Riders being pushed off the roads by fear
RIDER road safety has sprung to prominence again after a spate of incidents this summer.
BBC Essex discussed the issue on 29 August after 19-year-old Megan Leggett was injured in a fall from her horse Ellie, who was spooked by a cyclist.
Claire Lilly of Canewdons Equestrian road safety group spoke on Sadie Nine’s show with Simon Warr, a cyclist from Colchester.
“It can be quite daunting on the roads for riders accessing bridleways,” said Claire, who added that the group tries to educate other road users.
But Simon questioned whether riders should be on the roads.
“I dread seeing them because I am aware the size of a horse can do so much damage so quickly,” he said. “We have to think very carefully with the increase of
traffic whether horses should be on the road.”
Claire countered that horses “love to be taken out”, and said most riders have to use roads to access bridleways.
“In 2017, we should be more accepting and tolerant of all road users,” she told H&H after the show. “Drivers and cyclists are becoming more aggressive — that is the issue we need to stamp out.”
A British Horse Society (BHS) spokesman said the society sees an increase in accidents in summer, with its lighter evenings and more people hacking.
Last year, there was a 29% increase in the number of incidents reported on the charity’s horse accidents website from the previous year — 426 including the death of one rider and 21 horses.
“We strongly believe this increase is partly due to riders being aware of the website,”
Alan Hiscox, BHS director of safety told H&H. “Either way, it’s unacceptable that riders are still dying on our roads.”
The BHS urges riders to report all incidents.
“We use data from this to give us more influence when we are talking to the government and other campaign groups,” added Mr Hiscox.
Other incidents in recent weeks included eventer Adam Gibson, who was involved in a potentially catastrophic road incident on 13 August.
“Some idiot decided to overtake at about 60mph and, as if that wasn’t enough, he blared the horn,” Adam told H&H. “My gelding took off.
“There was quite a severe bend, but, luckily, there wasn’t oncoming traffic — there was no way they could have stopped in time. Eventually, he slowed down and I was able to jump off and grab him.”
Showjumper Seline Damar’s 12-year-old gelding Spot was left with lacerations to his hindquarters when a vehicle passed her and “didn’t give enough room”.
Spot has had antibiotics and bute and is on the mend.
“He did nothing wrong,” said Seline. “I trust Spot, but I’m scared another car will hit him.
“I’m not going to ride on the roads ever again.”