A Decade of Dead Slow: Milestone Event

Last week, I was delighted to attend the British Horse Society’s (BHS) “Dead Slow 10 Year Milestone” event in London.  

It brought together key campaigners, parliamentarians, and experts from across the sector to not only celebrate how far the campaign has come, but to reinforce the progress we still need to make in the years to come.    

There have been important achievements along the way. The updates to the Highway Code on 29 January 2022 introducing an advisory speed and space limit when passing horses, are testament to the tireless efforts of the BHS. But with 59 horse fatalities and over 2,800 incidents recorded in 2025, the evidence for continued action is clear.  

Every day, riders and carriage drivers face this risk: a rush of nerves as you hear the rev of an engine around the corner, frantically waving your hand as a car speeds past, or constantly wearing helmet cameras to capture another near miss. Countless drivers are respectful and follow the highway guidance, but further education and making safe passing distances a legal requirement is needed to bring the number of incidents down.  

This is why the Dead Slow message remains as important as ever: pass horses at no more than 10mph and leave at least two metres of space. 

It was particularly poignant to meet Knockalla’s trainer at the event. The tragic death of Knockalla in September 2024 inspired the memorial ride from Lambourn to Windsor with Project EDWARD and spurred the equestrian community to push even harder for change - including my own Horse and Rider Road Safety campaign in Parliament.  

I continue to be taken aback by the number of riders who share their experiences with me. People from across the country sending in videos or detailing accounts of frightening overtakes or perilously close near misses on the road. As vehicles increase in size and roads become busier, every hack seems to be becoming more dangerous.  

Please do keep sending in your experiences; they are invaluable in helping build the case for the change we want to see.  

This anniversary is a moment for celebration, but equally one of renewed determination. Together, we must keep building this momentum until horses, riders, and carriage drivers can use our roads safely and with confidence.  

© Brandwood Photography