Nicky Clark is calling for drivers to be more aware of horse riders

British Horse Society Dead Slow campaign

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Nicky Clark is calling for drivers to be more aware of horse riders on the road after a car driver nearly hit her and her horse, Indyanna, on Shore Road on Friday morning (9 December).

Nicky and her ten-year-old mare were halfway down Shore Road, one of Nicky’s routes as part of Indyanna’s road training every six to eight weeks, and were dressed in bright pink and yellow high-viz. As a result, Indyanna is usually used to passing cars, vans and bin wagons without becoming startled.

Nicky said she heard the car approaching from behind and estimates the driver was ‘going 30-40mph’ as they overtook her and that she ‘could have touched the car if she’d stuck her stirrup out’.

The driver has been reported to the police and the British Horse Society.

Director of Safety at the British Horse Society, Alan Hiscox, said: “Unfortunately, cases like these are incredibly common. Since we launched our accidents reporting website in 2010, over 2,000 incidents involving horses on the road have been reported to us. Of these, 38 riders died and more than 200 horses were killed or euthanised”.

“In response to these shocking statistics, we launched our Dead Slow campaign and produced a video showing drivers have to safely pass horses. We are urging drivers to pass horses wide and slow, at least a car width apart and to do so at 15mph.”

Nicky said: “All horse riders want to remind vehicle drivers, cyclists and pedestrians, that we are not on the roads by choice. When you see us on the roads it is because we are linking together bridleways and there is no other route. I don't know any horse riders who wouldn't rather be riding on bridleways.

“The experience was both shocking and terrifying followed by intense anger. You can't explain to anyone that hasn't experienced it what it's like having an object coming directly at you at speed with no escape route and having to put all your trust in your horse not to actually tap into its natural instinct which is to spin (which will unseat most good riders) and then run as fast as they can at flat out gallop.”

She continued: “Once a horse has surrendered to the flight survival instinct, as a rider you have lost the ability to communicate with your horse through no fault of either of you, and you immediately become a fast-moving hazard.

“When you have a horse as experienced and loyal as mine, you get to survive such a traumatic but completely unnecessary situation. Then the anger kicks in at what could have happened regarding potential injury or fatality. A lot of horse owners have a bond with their horse that is like no other and they see their horse as a family member.

“Every road that exists was, in its infancy, a pack horse trail, when horses were the only mode of transport. There are ignorant horse riders the same as there are ignorant road users in general, but most of us try to be courteous and are so very grateful for any understanding shown as we are, and will always be, potentially vulnerable road users.”

Greater Manchester Police confirmed a similar incident took place on Friday just before 10am when a woman was riding her horse on Station Road.

A spokesperson for GMP said: “Police received reports of dangerous driving when the red Ford Focus overtook her at speed and beeped their horn.”