Motorist drives off after hitting two ponies

A motorist who hit 2 ponies on a Somerset lane last weekend drove off without stopping to check if the animals or their young riders were ok. Police are appealing for witnesses.

3 girls — aged between 8 and 12 — were out riding last Sunday afternoon (11 May). A red car came up behind them, with its engine revving and wheels spinning.

The car hit 2 of the ponies. 1 reared up and brought its hooves down on the car, smashing the windscreen. Neither girl was injured, but one pony suffered bruising.

The motorist drove off in the direction of Taunton.

A spokesman for Avon & Somerset police said they are investigating the incident.

“The vehicle could have been a Vauxhall Zafira or something similar,” he said. “We’d like to hear from anyone who witnessed the incident, saw the vehicle leaving the area or noticed a vehicle with a damaged windscreen over the weekend.”

Contact PC Ben Hicks on tel: 101 or Crimestoppers tel: 0800 555111.

Martha Terry

H&H features editor

Martha is an experienced journalist who is mad-keen on dogs of all shapes and sizes. After growing up with assorted liver and white springer spaniels, she enjoyed 14 years with two rescue dogs, one a street dog from Gambia who was abandoned at three weeks old. Now, her constant companion, whether by her feet at her desk or walking cross-country courses, is Fidget, an extremely energetic and habitually muddy black and white springer. Martha has written on topics as diverse as a top horse’s clone to the best GPS trackers for dogs, as well as equestrian and rural matters for Country Life, The Field, The Times, The Spectator and The Telegraph alongside Horse & Hound.