The German Equestrian Association (FN) has produced an information film on the subject of “Drivers meets riders” to educate road users and thus contribute to accident prevention. The information film shows six typical traffic situations in which riders, horses, and cars meet. The focal points treated are “approaching riders”, “approaching the guided horse”, “overtaking riders”, “turning riders”, “crossing roads” and “riders in oncoming traffic”.
It explains in a matter-of-fact, sober manner what needs to be considered about riders and horses as slow road users, according to the Rosenthal riding and driving association.
“We are very pleased that the FN is taking up the topic and recalling the horse as a participant in traffic. Many road users in Rosenthal behave considerately, but the volume of traffic is increasing and does not make it easier for us riders. We wish that horses can continue to take part in road traffic,” says Birgit Niebisch, 1st chairwoman of the Rosenthal-Willershausen riding and driving club.
But not only is the volume of traffic increases, but many vehicles have also become faster and larger. Horses are slow road users and have no crumple zone. A rider on a horse used to be at eye level with a tractor driver, today the tractor tire is often as big as the horse. You can understand that horses, which naturally escape animals, get scared. “We riders would like motorized road users to be made more aware of horses in traffic. Brake early, do not drive too close, overtake with sufficient distance and avoid loud noises such as horns. Consideration for weaker road users in road traffic should be a matter of course for drivers”.
You see horses in traffic every day in Rosenthal. Here the four-legged friends live in more than ten stables, which are spread over the whole place. Every day 15 to 20 horses go through the traffic from the stable to the riding facility. If you don’t want to train there, but prefer to ride off-road, i.e. in the field and forest, you also have to pass roads. The way to the pasture also leads through the village for many, because the pasture does not border on the stable for all. This path is different every day for horse and rider and not always easy.
“We sometimes ride through the village for up to 20 minutes to get to the riding area. This even has advantages: the horse has already completed the warm-up phase in the walk and you can start training directly on the riding facility. Also, the path through the village offers variety, the horses learn to deal with new situations again and again,” reports Birgit Niebisch.
Be careful in the dark
Especially in the dark season of the year, there is a further risk for the horse road user: being seen too late by drivers and possibly being hit. Here chairwoman Birgit Niebisch especially appeals to the riders to illuminate themselves and their horses sufficiently. If you make your way to the riding arena in the late afternoon in the light of day, you shouldn’t forget to have your reflective articles with you so that you don’t be surprised by the dark after riding and have to ride home unlit.
There are all kinds of reflector items on the market, from the helmet lamp and the safety vest for the rider, to reflective blankets and reflective leg protection for the horse, to brightly flashing light rings, to name just a few. It is important to be equipped with reflective or luminous elements on all sides, such as front, back, and sides.