Horse Riding On Roads Research
Inroads into Equestrian Safety: Rider-Reported Factors Contributing to Horse-Related Accidents and Near Misses on Australian Roads
By Kirrilly Thompson & Chelsea Matthews
"Riding horses on roads can be dangerous, but little is known about accidents and near misses. To explore road safety issues amongst Australian equestrians, we conducted an online survey. More than half of all riders (52%) reported having experienced at least one accident or near miss in the 12 months prior to the survey, mostly attributed to speed."
"When they occur on public roads, the risk profile of equestrian activities is complicated by interactions with other road users. Research has identified speed, proximity, visibility, conspicuity and mutual misunderstanding as factors contributing to accidents and near misses. However, little is known about their significance or incidence in Australia. To explore road safety issues amongst Australian equestrians, we conducted an online survey. More than half of all riders (52%) reported having experienced at least one accident or near miss in the 12 months prior to the survey."
"We identify several areas for potential safety intervention including (1) identifying equestrians as vulnerable road users and horses as sentient decision-making vehicles; (2) harmonising laws regarding passing horses; (3) mandating personal protective equipment; (4) improving road signage; (5) comprehensive data collection; (6) developing mutual understanding amongst road-users; (7) safer road design and alternative riding spaces; and (8) increasing investment in horse-related safety initiatives."
"Horse riding is undoubtedly a high risk interspecies sport and any interaction with horses is dangerous. From the ground, horses can injure humans through biting, kicking and crushing. Even when riding in company, riders can be kicked by other horses. Riders can be transported at speeds of up to 60 km/h with their heads raised three metres above the ground. Upon falling, they may be crushed by their half tonne mount or trampled by other horses (as is common amongst jockeys). It is no surprise that recent calls have been made for a greater understanding of the objective and subjective elements of horse-related risk and equestrian risk-perception.
"When riders and horses interact on public roads shared with other road users, their vulnerability to injury or death is magnified. Unlike passengers in vehicles, riders are unrestrained. They can be hit by vehicles moving at high speeds, and/or thrown into oncoming traffic, jeopardising the safety of other road users. Although the definition of vulnerable road user (VRU) specifically mentions “pedestrians, pedal cyclists and motorcyclists”, a horse/rider could easily be included due to their lack of a “hard metal shell” and their sensitivity to injury in the event of a collision or incident. VRUs are thought to be the most sensitive to road injury. Five interrelated factors contribute to VRU near misses and accidents: speed, proximity, visibility, conspicuity and mutual misunderstanding."
"The sudden or close passing of a vehicle may trigger a horse’s dangerous flight response, causing them to bolt blindly forward or veer into traffic."
"A study from the UK suggests that the root cause of accidents between horse-riders and other road-users may be due to differences in hazard and risk perception, attributed to a lack of empathy. The researchers found that “drivers with horse riding experience or those with family or close friends who rode horses, showed greater ability to consider the scene from both perspectives”."
"The risk is not only to equestrians. The implications for drivers can also be tragic."
"Survey:
"Most drivers don't have bad intentions, but, perhaps, are led by some misconceptions. For example, honking to alert a horse and rider might seem like a good idea, but the noise is often enough to send even the quietest horse into the stratosphere. Some drivers might also be under the impression that horses are totally controlled by the rider at all times."
Equine road user safety: Public attitudes, understandings and beliefs from a qualitative study in the United Kingdom
By Catherine Chapman & Charles B.A. Musselwhite
"Horse riders represent a significant group of vulnerable road user and are involved in a number of accidents and near misses on the road."
"It was found that drivers and horse riders are not always aware of the same hazards in the road and that this may lead drivers to under-estimate the risk when encountering horses. Drivers often had good intentions to overtake horses safely, but were unaware of how vulnerable passing very wide and slow made them feel until they had begun the manoeuvre and hence quickly reduced such feelings either by speeding up or cutting in too soon."
By Kirrilly Thompson & Chelsea Matthews
"Riding horses on roads can be dangerous, but little is known about accidents and near misses. To explore road safety issues amongst Australian equestrians, we conducted an online survey. More than half of all riders (52%) reported having experienced at least one accident or near miss in the 12 months prior to the survey, mostly attributed to speed."
