A HORSE rider whose friend was thrown into the middle of a country road when reckless motorcyclists frightened her mount is organising an awareness campaign.

Lynsey Brook, who has six horses, will be riding around Thornton on Saturday, September 14, with other horse riders, pedestrians and cyclists to highlight the ‘Pass Wide and Slow’ campaign.

Lynsey said the problem of poor driving near horse riders in the Bradford area was getting worse. She appealed to road users to look out for horses, to slow down to 10mph and leave at least two metres when passing.

“It’s horrendous,” she said. “I’ve been riding around the Bradford area now for about 15 years and it’s getting out of hand, particularly with the boy racers and stupid drivers.

Lynsey Brook (mounted) is leading the campaignLynsey Brook (mounted) is leading the campaign (Image: Newsquest)

“Some people believe that horses shouldn’t be on the road. We get a lot of comments saying ‘you should be riding in fields – stick to the bridleways’.

"But there aren’t enough bridleways – and to get to the bridleways we need to use the roads.”

She added: “Recently we were riding two abreast, (as you are supposed to according to the Highway Code) and two motorbikers came flying as fast as they could down a country lane.

“They didn’t hit us - they managed to stop in time - but both horses went up in the air and my friend, who was on one of the horses, came off and she was lying in the middle of the road. The horse ran away. 

“The motorbikers didn’t stop – they just went round us and drove off. It was a horrible situation. The horses were terrified. It’s had a knock-on effect – that horse doesn’t want to go out on the road and is struggling with nerves.”

The high-visibility horse riders – about a dozen – will set off from Headley Venue around noon, ride under the viaduct, through Thornton, over the viaduct and back to Headley Venue.

The Highway Code advises drivers to pass horses at 10mph and leave a gap of at least two metres.

Rule 215 says: “Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when approaching, overtaking, passing or moving away. Always pass wide and slowly. When you see a horse on a road, you should slow down to a maximum of 10 mph.

"Be patient, do not sound your horn or rev your engine. When safe to do so, pass wide and slow, allowing at least two metres of space.”

It adds: “Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider.

"Look out for horse riders’ and horse drivers’ signals and heed a request to slow down or stop.

"Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver. Remember there are three brains at work when you pass a horse; the rider’s, the driver’s and the horse’s.

"Do not forget horses are flight animals and can move incredibly quickly if startled.”