Alarming new statistics by The British Horse Society (BHS) have revealed that horses are still being killed on our roads, with at least one horse dying each week across the UK in 2023.

Three equestrians were also killed last year as a result of a road incident. This is the highest rate of human fatalities recorded by the equine charity since 2018.

These figures, which are collated by the BHS each year, are a stark reminder that road incidents involving equestrians continue to persist across
the UK.

This is despite the changes implemented in the Highway Code in 2022, which set out clear guidance for passing equestrians safely.

Overall, 3383 incidents were reported to the BHS over the course of 2023, with 85% of those occurring because a vehicle passed by too closely or too quickly.

Director of Safety at The British Horse Society, Alan Hiscox says: “Looking at the 2023 statistics, it is clear that a significant number of drivers are still unaware of the advice in the Highway Code and the importance of driving carefully when passing and approaching horses. This is detrimental to the safety of equestrians.

“To help us continue to keep horses, riders and carriage drivers safe, we are encouraging anyone who has been involved in an incident to record it via the Horse i app. We can then identify hotspots, advise stakeholders, and work towards a permanent change in some drivers’ behaviour.

“The more incidents that are recorded, the more we can do to protect the rights of horse riders on Britain’s roads.”

The BHS Ride Safe Award is also available for equestrians. It provides riders with the skills and knowledge to ride safely in all environments, including on the road. If you’re interested in discovering how the Ride Safe award could help you visit: bhs.org.uk/ridesafe

To support the BHS with making the world safer for horses and equestrians, and to download the Horse i app visit: www.bhs.org.uk/go-riding/record-an-incident/incident-report-form/

www.bhs.org.uk/support-us/our-campaigns/dead-slow/

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