A rider escaped injury when her pony was struck by a vehicle in Surrey, but the animal had to be put down at the scene after the driver left without stopping to help.
Abby Carvosso said her daughter Sofia was hacking out on the 22-year-old Connemara pony Paddy when a car hit them on a narrow country road last Thursday evening. Sofia was uninjured but trapped underneath the pony, which suffered catastrophic injuries and was euthanised by a vet at the location. Abby described Paddy as a family favourite who had taught many young riders and won titles including the Cotswold Cup and Pony Club championships. The driver reportedly stopped briefly before driving away. Surrey Police said a man is assisting with enquiries and appealed for witnesses who were in the area around 8.30pm on 5 June. Abby called for greater awareness of safe passing distances for horses on roads to prevent similar incidents.