Horse hit by car after rider bucked

A man was injured after he was bucked from a horse Sunday night near the Indio/Coachella area.

According to John Welsh with the Riverside County Department of Animal Services, the incident happened around 5:30 p.m. along Jackson Street, near Avenue 48. The city boundaries of Indio and Coachella run parallel along Jackson Street.

The man had been test riding a horse that he was interested in buying, Welsh said in a statement. Emergency responders arrived and took care of the injured rider at the scene.

After he was bucked, the horse took off and was eventually hit by a vehicle. The horse went down with its injuries, but returned to its feet. Welsh said the horse received some laceration but didn’t appear to have any broken legs.

An equine veterinarian agreed to help the owner by transporting the horse and providing it care.

The owner of the horse was given a notice by Riverside County Animal Services to have the animal properly treated, which is standard protocol in these cases, according to Welsh.