Riding on the road

Safety equipment and clothing

Children under 14 must wear a securely fastened regulation helmet.  Other riders are advised to do the same.

You should also wear:

• Boots or shoes with hard soles and heels
• Light coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight
• Reflective clothing if you have to ride at night or in poor visibility.

Before riding

Before you take a horse on to a road ensure all tack fits properly and is in good condition.  Be sure you can control the horse and always ride with other, less nervous horses if you think that your horse will be nervous of traffic. Never ride a horse without a saddle or bridle.

At night

If you have to ride on the road at night or in poor visibility make sure your horse has reflective bands above the fetlock joints. Carry lights which show white to the front and red to the rear.

Riding safely

Before riding off or turning, look behind you to make sure it is safe to do so, then give a clear arm signal.

When riding on the road you should:

• Keep to the left
• Keep both hands on the reins unless you are signalling
• Keep both feet in the stirrups
• Not carry another person
• Not carry anything which might affect your balance or your control of the horse.
• Keep any horse you are leading to your left
• Move in the direction of the traffic flow in a one-way street
• Never ride more than two abreast, and ride only in single file where the road is narrow or on the approach to a bend.

You must not take a horse on to a footpath, pavement or cycle track - use a bridleway where possible.

Avoid roundabouts whenever possible. If you have to use them you should:

• Keep to the left and watch out for vehicles crossing your path to leave or join the roundabout.
• Signal right when riding across exits to show that you are not leaving.
• Signal left just before you leave the roundabout.

Advice for motorists

Motorists and riders both have a right to use the roads, both share a responsibility to understand each other's needs

Riders are always advised to keep to the left of the road even when turning right - it is unsafe to position a horse between lines of traffic where they might panic.

Tips for safer motoring around horses

• Watch out for horses being led or ridden on the road, taking extra care at left-hand bends and on narrow county roads
• Drive slowly 
• Give the plenty of room and be ready to stop
• No not scare animals by sounding your horn or revving your engine
• Look out for horse riders' signals and be aware that they may not move to the centre of the road prior to turning right
• Riders often children - so take extra care
• Treat horses as a potential hazard and expect the unexpected

Horse are powerful animals but they are vulnerable, easily frightened and can panic around fast-moving cars - when you see horses on the road - please slow down.