This year, Kaslo Riding Club is embarking on a PASS WIDE & SLOW campaign to raise awareness and educate riders and other road users on safe practices to avoid dangerous and potentially life taking accidents. We hope that others will join in and help us spread the word!
In the wild, a horse is a ‘prey’ animal, that is they are “dinner” and have therefore developed a fright/flight response to anything that scares or startles them (known as spooking).
A horse’s natural response to something that spooks them is to run, kick out, spin and look.
No matter how well they are trained, occasionally nature takes over. If it makes you jump, it will make the horse jump – that bird suddenly erupting from a tree could be a cougar!
A HORSE CAN SPOOK SIDEWAYS AT UP TO 80 km/hr.
A horse can accelerate 0-50 km/h in less time than many vehicles.
A horse’s back legs can kick out a surprisingly long way.
So…. GIVE 2 METRES WIDTH WHERE POSSIBLE.
Driver Tips on how to share the road safely with horses
1. As you get close to horses & riders, SLOW DOWN (15km/h)
2. PASS WIDE: give horses a wide berth: at least 2m (6’/a car’s width) where possible.
3. Brake and accelerate gently so you avoid extra noise or gravel spray.
4. Avoid loud sounds – loud music, honking or yelling spooks horses.
5. Don’t throw things out of the window (because, hey that would also make you a litterbug.
6. If the horse is acting skittishly, then wait for the rider to get things under control or themselves out of the way, before you pass.
7. Once you’re past the horse and rider, accelerate gradually.
* Please look at the rider. If they’re asking you to stop or slow, they’re doing it for a reason (they are NOT waving!)
Motorcyles/scooters/e-bikes:
Pass wide and slow in single file. Horses are prey animals and can panic if they see a “pack.”
Bikers, please don’t rev your engine.
Cyclists and joggers
Cyclists, please speak up – say ‘hello’, if you are approaching from behind, a voice is less scary.
Rider Tips
If you ride horses and you’re travelling on a road, be aware that under the Motor Vehicle Act (Part 3), Section 120, “a person riding an animal or driving an animal driven vehicle on a highway has the rights and is subject to the duties of the driver of a vehicle.” Stay safe and be sure that:
1. Your horse is ready and steady for riding on roads where there’s traffic.
2. You and your horse are highly visible – you can wear a reflective vest; your steed can wear bright or high-visibility leg bands, tail guard, bridle straps or hindquarter rug.
3. You obey all laws and signage.
4. You avoid riding on roads in poor visibility like darkness, dusk, dawn, fog, rain or snow.
5. You stay calm at all times, so your horse knows that everything is a-okay.
More Info:
https://www.tranbc.ca/…/how-to-share-the-road-safely…/
Kaslo Riding Club