"When they occur on public roads, the risk profile of equestrian activities is complicated by interactions with other road users. Research has identified speed, proximity, visibility, conspicuity and mutual misunderstanding as factors contributing to accidents and near misses. However, little is known about their significance or incidence in Australia. To explore road safety issues amongst Australian equestrians, we conducted an online survey. More than half of all riders (52%) reported having experienced at least one accident or near miss in the 12 months prior to the survey."
"We identify several areas for potential safety intervention including (1) identifying equestrians as vulnerable road users and horses as sentient decision-making vehicles; (2) harmonising laws regarding passing horses; (3) mandating personal protective equipment; (4) improving road signage; (5) comprehensive data collection; (6) developing mutual understanding amongst road-users; (7) safer road design and alternative riding spaces; and (8) increasing investment in horse-related safety initiatives."
"Horse riding is undoubtedly a high risk interspecies sport and any interaction with horses is dangerous. From the ground, horses can injure humans through biting, kicking and crushing. Even when riding in company, riders can be kicked by other horses. Riders can be transported at speeds of up to 60 km/h with their heads raised three metres above the ground. Upon falling, they may be crushed by their half tonne mount or trampled by other horses (as is common amongst jockeys). It is no surprise that recent calls have been made for a greater understanding of the objective and subjective elements of horse-related risk and equestrian risk-perception.
"When riders and horses interact on public roads shared with other road users, their vulnerability to injury or death is magnified. Unlike passengers in vehicles, riders are unrestrained. They can be hit by vehicles moving at high speeds, and/or thrown into oncoming traffic, jeopardising the safety of other road users. Although the definition of vulnerable road user (VRU) specifically mentions “pedestrians, pedal cyclists and motorcyclists”, a horse/rider could easily be included due to their lack of a “hard metal shell” and their sensitivity to injury in the event of a collision or incident. VRUs are thought to be the most sensitive to road injury. Five interrelated factors contribute to VRU near misses and accidents: speed, proximity, visibility, conspicuity and mutual misunderstanding."
"The sudden or close passing of a vehicle may trigger a horse’s dangerous flight response, causing them to bolt blindly forward or veer into traffic."
"A study from the UK suggests that the root cause of accidents between horse-riders and other road-users may be due to differences in hazard and risk perception, attributed to a lack of empathy. The researchers found that “drivers with horse riding experience or those with family or close friends who rode horses, showed greater ability to consider the scene from both perspectives”."
"The risk is not only to equestrians. The implications for drivers can also be tragic."
"Survey:
(1) Do you ride or lead horses on public roads or road related areas?
(2) Please name the roads and area in which you do the majority of your riding.
(3) Have you had any accidents or near misses on these roads in the last 12 months? If so, please describe what happened and include any suggestions for road design or rule improvement that may have helped prevent this from happening.
(4) Have you got any suggestions for updates to the Australian Road Rules you would like to see in relation to the riding or driving of horses? If so, please explain.
(5) Do you have any suggestions for road related infrastructure design or signage that would make roads more horse rider friendly?
(6) Any other suggestions you have to improve general road safety for horse riders on roads?
The survey was digitized using Survey Monkey and the link posted to the “Sa-Horse Federation” Facebook page (approximately 5000 “likes”)."
"Speed was the most often cited contributor to near-misses or accidents (72%), operationalized in analysis as a vehicle passing a horse and rider at a greater speed than the rider felt safe/comfortable with. For example,
My horse spooked at a ute [utility vehicle] that was flying towards us on a dirt road, even though I was signaling for him to slow down [an arm extended to the left and moved up and down]. He didn’t stop until my horse stepped out in front of him.
Vehicles move to other side of the road but continue to do same speed (80–100 kph) even when I’m wearing hi vis [high visability clothing] and signaling for [the] driver to slow down.
Some riders attributed a lack of speed reduction by a driver to their lack of understanding of the unpredictably nature of horses:
A horse can spook and put the driver is a precarious position if the horse kicks out or worse jumps on the car. Most drivers have not a clue the danger they put themselves in by passing a horse at speed.
