A Staffordshire bull terrier savagely attacked a horse as it was being ridden by a young woman on Epsom Downs.

The dog first circled ex-racehorse Dancer before “going for the jugular”, biting the animal several times, and sinking its teeth into the arm of a man who tried to intervene.

The drama unfolded at about 3.10pm on Saturday near Tattenham Corner.

Shaken rider Sophie Harwin, 24, who was thrown from the spooked horse during the incident, said: “This dog started circling Dancer and sniffing him.

“Lots of dogs do that, but then the dog just went for Dancer and started jumping up, biting him and going for his neck.”

As the horse reared up to get away from the dog, Miss Harwin fell.

A passerby stepped in to help keep hold of the bucking horse, but was bitten by the dog, which tore his sweatshirt and caused a deep cut to his arm.

The 51-year-old man, who asked not to be identified, said: “The dog jumped up and got hold of my arm.

“It was hanging there for a second, dropped to the floor, then carried on attacking the horse.

“I went to hospital with a puncture wound, abrasions and some scratching and bruising.”

After two x-rays, a tetanus injection and a course of antibiotics, the man said his wounds would heal. The horse suffered a puncture wound to its neck and lacerations to its hind legs, but will make a full recovery.

The dog owner was seen bundling the dog into a blue Ford Focus before speeding off, but not before his number plate was recorded by the man’s quick-thinking partner.

The man said: “I didn’t hear the word sorry once. He left the car park and didn’t attempt to come back and see how everyone was.”

Miss Harwin said: “People should be aware if there are horses coming by to take extra care, because you never know how an animal is going to react.”

Police are seeking the dog’s owner, who is described as white, in his 40s with shaved grey hair and between 5ft 8in and 5ft 10in.

PC Sarah Campbell said: “It is clear this dog was dangerously out of control and its owner had little or no regard for the injuries sustained by the horse and the member of the public during the attack.”

Anyone with information should call 0845 125 2222.