Thames Valley Police hunt for motorcyclists that spooked horse

The woman, who is 41, was riding her horse at about 1pm yesterday on a bridleway in a wooded area in College Woods, just off Deadman's Lane in Goring Heath near Wallingford.

Her horse was spooked by motorbikes also in the woods.

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The horse bolted and threw the rider off before falling on top of her leaving her with life-changing injuries. 

The horse was not injured. 

A 22-year-old man from Earley was arrested on suspicion of driving a vehicle while over the prescribed limit for drugs and possession of drug of class B.

Another 22-year-old man from Woodley was arrested on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving and driving a vehicle whilst unfit through drugs.

They have both been released under investigation.

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Five off road motorcycles and a white Ford Transit van have been seized in connection with the investigation.

Investigating officer PC Chris Weatherley of the Joint Operations Unit for Roads Policing based at Abingdon, said: “We are looking to establish if the bikes that rode past the horse caused it to bolt.

“We also need to establish if the bikes were using the bridleway or footpaths, which would be a public place, or whether they went deeper into the woods, which would have been more private.

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“I am appealing for anybody who witnessed the incident at the time who may have seen the horse and rider or off road bikes, to please make contact with police.

“The injured woman was treated at the scene by the air ambulance medical professionals, but was transported to hospital by land ambulance.

“She remains in hospital at this time in a serious but stable condition."

Anybody who has any information should make a report online, or if you are unable to access our online services, by calling 101, quoting reference number 43200145217.