Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is hobbling around on crutches after being taken for a ride – not in his usual high-speed cars, but by a horse which bucked unexpectedly and threw him onto hard turf where he landed on his backside.
The presenter, 39, who famously survived a 288mph smash in a dragster car in 2006, fell off the 16 hands-high horse after it was spooked.
He and his wife Mindy had been due to take part in the three-mile cross-country steeplechase over 24 hedges along the banks of the River Severn, as part of the Ledbury Hunt, on Saturday but the famous ‘petrol head’ was confined to watching from the sidelines after falling from the horse he was test riding for the event.
Hammond, horse-mad Mindy and their two daughters have stables and horses at Bollitree Castle, the 18th Century mock castle they moved into in Weston-under-Penyard, near Ross-on-Wye, last August. But, while Mindy is a keen horsewoman, the daredevil presenter usually favours four-wheeled transport and has submitted a planning application to remove a stable to make way for a five-bay garage to accommodate his extensive range of classic cars.
Although the Hammonds didn’t ride in Saturday’s steeplechase they did attend with their daughters, with Richard nursing a bruised bottom and hurt pride.
Ledbury Hunt master David Redvers said it was the first time Hammond had been on a horse since he took riding lessons to join members of the hunt to chase co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson in a 4×4 Daihatsu for Top Gear.
“He was trying out a horse locally when he fell off it and hurt his backside,” said Mr Redvers. “He was looking to hire it for the day but the horse got spooked. I don’t think he was doing anything exciting at the time. Sometimes horses just get spooked.
“He’s a bit sore but he’ll be fine. I don’t think it will put him off.”
Only 24 of the 42 starters finished the daring annual race over hedges and walls but Hammond is hoping to take part next year.