South Shore's Horseshoe Bay.

And one woman struck by the animal and knocked over required first aid from physician Dr. Jenny Vardi, who was enjoying a day at the beach with friends.

One shocked onlooker said: "The woman is very lucky -- it could have been a lot worse. We saw the horse and shouted a warning, but they couldn't see because the bushes were obscuring their view.

"The horse was obviously scared -- and when it hit the woman, I thought `she's in trouble' -- but she was all right.'' It is understood the horse threw its rider after being frightened by the high seas whipped up by Hurricane Gert and took off down the beach.

The injured woman, understood to be a Bermuda resident, is believed to have suffered injuries to her ankle.