Good day and thank you for taking the time to read this post.
I’m a member of Pass Wide and Slow, a UK-wide campaign group dedicated to improving safety for horses and their riders on the roads.
Sadly, last year in the UK, approximately 100 cyclists, 87 horses, and four riders lost their lives due to road accidents. While most injuries and fatalities are caused by drivers, cyclists can also inadvertently create scares, complications, or near misses for horse riders.
Many cyclists understand how to pass horses safely, but there are still some who may not. To address this, I’ve collaborated with an experienced cycling campaigner to develop simple guidelines to help us share the roads safely as fellow vulnerable users.
Guidelines for Passing Horses Safely
Use your voice to alert horse riders: From about 20–30 metres away, call out to let the rider know you’re approaching from behind. Horses recognize voices and are less likely to be startled by a friendly call than by a bell or horn.
If in a group: A rider near the front of the group can take responsibility for calling out to the horse rider.
Pass wide and slow: Ensure you give the horse and rider at least 1.5 metres of space.
Communicate before passing: When you’re about five metres away, let the rider know you’re about to pass. If you’re riding in a group, inform them of the approximate number of cyclists in your group, so they know how long it will take for everyone to pass.
Pass safely: Only overtake when it’s safe to do so, ensuring you can clear the entire group of horses before returning to your side of the road.
Important Considerations
Horses are flight animals—they can be unpredictable and easily startled, sometimes by things unrelated to cyclists. Riders know their horses best and may offer specific instructions to ensure everyone’s safety. Please respect their guidance.
For less experienced riders or young horses, riders may ask you to wait until a suitable passing point is found. This helps ensure everyone remains safe. Remember, we all started somewhere when learning to navigate the roads!
If you’d like more information or would like to discuss this further, feel free to message me.
Thank you for helping to make the roads safer for everyone!
Keith Collyer
RCC Membership Secretary
membership@readingcyclecampaign.org.uk
