A devoted groom facing life in a wheelchair after being thrown by an over-excited pony has had her claim for compensation dismissed in the High Court.

Rebecca Jolliff, 27, of The Orchard, Merton, near Bicester, fractured her spine in the accident at the Kirtlington Park Polo School five years ago.

She wept as Mr Justice Sullivan exonerated the school and its director, Melissa Wadley, of all blame for the tragedy, and left the court without hearing the judge give his reasons for the decision. He said: "My conclusion is that the school is not liable.

"I realise that this conclusion will be a most bitter blow to Miss Jolliff."

The court had heard how the pony, named Alice, reared twice before standing rooted to the spot during the run-up to a polo match in June 1995.

When Miss Jolliff tried to urge her on, Alice stood on her hind legs and threw her from the saddle.

Her counsel, Richard Lissack QC, told the judge: "A life driven by a passion for horses has been destroyed by a passion for horses." The judge said: "In the present case, there is no dispute that it was forseeable that Alice may rear if she was urged to move.

"The question is whether that risk was an acceptable one in the sense of being a risk that was acceptable within the bounds of an inherently risky activity."

After dismissing Miss Jolliff's claim, the judge refused her leave to appeal.

But she may still petition the Appeal Court directly for permission to appeal. Miss Jolliff, who had attended the three-day trial with her father, David, left the Royal Courts of Justice without comment.

Miss Wadley, who wept with relief at the ruling, also declined to comment.