Officers from Dorset police’s rural crime team are urging motorists to remain “careful and considerate” when driving past horses on Dorset roads during the busy summer months.

Motorists are reminded that they should drive “dead slow” when overtaking riders on horseback, maintaining a two-metre distance and not exceeding 10mph.

Officers referenced an instance in March when they received a report of careless driving near the junction of the A350 Blandford Road and Newton Road in Sturminster Marshall.

A motorist overtook two horses, unintentionally splashing them with surface water. This caused the horses to react dramatically and one of the riders – an 11-year-old girl – was nearly thrown from her horse.

Following enquiries by officers, a 61-year-old man from Poole was identified as the driver and will attend a driver awareness course in the near future.

PC Kate Schofield, of the Dorset rural crime team, said: “Horse riders are a common sight on Dorset’s roads, and the equestrian community plays a really important role in rural life across our county.”

Schofield said anyone who knows about horses will realise they can be easily spooked when a car passes too close.

The rural crime team is advising motorists to show respect for all road users and urges them to be aware of the importance of leaving the right amount of space when passing a horse rider.

They should do this just as they should do when they pass other vulnerable road users, such as cyclists, moped riders and those on mobility scooters, Schofield said.

Operation Close Pass – Horse Safe

Following the Dorset Police’s Operation Close Pass – Cycle Safe which supports bike safety on the highway, the scheme is being extended to include horse riders and other vulnerable rural road users including pedestrians, farm workers, dog walkers and motorcyclists.

Operation Close Pass – Horse Safe follows the same principles as Cycle Safe but is aimed at horse riders and drivers in more rural areas. 

Supported through the British Horse Society (BHS) and launched at Kingston Maurward Equestrian Centre near Dorchester, it advocates mutual respect from all road users whilst keeping rural communities safer on the roads. 

The intentions of the operation:

  • To promote the safety of horse riders and other vulnerable road users;
  • To educate and encourage all road users to take responsibility for their own safety while respecting that of others;
  • To detect/deter road traffic offences;
  • To provide public reassurance.
DORSET HORSES RURAL LIFE