A dozen local horse riders saddled up and trotted the streets of Māpua last week for an international Pass Wide and Slow campaign to raise awareness of their vulnerability as road users.
Nelson Riding Club president Natasha Berkett, who organised the local campaign on 15 September, says the Land Transport Act currently recognises horse riders as “other” but not “vulnerable” road users, which causes them to go unnoticed in things like road safety messages and initiatives.
“We want to be officially recognised, which will put us in the same status as cyclists and pedestrians, and that would then mean that horse riding would be included in road safety messaging and driver education,” she says.
“We also want to see horse riding considered in development and funding for shared pathways… we have the Rough Island Equestrian Park which we’re enormously grateful for, and a new trail that TDC has opened up down to the beach at Rabbit Island, but ultimately we’d like to see more trails.”
Natasha says the campaign also strode for drivers to be considerate near horse riders who are using roads.
“Drivers need to slow down and pass wide and don’t do anything dangerous, don’t toot at horses, or slow down and rev up next to them,” she says.
“If you’re towing a trailer, make sure your load is secured and you don’t have things likes flapping tarpaulins [this can scare the horse].”
