HORSE riders have highlighted the dangers they face on the county’s roads due to inconsiderate drivers.

A video showing a motorist overtaking a horse before coming close to a head-on-collision on the B4352 in Madley resulted in a driver improvement course last month.

But this inconsiderate driver is just one of many, according to county riders.

Natalie Scott rides in the lanes in Munstone, near Hereford, with her four-year-old daughter, Grace, on a Shetland pony.

Ms Scott said: "She's a very quiet pony and has no problem with traffic but we are continuously coming across dangerous and arrogant drivers.

"My daughter, the pony and myself are kitted out with hi-vis and always pull in or stop when someone drives towards us but so many of them get far too close.

"I don't think people understand that it only takes a bird flying out of a hedge to spook some horses resulting in them leaping into the middle of the road which can be fatal if a car is overtaking."

She added: "I fear for our safety and it's fortunate we have such a gentle, easygoing little pony."

The Highway Code gives guidance to both drivers and horse riders.

It says drivers should be particularly careful of horse riders, especially when overtaking, and to always pass widely and slowly.

It says horse riders should wear light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight and reflective clothing if riding at night or in poor visibility, among other rules.

Carla Miles said she has had a lot of issues with people passing too close and too fast, but said the worst time was when an ambulance put its sirens on behind her and her friend’s horse as they tried to get off the road into a field in Withington.

Nicky Davies said riding on roads near to Aymestrey put her off riding for six months after a man almost drove into the back of her, causing her horse to jump forward.

The British Horse Society [BHS] launched a website in 2010 where horse riders are able to report incidents at horseaccidents.org.uk

Eight have so far been reported in Herefordshire – one resulted in a horse fatality and two others saw the horses sustain minor injuries.

Three incidents also resulted in minor injuries to the rider.

Senior executive for safety at BHS, Sheila Hardy, said: "There is room for everybody on the road when a bit of courtesy and consideration is shown to each other.

“We are all duty-bound to the rules in The Highway Code.”