There seems to be a lack of understanding by the average driver about the athleticism and unpredictable nature of horses. Simply overtaking on a country road and continuing sometimes at 80+ ks is a serious risk which I experience with some regularity.
Most drivers are not aware of how to behave around a horse and assume that if the horse is on the road that it is completely bombproof to traffic.
Other rider-reported factors contributing to near misses were loud noises (17%), including beeping horns, revving engines, yelling; and “close” proximity (18%), defined as passing a horse and rider at a smaller distance than the rider felt safe/comfortable with. For example,
[A] driver tried to pass me, very close, as my horse was baulking at something on the road. Fortunately she was going very slowly and although my horse backed into her car there was no major damage to either party.
Eleven per cent of riders cited a lack of visibility, where they did not believe they were seen, due to local geography or driver inattention. Fourteen per cent cited a lack of space, where they felt forced to ride on the road due to the lack, or unsuitability, of the nature strip. Eight per cent cited noncompliance with road rules, where they believed drivers were not obeying the road rules (excluding speeding). Four per cent cited bicycles, where a bicycle approached the horse and rider from behind and passed without warning where the horse and rider were unaware of its presence, and five per cent cited the horse spooking at an animal/object not associated with the traffic. One per cent cited “other” without further specification."
"At worst, horses can be viewed as decision-making vehicles. They are like vehicles in that they transport humans and goods and are subject to road rules, but they are unlike vehicles in that they are sentient creatures capable of making their own decisions and subject to their own instincts and training. Horses (at least, well trained ones) have even been proposed as a useful metaphor for designing automated vehicles. Defining horses in road rules as something more specific and sentient than just a vehicle may strengthen efforts to educate other road users about the “risky” nature and behaviour of horses—especially in relation to how horses respond to stressors. The essential differences between horse-riders, cyclists and motor vehicles could be emphasized in the development of specific road rule terminology for horses other than “vehicle” or “animal”. As there are multiple alternatives (if not just “horse”), each with different implications for the perception of horse-riders by other road-users, discursive and empirical research is required to identify and evaluate the terminology most likely to reduce horse-related near misses and accidents on public roads."
"The implementation of a mapping system over a number of years could be of assistance, similar to that used by the British Horse Society. In 2010, they launched a website dedicated solely to equestrian safety where riders can report incidents including the location and the type of incident as well as find further advice and information on road safety. Data obtained from this reporting system is intended to “lobby those in power to make the changes that are required to ensure riding is safer for all”."
"As noted above, drivers often misperceive the amount of control that riders have over their horses, and riders assume that other road users can interpret horse behaviour. The present study reinforces the existence of a general mutual misunderstanding between riders and drivers that in some instances leads to road rage."
Be A Safe Road Warrior
By Nicole Kitchener
"Combining inherently unpredictable 1,000-lh animals in an uncontrolled environment with loud,
fast moving, vehicles driven by people who might not have a clue how to react under the circumstances is a perilous situation at the best of times."
(2) Please name the roads and area in which you do the majority of your riding.
(3) Have you had any accidents or near misses on these roads in the last 12 months? If so, please describe what happened and include any suggestions for road design or rule improvement that may have helped prevent this from happening.
(4) Have you got any suggestions for updates to the Australian Road Rules you would like to see in relation to the riding or driving of horses? If so, please explain.
(5) Do you have any suggestions for road related infrastructure design or signage that would make roads more horse rider friendly?
(6) Any other suggestions you have to improve general road safety for horse riders on roads?
The survey was digitized using Survey Monkey and the link posted to the “Sa-Horse Federation” Facebook page (approximately 5000 “likes”)."
"Speed was the most often cited contributor to near-misses or accidents (72%), operationalized in analysis as a vehicle passing a horse and rider at a greater speed than the rider felt safe/comfortable with. For example,
My horse spooked at a ute [utility vehicle] that was flying towards us on a dirt road, even though I was signaling for him to slow down [an arm extended to the left and moved up and down]. He didn’t stop until my horse stepped out in front of him.
