Go straight to the latest news about collisions on the road involving horses
Collisions on the road involving horses are a major concern for riders. Unfortunately, limited off-road riding forces most riders to spend some of their time exercising their horses on the roads, if only to access local bridleways. While many drivers are considerate to horses, slowing down and allowing plenty of room while passing, there are some who are not, which can lead to confrontations, injuries and even deaths of humans and equines.
There is currently no legal requirement for a road accident involving a horse to be recorded, unless there is human injury that requires hospital treatment direct from the scene of the accident. A horse can be killed, or a vehicle written off and the accident may not be recorded anywhere.
The British Horse Society’s campaign for safer riding on the roads was set up to record statistics about horse-related road accidents. If you have been involved in an accident with your horse, please take time to register it via the BHS accident website. These statistics put the BHS is a stronger position to campaign for better road safety for horse riders.
“Collating data in this way can really make a big difference to equine safety, and it allows us to lobby and advise MPs, road safety partnerships, the police and other highway organisations”
Sentencing has been adjourned until tomorrow
‘The car hit Ron, taking his legs from beneath him. I was thrown forward and fell off’
Police are appealing for information on the incident which occurred on Saturday (4 April)
A police spokesman said an investigation into the circumstances is being carried out
The incidents happened on Saturday (4 January) and Monday (6 January)
Anyone who witnessed the collision is asked to contact the police
‘That single moment ruined my life and life of my horse and had a knock-on effect on my husband, children and job’
‘I can’t believe the driver knocked a child off her horse and left her there. You don’t leave the scene of an accident’
The rider is campaigning for safer roads after the frightening incident
‘People need to be aware you can’t move a trailer out of the way that quickly and I think a lot of drivers don’t realise that’
‘From the minute that driver came round the corner I knew there was going to be an accident and that I was the one going to get hurt’
‘This is happening all the time – we’re finding animals close to the road with swinging legs or deep cuts. People aren’t phoning them in, they’re hitting these animals and driving off’
‘The horse was restrained by members of the public further down the carriageway [but it] was severely injured and was humanely put down at the scene’
‘Some of these cyclists seem to just ride along, heads down, with no thought of any consequences’
The accident took place on Friday (14 June) afternoon near Clitheroe
The Alliance Road Policing Teams said on Twitter the incident was a ‘truly multi-agency operation’ and thanked the public for their patience during the ‘difficult and challenging recovery operation’
‘I knew it was happening, I could see the trailer going behind me and there was nothing I could do’
‘I honestly thought I was about to find his lifeless body in the road’
