Dedicated
website to report
horse accidents
Did you know that an equestrianrelated road incident may go
unrecorded unless a human is injured
and taken to hospital for treatment
from the scene of the accident? This
means a horse can be killed or a car
written off and no report legally has
to be made.
Each year a significant number of
equestrian incidents go unrecorded.
Without this hard evidence it is very
difficult to approach any authority
to seek a resolution. If no-one knows
about them, nothing can be done.
In November 2010, The British
Horse Society launched a dedicated
horse accidents website, www.
horseaccidents.org.uk to address this
issue. The website enables riders and
carriage drivers to report equinerelated incidents through a simple
form. A wide range of concerns
are covered, including road traffic
incidents, dangerous dogs, low
flying aircraft, fireworks and Chinese
lanterns. There is provision to add
other concerns as they are identified.
Photo by Matt Evans
By collating these reports the BHS
can build up accurate statistics and
hard facts. These can then be used to
lobby the government and others in
a position to make a difference and
ultimately secure change to provide
a safer riding environment for all.
Already we have seen a number
of successes including adding
considerable weight to the changes in
Dangerous Dogs Legislation through
the number of reports we have had
on the website. This enabled changes
to take place much quicker than they
might have otherwise.
The unique website also offers
crucial advice for riders and carriage
drivers to help keep them safe and
prevent accidents. The guidance
offered includes the minimum
safety standards for clothing and the
importance of wearing fluorescent/
reflective (hi-viz) kit.
Hi-viz should be worn on you and
your horse at all times of the day
throughout the year regardless of
weather conditions, as it gives drivers
up to three seconds extra reaction
time – this is the equivalent to a
vehicle travelling the length of a full
size dressage arena at 30mph!
There is no law that states riders
must wear this equipment, but it is in
their best interests to do so – not just
because drivers will see them on the
road earlier, but also so that they can
be seen when they are riding off-road
as well.
Research by the Ministry of Defence
has shown that helicopter pilots can
see a rider in hi-viz gear up to half
a mile sooner and thus avoid flying
straight over the top of them. It also
means that in the unfortunate event
that a rider is thrown from their horse
and left in open countryside, the
police helicopter or air ambulance will
see them much sooner and prevent
their injuries from becoming more
serious.
There are many types of clothing on
the market, at different prices and in
different colours. There is something
to suit everyone and every pocket.
Hi-viz exercise sheets for the horse,
jackets/tabards/waistcoats for the
riders, hi-viz accessories to add to the
bridle, tail, martingale, plus hat covers
and hat bands, dabs for the back of
the hand – the list is endless.
Prices vary from a couple of pounds
for a simple tabard purchased
from a builder’s merchants or the
supermarket, to a considerable sum
for the very best stylish jackets that
you would be happy to wear out to
do your shopping! It is up to you how
much equipment you choose to wear,
however, the BHS would recommend
a minimum of a hi-viz jacket or tabard
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