Vehicles move to other side of the road but continue to do same speed (80–100 kph) even when I’m wearing hi vis [high visability clothing] and signaling for [the] driver to slow down.
Some riders attributed a lack of speed reduction by a driver to their lack of understanding of the unpredictably nature of horses:
A horse can spook and put the driver is a precarious position if the horse kicks out or worse jumps on the car. Most drivers have not a clue the danger they put themselves in by passing a horse at speed.
There seems to be a lack of understanding by the average driver about the athleticism and unpredictable nature of horses. Simply overtaking on a country road and continuing sometimes at 80+ ks is a serious risk which I experience with some regularity.
Most drivers are not aware of how to behave around a horse and assume that if the horse is on the road that it is completely bombproof to traffic.
Other rider-reported factors contributing to near misses were loud noises (17%), including beeping horns, revving engines, yelling; and “close” proximity (18%), defined as passing a horse and rider at a smaller distance than the rider felt safe/comfortable with. For example,
[A] driver tried to pass me, very close, as my horse was baulking at something on the road. Fortunately she was going very slowly and although my horse backed into her car there was no major damage to either party.
Eleven per cent of riders cited a lack of visibility, where they did not believe they were seen, due to local geography or driver inattention. Fourteen per cent cited a lack of space, where they felt forced to ride on the road due to the lack, or unsuitability, of the nature strip. Eight per cent cited noncompliance with road rules, where they believed drivers were not obeying the road rules (excluding speeding). Four per cent cited bicycles, where a bicycle approached the horse and rider from behind and passed without warning where the horse and rider were unaware of its presence, and five per cent cited the horse spooking at an animal/object not associated with the traffic. One per cent cited “other” without further specification."
"At worst, horses can be viewed as decision-making vehicles. They are like vehicles in that they transport humans and goods and are subject to road rules, but they are unlike vehicles in that they are sentient creatures capable of making their own decisions and subject to their own instincts and training. Horses (at least, well trained ones) have even been proposed as a useful metaphor for designing automated vehicles. Defining horses in road rules as something more specific and sentient than just a vehicle may strengthen efforts to educate other road users about the “risky” nature and behaviour of horses—especially in relation to how horses respond to stressors. The essential differences between horse-riders, cyclists and motor vehicles could be emphasized in the development of specific road rule terminology for horses other than “vehicle” or “animal”. As there are multiple alternatives (if not just “horse”), each with different implications for the perception of horse-riders by other road-users, discursive and empirical research is required to identify and evaluate the terminology most likely to reduce horse-related near misses and accidents on public roads."
"The implementation of a mapping system over a number of years could be of assistance, similar to that used by the British Horse Society. In 2010, they launched a website dedicated solely to equestrian safety where riders can report incidents including the location and the type of incident as well as find further advice and information on road safety. Data obtained from this reporting system is intended to “lobby those in power to make the changes that are required to ensure riding is safer for all”."
"As noted above, drivers often misperceive the amount of control that riders have over their horses, and riders assume that other road users can interpret horse behaviour. The present study reinforces the existence of a general mutual misunderstanding between riders and drivers that in some instances leads to road rage."
Be A Safe Road Warrior
By Nicole Kitchener
"Combining inherently unpredictable 1,000-lh animals in an uncontrolled environment with loud,
fast moving, vehicles driven by people who might not have a clue how to react under the circumstances is a perilous situation at the best of times."
"Most drivers don't have bad intentions, but, perhaps, are led by some misconceptions. For example, honking to alert a horse and rider might seem like a good idea, but the noise is often enough to send even the quietest horse into the stratosphere. Some drivers might also be under the impression that horses are totally controlled by the rider at all times."
Equine road user safety: Public attitudes, understandings and beliefs from a qualitative study in the United Kingdom
By Catherine Chapman & Charles B.A. Musselwhite
"Horse riders represent a significant group of vulnerable road user and are involved in a number of accidents and near misses on the road."
