Daredevil Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond is in the wars again after saddling up for a test drive without a seatbelt.

The presenter who famously survived a 288-mph smash in a high-speed dragster car in September 2006, has now been hurt after a horse he was test riding became spooked.

Hammond, who is currently starring in the Saturday night prime time BBC1 show Total Wipeout, is now hobbling around with the aid of a crutch.

But fans of the 39-year-old have nothing to fear and Hammond has survived his latest tumble without any broken bones.

Friends say that apart from a bruised bottom and hurt pride, the presenter, dubbed the Hamster by his Top Gear co-presenter Jeremy Clarkson, is fine after the fall.

Fans were shocked when Hammond turned up on crutches to start the Ledbury Hunt's Hayes Golden Button Challenge on crutches on Saturday.

He and wife Mindy, a keen horsewoman, had been expected to take part in the three-mile cross country, steeple chase over 24 hedges along the banks of the River Severn.

But Hammond could only manage to raise a flag and Mindy also kept her feet firmly on the ground as the pair strolled around the Tirley farm with daughters Izzy and Willow.

The presenter re-assured friends that his latest injuries had nothing to do with the stunts he regularly does for his Top Gear programme.

Although wife Mindy keeps several horses at their new home outside Ross-on-Wye, Hammond does not have a mount of his own and was thrown while trying out a large jumper, which stands around 16 hands high.

Ledbury Hunt master David Redvers said it was the first time Hammond had been on a horse since he took riding lessons to enable him to join members of the hunt and chase co-presenter Clarkson in a 4X4 Daihatsu for Top Gear.

"He was trying out a horse locally when he fell off it and hurt his backside," said Mr Redvers. "He was looking to hire it for the day but the horse got spooked. I don't think he was doing anything exciting at the time. Sometimes horses just get spooked.

"He's a bit sore but he'll be fine. Basically he's just banged his backside.

"I don't think it will put him off. He's very frustrated but he always takes these things in good grace.

"Whenever he comes unstuck he smiles and carries on and they all had a nice family day out instead."

Only 24 of the 42 starters finished the daring annual race over hedges and walls but Hammond is hoping to take part next year.

The presenter recently treated himself to a new KTM690 Duke motorbike but in recent months he seems to prefer four-legged horsepower to souped up cars.

He recently told an interviewer that he found the experience of chasing fellow presenter Jeremy Clarkson, who was dressed as a fox, so exhilarating that he wants to ride with the hounds on a regular basis.

He recently said: "I need to find a horse" and thanked the members of the Ledbury Hunt "for their willingness to welcome an irritating stranger on a borrowed horse who clearly is no more a horseman than he is a brain surgeon".

Hammond recently said if he could choose another life it would be that of a medieval hero riding around the land on horseback.