A rider who asked a council to install horse awareness road signs has said it feels like a “slap in the face” after a sign warning of cattle was put up instead.
Lynn Flynn approached Sheffield County Council to ask for signage to be put up in the area following a hit and run with her thoroughbred gelding Newton last October.
But the one that appeared at South Street, Sheffield, last week featured a cow instead.
Lynn told H&H: “I had been away but a lady on the yard sent me a message and said I’d laugh when I saw what had gone up – she sent a picture and I said ‘are you joking?’”
(Image credit: creditUnknown)
“I’ve had Newton for 10 years and there’s been no cattle round here for years.”
Lynn emailed the council to complain and received a reply advising the sign was an “unfortunate oversight” by a contractor but it does not affect the provision of the signs she has requested, and the transport planning department intends to investigate the cost of having the cattle sign replaced with a horse sign.
“Another yard had asked for signs too but the council put that up. I requested the signs to make people aware there are people riding and to slow down.
Horse & Hound Newsletter
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
“We want to give people awareness there could be horses around here – not cattle.”
Lynn said her accident with Newton, where he was struck by a trailer being towed by a van, has “really affected” them both, although he has recovered from his physical injuries.
“Newton has been a nightmare since the accident, everything is spooking him all the time. He’s now frightened of everything – he had an incident in January where a dog ran toward him with a flashing collar and he spooked and fell down an embankment and ripped his leg on barbed wire,” she said.
“I’ve been riding with friends but a couple of times I’ve panicked and jumped off. I had someone else ride him because I thought it was maybe just me making him feel that way but the rider said he was the same with her.”
Lynn is waiting for a further response from the council on when the sign will be replaced.
“I’m quite annoyed. They need to get it right – how many emails do I need to send? It’s not rocket science – they must know what’s around the area.”
H&H has approached Sheffield County Council for comment.
For all the latest news analysis, competition reports, interviews, features and much more, don’t miss Horse & Hound magazine, on sale every Thursday.
Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now
Since joining H&H in 2018, Becky has covered a broad range of equestrian news including welfare matters, veterinary studies, FEI Tribunal hearings and road safety campaigns. She has also interviewed top riders including Scott Brash, John Whitaker and Ian Stark, to name just a few. Becky’s reporting has taken her to Canada for Spruce Meadows and France for Pau five-star, as well as the Royal Highland and Blair Castle International Horse Trials closer to home. She was also a key part of the remote reporting team for the Tokyo Olympics and the Europeans.
