The Bendigo Harness Racing Club has issued a statement after Gary Donaldson’s horse, Live Like A Royal, and a vehicle collided on the McIvor Highway at Junortoun this morning.

The club said Mr Donaldson was dislodged from the sulky during track work aboard his horse.

“Live Like A Royal then bolted and found her way onto the McIvor Highway, where she was struck by a motor vehicle,” the statement said.

“The club can confirm that Gary Donaldson was uninjured, as was the driver of the car.

“Live Like A Royal was taken to the Bendigo Equine Hospital where she was treated for an abrasion with stitches.”

The club said subsequent scans revealed no abdominal injuries.

“The horse is expected to make a full recovery,” the statement said.

UPDATE 10.33am: Police are making inquiries about the welfare of a horse that bolted from a trotting track and onto the McIvor Highway this morning.

Bendigo Highway Patrol Constable Veronica Walker said the horse had been trotting on the trotting track at the Bendigo Harness Racing Club with a trainer just before the incident occurred.

She said the horse broke free from the trainer and broke through the fence of the trotting track, onto the highway.

It was subsequently hit by a motor vehicle.

Constable Walker said the sulky, which was still attached to the horse, was unmanned at the time of the collision.

Neither the motorist nor the driver of the sulky were believed to have been injured.

Constable Walker said the extent of the injuries to the horse was not yet known to police.

SES volunteers were the first on scene. 

Police were called to the McIvor Highway about 8.50am.

EARLIER: A horse and a car have collided on the McIvor Highway at Junortoun.

The incident happened before 9am, near the post office and opposite Lords Raceway and the Bendigo Harness Racing Club.

An injured horse has been taken to the Bendigo Equine Hospital.

More to come.