You could be making this mistake on the road—Why did a horse rider confront a driver?
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If you’ve ever driven through the countryside or along a quiet lane, you’ve probably encountered a horse and rider at some point. Most of us slow down, give them a wide berth, and maybe even offer a friendly wave.
But what happens when things don’t go quite so smoothly?
A recent viral video has sparked a heated debate online, and it’s got everyone talking about who really has the right of way—and what we should all be doing to keep our roads safe for everyone, whether they’re on four wheels or four hooves.
The incident in question was captured by equestrian Laura Robson, who was out for a ride with a friend when a blue Skoda Fabia approached.
The car, with a child in the backseat, passed the riders at what looked to be less than a metre away. The first horse was visibly spooked, and Laura, worried her own horse might react badly too, held out her riding crop and shouted: ‘F******* h***! Wait, wait, wait! It’s a green lane, please go slower.’
The driver didn’t take kindly to the outburst, and a heated exchange followed. Laura later posted the footage online, explaining her frustration: ‘Dangerous drivers frustrate me! This road was clearly signposted as a quiet lane. They should have stopped in the wider passing place ahead to let us pass safely. Instead, they mounted the curb and spooked the horses.’
The video quickly racked up thousands of comments, with viewers split right down the middle.
Some sided with Laura, arguing that the driver should have stopped and given the horses more space. Others defended the motorist, saying the car was already going as slow as possible and that it’s not always practical to stop completely on a narrow lane.
So, who’s in the right? Let’s break it down.
According to the official Highway Code (and similar guidelines here in Australia), drivers must be especially careful when passing horses.
The rules are clear: slow down to a maximum of 10 km/h, don’t rev your engine or sound your horn, and give at least two metres of space when overtaking.
If you can’t pass safely, you should wait until you can. Horses are unpredictable animals, and even the calmest can be startled by a sudden noise or a car passing too close.
The Code also reminds us that there are ‘three brains at work’—the driver’s, the rider’s, and the horse’s. Horses are flight animals, and if they get spooked, things can go wrong very quickly.
The comments on Laura’s video show just how divided people are. Some argued that the car was going as slow as it could without stalling, and that if riders are worried about sharing the road, they should stick to fields or bridleways.
Others pointed out that the lane was signposted for recreational use, meaning walkers, cyclists, and horse riders have just as much right to be there as cars.
Laura herself responded to critics, saying: ‘How about the car stop? There wasn’t enough space for him to safely pass so he should have stopped the car. Or better yet, wait in the wider part of the road he’d just passed.’
Supporters agreed, with one commenter noting: ‘It’s a green lane people! Its purpose is recreational use! So especially made for walking, biking and horseback riding. The ladies with the horses had every right to be there. So the car was wrong and had to wait and make room for the horses.’
Source: @laurarobsonequestrian / Instagram.
Whether you’re a driver, a cyclist, or a horse rider, we all share the responsibility of keeping our roads safe.
It’s easy to get frustrated when you’re in a hurry and stuck behind a slow-moving horse, but a little patience can make all the difference. Horses can weigh over 500kg and can bolt unexpectedly if frightened. A spooked horse can cause serious injury to itself, its rider, and even people in nearby vehicles.
At the end of the day, a little courtesy goes a long way. Whether you’re behind the wheel or in the saddle, we all want to get home safely. The law is on the side of safety, and it’s up to all of us to use our common sense and look out for each other.
Read more: Deadly virus resurfaces as safety concerns grow: 'It is rare'
Have you ever had a close call with a horse on the road? Are you a rider who’s had to deal with impatient drivers, or a driver who’s been stuck behind a nervous horse? We’d love to hear your stories and tips—share your thoughts in the comments below!
But what happens when things don’t go quite so smoothly?
A recent viral video has sparked a heated debate online, and it’s got everyone talking about who really has the right of way—and what we should all be doing to keep our roads safe for everyone, whether they’re on four wheels or four hooves.
The incident in question was captured by equestrian Laura Robson, who was out for a ride with a friend when a blue Skoda Fabia approached.
The car, with a child in the backseat, passed the riders at what looked to be less than a metre away. The first horse was visibly spooked, and Laura, worried her own horse might react badly too, held out her riding crop and shouted: ‘F******* h***! Wait, wait, wait! It’s a green lane, please go slower.’
The driver didn’t take kindly to the outburst, and a heated exchange followed. Laura later posted the footage online, explaining her frustration: ‘Dangerous drivers frustrate me! This road was clearly signposted as a quiet lane. They should have stopped in the wider passing place ahead to let us pass safely. Instead, they mounted the curb and spooked the horses.’
Footage of a horse rider confronting a motorist for allegedly driving too fast past her and spooking a horse on a green lane has sparked a heated debate online about who was actually at fault. Image source: @laurarobsonequestrian / Instagram.
The video quickly racked up thousands of comments, with viewers split right down the middle.
Some sided with Laura, arguing that the driver should have stopped and given the horses more space. Others defended the motorist, saying the car was already going as slow as possible and that it’s not always practical to stop completely on a narrow lane.
So, who’s in the right? Let’s break it down.
According to the official Highway Code (and similar guidelines here in Australia), drivers must be especially careful when passing horses.
The rules are clear: slow down to a maximum of 10 km/h, don’t rev your engine or sound your horn, and give at least two metres of space when overtaking.
If you can’t pass safely, you should wait until you can. Horses are unpredictable animals, and even the calmest can be startled by a sudden noise or a car passing too close.
The Code also reminds us that there are ‘three brains at work’—the driver’s, the rider’s, and the horse’s. Horses are flight animals, and if they get spooked, things can go wrong very quickly.
The comments on Laura’s video show just how divided people are. Some argued that the car was going as slow as it could without stalling, and that if riders are worried about sharing the road, they should stick to fields or bridleways.
Others pointed out that the lane was signposted for recreational use, meaning walkers, cyclists, and horse riders have just as much right to be there as cars.
Laura herself responded to critics, saying: ‘How about the car stop? There wasn’t enough space for him to safely pass so he should have stopped the car. Or better yet, wait in the wider part of the road he’d just passed.’
Supporters agreed, with one commenter noting: ‘It’s a green lane people! Its purpose is recreational use! So especially made for walking, biking and horseback riding. The ladies with the horses had every right to be there. So the car was wrong and had to wait and make room for the horses.’
Source: @laurarobsonequestrian / Instagram.
Whether you’re a driver, a cyclist, or a horse rider, we all share the responsibility of keeping our roads safe.
It’s easy to get frustrated when you’re in a hurry and stuck behind a slow-moving horse, but a little patience can make all the difference. Horses can weigh over 500kg and can bolt unexpectedly if frightened. A spooked horse can cause serious injury to itself, its rider, and even people in nearby vehicles.
At the end of the day, a little courtesy goes a long way. Whether you’re behind the wheel or in the saddle, we all want to get home safely. The law is on the side of safety, and it’s up to all of us to use our common sense and look out for each other.
Read more: Deadly virus resurfaces as safety concerns grow: 'It is rare'
Have you ever had a close call with a horse on the road? Are you a rider who’s had to deal with impatient drivers, or a driver who’s been stuck behind a nervous horse? We’d love to hear your stories and tips—share your thoughts in the comments below!
