Horse dies 10 days after hit and run incident
A horse has been put down, 10 days after being involved in a hit and run incident.
Scotland-based Andy Livingstone was riding on Auchenfoil Road close to Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, on 9 March at around 5pm.
He was approaching a bend when a car came towards him in the opposite direction.
“The car collided with my horse,” Andy told H&H. “The driver shouted at me and then drove off.”
Initially Andy thought his nine-year-old horse, Marvel, who had fallen to the ground, had broken his leg.
“He was trying to get up off the ground — both of us had been flung up into the air,” said Andy.
The police were called to the site of the incident and Marvel was eventually able to stand. A friend of Andy’s took Marvel to their yard, which was a short walk away.
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Andy was left with bruising, but was not seriously injured.
Dales pony Marvel sustained a large wound to his shoulder that required stitches.
“He’s still not eating very well and is in an awful lot of pain,” Andy told H&H on 15 March. “He still doesn’t have great balance and he can’t lie down — he’s in a real sorry place.
“The vet doesn’t know if he will make a full recovery as it’s early days yet.”
Four days later (19 March), Marvel was put down.
“Unfortunately Marvel had to be put to sleep 10 days after our accident,” said Andy.
“He had suffered ongoing neurological problems following the accident.”
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Police are trying to trace a grey or green Nissan X-Trail or Terrano vehicle, registered around 2005.
“The driver initially stopped, however thereafter left the scene prior to giving any details,” said constable John Hill.
“The road was reasonably busy at the time of this collision and I would ask anyone who witnessed either the collision itself or the vehicle involved to contact the Police on 101.”
A Police Scotland spokesman told H&H that enquires were ongoing on 8 April.
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.