A man was thrown into the air and knocked unconscious by a loose horse which crashed through barriers on the course at Eyton Races. He was treated for scratches and bruises.

The incident happened yesterday at 1.55pm at the South Shropshire Hunt’s point-to-point fixture at Eyton on Severn.

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Onlookers said a horse went through the railings at the crossing on the course and hit one of the marshals after the jockey had fallen off at an earlier fence.

The man has been named as David Roberts, from Welshpool. He was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital by The Midlands Air Ambulance. It delayed the start of the Men’s Open race by 40 minutes.

John Beddoes, who looks after the marshals, said he received a phone call last night saying Mr Roberts had been discharged from hospital with scratches and bruises.

He said: “Basically, the horse went through a barrier and he was knocked over. Paramedics were there almost immediately. When asked what his date of birth was he could not remember so they fetched the Air Ambulance to him.”

He added: “We have looked at why it happened and the course inspector was down there.”

Arthur Shone, North Western Point-to-Point area press officer, said: “One of the horses crashed through the railings and hit him. He went up in the air, I believe.”

An Air Ambulance spokeswoman said: “He was taken to the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital on a ‘green’ level so it was not a serious injury.”