Police hunting hit-and-run driver who left pony fatally injured
POLICE are hunting a hit-and-run driver who left a New Forest pony so badly hurt it had to be put down.
The incident happened on the B3054 between Hilltop and the Heath roundabout at 7pm on Friday evening.
The pony, which suffered injuries to its rear leg and head, had to be destroyed by an agister.
A piece of white wing mirror was found nearby and it was later confirmed it came from a Ford Fiesta registered between 2008 and 2017.
A spokesperson for the verderers said: “This has been reported to us as a hit-and-run involving a grey filly that sadly had to be destroyed.”
Waterside police officers tweeted: “If you were involved or know of a vehicle missing part of a wing mirror contact the Waterside team on 101 with details so we can deal with it.”
The verderers offer a £5,000 reward for anyone providing information leading to the conviction of hit-and-run drivers who injure or kill New Forest livestock.
The reward scheme previously offered up to £1,000, but a cash injection from the New Forest Pony Breeding and Cattle Society, the Commoners’ Defence Association and international charity World Horse Welfare resulted in a five-fold hike in 2017.
