WATCH: Horse clashes with alligator in Florida state park

A group of friends were hiking at Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park just south of Gainesville, Florida, when they witnessed a clash between wild horses and an alligator that crossed their path.

The group noticed a group of wild horses grazing in the field alongside of the path, along with a baby horse. "The alligator walked beside them and paused," Krystal Berry said. "The horse kicked the alligator, which made it waddle across the trail," she said. "Then, the horse started attacking again," she said.

The group of friends are recent graduate nurses from Rasmussen in Ocala who were out walking the trail at the preserve Wednesday. "It really was wild, did NOT expect to see that today!" said Berry.

WATCH: BABY ALLIGATORS ON PARADE

They think the horse may have been trying to protect its baby.

Eventually, the gator made its way across the path and into the bushes away from the horses.

Payne's Prairie Preserve State Park in Micanopy, just south of Gainesville, is 21,000 acres and is home to various wildlife including alligators, wild horses, and even bison.

More stories about alligators:

- WATCH: Massive gator saunters across path at Polk County reserve

- Meet 'Pearl,' the rare albino alligator at Gatorland

- Gargantuan alligator is big draw after viral video

- VIDEO: Burmese python fights alligator in Big Cypress swamp

- Alligator swims peacefully with manatees at Blue Spring

- Orange alligator appears in SC neighborhood pond

- Golfer fights off 10-foot alligator with 'solid, heavy' putter

- Rambo the alligator allowed to stay with owner in Lakeland home

- Man on chemo pulls eagle from gator's mouth

- WATCH: Gator jumps into vacationer's boat during Facebook Live

- Lakeland gators especially active during mating season