Seconds save lives

HAYLEY WILD, an instructor at Saddleworth and District Pony Club, urges harmony between drivers and riders …

As horse riders in Saddleworth, we are fortunate to have fantastic riding country right on the doorstep, but inevitably riders also have to use the roads. These days our ever-busier lanes and villages with increasing car numbers can turn riding into a game of Russian roulette. 

But there is no reason why riders and motorists cannot share our space safely. Horses, by law, have equal rights on the road and are classed as vulnerable users for a very good reason.  Horses are prey animals.

The instincts with which they are born mean they are naturally wary of anything they perceive as a threat to their safety. In his untamed form a horse will use his flight response, or run away to save his own life.

Thankfully, horses also have a generous nature and for thousands of years we have trained them to overcome their fears and become willing partners, to be ridden, to stay calm and to respond to instructions. Instructions that will keep him safe and perhaps one day save his life.

For riders, it is easy to take precautions to lower the risk. Increasing visibility with fluorescent clothing means drivers notice horses three seconds earlier. That is long enough to react and it could be the three seconds that save a life.

A couple of other good tips are to teach a horse to stop and stand still when asked and where safe to do so turn him to face a scary object, helping him become braver. Most horse owners will begin to educate young horses on the roads as soon as possible and by the time they become riding horses they know how to behave.

Motorists seem to be either very polite when passing horses or plain ignorant or perhaps they have no knowledge of how best to pass a horse? A little slower and with a little more room, it really is that simple. Half a ton of horse can cause a lot of damage.