A FUNDRAISER has gained more than £4,000 been set up after a pony was hit by a car in the New Forest has raised thousands of pounds.
Between Monday, October 6 and Tuesday 7, a pony horse was reportedly struck by a vehicle between Hilltop and Ipers Bridge before the driver left the incident and the pony injured.
The owner of the horse, Denise Knight, said it suffered a fracture to its elbow as well as lacerations and a deep cut along its side.
After a member of the public discovered the horse has been injured and made an appeal on social media, Denise was alerted to the post and reported the incident to the police but said she she had been told nothing could be done until the driver came forward.
Denise said it was a "despicable act of cruelty to leave an animal injured, in considerable pain and very frightened".
Following the incident, fundraiser was launched by Denise's sister-in-law to help her pay for the horse's vet bills and has reached over £4,000 in donations.
Denise said she was "overwhelmed" by the support from "so many amazing people" and thanked the New Forest Roads Awareness group and all the other organisations that campaign to protect the animals.
"Some would say maybe she should have been put to sleep but a week on she has shown she is a fighter, and should be given a chance at life," she added.
"Sadly, there are numerous hit and runs on the forest each year, most resulting in horrible injuries or instant death but very few where the animal survived and will heal."
She added: "She is young, quiet to handle and had a good chance of being mended.
"No, I didn't sleep that night, worrying about her and how the hell was I going to pay, especially for someone else's selfish and cruel actions."
"The fact is the animals have right of way - many do not have any road sense - so if drivers cannot respect the law or the animals then find a different commute route."
More information about the fundraiser can be found here.
