“One of the calves got surrounded by some of the dry cows and started bellowing.
“The mother thought it was being threatened and began to attack me. It hit me from the side, which sent me flying to the ground.
“Then the top half of it loomed over me and I was actually underneath it when it rolled on top of me. I thought I was dead, but I managed to crawl away.
“When I looked back the horse was kicking the cow with its back legs. I’m not sure if she attacked after I’d got away or if that’s the reason I was able to escape.”
Despite her ordeal, Fiona only suffered bruising and did not need to be kept in hospital overnight. That was not the only piece of good fortune she enjoyed. She explained: “Kerry is normally fenced off and it was extremely lucky that she wasn’t. She’s now getting lots of treats of apples and carrots.”
It seems that Fiona now has a guardian for life, as a few nights after the attack there was another incident at the farm.
“Some cows escaped and we had to go to bring them back,” explained Fiona. “There was no trouble, but Kerry came over to the fence as if to make sure I was alright and everything was OK.”
Local vet Jimmy More of Galloway Veterinary Group said he was unaware of any similar incidents: “I’ve not really heard of this before; dogs yes, but horses no.
“Dogs will be protective and maybe she had the same sort of relationship with her horse as someone would with a dog.”
