What to do if horses are on the road

It may sound quite rare, but actually on country journeys you will from time to time encounter horses and their riders using the road. And you may also come across other animals too.

When you come across horses with riders on them, remember that some horses are more or less trained and erratic and so whilst most may be quite calm around traffic, others may not be. And in addition the quality and experience of the rider means they may have more or less control over the horse that they are riding.

There are often signs that warn you that there are horses and riders nearby, although this won't always be the case. So how should you drive in the event that you do encounter a horse and its rider whilst driving on country roads?

Well you should use common sense, and that says that you should slow right down before you get near to the horses and their riders.

In order not to spook or unsettle the horses, try to keep the engine noise low - so no sudden revving or acceleration and quick movements; rather move past them at a steady speed. In addition give them as much space as you safely do so in the road conditions you find yourself driving in. If you think it is too narrow an area to pass safely, then you will have to wait until the road widens or the horses exit the road.

Related Articles...

driving theory test
Thinking about a greener car
It is interesting to note that a signficant amount of the greenhouse gas emissions of the entire country comes from simply car travel: noticeably over 10% does. Therefore if you have a type of...

Using head restraints
Your car will have head restraints in it, but do you take the time to adjust these before using the vehicle and ensuring they are set at the correct level for you? Head restraints in vehicles are...

What to do at level crossings
When you are learning to drive you may well not come across a level crossing, depending where you live. But as a driver you certainly will come across level crossings and will need to know how to...

Regulations relating to stopping
When you are driving you may not necessarily think much about stopping and simply stop automatically when a light is on red. But infact knowing when you should stop on the road is very important...

Who needs to take a theory test
A theory test is part of the process required for anyone who wants to become a qualified driver in the UK. There are two stages to being a standard car driver: first passing a theory test, and then...

Towing a load such as a caravan
When you tow a vehicle such as a caravan, it is clearly the case that driving conditions will be very different, and much more so again than simply having a heavier load or having a roof rack...

The automatic car explained
In most cases, you will learn to drive with a car that has gears in the United Kingdom. However there are people who prefer to learn in an automatic car, and there are various driving schools...

Show me tell me test
If you've not heard of the "show me tell me" test, then this is something that happens at the start of the driving practical test as opposed to on the theory test. They ask one of each of the two...

How Pass Plus Works
What does pass plus contain? Well, it has six different modules and each of these ones focuses on a different set of conditions in which you might have to drive. These are in and around the town,...

What different cats eyes mean
There are market studs, which are usually referred to as multi-coloured studs or even more usually as cats eyes, along certain areas of motorways and optionally on other parts of motorways...


Back to home page of driving theory test questions