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Can I clarify the British Horse Society's guidelines on how to safely ride a horse on public roads?
In answer to the email 'Mane road', The British Horse Society (BHS) would always recommend any rider to wear a hi-viz tabard or jacket when they ride out. This gives motorists up to three seconds' more time to see them and to take avoiding action as appropriate. The process you mention would really make the following person very vulnerable.
Where there are narrow roads and hedges, a hi-viz hat cover can also be useful to help the rider to be seen. The leader of the pony should be dressed in a hi-viz tabard or jacket too and they should be leading the pony from the 'off side', or with the pony to their left so that they are between the pony and the traffic. We would also recommend that even when there is an older unsupervised child on board, for the first few ventures out someone walks alongside the pony to ensure that the child can cope.
Regarding insurance, Gold members of the BHS have excellent public liability insurance (if there is an incident with a vehicle) and personal accident insurance, plus the use of a free legal helpline to assist in the event of any mis-hap. Full information is available on www.bhs.org.uk or tel: 02476 840500.
Where there are narrow roads and hedges, a hi-viz hat cover can also be useful to help the rider to be seen. The leader of the pony should be dressed in a hi-viz tabard or jacket too and they should be leading the pony from the 'off side', or with the pony to their left so that they are between the pony and the traffic. We would also recommend that even when there is an older unsupervised child on board, for the first few ventures out someone walks alongside the pony to ensure that the child can cope.
Regarding insurance, Gold members of the BHS have excellent public liability insurance (if there is an incident with a vehicle) and personal accident insurance, plus the use of a free legal helpline to assist in the event of any mis-hap. Full information is available on www.bhs.org.uk or tel: 02476 840500.
Asked on 23 June 2012 by
Answered by
Honest John
To refresh readers’ memories, I stressed the desirability of someone wearing a high vis coat walking at least 100 metres behind the pony, to warn any approaching vehicles. On open roads with good sight lines riding is not so dangerous. But on narrow roads with tight hedges, it can be very dangerous indeed. Thanks for the tip about British Horse Society Insurance, even though the law remains muddy about damage to cars by animals.
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