A HORSE rider says she was in fear for her life after 30 horses stampeded across the Forest after being spooked by runners.

Anita Gresham-Hale, director of the Vizzit Group, was riding with a friend at Stoney Cross at about 10am on Sunday morning, unaware that the event, a nine-mile cross country run organised by Totton Running Club, was taking place.

She said: “The runners cut across the airfield and dropped into Ocknell Wood before turning onto the underpass.

“Coming from the direction of the runners, some 30 horses stampeded out of the second underpass, all galloping furiously towards us. Their manes were standing up and it was absolutely petrifying.

“I have r i d d e n over the Forest for years and I have never come across anything like this.”

Mrs Gresham-Hale added: “I have no problem with the running club or how the race was organised. This is part of a wider problem.

“There are too many events, with more people taking part. These events need to be better advertised and supervised by a National Park Authority official.

“I am in the process of launching a group because we are not going to allow the ruination of the Forest to continue.”

Verderer Colin Draper said: “The Verderers are concerned about the conflicts which arise over increased recreational pressures on the Forest.”

Permission for the annual run, known as the Minstead Stinger, was granted by the Forestry Commission.

The club advertised the run at Ocknell Campsite and displayed signs at various points across the route.

Martin Nugus of the club told the Forest Journal that 134 runners took part and the event was marshalled by 52 people.

He said he had received no reports from marshals about a stampede and explained that he had spoken to several marshals after obtaining details from the Forest Journal.

Mr Nugus said: “While I fully sympathise with being caught up in a stampede, not one of our marshals witnessed the incident, in fact they said that there were very few horses and ponies about on Sunday.

“I cycled ahead of the runners and we had a UK Athletic qualified race referee at the event and we saw nothing.

“While I don’t believe that a stampede was caused by the runners, we will investigate.”

A spokesman from the Forestry Commission said: “The annual event has historically been extremely well managed, as is the stipulation within the conditions under the granted permission. They organise their own marshals, signage and use Ocknell Campsite as a base.

“I am not aware of the exact details in this case, but the ponies are wild and will often behave in this way - whether moving away from vehicles, people or during a drift, although there was no drift happening on this date.

“The forest is used by many different people for varied activities and we do our best to ensure that these do not come into conflict.”