For over a year, organiser, Jodie Sloane, has been putting together the venue, route, and prizes for another Pass Wide and Slow Ride to take place in Winkton and Burton. Publicity, posters, people and ponies were all organised for this morning. Turnout was affected by the weather forecast, and a myriad of other things that suddenly get in the way, but by ten o'clock there was a decent field of supporters and the ride set off. This quiet demonstration passed without incident and will have made a few more drivers aware of the need to drive slowly and with care around horse riders and other vulnerable users on the road. Add this to over 180 rides which have taken place all over the UK this weekend, it will have highlighted the issue of poor driving and failure to follow the Highway Code which states clearly that horses should be passed at no more than 10 mph (no matter what the speed limit is on the road) and at no less than two metres distance.
Not only are their surprised, careless, and ignorant drivers about, but there are those who disagree with horses being on the roads altogether and use their vehicles as a weapon of protest putting the lives of riders young and old, and their horses in danger. Luckily the police are starting to take it more seriously and 33 police forces supported these rides today.
According to the British Horse Society, last year across the UK:
🔹 3,552 road incidents involving horses were reported
🔹 68 horses died and 125 were injured on the roads
🔹 139 riders were injured because of road incidents
🔹 26% of riders were victims of road rage and abuse.
