A TODDLER was attacked by a horse which picked him up by the neck and tossed him to the ground.

The two-year-old was walking along a public footpath connecting Dark Lane and The Chase in Thundersley with his mother when the horse took exception to their arrival.

As they got to the part of the path close to Thundersley Primary School, the horse leant over the fence and grabbed him by the neck.

The boy had to go to hospital for treatment for the bite and muscle injuries from being flung over.

His mother said: “The horse was able to lean two-thirds of the way across the footpath to pick my son up by his neck and throw him to the ground causing quite significant injury.

“I’m so concerned that this is going to keep happening and someone is going to be extremely hurt or killed.

“Luckily we will be fine.

“It will probably take a few weeks for his physical injuries to heal over.

“Emotionally I’m not sure how I will ever be able to get the picture from my mind of my baby being picked up by his neck and slammed to the ground by a horse.”

She now wants to raise awareness so that other people are aware of the horse - and hopes that the horse’s owner will be encouraged to better secure the fence so that other people are not at risk.

She added: “We did use the footpath frequently as I liked to take both my babies out for a walk but in all honesty until a new fence is in place I won’t do it and certainly not alone.

“It was just too easy for the horse to lean through and get him.

“He wasn’t even very close to the fence line.

“It was just so scary but I have to keep reminding myself that we were very lucky in the grand scheme of things especially because the horse grabbed his neck.

“The hospital couldn’t believe the injury and was really concerned about internal injuries. It was just so frightening.

"I contacted the police who advised that it isn’t a crime and would not investigate so I am going down alternative avenues to see if I am able to make sure that adequate fencing is put in place and preferably before the children go back to school and start using that footpath daily.”

She has contacted Essex County Council, Castle Point Council and MP Rebecca Harris for help.

Conservative Castle Point councillor Beverley Egan, who has been in contact with the mum, said there had been previous reports of people being attacked on social media and she was in contact with her to offer support and advice.

She added: "I believe we are doing as much as we can do, bearing in mind that the council is slow sometimes to get into action and fulfill the duties it may have."