A Lincolnshire rider hopes to improve road safety after a “horrendous” ordeal.
Joanna Webb (not pictured) was hacking her horse Isla with some friends when she heard a vehicle approaching from behind.
She looked over her shoulder and saw it was a car transporter.
“The driver didn’t slow down or give us any room,” she said. “As the driver attempted to overtake, Isla went into canter and the vehicle ended up driving in parallel with us on the road.
“It was quite horrendous and seemed to go on forever. I was really frightened. I knew my friends were both nervous riders so I was afraid for them too.
“Thankfully, Isla was really good and she did come back to me. But she was very scared. It was a horrible experience for both of us.”
Luckily, both Joanna and Isla escaped unhurt.
The British Horse Society (BHS) is now working with Joanna’s local council to put up road signs raising awareness of riders in the area.
With the road outside her house at national speed limit, this is something Joanna feels would make a difference.
“I am really excited about having road signs,” she said. “I think some people don’t expect to see a horse on a road like that – a sign would alert them that there might be a horse and prepare them to slow down.
“I think it is all down to a lack of education. Some people don’t realise horses are flight animals – they don’t consider the consequences of how a horse might react.”
For riders wanting to keep themselves safe and seen on the roads, Joanna strongly advises wearing hi-viz, and a recent experience demonstrated to her how important this is.
“I was riding along the A46, passing under a low hanging tree, when I heard a police car,” she said.
“I panicked they couldn’t see me through the branches. But they spotted me and turned off all their lights and loud sirens as they went past.
“Without my Hi-Viz, I would have simply merged into the shadows. The noise would have really frightened my horse.
“Of course, I would prefer to wear my nice smart coat, but I worry more about being safe than looking good!”
Joanna is a BHS member and has reported a number of near misses on the roads to the organisation.
Last year, the BHS reported that four horses are killed or injured on the UK’s roads every week.
“Year on year we have witnessed an increase in the number of road incidents involving horses being reported to us,” said Alan Hiscock, director of safety at the BHS.
“With 81% of the incidents reported to us having occurred due to vehicles passing too close, it is evident that there is still a great need for better education on how to safely pass horses on the road.
“It is also deeply concerning that close to half of riders were subject to road rage. We all have a right to use the roads and no one should face abuse for exercising this right.”
Riders are encouraged to report their road incidents at horse incidents.org.uk
