Road

Like it or not, road riding is a necessity for many of us whether it’s to get us from one farm to another, from our farm or stable to a trail, or because the road itself forms one section of an equestrian trail. Horses are big, powerful animals, but cars and trucks are even bigger and more powerful. What can we do to help ensure the safety of our horses and ourselves while sharing the road with motorized vehicles?

The average motorist is not familiar with horses and may be unaware that horses can become easily startled, posing a danger to both rider and motorist alike. They also may not know that even the most quiet and calm horses can sometimes trip and, because of their size and weight, have to take a few steps sideways in order to get their body and legs under control again.

Before venturing out, ask yourself “Am I ready?” Are you a competent rider, confident and capable of controlling your horse if there’s a problem on the road?

PLEASE NOTE: Not all roads in BC are under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation and Infrastructure. The roads you ride, or some of the roads you ride, may be maintained and managed by your municipality, and not subject to this signage initiative with MOTI. Check with your municipality if in doubt.

If the driving behaviour is serious and could result in immediate harm to others call 911 and make the report immediately. If this is not the case, a call to the police non-emergency number as soon as reasonably possible is sufficient. After you have provided the particulars of your case, ask for and record the file number of your complaint. All complaints are given a file number and this is what you will need if you follow up on your complaint at a later date.