Police and Equine Charities Share Horse Road Safety Advice

Police and two leading equine welfare charities have joined forces to help prevent collisions and near-misses involving horses on rural roads.

Devon & Cornwall Police’s Rural Affairs team, the British Horse Society and The Mare and Foal Sanctuary have produced a series of short horse road safety films, sharing clear guidance for both drivers and riders.

The bite-sized videos were filmed at The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s Upcott Park Rehoming Yard near Holsworthy in North Devon and were released on 13th February.

📷PC Lucy Wyatt and Lucy from BHS

Clear Guidance for Drivers and Riders

The films feature PC Lucy Wyatt from Devon & Cornwall Police’s Rural Affairs team and Lisa Supple, Development Officer for the British Horse Society, alongside horses and handlers from The Mare and Foal Sanctuary.

They focus on road etiquette, clear hand signals, safe passing distance and speed, visibility in all weather and light conditions, and how to record and report incidents.

Rural Affairs Officer PC Lucy Wyatt, who leads on Equine Crime at Devon & Cornwall Police, said:

“I grew up riding horses and have experienced, first-hand, how dangerous it can be when motorists pass too fast or too close. When approaching horses and riders on the road, drivers should slow down to no more than ten miles per hour, avoid revving their engine or honking their horn and then pass slowly when safe to do so, allowing least two metres of space between the horse and vehicle.

“We are committed to reducing the number of people and animals killed or seriously injured on our roads and will continue to work with partner organisations to educate motorists about the importance of passing horses wide and slow. Everyone has a right to use the road. Let’s look out for one another and make sure everyone gets home safely.”

📷PC Lucy Wyatt with horse

Growing National Concern

In a Parliamentary debate on horse and rider safety in January 2026, MPs from across the country called for stricter road safety requirements to protect equine road users.

They cited British Horse Society figures showing 3,118 road incidents involving horses in 2024, with 58 horses killed. MPs said equine road safety is not a “niche issue” but a growing national concern.

Jenna Goldby, Head of Welfare and Rehoming at The Mare and Foal Sanctuary, said riders and handlers should regularly review and refresh their knowledge of road safety.

“Every ride or walk on the road carries risk, and we all need to treat road safety as seriously as we do our horse’s health and keep up to date with changes and new advice.

“Keeping yourself and your horse safe are top priorities, and a small amount of knowledge and planning can make a massive difference. Be seen, be courteous and stay safe.

“As a charity we work closely with other organisations and, in partnership, we’re proud to be part of sharing these vital messages and championing equine welfare and safety on the roads for all users.”

📷Police, Mare and Foal Sanctuary and BHS

Reporting Incidents

Alan Hiscox, Director of Safety at the British Horse Society, said:

“It’s been great to partner with Devon and Cornwall Police and The Mare and Foal Sanctuary to produce these informative videos.

“Our key priority is the safety of the horse, rider or carriage driver, and it’s incredibly important that we continue to work collectively together to share the Dead Slow behavioural messages with all road users.

“Secondly, encouraging more equestrians to record every incident they witness, or are involved in, will be essential when it comes to driving further legislative change.

“It’s simple to do – all we ask is that you download the Horse i app and record any encounters you may experience. Let’s keep working together to champion equestrian safety.”

Two full-length safety films are now available on The Mare and Foal Sanctuary’s YouTube channel here: https://www.youtube.com/c/mareandfoalsanctuary

Anyone with dash-cam or helmet-cam footage of vehicles passing too close or too fast can submit it for police review via Operation Snap: https://roadsafety.devon-cornwall.police.uk/operations/operation-snap/

📷Rider from Mare and Foal Sanctuary demonstrating hand signals