A TEENAGE girl fell from her horse after it was spooked by a passing motorist who sped up and beeped their horn in East Dorset.

Daisy Kelly, 15, from Verwood, was riding her horse Gypsy alone down Burts Lane in Mannington towards Holt Heath on Sunday when the incident happened.

Daisy, who rides along the lane three or four times a week, had signalled for the driver of a white 4X4 coming the opposite way to slow down but instead he sped up and when he was level with Gypsy’s head and beeped his horn.

Jane Kelly, Daisy’s mum, told the Echo: “It could have been a lot worse, luckily her horse is very good.

“The horse got spooked and reared sideways and my daughter fell onto the bank.”

Jane said around two weeks ago a 14-year-old-girl was riding down the same road after leaving the same yard when her horse got spooked by a car that was driving too close and cantered off.

She said: "This incident where they purposely sounded their horn at a large animal with a person on top is risking lives.

“She wasn’t injured, she was very shaken up. She’s really lost her confidence but hopefully it will come back.”

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said they had been called at 6.53pm on Sunday, August 12, 2018, to reports of dangerous driving.

They added: “This matter has been passed to officers who will be making contact with the girl and her parents.”