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news
Cycling UK and British Horse Society issue guidance to cyclists on how to overtake horses safely (+ video)
Cycling UK and the British Horse Society (BHS) have launched a joint campaign called Be Nice, Say Hi to reinforce the need for cyclists to take special care when encountering someone on horseback.
The two charities decided to collaborate on the initiative after an incident earlier this year in which a competitor on the cycling leg of the Windsor Triathlon was filmed as he undertook a horse rider at speed, striking her. Video of the incident subsequently went viral on social media.
The launch of the campaign comes days after an incident in which a woman sustained broken ribs and a punctured lung when her horse was spooked due to a cyclist undertaking it.
The campaign calls on cyclists to slow down when they see someone on horseback and to call out a greeting alerting both horse and rider to their presence, which the charities say will make it less likely for the horse to be spooked, reducing the risk of injury not only to horse and rider but also to the cyclist themselves.
It is accompanied by the issue of a new leaflet drawn up jointly by the two organistaions giving guidance to h bike riders.
Duncan Dollimore, head of campaigns at Cycling UK, said: “Every time a cyclist encounters a horse, there are three brains involved: the cyclist’s, the rider’s and the horse’s.
“Many people aren’t familiar with horses, and there can be confusion on what they should do when overtaking on a bike.
“Cyclists may already know to pass wide and slow when it’s safe to do so – but they could still startle the horse unless the horse and rider are made aware of your presence.
“Generally, if a cyclist startles a horse, it is due to simple lack of awareness that a horse needs more time to react, which is why Cycling UK is pleased to be helping the BHS promote the consideration and courtesy message of ’Be nice, say hi’.”
Alan Hiscox, director of safety at the BHS, commented: “We’re thrilled to be collaborating with Cycling UK as both groups are vulnerable road users and will benefit from working together to share the roads.
“We are encouraging riders to respond positively to cyclists who pass with consideration and reciprocate their courtesy.
“Horses are flight animals and may react to anything they are unsure of. By promoting the ‘Be nice, say hi’ message, we hope more cyclists will appreciate the potential risk they pose.”
He added: “If all road users are considerate and mindful of one another we can reduce the number of incidents between horses, cyclists and vehicles.”
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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29 comments
Out of interest, have Cycling UK and a motoring organisation ever got together to do a video campaign on sharing the road?
If it was a world just of horses and bikes, I can’t see any reason why we couldn’t, shouldn’t and wouldn’t get on fine together, there’d be enough road space to go around. It’s usually the car that puts us all under pressure in various ways. So let’s stay solid together, as the car will divide and rule.
Motor vehicle users have only a defined entitlement to assume that others road users are competent and their conveyance is safe in the sense that a newly mot’d car should be. The further down the highway hierarchy (starting at Mways) you go, the more this applies. At country lane level, you can’t assume very much about the competence and predictability of the range of non-motors you’ll encounter, whether you are a motor or not. That’s the shift in thinking needed, especially for Generation “it’s 60 along here, isn’t it?” Sat Nav.
My wife road rides and I think there’s very little stupidity among road riding horse owners - for one thing, incompetence by either horse or rider is so terrifying that the experience is usually short-lived. There are people who buy a horse (for a teenager often) and then come and see it once a week, but that’s another story.
If we're all in it together, and *they* understand the true danger on the roads, why are *they* launching Operation Don'tCreepUpOnMeOnYourBike, as opposed to Operation Don'tKillMeOrMyHorseInYourCar?
Meanwhile local pony clubs insist on using bridleways as gallops and are incapable of stopping in the distance they can see. Apperently passing a horse at 6mph is too fast, but it is perfectly acceptable to gallop past said cyclists.
Afterwards mummy and daddy see how many cyclists their 4x4 can run off the road.
I wish organisations would sort their own shit out first before moving onto world peace.
I too have been on the wrong end of horsey types who thought it very jolly hockey-sticks to gallop their horses through a group of runners from behind.
Guess what? Some people who ride horses are self centred, inconsiderate gits.
There is no "us" there is no "them" there is no collective responsibility for the inconsiderate actions of others.
Above all there is certainly no harm in knowing the best way to behave around horses and other vulnerable road users, or indeed any other road user.
When will we see the introduction of dockless horse-hire schemes in UK cities?
Well it seems to be acceptable to leave two-wheeled pieces of crap everywhere, so why not!
Though, admitedly, I'm not looking forward to the horsey equivalent of this
(I mean, I find that picture slightly distressing as it is - such a waste! - some sentimental types might find the equine version even worse!)
https://www.theatlantic.com/photo/2018/03/bike-share-oversupply-in-china...
Horseability?
Horse proficiency test!
Horseback riding is even more dangerous that motorcycle riding, as it carries a higher injury rate. According to one Internet report, on average motorcyclists suffer an injury once every 7,000 hours of riding. By contrast, an equestrian (horseback rider) may have a serious accident once every 350 hours.