"It was found that drivers and horse riders are not always aware of the same hazards in the road and that this may lead drivers to under-estimate the risk when encountering horses. Drivers often had good intentions to overtake horses safely, but were unaware of how vulnerable passing very wide and slow made them feel until they had begun the manoeuvre and hence quickly reduced such feelings either by speeding up or cutting in too soon."
"There is a need for drivers to be more aware of the potential hazards a horse rider faces on the road and these could be achieved through inducing empathy amongst drivers for horse riders, creating nudges for drivers in the environment and better education for drivers."
"Horse riders have received comparatively little attention compared to other vulnerable road user groups both in terms of academic research and transport policy."
"The paper takes the view that road user behaviour cannot be isolated from the social context within which it operates. People’s road user safety behaviour is related to the social issues associated with how people perceive and accept levels of risk on the road."
"It can be argued that horse riders are a vulnerable road user group similar to that of pedestrians and cyclists. They share a similar lack of physical protection when sharing road space with vehicles. In addition, they travel at relatively slower speeds and are less manoeuvrable than motorised vehi- cles, especially cars. They are also a minority road user, similar to pedestrians and cyclists. Horses, as road users, also pose additional risks. Horses weigh more than bicycles. In addition, riders have a greater height to fall from and risk being kicked or crushed in the process. In addition, unlike a cyclist falling from a bicycle, separation of the rider from the horse in a fall is likely to cause the loose horse to panic and create a danger for other road users. It is concluded that horses and riders could be considered to be potentially more physically vulnerable than cyclists."
"The British Horse Society suggest that the fundamental difference between horse riders and other road users is that horses are animals and not machines and are therefore irrational and unpredictable. Horses may react not just to other road users which may frighten or ‘spook’ them but also to external factors in the environment. These can include seemingly everyday items or such as drains, plastic bags, lawn mowers, and umbrellas. Understanding the full potential of a horse as a hazard therefore requires drivers to have some appreciation of horse behaviour."
"Previous research with cyclists suggests they feel particularly vulnerable when being followed close behind. This is likely to be amplified with horses who cannot use both monocular and binocular visions at the same time; if something scares a horse from behind or to the side of it (such as a vehicle), the horse may spin around or swing towards the vehicle so it can use its binocular vision to see it more clearly."
"Hence, drivers who perceive horse riders have a high degree of control over their animals are likely to think an encounter with a horse is not especially risky."
"It is considered that drivers may have high levels of skill and ability when encountering horses but still behave in a risky manner as a result of frustration and annoyance. Such feelings can be exasperated by two further affective emotional elements. First, how far the road user shows empathy towards another user; that is how far they are motivated to see the road use from another road user’s perspective."
"It was acknowledged by most drivers that horse riders might not be in complete control with their horse at all times. However, a minority of younger, less experienced drivers, in particular, believed that horse riders have a high level of control over their animals. Distinctions were made by drivers about the rider and the amount of control that might be able to be exerted over the animal. For example, child riders were thought to be more at risk and drivers stated they gave them more room when overtaking as they were perceived more vulnerable. This is very similar to findings noted by Walker (2007) in driver–cyclist interactions where drivers give cyclists differing amounts of room according to an appraisal of the cyclist’s gender, age and clothes worn. Given that horses too may have different reactions, drivers need to take account of different types of horse as well."
"It seems that a driver believes they have a good set of skills to foster positive, safe interactions with horses on the road. However, the mental map of skills required is incomplete and lacks some crucial knowledge of what it is like to ride a horse on the road."
"In particular, there is a lack of understanding that the horse is an animal that may not be totally under control of the owner. This is further explored in perceptions of hazards and risk."
"Drivers discussed that they were primarily concerned with the geometry of the road environment and changes in speed limit and showed less worry for hazards presented by other road users including horses. Younger, less experienced, drivers understood that a horse was a hazard but were unsure or unaware as to what might make the horse become unpredictable. Horse riders by contrast discussed how they were primarily concerned with hazards in the external environment which may result in needing a high level of rider effort to control the horse. This divergence in hazard perception between drivers and horse riders could in part explain why negative interactions may occur. It is recommended that drivers are provided with more information of what might be considered a hazard to a horse rider."
