A pony and rider were involved in a collision with a car while out hacking on the Isle of Wight, just days after almost 250 Pass Wide & Slow awareness rides took place.
Lisa Boynton’s daughter Cara was riding her pony Lucy along the A3020, five minutes from their home, on Friday at around 6pm when they were hit from behind by a car, seriously injuring Lucy’s right hind leg.
“Lucy must have skidded from the impact, causing her shoe to twist into her hoof, leaving her with possible tendon/ligament damage and a bruised frog on her front right leg.
“Above her hock on her back leg, the car — possibly the wing mirror — sliced her skin so severely to the point it was open to all the muscle beneath it, causing her to bleed profusely,” said Lisa in a Facebook post.
The pony bolted down the road, stopping in a nearby driveway where Cara was able to catch her and call for help.
‘Leg gushing with blood’
“Her leg was gushing with blood. However, she was in too much pain to allow us to put a compress on it to stop the blood,” added Lisa.
“Luckily it wasn’t a dramatic amount. Once we brought the both of them home the vets arrived, staying for three hours. Lucy was sedated as she was so traumatised from the adrenaline and the pain. She needed stitches and was told to be put on box rest for a minimum of six weeks.”
The driver of the car failed to stop at the scene of the incident but handed himself into police later the same day. He claimed he couldn’t see Cara and Lucy due to the sun.
‘Never too cool to wear high vis’
“The message I would like to be heard is the importance of road safety. Not just for riders but for drivers too.
“My daughter or her pony’s life yesterday could have been dramatically different, under different circumstances. So, always use an extra second to look twice at a crossing, wear your hi-vis or slow down if you can’t see due to the sunset,” said Lisa.
“Even if you are wearing hi-vis and are in the correct space, you never know what might happen.
“Cara was completely in the right, wearing her hi-vis and far from any corner. However, accidents happen. You are never too cool to not wear hi-vis, even if it ruins your outfit, as it could possibly save your life.”
