A HORSE rider is urging drivers to take more care after a number of near misses.

Brenda Lake has lived in Colne Engaine for 34 years and has always ridden on roads around the village, but has recently noted a number of drivers failing to slow down appropriately as they pass her.

She believes that drivers appear not to care, or are not aware, of the danger they are placing both her and her horse in as they pass at high speeds.

Brenda said: “I lost both my elderly horses and have replaced them with a young horse who has just come over from Ireland.

“She is really brave and has faced most vehicles on the lanes, but I notice that increasingly drivers do not slow down or take into account she may be young and needs some care when passing.

“I always acknowledge all the drivers, with a smile, a thank you, a wave if possible and always wear reflective clothing.

“Last week after trying to wave three cars to slow down with the necessary hand signal the third car revved its engine and spun its wheels as it drove away. I could have ended up on the road.

“I cannot believe the lady driver could have been in so much of a hurry on the road from Fenn Road, Halstead up to Colne Engaine. It is very narrow and in places two cars cannot pass.

“I think that drivers are just not aware how vulnerable us horse riders are and a little less speed and care would be most appreciated.”

Brenda has approached Colne Engaine Parish Council to try to get ‘Horses Beware’ signs installed in the area.

In response to a rise in the number of incidents between drivers and riders, the British Horse Society has launched a new campaign, ‘Dead? Or dead slow?’.

The campaign urges drivers to slow down to 15mph when they meet a horse and rider on the road.

The society launched a website for riders to report incidents, with over 2,000 being submitted.

Of these, 36 caused the death of the rider, and 181 resulted in the horse dying or being put to sleep.