Safety calls after horse jumped wall to avoid lorry

Horse riders are calling for improved safety measures after a horse and her rider were forced to jump a wall to avoid being hit by a lorry.

Peta Fray, from Brimpsfield in Gloucestershire, said she took the action on a country lane recently when she avoided a "massive accident". She added the incident was "incredibly dangerous".

Alan Hiscox, head of safety at the British Horse Society says: "We had 53 incidents in Gloucestershire reported to us by riders in 2025. Every time a horse and rider go out, I would guarantee that there's at least one vehicle that will pass them too fast or too close."

The Highway Code rules that drivers should give horses at least two metres of space.

The Highway Code adds that motorists should also be driving no faster than 10mph when approaching a horse.

These rules changed in 2022 and The British Horse Society works to make sure drivers are aware of the changes.

Fray says she was with two other horse riders when a lorry carrying polo ponies was coming down a one lane track towards her. There was a farm entrance it could have stopped at while her and the other riders could have gone to a nearby big passing place.

Instead, she said the driver did not stop and her and the other riders had to squeeze into a small passing place.

Fray added: "There wasn't enough room for the three horses to get into this passing place and then get past the lorry.

"So mine jumped a low wall into a field to get away from it because I literally could have reached out and touched the side of this lorry, that's how close it was."

She added: "It was just incredibly dangerous. There could have been a massive accident there. We were very, very lucky.

Other riders are saying they do not choose to ride on roads, that it is a necessity due to lack of bridleways, or existing bridleways being unfit for purpose.

Sue Ravenhill-Handley from Berkeley said: "I am fortunate that I have bridleways near me. But they are half an hour away each way. So you've got to have at least an hour to do a bridleway."

Due to having a full time job, and needing to ride her horse daily for it is exercise, she is not able to go to her local bridleways every time.

This means she is on her local roads a lot and also feels quite unsafe.

Ravenhill-Handley added: "I've had cars go past me so close that they actually hit my stirrup. I would say I have a near miss nearly every time I go out."

Fray said there seems to be "nowhere easy to ride". She said bridleways are often overgrown, or have broken or hard to open gates so they become unusable.

Rachel Bourne is another horse rider, from Huntley. She goes out daily, but her nearest place to go for an enjoyable ride is an hour's ride away. Her nearest bridleway is two miles away, but is not fit for purpose.

She said: "it's just a stretch through about 300 yards to a farmer's field. Nothing exciting. That's got two gates. But they're almost nigh on impossible to open and close without getting off."

Councillor Mark Harris, cabinet member for highways at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "Bridleways and other routes play an important role in helping people enjoy Gloucestershire's countryside and access the wider rights of way network.

"The concerns raised by horse riders about the availability and condition of bridleways are understood and recognised by the county council.

"Riders and walkers will be pleased to know that a new Rights of Way Improvement Plan is currently being developed, with input from a wide range of users, including the equestrian community, to help identify priorities and opportunities for improvement.

"Horse riders are encouraged to report issues through Fix My Street and take part in the improvement plan process, to make sure their experiences and local knowledge help shape future investment and priorities across the network."

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