HORSE riders will be out in force later this month as part of a national safety campaign to encourage road users to be considerate when over taking horses.
Equine enthusiasts Evi Mawdsley and Stacey Walker have organised a hack in Teesdale on Sunday, September 17, as part of a campany by road safety group Pass Wide and Slow, which was launched in 2017.
Ms Mawdsley said: “It’s a national campaign with nearly all the post codes in England joining in.
“There will be about 30 local riders taking part.”
Horses and riders will set off from Peter and Gladys Stubbs’ farm, at Kinninvie, at 10am, head down the B6278 into Barnard Castle town centre before returning to Kinninvie via Stainton village.
She added: “There have been a lot of fatalities nationally even in the last few weeks and it is quite a horsey area around here.
“To get to some of the bridleways you do have to go on the road.
“We just want to be able to ride safely without worrying about the horses getting spooked from drivers and cyclists coming up at speed.”
According to the British Horse Society, there were 3,552 road incidents involving horses in 2022.
Of those incidents recorded, 68 horses were killed and 125 were injured with 139 people injured.
The campaign aims to encourage road users to slow their speed to 10mph and give at least two metres distance when overtaking to protect horses and their riders.
Ms Mawdsley said: “It’s not just motorists, it’s cyclists as well. Even if they could just shout hello when they are approaching so we can prepare our horses so when they pass it doesn’t spook them.”
She added: “We have some big banners to explain what we are doing and all riders will be wearing hi-viz jackets. Some of the horses will have sheets on with the message.”
