Police appeal after horse is euthanised following collision in Forest of Dean

[Hereford Voice]

Officers are appealing for witnesses and information in relation to a collision in Newent yesterday, Monday 7 March, which involved a vehicle and a horse.

A vehicle struck the horse at around 4pm on Clifford's Mesne, near to The International Centre for Birds of Prey.

The horse, pictured below, received veterinary treatment but due to the injuries sustained it was later euthanised.

 

The rider, a 19-year-old woman, was thrown from the horse and went to hospital with injuries which are not believed to be serious.

She was later discharged from hospital and is recovering at home. She is extremely upset by the ordeal.

Inquiries are ongoing to identify the driver of the vehicle, which is reported to have been a silver or grey Vauxhall.

It is believed the motorist, who did not stop at the scene, was a man aged in his 30s and was wearing a hi-vis at the time.

At around 4.45pm, a short while after the collision, an abandoned vehicle was found alight nearby. Inquiries are ongoing to determine whether this was the vehicle involved.

Police are appealing for any witnesses or anyone with information to come forward.

Officers are also keen to hear from anyone who may have dashcam footage of the vehicle or who saw the driver leaving the scene.

Information can be provided to police online by completing the following form and quoting incident 298 of 7 March: https://www.gloucestershire.police.uk/.../tell-us-about.../ You can also call police on 101.

You can also provide information to independent crime-fighting charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555 111 or online https://crimestoppers-uk.org/