Mounted officer’s accident inspires road safety campaign
A Manchester city centre event was the “first of many” in the area aiming to raise awareness of road safety around horses.
The Dead Slow Road Safety Event (28 May) was organised by the British Horse Society (BHS) and local police.
Mounted police officers gathered in Albert Square alongside BHS representatives and shared safety advice with the public.
“It was fantastic, and we got loads of positive feedback,” Greater Manchester Police (GMP) mounted officer PC Cassandra Barratt told H&H.
“It’s the first in a long line of events that will take place in the area.”
Demonstrations were made, including showing the extent of a horse’s peripheral vision, and officers informed riders how to report road incidents and near-misses.
The Pass Wide and Slow road safety group was also involved in the event, with the group’s awareness videos played on a big screen, as well as advice from the BHS.
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Safety stickers have been displayed on GMP’s horseboxes showing how to pass a horse and rider safety.
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GMP has printed out A4 copies of these stickers, which will be distributed to riders in the area at major events, including Bolesworth International (16-19 June).
Officers were inspired to improve conditions for horses and riders on the roads after a GMP mounted officer was involved in an accident.
PC Wendy Townley and her horse, Steele, were hit by a car on Christmas Eve in 2014.
The pair has since made a full recovery.
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Rachael joined Horse & Hound in 2014, initially as a digital sub editor then became part of the news team as a writer in 2015. The philosophy graduate studied journalism at the Press Association before working as a local reporter at the Brentwood Gazette. Rachael is now a mum of two and still loves all things equestrian, including hacking, dressage and jumping with her cob Bert. Rachael left the H&H staff to go freelance in June 2019, but still contributes to our magazine and website, as well as our sister magazine Country Life, among others.