Advice and information

Horse riders and car drivers both have a right to use the road. However, horses are easily scared by noise and can panic around fast-moving vehicles. Consideration for other road users is key to avoiding accidents. The bullet points below provide motorists with some simple tips on how best to safely pass a horse and rider on the road:

• Slow down and be ready to stop if necessary
• Look out for riders’ signals to slow down or stop
• Watch out for sudden movements, horses can be easily frightened and unpredictable
• Don’t sound your horn or rev your engine
• If you’re approaching from behind while cycling, call out a greeting to make horse and rider aware you are there
• Pass wide and slow when overtaking; giving the horse plenty of room. Don’t accelerate rapidly once you have passed them
• On roundabouts, horse riders will keep to the left within the roundabout until reaching their exit, when they will signal left. They will normally signal right only when approaching exits they don’t intend to use