Horse rider's plea after driver abuse incidents

A horse rider from Lancashire says reckless motorists are putting animals and people at risk by failing to abide by the rules of the road.

Julie-Ann Bowden, from Lancashire, was speaking after an event where more than a dozen fellow riders took to the roads to raise awareness of the Pass Wide and Slow campaign.

She said while "the majority" of drivers show horses the respect they deserve, there were others who refused to be held up for the short time it took to pass a horse safely, and then flew into a rage when challenged.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (Rospa) said while some riders did not want to use the roads, they still needed to to access bridleways.

Bowden, who has a stable in Whittle-le-Woods, said she recently saw a BMW heading towards her horse, gave a hand signal to request the driver slow down, but received an abusive hand gesture in response.

"He was coming really fast down Cophurst Lane, a small country road with parked vehicles, and I shouted and [indicated] for him to slow.

"But he just did his own hand signals and actually stopped, reversed and hurled a load of abuse at us," she said.

In another incident, on Town Lane, a horse was spooked when something in the back of an overtaking van "made a really loud noise, because of the road surface".

"We shouted after them [and asked them] to stop and have a conversation," Bowden said.

"The passenger got out and we got the usual – 'You shouldn't be riding your horses on the road if they're not safe, you should be in a field.'"

Bowden said people should think about the many potential consequences of of not safely passing, including horses ending up loose on the roads, or damage to vehicles caused by collisions with the animals.

The Pass Wide and Slow initiative said drivers should "slow down to a maximum of 10 mph" and "when safe to do so, pass wide and slow, allowing at least two metres of space".

Rospa said riders were dealing with "powerful animals which are easily frightened and can panic in traffic".

It said horses were "often able to see and hear further ahead than a motorist" and advised motorists to "drive slowly, give them plenty of room and be prepared to stop".

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