Terrifying moment police horses chased and attacked by out of control dog in London park

Daily Mirror

02-05-2025

A shocking video caught the moment two police horses were attacked and chased by an out of control bulldog in the middle of a park. An aggressive dog was captured on camera making terrifying attempts to bite the legs of the cop horses Yvonne, 13, and Snaffles, 15, while out on patrol on Shepherd's Bush, West London.
The scary attack was unleashed on Monday, April 28, as the dog ran at the horses at around 11:30am as they tried to get away from the attacking animal. Its owner struggled to get the dog back under control, with the public getting involved to help stop it.
The video caught the dog first lunging at the white horse's legs in its shock attack, causing the police animal to jump and attempt to get away from the pet. This dog chased after the white horse before it turned around and ran back to the brown police horse.
Both Yvonne and Snaffles were left with minor injuries after the scary attack and are recovering well in their stables. Sergeant Leon Astley and PC Grace Miller-McCormack, who were riding them, were left unharmed. Police said they launched an investigation into the terrifying incident but no arrests have been made. The dog was initially seized but it was later returned to its owner, according to MyLondon.
Sergeant Astley, from the Met Police's Mounted Branch, said: "What should have been a routine patrol turned out to be unexpectedly eventful, where our hardworking police horses were sadly injured in the course of their duty. Fortunately Yvonne and Snaffles are recovering well and being looked after in their stables.
"We know horses are not a common sight in the capital but we urge all owners to keep their dogs under control to prevent this happening again."
Police issued a reminder that a person can receive an unlimited fine and/or be sent to prison for up to six months for having a dog seriously out of control. If the dog injuries someone this can increase to up to five years in prison.
Yvonne, recognisable for her big ears, has been a police horse since October 2020, while Snaffles has has previously starred in Activity Ride, the Mounted Branch's performance at Olympia.
This has not been the first time an aggressive dog was caught attacking a police horse in public. A shocking moment outside Glasgow High Court saw a medium-sized pet escape his owner and start biting at the ankles of the larger animal, in July 2024.
As it anxiously tries to escape the attacking dog, a video showed the horse kicking at it and trying to trot away. The pet's owner and several people on the street desperately attempted to control the dog.
Armed with batons, men, who appeared to be undercover cops, struck the dog several times as the horse panicked and started spinning in circles as it kicked out.