by Mary Hamilton, Rider's Elite Academy, Inc.

Even in rural areas there is no question traffic levels are increasing.   Worse yet, people are driving faster and often distracted by cell phones and a hectic lifestyle.  Most motorists are not educated about horses.  I have experienced driver's blow their horn, release their air brakes with a loud "psssttt" and even shoot my horse with a slingshot as they drove past.  Clearly, these drivers had no idea how dangerous this was for the horse and rider. How can you increase your safety while road riding?  These three safety comcepts, "be seen", "be safe" and "be aware" help you prevent an accident. 

Be Seen  Bright, reflective clothing for the rider is a must when road riding.  Reflective leg wraps, brow bands, breast collars and stirrup bars make your horse visible from all four sides.  I highly recommend attaching a LED safety light to your saddle or person.  These inexpensive blinking red lights were designed for bicyclists and work well for the rider, too.  The intermittent flash of the light attracts a driver's attention.  These items make you more visible to drivers.

Be Safe - Before venturing out onto a roadway, ask yourself, "Am I ready?"  Are you a competent rider, capable of handling a problem on the road?  Evaluate your horse.  "Is he reliable and road ready?" Has he been desensitized to the noise and movement of traffic?  If not, invest in his education.  Find the time, a trainer or a clinic to help prepare you both for road readiness.  When crossing a roadway, select a safe spot to cross.  View every bend in the road, intersection, crest of hill or construction zone as a hazard.  Choose an area to cross where approaching cars are easily seen and heard.

• Stop ... before crossing the road.  Get your horse's focus and full attention before asking him to cross.  Use all your senses.  Be aware of everything going on around you.  If you are riding in a group, wait until everyone is ready.  Then cross as a unit, walking single file.  Keep the "herd" intact for safety.  Never try to stop traffic to cross.
• Look ... all ways.  Check both directions for oncoming traffic.  Check in front to what's ahead and behind for any potential hazards.  Look at the road surface to access it's footing.  Mailboxes, flags or gargabe tossed in ditches could startle your horse.  Evaluate what you see to determine whether this is a good location for you to cross.
• Listen ... for approaching cars.  Engine sounds give you clues on what type of vehicles are approaching and the speeds they are traveling.  Pay attention to where your horse is listening.  They use their ears to focus on sounds and may hear something before you do.

Be Aware - Rider tension and nervousness is transmitted to your horse.  If you anticipate a problem and tense up every time a vehicle approaches, your horse will too.  Relax and stay cool, calm and centered for your horse's benefit.  He looks to you for confidence and leadership.

Be aware of road surface dangers.  Asphalt roads can be very slippery especially when wet.  Gravel roads with large stones can cause "stone bruises", tender footedness or your horse to stumble.  Riding on these road surfaces requre special shoeing considerations.

When you choose to ride on a roadway, select one with minimum traffic levels, lower speed limits, good solid footing and a wide shoulder.  This gives you maximum response time and room to maneuver when you need to.  To make your ride as safe as possible, remember to "be seen", "be safe" and "be aware".

POLICE STORY There are over 234 million registered motor vehicles in the United States today.  Sharing the road with them can be dangerous.  While horse versus car accidents aren't common, they can have tragic results.  Even when the rider does everything right, inattentive or impaired drivers can pose a danger on the roadway.  One of the most horrific accidents I've seen involved just that.  The driver was focused on the rider wearing reflective clothing and failed to see the second rider who was not.  The vehicle hit the second rider from behind, causing both horse and rider serious injuries.  The rider was thrown from the horse on impact.  She sustained many bruises and broke her back in several places.  Her recovery was long and painful.  Her experience made her an advocate of wearing helmets and reflective clothing when riding.

Click here to learn more about Mary Hamilton, Mounted Police Instructor