Horse riders in Carmarthenshire are calling for tougher action against inconsiderate motorists following latest figures that confirm the number of horse-related incidents on the county’s roads rose to 63 in 2022.

This represents an increase of almost 100 per cent since 2021, making Carmarthenshire the most affected area in the whole of Wales and the Channel Islands. Ceredigion comes in at third place with a total of 22 incidents.

Across the UK, the British Horse Society received details of over 3,550 equine related road incidents in 2022 which is a notable increase on the number reported in 2021. This includes three horses killed on the roads of Wales and the Channel Islands.

“This shocking figure is reflective of the significant equine road safety challenges we’re facing, despite the Highway Code changes which were introduced this time last year,” commented Alan Hiscox, director of safety at the BHS.

“Horses are being killed and injured on our roads, riders continue to be seriously injured and too many drivers underestimate the importance of driving carefully around horses.

"This is detrimental to the safety of equestrians. You only have to look at the 68 horses who were tragically killed across the UK in 2022.

"Our fear is that guidelines aren’t being clearly explained and this needs to change. Urgent action is required to make every road user aware of the Highway Code changes."

The new guidelines, many of which were a direct result of the BHS’s significant involvement in the Highway Code review’s stakeholder group for vulnerable road users, include setting the advisory speed for passing people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles at 10mph, and advising drivers to allow at least two metres of space.

Another key change was the new Hierarchy of Road Users, with horse riders now, alongside pedestrians, cyclists and motorcyclists, recognised as road users most likely to be injured in the event of a collision.

The equine charity is urging equestrians, and the wider public, to log any equine related safety incidents using the Horse i app. The more incidents that are logged, the more the BHS can do to protect the rights of horse riders on Britain’s roads.