28th October, 2016 Hit and Run

Photo credit: Audrey Scott-Hopkins

Please help the Verderers to find the hit and run driver of the vehicle which collided with a New Forest pony some time last night 27th/28th October. The driver has not reported the accident in which a bay mare called Brock Brocade was left with two broken back legs.

She was found this morning by a passing commoner who lives locally to Burley Road in Brockenhurst where the incident occurred. She immediately called the Agister who humanely despatched the mare. It is evident that the poor animal was left in agony by the side of the road all night. We would very much like to trace the driver responsible for this callous act. There is no excuse for leaving an animal to suffer in the way this pony did.

No vehicle parts have been found at the scene which leaves us to suspect that it may have been a larger vehicle, possibly an HGV, which hit the pony

The Verderers' Hit and Run Reward Scheme will pay up to £1,000 for information which leads to the successful conviction of the driver.

If anyone has any information that may lead us to identify the driver please come forward. We are happy for an informant to receive their reward whilst remaining anonymous. Please, if you can identify this driver, either ring the Verderers’ Office on 023 8028 2052 or the Police on 101. The Police reference number for this incident is 194 of 28/10/16

Thank you.
Sue Westwood
Clerk to the Verderers of the New Forest
The Queen’s House
Lyndhurst
SO43 7NH
Email: enquiries@verderers.org.uk

Owner James Young said, " 'This was such a sad and upsetting end to the life of our lovely mare. She had been enjoying retirement back with our Forest run herd and had returned to her roots having been bred and born on the Forest. She had enjoyed a successful showing career as a brood mare winning the Forest bred championships at both the Breed Show and New Forest Show. When we decided not to breed from her any longer we thought she would be happiest back with her relations and she enjoyed her freedom and friends for the last two years.

As long standing commoners we accept that road fatalities do occur but it is completely unacceptable for someone to know they have hit an animal and leave it in agony without informing the police that an accident has occurred. I very much hope that someone will come forward as a result of this horrible incident."