Heading out on a hack with your equine friend is a wonderful way of getting out in nature and staying connected. But while the vast majority of times you’ll both have great fun, there are still risks to watch out for.
Unfortunately, a common hacking hazard occurs when you leave the comparative safety of bridleways and fields and take to the road. Every year road traffic accidents involving horses end tragically in serious injury or even death.
We’ve looked at some of the latest available data which paints a worrying picture of life on the UK’s roads. And to help calm any concerns we also offer timely advice on what you can do to prevent your horse from becoming a victim of such an awful accident.
There are many precautions you can take to make sure you’re prepared for any eventuality, allowing you to look forward to many stress-free rides together. The first is to make sure you never leave home without the correct insurance for a horse rider to protect you as well as other road users from harm.
While Britain has some beautiful rural areas to explore on horseback, many horses and their owners don’t live within easy reach of wide-open spaces or forest trails. This means they inevitably have to sometimes take to the road for exercise and a decent hack.
Unfortunately, recent figures released by the British Horse Society show a worrying trend in road traffic incidents involving horses in the past year. In 2019-2020, 1,037 incidents were reported to the equine charity, an increase of 23% compared to the previous year.
As a result of those incidents, a total of 80 horses were killed, which is close to two horses each week. A further 136 horses were injured.
Tragically, one person lost their life in an incident while riding on the road, while a further 135 people were injured.
Of the reported incidents, 40% occurred because a vehicle passed by too quickly while 81% happened because cars passed too closely to horses. A shocking 43% of riders also reported road rage or abuse from other road users – a source of deep concern for all.
The latest figures feed into the shocking numbers of deaths and injuries suffered by equestrians over the past 10 years. Since 2010, 44 riders have been killed and 1,220 injured. Meanwhile, 395 horses have been killed and 1,080 injured.
On the back of these incidents, the BHS is calling on drivers to take more care when passing horses and asking them to consider the four simple messages of its Dead Slow campaign.
Four simple actions that could save a horse or its rider’s life. The BHS has lots of further advice for motorists on its website. Including advice for large vehicles, agricultural vehicles and the particular dangers of gritting lorries.
Horse riders can also play their part in reducing the number of incidents. After all, doing all you can to keep your horse safe on the road is part of being a responsible owner.
Whether you’re riding on familiar country lanes or you’re exploring new ground, road accidents can occur at any time.
As a horse lover your natural reaction will probably be to make sure your horse is okay, but you also need to take care of yourself, too!
After ensuring that you and your horse are safe, you should then:
From veteran horse riders to novices, whatever your level of experience, a horse rider insurance policy arranged through Equesure will protect you from the financial cost of an accident.
With over 60 years of experience in the insurance market, our specialist team can offer you a bespoke insurance policy suited to your particular needs and budget.
We can offer personal accident cover up to £20,000, public liability up to £1 million, saddlery and tack cover up to £2,500, personal dental treatment up to £1,750 and death of horse cover up to £3,250.
Get a quick quote for horse rider insurance today.
Policy benefits, features and discounts offered may very between insurance schemes or cover selected and are subject to underwriting criteria. Information contained within this article is accurate at the time of publishing but may be subject to change.
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