HORSE riders took to the roads in Guiseley in support of the national Pass Wide and Slow Campaign.

The campaign sees the horse riding community come together to raise awareness of how to pass horses and riders safely on the road. The Guiseley ride was one of about 180 that took place up and down the country on Sunday, September 19.

Guiseley ride organiser Amy Littlewood said British Horse Society statistics showed that nearly two horses were killed each week on UK roads.

From the end of February 2019 to the end of February 2020 a total of 1,037 incidents were reported - an 81 per cent increase over the previous year. Eighty horses died and 1 person was killed.

Amy said 81 per cent of incidents occurred because cars passed too closely to horses and 40 per cent of incidents occurred because a vehicle passed by too quickly.

Amy, 30, who is a professional dog walker and has been riding for about 22 years, said:"The organised rides are there to highlight the correct way to pass horses and riders on the road.

"Motorists should slow down to at least 15mph, and pass as wide as is possible where it is safe to do so. Two metres or more is the ideal passing distance.

"Horse riders are increasingly losing their off road bridleways and many of these need to be accessed by riding on the roads, therefore we need to make sure the roads are a safe place for all.

"Our ride was a big success, as were many of the rides that took place on Sunday 19th. We had 12 horses, one cyclist and nine walkers all helping raise awareness. All the horses were very well behaved and the motorists were too."

Amy has owned her horse Juno, for six years and has been riding around the Guiseley area for about three years.

She said: "We do a lot of hacking, we ride out about four to five times a week in summer, which is what inspired me to get involved in the campaign and organise my own ride.

"I find that most drivers around here are good and do pass us wide and slow but there are always at least a couple who pass too fast or too close.

"Especially on the faster, wider straight roads, the drivers can see far ahead so think it’s ok to pass at speed but don’t realise a horse can spook to the side very quickly, even if it’s only a little jump if you’re too close to the horse and rider, and going too fast, it can end badly.

"Or sometimes someone will try and squeeze through a gap on a narrower road, not thinking if the horse stepped to the side they could hit their car, when they could wait and pass in a safer place further on.

"Most drivers are good but hopefully the campaign will make people think a little more about passing horses.

"Riders don’t really want to be on the roads but we’re losing our off-road riding and we need to use roads to get to those places.

"We just want to share the roads safely with everyone."