This follows an accident that left resident Shiree Darley badly injured after her horse was frightened by a motorbike riding on the verge behind her.
Darley explained that her horse, Seal, panicked and fell on top of her after he was frightened by the motorbike while she was riding alongside her property on Maple Road. Seal then fled down the road.
Although the horse was not badly injured, Darley sustained injuries to her head and lungs, fractured six ribs and was in ICU for a week.
“I felt it was safe to go out on Sunday morning, as it cannot be considered safe to take the horses out of our properties during the week due to the traffic, unfortunately this was a bad decision,” said Darley.
The accident has highlighted the safety of riders in this equestrian area.
Ward 94 councillor John Mendelsohn said, “You have to be blind not to be able see the number of horses at any time of day, and the number of people riding the horses at any other time of day.”
Mendelsohn said horses were very skittish and were easily spooked by unexpected loud noises and vehicles speeding past them. He urged motorists to decrease their speed when driving around the area and resist revving their engines.
Darley had the following safety precautions for motorists driving around in the area:
- Slow down to at least 30km an hour when passing horses and riders
- Please do not hoot or rev your vehicle
- If possible provide a gap between your vehicle and the horses – in case they react to something frightening and jump into your pathway
- Please do not drive fast behind them – whether in a car, on a motorcycle or bicycle.
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