured spaniel off the lead which interacted with the horse prior to it bolting, and could provide more information about the circumstances of what occurred.”

‘Come forward and speak with officers’

Inspector Andrew Dickinson of the Wakefield West Neighbourhood Policing Team (NPT) said: “This was clearly a very upsetting and emotive incident which resulted in the tragic death of a horse at the roadside. Its rider was unhurt but understandably highly distressed by what occurred.  

“While there was no evidence to suggest any offences were committed by the car driver, we have been in receipt of some new information about the circumstances leading up to the horse bolting from its rider.  

“We would like to speak to a male walking a chocolate-coloured spaniel on fields near the old Lofthouse golf course. We believe he may be able to assist us in clarifying the circumstances of what took place, prior to the horse making off.  

“I would ask this male, who may live locally, to come forwards and speak with officers.”

The man or anyone with information related to the enquiry can contact Wakefield West NPT on 101, referencing police log 0731 of January 29.

Information can also be given to the police online at the following link: www.westyorkshire.police.uk/livechat

Petition to better protect horses

A petition set up with the aim of prompting the updating of the Dangerous Dogs Act to specifically protect horses has so far received 12,600 signatures. It requires 100,000 signatures before it will be debated in Parliament.

Victoria Privett, who has a 39k Instagram following as @endurancewithdarcy, set up the petition. She said: “Sadly incidents are still occurring, and therefore a petition was made to try and ensure dog owners are held responsible for their dogs and to try and introduce a leash law when in the presence of horses to reduce incident numbers.

“Putting dogs on a lead for a few seconds while a horse passes promotes safety for the horse, rider, dog, its owner and the wider public. I am privileged to be in the position to have an audience and use my social media platforms to promote change and safety.” 

Rising number of dog attacks

Nearly 300 dog attacks were reported to the British Horse Society last year via its Horse i app. Five horses were reported to have died and 43 people were injured.

UK dog ownership has surged and there were around 13.5 million dogs in the UK in 2024, an increase of 4.5 million since 2019. This means more first-time dog owners, who may have less experience of how to act around horses and farmed animals.

“Even if your dog has always been OK with horses, that doesn’t mean that every horse will be OK with him. A horse can’t distinguish between a dog who just wants to play and one that’s attacking,” BHS safety team leader Des Payne told Your Horse.

“The regularity of cases is increasing and in part this is due to riders becoming aware that they can record incidents, but we also believe attacks may be more frequent,” he added.

Main image of Loki © Rosita Pyne

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