A rider is urging drivers to take greater care when passing horses after he was hit by a car while out hacking.
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.
Andy signalled for the car to slow down with his arm twice, as he felt the vehicle was travelling too quickly.
He said the driver failed to reduce his speed, so he held his hand up to ask them to stop.
“At that point the car was up on us and went into a skid,” Andy told H&H. “The car collided with my horse. 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.
Andy was left with bruising, but was not seriously injured.
Dales pony Marvel sustained a large wound (pictured) to his shoulder that required stitched.
“He’s still not eating very well and is in an awful lot of pain,” added Andy. “He still doesn’t have great balance and he can’t lie down — he’s in a real sorry place.
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“The vet doesn’t know if he will make a full recovery as it’s early days yet.”
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. Enquiries are ongoing to trace the driver.”
