Drivers call for horse riders to take ‘road test’

A survey has revealed 94 percent ofdrivers think horse riders should take a ‘drivingtest’ before they are allowed on the road.

‘Idiot drivers’

A survey of 1,200 motorists found the majority believe there should be some sort of road safety test for equestrians.

However, riders have fought back, declaring it is the “idiot” drivers that should be tested on dealing with horses.

Johnny Ratcliffe from car leasing company Flexed.co.uk, organisers of the survey, said getting stuck behind a horse on a country road can lead to “hostility between both parties”.

“It’s only right that bothdriversand horse riders are taught how to share the road responsibly,” he said.

Enforceable training

Sections 49 to 55 of the Highway Code deal with horses on public roads. While there are certain rules backed up by the law, such as not riding on pavements, the information is largely advisory.

“These people are just as entitled to use the public roads as any car, bus or lorry,” says Johnny, “But with children as young as 12 years old riding a horse in traffic, you can see why there are calls for enforceable training.”

Lee Hackett director of equine policy at the British Horse Society (BHS) said it is “unlikely” a test for riders would be made a legal requirement. However, the BHS has a Riding and Road Safety Test, which thousands of people take each year.

‘Stick to fields’

“We would dearly like to see more riders take the test, or even just attend the training if they don’t like the idea of a test, as in our experience even those who have been hacking out for years, or are very experienced car drivers, find they learn plenty that they perhaps hadn’t previously known,” said Lee.

According to the survey, 58 percent ofdriversinterviewed said riders should have to avoid busy roads and roundabouts by law. One lorry driver went as far to say horses shouldn’t be allowed on the roads at any time.

“Why should these toffs and their snooty offspring have right of way?” he said. “Roads are for cars, make them stick to the fields.”

Equine roadcraft

As riders, we know this isn’t always an option, with the amount ofbridleways around the UK diminishing. As a result, hundreds of road accident are reported to the BHS each year, some of which are “very upsetting”.

“These show just how important equine roadcraft is,” said Lee. “The BHS is committed to keeping riders safe and we do this both by working with riders and also with other road users such as cyclists and drivers.

“We all need to work together to cut down on unnecessary accidents and deaths on our roads.”

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