A group of ponies have been pictured standing guard over their fallen friend who was struck and killed by a motorist in the New Forest – a touching image of po-bromance.
On the one side the cluster of ponies clearly display a sense of grief and loss for their injured group member lying on the opposite side of the road.
Hazel Hill Scrap, a nine-year-old chestnut mare, was clipped by a driver in the middle of the night in the Hampshire national park.
Sarah Simmons posted the image to Facebook the following morning as she passed the scene of the accident.
She wrote:
Broke my heart this morning seeing another pony KILLED on the forest road. Even more that her friends were looking on
I’m sorry to the commoner who’s lost the pony, I hope it’s not someone’s pony I know but I hope by posting this it may make people realise that it’s not just the owner who it upsets but their herd members too.
The mare died on the side of the road from internal injuries and a broken leg.
Sarah continued:
SLOW DOWN DAY/NIGHT ON FOREST ROADS THESE PONIES have more rights to these roads than you do.
I will say a few drivers got a few choice words from me this morning even with this poor horse on the side of the road and the others looking on, they still were going too bloody fast.
Cathy Stride, the owner of the mare, told Horse and Hound it was her third pony to be killed on that stretch of the road.
She said:
They hit them like skittles.
I welcome any publicity that helps drivers become aware; if they would just slow down it would help.
They go too fast and don’t give the ponies enough room. We’ve even had people driving over foals’ feet as they lie beside the road.
Cathy explained that the group of ponies, including Scrap’s mother and half-sister had been waiting beside the road all night.
Cathy added:
Her mother spent a day and a half looking over her.
Sarah’s picture shows the animals do have feelings – that was something that came across to me very much.
And advised:
It’s also really important that people don’t feed the ponies, or they will congregate by the road waiting for the next handout.
Anyone who hits a pony or sees one being injured should contact the Forestry Commission.
Tim Horner is a sub-editor at UNILAD. He graduated with a BA Journalism from University College Falmouth before most his colleagues were born. A previous editor of adult mags, he now enjoys bringing the tone down in the viral news sector.