A man who risked his life to save a police horse from a savage dog attack has received the British Horse Society’s Sefton Award.
Sustained attack
David Wilson was working in Greenwich Park last year when he saw a French Bull Terrier cross launch himself at police horse Quixote. Not thinking about his own safety he rugby tackled the dog, and held it in a bear hug until the owner could put on a lead.
The horse was in training with the Metropolitan Police and was being ridden by police horse trainer Alistair Blamire, when the incident occurred on 22 January 2014.
“I was suffering a sustained attack from the dog which was getting worse and the horse was becoming more and more agitated,” said Alistair. “David came running across from at least 100 yards away and grabbed the dog and stopped the horse being attacked.”
Brave intervention
Quixote needed veterinary treatment for puncture wounds to his chest, but thanks to Dave’s brave intervention the horse’s great temperament he is now working as a working police horse in Whitehall.
David was reunited with Quixote at the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment’s Barracks in Knightsbridge where he accepted the prestigious award.
“It was a situation that needed stopping,” said David. “No-one was doing anything at the time and I felt I had to do something. I am overwhelmed to receive this award. I was just doing what felt right at the time, so it’s really nice to get some appreciation for it.”
Improve safety
Nuala Preston from Pembrokeshire also received the Sefton Award in recognition of her “hard work and dedication” to improve equestrian safety on roads in Wales.
She has secured funding to provide literature offering advice to young drivers when passing horses on the road, and visited every Halfords and independent cycling shop in South West Wales to hand-out the BHS cycling leaflet.
“It is a great honour and it really means a lot to me,” said Nuala. “It really makes me proud to be at the forefront in trying to change people’s opinions of road safety, especially with horses. In an ideal world everyone would be safer and there would be no horse-related accidents.”
Legacy to Sefton
The Sefton Awards are given for outstanding contributions to equestrian safety.
They were set up by the BHS in 1990 as a legacy to Sefton, the Household Cavalry horse who survived the IRA bombings in London in 1982.