Horseriders

Horses can be unpredictable animals and an aggressive driver does nothing to calm the nerves of a wary horse. Below are some top tips that may help if you encounter a horse and its rider while driving:

• Always be prepared for horses being led or ridden, particularly on rural roads.
• At left-hand bends and on narrow country roads - take extra care and keep speed to a minimum
• As soon as you see a horse rider in the road slow down and be prepared to stop if necessary
• When behind a horse rider – give them plenty of room. Don’t rush to overtake! And be prepared for unexpected behaviour.
• Do not sound your horn or rev your engine – horses are easily scared by noise and may panic if a driver is overly aggressive.
• Watch out for signals given by horse riders. When turning right, a horse rider will position the horse on the left.
• If children are riding horses or ponies – take extra care; they will not have the same road experience as an adult motorist.

If you want more advice about what you can do to help horses and their riders while driving, simply contact the British Horse Society at British Horse Society, Stoneleigh Deer Park, Kenilworth, Warwickshire, CV8 2XZ. Alternatively, click on this link to their website www.bhs.org.uk