Traffic spoils carriage driver’s preparations for WEG
A leading carriage driver says her preparation for this summer’s World Equestrian Games (WEG) has been jeopardised because a string of near misses on the roads have left her unwilling to venture out.
Karen Bassett, who is based in Hopwell, near Derby, told H&H that she has been forced to search for a new base.
“The final straw came when a car passed us so fast that it caused my young horse to leap sideways and the whole string missed the vehicle by millimetres,” she said.
“I need a bigger arena — my current one is too small to do all the horses’ work in, which is why I rely on the roads.”
According to Karen, the situation has become worse in recent years — and not just in Derbyshire.
“I have heard so many driving people talking about their near misses,” she said.
But Sheila Hardy, senior safety executive at the British Horse Society (BHS), said no carriage driving incidents had been reported to the BHS to date.
Never miss out on the latest happenings in the equestrian world
She urged carriage drivers to report road incidents on the society’s dedicated website (see below).
“Conditions for all equestrians, whether they be riders or carriage drivers, are the same and we need to work together in order to stay safe,” said Mrs Hardy.
“We need evidence in the form of hard facts and statistics.”
Visit www.horseaccidents.org.uk
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
