In June of last year a 15-year old schoolgirl who lived near Rotherham was killed whilst riding her horse on the road. Apparently she was an experienced young rider whose 7-year old gelding was frightened causing him to bolt. The horse hit a car, throwing the rider off and then falling on her. The girl died in hospital from fatal injuries; the horse suffered a broken leg and had to be destroyed.
Did you know that there are more than 2.4 million horse riders in Britain and over 26 million licensed vehicles on our roads? Every day there are eight horse related traffic accidents on the roads.Horse riders and motorists share the right to use Britain’s roads in safe and enjoyable travel. I believe that a proportion of those drivers do not understand the needs of the horse rider on the road.
Due to the foot and mouth precautions, most of my horse riding last year was restricted to the roads around the town where I live. Bridalways, tracks and public footpaths which encompass cattle and sheep grazed pastures were closed to the public.I live in an area of north Norfolk, which attracts holidaymakers from Easter until the end of September. The roads become congested with traffic
in particular during the six-week summer holiday period. One particular stretch of the coast road is an accident black spot – a motorcyclist was killed here last year on a bad section of bends. Horses are ridden (and driven) along this road and it is surprising that there have been no accidents involving horses.
Last year I was riding my horse along a very narrow, winding country road. I could hear a car coming up behind me at great speed. There were no verges or pavement for me to get out of the way. The woman driver braked sharply when she saw my horse in front of her hurtling both of her young children from the back seat (obviously not strapped in) onto the front passenger seat of the car.
Fortunately, no one was injured, but it could have been a very different story. According to the Highway Code riding a horse on the pavement is not permitted, but I would ride on a pavement when necessary in order to avoid an accident.Car drivers, when driving on country roads should drive around bends with caution, as there could be a horse in front of them. Also please keep a safe distance behind the horse and when it is clear to overtake please pass wide and slowly and at no more than 15mph. Please remember you are not overtaking a cycle, the horse could step out sideways.
I overheard a conversation between two cyclists recently who did not understand why horses should be allowed to ride two abreast, when they are not. Horse riders should never ride more than two abreast and should ride in single file where the road is narrow or when approaching a bend. There are several reasons for riding double including:a) the horse on the nearside could be a young horse undergoing road training.
b) the horse on the nearside could be of a nervous disposition.c) An inexperienced young rider needs escorting by a more experienced companion
If a car driver observes this, the horse on the outside and therefore nearest the traffic will ALWAYS be the safer of the two horses.Motorists should keep in mind that no horse is 100% safe on the road, because other factors must be taken into consideration. Even the most reliable and well-schooled horse can be frightened by elements beyond the rider’s control. These may include sudden very loud noises, cars that overtake with a barking dog halfway out of the window, paper bags that blow across a road, electric hedge trimmers, low flying aircraft or other sights that the horse is not used to seeing. (My horse turns into a Big Baby when confronted by pigs!).
It is the responsibility of the rider to wear light or fluorescent clothing when riding in order that they are visible to other road users. That they never take a horse on the road that they cannot control and that they ensure their tack is in good condition.The horse rider must give clear road signals, so that his intentions are clearly understood. It is common courtesy to acknowledge good driving by putting a hand up, nodding or giving a nice smile. Make sure that you are a responsible, courteous and competent rider knowledgeable in road safety before venturing on the roads.
Lastly, in the event of a road accident, the horse rider may be held responsible for damage or injury, I would therefore recommend that all horse riders should have Personal Liability Insurance.Please ride and drive safely on the roads,
Janna
~*~further information~*~
BHS offers a Riding and Road Safety Test. Contact: Safety Dept.,
British Horse Society,
Stoneleigh Deer Park,
Kenilworth,
CV8 2XZ
Telephone 08701 201921
Email Allsafety@bhs.org.uk
~*~further reading~*~
BHS Riding and Roadcraft Manual
The Highway Code
11.10.2006 11:12
Also, a big thank you to all the drivers out there that slow down for horses, and for all the motorbikes who turn thier engines off (i've noticed that too! Most motorbike riders are very considerate). You're all stars.
11.10.2006 11:09
Darkside - the road is NOT for cars. Bikes, motorcycles, horses and mopeds have just as much, if not more rights to use the road. Cars have only been on roads for a hundred years, horses for thousands. I agree that it is not safe, and I would much rather use bridleways - but the sad fact is that there almost all riding routes have to be accessed by road. If drivers don't want horses on the road they should campaign for more bridleways and riding routes., then we'd all be happy. Riders should not defer to cars, they are more vulnerable, and it doesn't take much for a car to slow down while they overtake. It infuriates me when drivers assume the road belongs to them, they are polluting, noisy and dangerous. Bikes are eco-friendly and efficient, horses are vulnerable animals that need a little understanding. It is important that on busy roads riders should find a place to pull over and let cars pass, all riders should thank EVERY driver for slowing down, and show respect. Riders should also only ride road safe horses, and train youngsters with an experienced, safe horse on the righthand side. However, that doesn't mean riders do not have a right to use the road - especially considering we have little choice. Grrr, it really annoys me. Sorry, ranting a little, a great review!
26.07.2004 11:14
Thanks for a great review. I have owned my own horse since Easter and have yet to go on the road. She is still being tried out in different "road" environments by a more road experienced rider. Found your review a great help for when I do get out and about. Luckily where we are, we can use the local farmers fields to go through to get to the local village and resevoir bridleways from the stables