Sometimes horse riders don’t do themselves any favours on the road and endanger other road users, their horses and their own safety by not taking a few simple precautions or following a few simple rules:
- Always wear a riding helmet with the strap done up – remember it’s compulsory for under 14’s.
- Wear fluorescent or other bright clothing in daylight – you’ll be spotted sooner.
- Wear something reflective if you have to ride in very poor light or at night.
- If you have to ride at night or in poor visibility, make sure your horse has reflective bands above the fetlock joints and that you carry lights – white to the front, red to the rear.
- Make sure your tack, etc. is in good condition before going on the road.
- Give clear arm signals before moving off or manoeuvring.
- Keep over to the left of the road.
- Always ride in single file on narrow roads or bend approaches.
- Don’t ride on footpaths, pavements or Redways.
Remember horse riders are as much entitled to use the road as vehicle drivers. Each should help the other whenever possible; a little courtesy from both sides never goes amiss.
