THE OFFICIAL HIGHWAY CODE - HORSES

The new Official Highway Code went on sale in September 2007. 
Listed below are the sections which refer to horses on the road or have particular significance for horse riders/drivers.

PAGE

SECTION

DETAIL

4

Introduction

The most vulnerable road users are pedestrians, particularly children, older or disabled people, cyclists, motorcyclists and horse riders.

12

Rule 27
Equestrian crossings

Equestrian crossings are for horse riders.  They have pavement barriers, wider crossing spaces, horse and rider figures in the light panels and either two sets of controls (one higher), or just one higher control panel.

18

Rule 47
Horse drawn vehicles

Horse drawn vehicles used on the highway should be operated and maintained in accordance with standards set out in the Department for Transport’s Code of Practice for Horse-Drawn Vehicles.  This Code lays down the requirements for a road driving assessment and includes a comprehensive list of safety checks to ensure that a carriage and its fittings are safe and in good working order.  The standards set out in the Road Driving assessment may be required to be met by a Local Authority if an operator wishes to obtain a local authority licence to operate a passenger-carrying service (see page 135)

18

Rule 48

Safety equipment and clothing.  All horse drawn vehicles should have two red rear reflectors.  It is safer not to drive at night but if you do, a light showing white to the front and red to the rear MUST be fitted.

18

Rule 49 HORSE RIDERS

Safety equipment.  Children under the age of 14 MUST wear a helmet which complies with the Regulations.  It MUST be fastened securely.  Other riders should also follow these requirements.  These requirements do not apply to a child who is a follower of the Sikh religion while wearing a turban.

Page 18

Rule 50

Other clothing.  You should wear

• Boots or shoes with hard soles and heels
• Light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight
• Reflective clothing if you have to ride at night or in poor visibility

Page 19

Rule 51

At night.  It is safer not to ride on the road at night or in poor visibility, but if you do, make sure you wear reflective clothing and your horse has reflective bands above the fetlock joints.  A light which shows white to the front and red to the rear should be fitted, with a band, to the rider’s right arm and/or leg/riding boot.  If you are leading a horse at night, carry a light in your right hand, showing white to the front and red to the rear, and wear reflective clothing on both you and your horse.  It is strongly recommended that a fluorescent/reflective tail guard is also worn by your horse.