The Year of the Horse: Better Bridleways & Shared Road Safety

Today we mark the Chinese Lunar New Year, and it feels particularly fitting that we are welcoming in the Year of the Horse. Over the months ahead, I will continue working closely with our equestrian community and using every avenue available to me in Parliament to push forward my Horse and Rider Road Safety campaign, ensuring riders and horses are better protected on our roads.

One of the recurring issues raised with me is the dwindling state of our bridleways. Riders do not choose to be on busy roads; too often, they end up there because fragmented or overgrown routes leave them with no safe alternative.

I have been contacted by riders and carriage drivers from across the country sharing deeply concerning stories. One rider described being forced onto a narrow village road nearby off-road routes were unusable. A car overtook too closely, struck her hose, and drove off. Her horse needed months of box rest, and it took years before she felt confident riding again. For many riders, this risk is unavoidable.

I recently raised the condition and availability of bridleways with Minister Lilian Greenwood. The Government pointed out that statutory responsibility sits with local authorities through Rights of Way Improvement Plans. This underlines why this issue needs joined-up work across departments, local councils, and DEFRA to ensure that councils with mounting budget pressures have the support needed to connect and maintain bridleways.

Following my Westminster Hall debate last month, this is just the next step, and I will continue writing to Ministers, working with organisations like Project EDWARD and the British Horse Society, and strengthening the case for my Road Traffic (Horse and Rider Safety) Bill.

Well-maintained bridleways are a practical part of making our roads safer for everyone. As we move into the Year of the Horse, I will keep pressing for real improvements that give riders greater confidence and protect all those who share our roads.