Loose horses on motorways: traffic officers to be given training
More than 1,000 traffic officers are to benefit from training on how to deal with loose horses on the roads.
The Horse Trust and the British Animal Rescue and Trauma Care Association (BARTA) are working together to educate the Highways England staff, who deal with some 120 horse-related incidents on motorways every year.
The Horse Trust has offered training to police officers since 2008, more recently working with BARTA and the Chief Fire Officers’ Association to develop a standard for equine-related training for fire and rescue services.
A spokesman for the partnership said: “Horses loose on road networks are a dangerous prospect, both for public safety and equine welfare.
“In collaboration with the Horse Trust, BARTA is developing bespoke courses to meet the needs of emergency responders, who encounter horses in their everyday activities, to enable a common approach and understanding.
“Responders can use this knowledge to calm the situation and control the scene in order to resolve it using the skills they have learned, coupled with resources and other agencies in place to support them.
“This training is a major step forward in organisational planning to resolve the challenges animals place on their staff and safeguard the public.”
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
The spokesman said the training would focus on the way horses react and behave under pressure.
BARTA director and co-founder Jim Green added: “Highways England officers deal with about 4,500 animal incidents on the motorway network each year and while horses form a relatively small element of their overall activity, the impact of a horse on the motorway is far-reaching.
“It is essential that responders understand how horses behave, particularly when stressed, as horses don’t think, they just react. We sincerely hope that all responders in every frontline agency will be able to tap into these resources in the future.”
Jeanette Allen, CEO of the Horse Trust said, “We work closely with the emergency services to support them in their vital role of rescuing and caring for horses in crisis situations, from a pony loose on a highway to a horse caught in a major incident.
Related articles:
- Loose horse on M25 shot by police
- Horse put down after it panics in trailer on motorway
- Loose horses shut M25: point-to-point team comes to the rescue
“These animals can be extremely dangerous to work with. They are often frightened and in many cases actions can be taken to lessen their trauma and to keep those attending them, and the public, safe.
“This new initiative to train Highways England is a fantastic opportunity to promote these skills to a wider group of people operating in equally difficult circumstances.”
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
Eleanor is an experienced journalist who spent over eight years working for local and national newspapers before joining H&H as news editor in March 2016. Passionate about equine welfare and exposing the truth, Eleanor has reported on all aspects of the industry, from Brexit to anti-bullying campaigns, and from dressage rules to mules. Her sport of choice is showjumping, in which she competes her own horses, and she also enjoys reporting at local jumping shows through to international championships.