RECENT instances of riders being thrown from their horses due to impatient road users has led to residents taking action.

Penketh and Cuerdley Residents’ Association has announced it will be holding two awareness rides this Sunday in support of the national Pass Wide and Slow Campaign.

This will be the first time that the two areas has facilitated such a ride, which aims to raise awareness of all vulnerable road users.

And hopes are high that there will be many more rides like this to come in the future.

A spokesman for the association said: “We have 150 horses and ponies in Penketh and Cuerdley and yet not a single bridleway in the area, which means that our equestrian friends need to hack out on the roads.

“It has become apparent that the necessity to raise awareness of how to interact with our equestrian road users is important.

“This is especially as we have had two incidents of riders being thrown from their mounts due to impatient and improper behaviour of other road users in the past couple of months alone.”

Residents join campaign after riders thrown from horses due to impatient road users

Residents join campaign after riders thrown from horses due to impatient road users

Residents say bus drivers have been a ‘shining example’ of how to interact with equestrian road users.

They are said to always drop down to 10 or 15mph and pass wide and slow, or even wait patiently for the horse and rider to signal that they can overtake them.

This Sunday’s rides will consist of up to ten horses or ponies, pedestrians, dog walkers, cyclists and vehicles, all following a set route in the hope of raising the much-needed awareness.

It has gained the support of most of the farms in the area, as well as from local stores, Penketh Parish Council, police and crime commissioner for Cheshire John Dwyer, Warrington South MP Andy Carter and the mayor of Warrington Cllr Maureen Creaghan, with more support coming in all the time.

All incidents concerning equestrian road users should be reported to the British Horse Society and to the police.

Incidents of verbal abuse, uncontrolled dogs, impatient drivers or passing at speed, just to name a few, can easily be reported via the new British Horse Society app, Horse i.

This goes towards a national database and can help with pinpointing locations that require further investigation or action by the police.

The spokesman added: “If you are passing any of the rides across the nation, remember to pass wide and slow and to say hi.”