Runaway horse and trap injures jogger

A jogger was hospitalised after she was hit by a horse that had taken fright and bolted while pulling a trap down a busy road in Hartlepool earlier this month.

The horse, which was being driven by a 14-year-old girl, was reported to have bolted with its trap still attached. It caused damage to a car and a van before running into a 46-year-old woman who was out jogging. The woman was taken to the University Hospital of North Tees suffering from a head injury. She was later released.

Cleveland Police received calls from members of the public just before 6pm on 1 April informing them about the loose horse, which was described as “going wild and kicking out” and being in a “distressed” state.

The animal was believed to have been found shortly after the incident and its owners were traced later that evening.

A spokesman for Cleveland Police told H&H: “Our officer interviewed the 14-year-old female driver of the pony and trap under caution and a file will be prepared for the CPS.”

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now