Chris Rollings wrote:

I think the horse at Dunstable was only used to pull
gliders to the top of the (300 feet or so) hill, where
they were bungee launched.


The version I heard may be a bit harder to substantiate but is rather more
colourful.

Apparently the horse was used to provide the power to extend the bungee.

The system apparently worked well until the occasion when the bungee broke
while under almost full tension.

The horse immediately went into a full gallop towards the horizon and was
never seen again.