North News
A little boy of three was rushed to hospital after he was attacked by a pony and thrown through the air in Pennywell, Sunderland.
Steven Goldsmith had been feeding the pony when it went for him, grabbing his T-shirt and hurling him into the air.
The terrified tot was 'screaming in agony' as he landed more than five feet away in the field.
His mum Sarah Rowland said the little boy was 'in absolute shock' after the attack.
Speaking to her local newspaper Sarah - who also had her two-year old daughter with her at the time - said: "One minute he was feeding it, the next it had grabbed him and thrown him across the field. I was terrified."
Steven was taken to Sunderland Royal Hospital where he was treated for 'superficial' injuries to his chest.
Sarah said she 'couldn't believe what had happened' saying the ponies were often petted by passing children. She said she does not blame the owners for the attack as she has been told that some children had been 'hitting the ponies':
"The ponies and horses have been grazing there for years and I can't remember anything like this happening before. I don't blame the owners. We were just in the wrong place at the wrong time. I've been told that a couple of nights before it happened there were kids down there hitting the ponies, so maybe they don't trust anyone any more."
Steven is now recovering at home.
How scary for that poor little boy! Are you wary of letting your children feed ponies or other animals when you are out?