From Elizabeth Steele, aged 15:-

LOCAL drivers are causing danger for themselves and horses.

Reckless drivers are causing a real problem for riders by driving too close and too fast to the animals, which can result in either the horse spooking or worse.

Recently, I and other riders were on our way to a local show when a 15.2hh mare shied at a fence sign, moving her back legs into the middle of the road. The driver of a car carried on driving past. As the rider signalled for the car to slow down, the horse took a step back, causing extensive damage to the car by sitting on the bonnet.

In shock, the horse shot forward into the rear of my horse and ended up half mounting her. The horse was cut in several places and the rider was unable to compete in case the horse was hurt more than was thought; it was taken home by trailer and visited by a vet. Thankfully, everybody involved was unharmed, but it shows that people underestimate the strength, size and power of these animals.

Another point is that when drivers see a rider wearing a tabard which is a luminous yellow and has bold black writing saying Please pass wide and slow, it means just that - not close and fast. I was bought a tabard by my parents and I am amazed at the amount of drivers who do the complete opposite.

Another famous trick is to zoom past a horse and sound a horn - this can cause life threatening circumstances. If the horse was to react and damage the car, the driver would be the first to complain. There are a few drivers who do respect riders and do drive safely past. I would hope, in these circumstances, we riders show our appreciation.

I may be a younger rider, but I still ride the bigger horses and still ride on the roads. People need to realise that no matter how hard humans try to conquer the minds of horses, they are still wild creatures who are a lot stronger than us. People need to remember that they can kill if put in a situation where they panic and kick out.

If all drivers were to take a little more care in the way they drive around horses, then there would not be as many nervous horses around and definitely a lot less accidents, which would save money all round.

Redbrook Close, Bromborough.

Converted for the new archive on 13 March 2001. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.