The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has paid over £200,000 in compensation in the past year to people injured when horses were spooked by military aircraft.
3 separate payouts — of £64,666, £45,000 and £36,995 — were to riders thrown when their horses had been spooked by a Chinook helicopter, a Tornado jet and a Hawk jet.
In another incident, the MOD paid more than £83,000 after a helicopter frightened a horse in Axminster, Devon, who knocked over a person, causing them head injuries.
An MOD spokesman told H&H: “Every effort is made to minimise disruption. But the MOD has a high level of commitments, which require demanding training within our low-flying area.”
This story was first published in H&H magazine (28 December, 2013)
