Fears over road incidents involving horses in Northern Lincolnshire
Figures from the British Horse Society show a 400% increase in the number of reported incidents across Greater Lincolnshire last year.
There are fears the number of road incidents involving horses across Northern Lincolnshire is on the rise, as a 400% increase in the number of road incidents across Greater Lincolnshire makes it one of the worst affected counties in the UK.
Figures from the British Horse Society show that only 78 incidents were reported in Greater Lincolnshire in 2022 , that number rose to 403 last year.
The main causes behind the incidents were a vehicle passing by too quickly or too closely to the horse.
Veronica Eyley has 4 horses in Scawby, North Lincolnshire. She's reported several incidents last year and tells us more about one of those where her 4 year old son was riding:
"We have a bridleway less than half a mile away from us, but unfortunately our land comes out onto a 60 mile an hour road. So it's not the best. We don't particularly like doing it, but if we want to go off the land, we have no choice.
"One day in the summer, my little boy wanted to ride. It was the school holidays, so my mum was there as well. He always rides with somebody walking with him, so she was walking with him and my daughter rode her new horse - for maybe the fifth time on the road - and I was walking with her.
"So we have two horseback, 2 foot walkers, and a car come towards us really fast on the 60 mile an hour bit. I had signalled in front for him to slow down. He swore at us, beeped his horn, revved his engine and sped off. "
Veronica tells us more about the incidents she's encountered:
"I reported 9 incidents last year on the British Horse Society App, I also reported 3 to Operation Snap with Humberside Police.
"We've had cars beeping, we've had them pass really fast, really close. On some occasions you could actually reach out and touch them. We've been told we shouldn't be allowed on the road. We've been swore at. The majority are really nice, and do pass us as slow as they can, but there's always some that just speed past."
The British Horse Society has more information about how to report an incident and how, as a driver, is a safe way to pass a rider. It can be found on their website here.