A HORSE rider is lucky to be alive but has been left heartbroken over the death of a much-loved mare after a “horrendous” accident with a car.

A HORSE rider is lucky to be alive but has been left heartbroken over the death of a much-loved mare after an “horrendous” accident with a car.

Louise Denning was rushed to hospital by air ambulance while promising point to point racehorse, Front Page, was put down in the road by vets after suffering horrific injuries when an afternoon ride ended in tragedy.

Louise and the horse were involved in a collision with a car in Cotford Road, Sidbury, just after midday last Monday.

Shocked onlookers who rushed to the aid of the experienced 40-year-old rider said the horse rolled over the vehicle - leaving it a “write off.”

Louise, who works for trainers Monique and Stewart Pike, was this week “too upset” to speak of the accident as she recovered at home from bad bruising.

Her mum, Christine, told the Herald: “She is lucky to be alive, but her horses are her life.

“She doesn’t remember much. She was riding along and suddenly found herself on the floor.”

Christine thanked paramedics and people, including a postman, builders, residents and passers-by, for helping Louise.

Stunned onlookers described the scene has “harrowing.”

“It was horrendous,” said building site manager and first-aider Peter Prior, “The horse was in great distress, It was quite upsetting. The rider was dazed and confused but was more concerned about the horse.”

Paul White, who runs Cotford Motors, said: “I just couldn’t believe it. People were in shock. The horse was in the middle of the road trying to get up. There was a lot of blood.”

Front Page’s trainer Monique Pike, of Synderborough Farm, said the mare, owned by Roger and Linda Newton, landlords of the Blue Ball in Sidford, was one of the best horses in her yard.

“Our horses are very precious, we care for them 24/7,” said Monique, “Louise is traumatised but the main thing is she is ok.”

She added the horse was only being ridden along the road as plummeting temperatures had frozen the gallops.

The accident happened in a 20mph stretch heading into the village. The main road through Sidbury was shut for two hours. Police scrambled their helicopter as a result of the incident.

l A man faces court over a series of driving offence allegations, police revealed. Police said they interviewed a man at a property in Honiton on Monday and he has been reported to court.