A KESGRAVE woman today told how her horse was left badly bitten after a stray dog hounded it for 20 minutes and then chased it for a mile near a busy main road.

By Georgina James

BY GEORGINA JAMES

georgina.james@eveningstar.co.uk

A KESGRAVE woman today told how her horse was left badly bitten after a stray dog hounded it for 20 minutes and then chased it for a mile near a busy main road.

Debbie Frost, of Fairbairn Avenue, said she feared for five-year-old Herbie's life as the German Shepherd dog snarled and barked at the thoroughbred cross cob while she was out riding on Longstrops bridal way at around 6pm on Saturday.

"I was really frightened and Herbie was petrified.

"The dog circled at us for at least 20 minutes and was barking and snarling and foaming at the mouth," said the 28-year-old.

Mrs Frost who has been riding for 20 years described the situation as the worst experience of her life and said she had make a quick escape before her horse bolted.

"The dog kept weaving in and out of Herbie's legs and was intent on attacking him.

"I tried shooing him away with the whip but it didn't take a blind bit of notice.

"The owner tried shouting at his dog and blowing his whistle but it didn't work.

"The situation was out of control and Herbie was extremely disturbed.

"I managed to jump off and kept hold of him for a while but he pulled away and bolted."

Herbie was chased by the dog for about a mile and ran straight across a busy main road.

James Cooper who was passing in his Range Rover gave Mrs Frost a lift and they followed the animals and eventually caught up with them in Ropes Drive.

Mrs Frost managed to grab Herbie, who was dripping with sweat and breathing heavily, while a member of the public got hold of the dog and kept him in his garage.

Herbie suffered a bite to his hind leg and is now on a five-day course of antibiotics and is still shaken by the incident.

"Every time he sees a dog he is a nervous wreck. I feel it's going to take a long time for Herbie to recover from this traumatic experience.

"I would just like to say a really big thank you to James and all the other people who stopped to try and help."

n Another accident was also caused when a motorcyclist swerved to miss a dog that was running out of control in Bramford Lane, Ipswich.

The accident happened at around 9.30am on Saturday.

The motorcyclist crashed in to the side of the road but his injuries are not thought to be serious.

A police spokesman said that they were aware of both incidents and would be carrying out further enquiries.