AN ISLAND rider has spoken of her disappointment after her horse was hit by a driver and no action was taken by police.

Carole Lyth, from Monks Lane, Freshwater, was riding Peanut along Granville Road, Totland, just after 3.30pm on November 10 with a friend.

She claims an elderly man drove his car on the wrong side of the road, hitting her horse and pushing them onto the pavement.

"Although I was shouting for him to stop and hitting the top of his car with my whip, it was as if the elderly man didn't see us at all," she said.

"Luckily he was only going about five miles per hour, but Peanut was very shaken by the incident."

Carole gave the driver's details to police, including a registration number, car make and colour.

In a statement to the County Press, police said: "On November 10 officers received a report of a car having collided with a horse which was being ridden on Granville Road. The car had hit the rear legs the horse as it drove passed.

"This incident was reviewed and no criminal offences were identified, therefore no further action was taken."

Carole said she was disappointed at the decision to take no further action.

She said: "It really puts me off riding my horse along the road. We were just trying to get to the bridle path, but we often get abuse from drivers saying we shouldn't be on the road.

"Would it have been better if the driver had killed us? Would they take action then?"