Horse riders, cyclists and pedestrians to take part in Ride 72 demo in Burton urging drivers to Pass Wide & Slow

HORSE riders and cyclists are being invited to jump in the saddle for a special demonstration in Burton to raise awareness of vulnerable road users.

Local equestrian and campaigner Jodie Sloane is once again leading the event called Ride 72, which will also involve pedestrians and is part of the nationwide Pass Wide & Slow initiative.

Taking place on Sunday 17th September, it will cover an approximately 5km route taking in the village’s outskirts and the two main routes through it.

The nearest postcode for the start and finish location is BH23 7JH, with the What 3 Words location of ‘loaf, angel, forget’.

Gates will open at 8.30am, with the procession setting off at 10am.

Only horse riders need to pre-enter Ride 72 by completing a registration form obtained on the event’s Facebook page or through the New Forest Equine Directory.

Burton and Winkton parish councillor Jodie (37) was inspired to launch the event last year by a series of near-misses and collisions with vehicles involving herself and others.

She also wanted to highlight changes to the Highway Code in January last year, saying motorists should leave a width of at least two metres when overtaking horse riders and pedestrians and one-and-a-half metres when passing cyclists.

“In this day and age, we should be able to feel safe using the roads with our horses,” Jodie told the A&T.

“On a regular basis we are subject to speeding motorists passing in both directions, traveling too close, being overtaken on a blind bend or not understanding arm signals, and even being verbally abused on a regular basis.

“We would love not to use the roads but sadly we do not get a choice as we must use them to access off-road riding.”

All Ride 72 entrants will be entered into a raffle, with prizes including Stewarts Garden Centre vouchers, and a cap and snood from Alexander Sports.

Event sponsor Hinton Admiral Estate is also providing rosettes which will be presented to all horses that attend.

Burton scouts will be on hand serving hot food to entrants.

Jodie added: “If Ride 72 makes just one or two motorists think about how they pass vulnerable road users I believe it to be a success.”

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