Sounds pretty dangerous to me, but yet you have to jump through loads of hoops to get a decent bike now. CBT, theory, practical, a1, a2 or whatever.
"You might know how to overtake a horse and rider safely when driving, but did you know it's a little bit different when cycling?" And then they go on to mention all the things you'd do when driving anway; slow down, make sure the horse and rider know you're there (and the horse knows what you are), pass wide and slow.
Apart from that quibble, a decent idea. But who will see it?
Didn't someone suggest a few days ago that the British Horse Society and Horse and Hound may have had an agenda for publishung a story about a cyclist undertaking a horse rider? ...Hmm
I think that horses should be on the road and that all of the various organisations and groups who sponsor whatever mode of transport should all rally together with the one focus of educating their core subject vehicle user on how to safely use and share the public highway.
Taxi Driver associations, Haulage associations, Cycling associations, Motor Vehicle associations, Horse associations etcetera. All of them together as one with one single focus.
It seems to me that BHS and Cycling UK are delighted to be working together to offer this information in the form of this video and online media, however it is just the two groups targeted. All of the various organisations should be lobbying together to force the Highway Code to be updated and for their followers to read and abide by it. I have read it four times in the last eighteen months and I can guarantee that it was not for pleasure.
Most cyclists cant even say hi to each other when passing on the road so what chance has this got
And I’m just saying be careful what you wish for. As you’re busy banning horses from the road, the next guy will be banning cyclists.
Jesse Norman HASN'T denied looking at a dangerous horsing law.
Personally I am very happy to see horses out on the country roads. Also; runners, walkers, dog fetishists, essentially anything that challenges the cult of the motorcar.
Tis a slippery slope pointing at other groups of road users going about their lawful use of the public highways* and saying they should not be there. Have we not had enough of that crap and selfish thinking directed at us as cyclists?
*Horse riders are also important defenders of our public bridleway network which I appreciate as I enjoy some dirty offroad action now and again.
“Horses are flight animals and may react to anything they are unsure of. "
Should they be on the road then ?
Careful, some people like to ask the same sort of question about cyclists.
Horse riders have a right to use the road. We have to behave accordingly. Tough luck if we don’t like it. Same as car drivers have to put up with us on our bikes.
Are cyclists flight animals that might react to anything they are unsure of?
I'm sure they will, the big difference is that cyclists aren't flight animals that react to anything they are unsure of.
I'm not questioning the current right, but that recent stories bring into question whether such large animals which we are told cannot be controlled in some circumstances should be on the road.
To be fair a loot of (good) riders ask the same question. Not if all horses should be on the road, but the numbers of poorly trained horses that are in public. Horses are like dogs, as in they need to be trained. Most people know not every dog is going to be a police dog but every dog should be trained to heal, sit and return on command, but many are not. It’s the same with horses. They can be trained to be under control and reasonably calm, not to police horse levels, but still quite good. Unfortunately too many riders (as with dog owners) don’t bother and expect everyone else to compensate for it. They give the rest a bad name and make excuses like it being down to personality rather than good training. I say this as someone who cycles, used to ride (a bit, many years ago) and who’s father had very well trained retrievers and pointers for shooting.
Im not agreeing that horses should not be on the road, as they have every right to be there, but the riding community needs to take a bit more responsibility for the behaviour of horses. Yes, we should always take care around them and respect the riders, but I do think that the riding community needs to do some inward communication on good training as well as outwards, not just for everyone’s safety (a panicked horse could hurt anyone) but also for the good of the horse. A flighty horse is a horse stressed in its environment.
Hmm... ...so do you only let horses out on the road when they've had experience of the road?
Why not give them simulated experience? Drivers have to undergo training. Horses would appear to be quite hefty and able to do significant damage. So why not get them trained before letting them out in public.
Asking for a friend.
And toilet-ready.
If the horse was only recently discovered it would never be allowed on the road given their little mood swings. A bit like other things of longstanding use like tobacco and alcohol, their historic use gives them a pass, even though common sense says they aren't really that great anymore and have lots of terrible side effects. Isn't the injury rate for horse riders way worse than cyclists and even motorcyclists?
#BANTHEHORSE (from my experience half of them are injured all the time anyway)
Good advice for everyone to follow. Can we now see the video for horse riders on how to drive a horse box around vulnerable road users?
A hearty "Hi ho, Silver!", that's what's needed.
https://youtu.be/rZIqg0gBcYM
Good to see, sensible advice. Would do a lot to improve attitudes to cyclists around here (New Forest). Would extend it to also slowing down if approaching from the front, and apply same approach to riderless animals
Good advice but shouldn't it be British Triathlon issuing it given the viral video involved tri competitors?