POLICE are investigating allegations that a motorist rammed a pony in a road rage incident and and then sped off.

Tony and Jacqui Vanderhoek say the hit-and-run happened as they were walking two of their horses along Fryern Court Road in Fordingbridge.

One of the ponies, Horace, was left with an injury to his side but is expected to recover.

Mr Vanderhoek said: “We could see cars approaching and intended to pull into a passing place about three metres ahead as there wasn’t enough room for a car.

“However a man in a silver car just kept going. He ignored my polite hand signals to slow down and instead shook his head and shouted something.

“We couldn’t believe it – he just ploughed into the pony I was leading.

The couple escorted their horses into a field before returning to the scene of the incident with police.

Another motorist who saw the collision gave a statement to police but was unable to supply officers with the car’s full registration number.

Details of the incident have been passed to garages in the area as the vehicle is thought to have been damaged in the incident.

Mr Vanderhoek said: “I just can’t believe someone would do this. The man was so angry and clearly doesn’t want horses on the road but we were metres from a passing place where we could have pulled in.

“Someone who drives this recklessly is clearly a danger.

“We were so lucky that Horace is a sturdy New Forest pony and was hit in an area with lots of muscle, otherwise we would be talking broken legs and having to have him put down.”

The New Forest Verderers offer a £5,000 reward for information leading to the conviction of a driver involved in a hit-and-run collision.

The motorist at the centre of the incident is described as thin-faced, aged about 70, with white or grey hair. Call Hampshire police on 101.