DRIVERS are being urged to slow down around horse riders after a woman and her horse were badly injured in a hit and run.

The British Horse Society (BHS) said it was saddened to hear of the injuries Stacey Johnson and her horse Roo had suffered after a silver estate car crashed into them.

The driver sped off leaving the pair lying badly injured by the roadside in Newlands, Droitwich on Sunday at about 4.30pm.

Doctors originally thought the 20-year-old, from Worcester, may have broken her back but she was left with nerve damage on the right side and is battling intense pain.

Her horse was left battered and bruised and shaken by the crash.

She said: "The car came flying around the corner and took us out completely.

"They then drove off leaving us injured on the side of the road."

The driver of the car has still not come forward - though Miss Johnson believes the crash would have caused considerable damage to the car.

A spokesperson for the society said: "Unfortunately incidents between riders and vehicles are common."

Two thousand road incidents involving horses have been reported across the UK since BHS launched its incidents reporting website in 2011.

In Worcestershire alone, 22 incidents have been reported to the BHS including three incidences when horses have tragically died and another where a rider was severely injured.

"Unfortunately these are just incidents that have been brought to the BHS’ attention - in reality the number is probably much greater."

In response to the alarming number of incidents, the BHS has launched its Dead Slow campaign, calling on drivers to slow down to 15mph when they see a horse, and pass wide and slow.

The BHS spokesperson added: “A lot of people don’t know how to approach horses on the road, and that’s why we launched Dead Slow and produced a video to advise drivers.

"We hope that the rider and her horse have a speedy recovery.”

Horse accidents can be reported to the BHS via the website horseaccidents.org.uk