A woman who was injured after falling from a horse has launched legal action against the owner of the equestrian centre she claims is responsible.

Carla Mitchell, 26, contests that she was a novice rider but had been given a horse measuring 16 hands that was unreliable.

The animal bolted, throwing Ms Mitchell to the ground, Horse and Hound Online reports.

In the accident, she suffered a fractured vertabra and an injury to her ankle. She has still not recovered and alleges that she cannot care for her children properly as a result of her disability.

Ms Mitchell is now suing Diane Jay-Ing, who runs Shaftesbury Equestrian Centre in Dorset, for damages of up to £300,000 after claiming that she was negligent and did not care for the rider properly.

Anyone who suffers an injury while horse riding which was caused by the negligence of another person may be eligible to claim compensation for personal injury.

They should seek legal advice within three years of the accident occurring.