"Drivers with horse riding experience or those with family or close friends who rode horses, showed greater ability to consider the scene from both perspectives indicating that experience or empathy for horse rider risks may improve driver hazard perception."
"Horse riders have received comparatively little attention compared to other vulnerable road user groups both in terms of academic research and transport policy."
"The paper takes the view that road user behaviour cannot be isolated from the social context within which it operates. People’s road user safety behaviour is related to the social issues associated with how people perceive and accept levels of risk on the road."
"It can be argued that horse riders are a vulnerable road user group similar to that of pedestrians and cyclists. They share a similar lack of physical protection when sharing road space with vehicles. In addition, they travel at relatively slower speeds and are less manoeuvrable than motorised vehi- cles, especially cars. They are also a minority road user, similar to pedestrians and cyclists. Horses, as road users, also pose additional risks. Horses weigh more than bicycles. In addition, riders have a greater height to fall from and risk being kicked or crushed in the process. In addition, unlike a cyclist falling from a bicycle, separation of the rider from the horse in a fall is likely to cause the loose horse to panic and create a danger for other road users. It is concluded that horses and riders could be considered to be potentially more physically vulnerable than cyclists."
"The British Horse Society suggest that the fundamental difference between horse riders and other road users is that horses are animals and not machines and are therefore irrational and unpredictable. Horses may react not just to other road users which may frighten or ‘spook’ them but also to external factors in the environment. These can include seemingly everyday items or such as drains, plastic bags, lawn mowers, and umbrellas. Understanding the full potential of a horse as a hazard therefore requires drivers to have some appreciation of horse behaviour."
"Previous research with cyclists suggests they feel particularly vulnerable when being followed close behind. This is likely to be amplified with horses who cannot use both monocular and binocular visions at the same time; if something scares a horse from behind or to the side of it (such as a vehicle), the horse may spin around or swing towards the vehicle so it can use its binocular vision to see it more clearly."
"Hence, drivers who perceive horse riders have a high degree of control over their animals are likely to think an encounter with a horse is not especially risky."
"It is considered that drivers may have high levels of skill and ability when encountering horses but still behave in a risky manner as a result of frustration and annoyance. Such feelings can be exasperated by two further affective emotional elements. First, how far the road user shows empathy towards another user; that is how far they are motivated to see the road use from another road user’s perspective."
"It was acknowledged by most drivers that horse riders might not be in complete control with their horse at all times. However, a minority of younger, less experienced drivers, in particular, believed that horse riders have a high level of control over their animals. Distinctions were made by drivers about the rider and the amount of control that might be able to be exerted over the animal. For example, child riders were thought to be more at risk and drivers stated they gave them more room when overtaking as they were perceived more vulnerable. This is very similar to findings noted by Walker (2007) in driver–cyclist interactions where drivers give cyclists differing amounts of room according to an appraisal of the cyclist’s gender, age and clothes worn. Given that horses too may have different reactions, drivers need to take account of different types of horse as well."
"It seems that a driver believes they have a good set of skills to foster positive, safe interactions with horses on the road. However, the mental map of skills required is incomplete and lacks some crucial knowledge of what it is like to ride a horse on the road."
"In particular, there is a lack of understanding that the horse is an animal that may not be totally under control of the owner. This is further explored in perceptions of hazards and risk."
"Drivers discussed that they were primarily concerned with the geometry of the road environment and changes in speed limit and showed less worry for hazards presented by other road users including horses. Younger, less experienced, drivers understood that a horse was a hazard but were unsure or unaware as to what might make the horse become unpredictable. Horse riders by contrast discussed how they were primarily concerned with hazards in the external environment which may result in needing a high level of rider effort to control the horse. This divergence in hazard perception between drivers and horse riders could in part explain why negative interactions may occur. It is recommended that drivers are provided with more information of what might be considered a hazard to a horse rider."
"Drivers with horse riding experience or those with family or close friends who rode horses, showed greater ability to consider the scene from both perspectives indicating that experience or empathy for horse rider risks may improve driver hazard perception."