Saboteur ridden down at hunt - huntsman arrested
Hunt Saboteurs Association Press Release: 17 January 2004

A hunt saboteur was taken unconscious to hospital today (17 January 2004) with head injuries and bruising to his body after being ridden down at the Crawley and Horsham Hunt in Sussex.

Shortly before dusk, at about 4.20, the hunt were chasing a fox that had run down a bridlepath. Protestors were running down the right of way when Simon Wild was allegedly deliberately ridden at by a member of the hunt and then dragged 100 yards by the horse before being left groaning on the ground. He was taken to hospital in an ambulance and suffered a broken nose, broken tooth, lacerations and bruising across his face, and bruising all over his body. He is also suspected to have concussion.

A member of the hunt was arrested by officers at the scene - but only after the protestor's wife insisted that police take immediate action.

40 police were in attendance at the meet at Shipley, Sussex and focussed their attention on curtailing the activities of protestors who were determined to stop the hunt killing foxes using non-violent tactics such as blowing hunting horns and masking the hunted animal's scent with sprays. Protestors claim that, throughout the day, there had been numerous attempts by members of the hunt to ride them down. Police were asked to intervene to prevent any injuries but failed to act on the requests.

The hunt has a history of violence and threats against protestors including Mr Wild and his wife. Nathan Brown, HSA spokesperson, said "This sort of brutality is regularly dished out to hunt saboteurs and is indicative of the brutality inflicted on animals by hunting. The longer we wait for a ban,the more animals and people will be killed or injured. I challenge the hunting fraternity to condemn this behaviour, and doubt very much whether they will, effectively giving tacit approval."

Saboteurs claim that whilst they are glad of the arrest, the policing on the day was far from impartial. The HSA spokesperson added "The police are perceived by hunt saboteurs across the country to be acting as a private security force for the hunt, picking and choosing which laws they will apply and who they will apply them to. They ignored requests to uphold the law when hunt saboteurs' safety was in jeopardy, and now a hunt saboteur is in hospital. It seems we can expect no justice."

Photos and video of Mr Wilds injuries are available

For further information contact Nathan Brown, Press Officer 07815 313181 or see HSA website www.huntsabs.org.uk



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