Ride & Road Safety

Training for the Riding & Road Safety Achievement Badge

It is recommended that all candidates receive a minimum of 5 hours training before being put forward for the Achievement Badge. We suggest that you base your training around the information found in the Junior Road Rider book published by the Pony Club.

At the end of training we would expect candidates to be able to demonstrate to the examiner that they can:

· Dress themselves and their ponies correctly for riding on the road

· Carry out the necessary checks before riding (tack shoes etc)

· Recognise and talk about common signs, road markings and the sequence of traffic lights

· Describe and demonstrate on the simulated road route the “four point routine”

· Be able to ride safely around a simulated road route that has a minimum of 3 left turns, 3 right turns, a Stop and a Give Way sign, a hazard, traffic lights and the opportunity to show a short trot.

· Show that they can dismount, lead and remount correctly. (Leading from the offside)

Session 1 Theory Training (including Video)

What to wear

Dismounted Signalling, the four point routine, and other signals e.g. thank you

Recognition of at least 6 Signs and associated road markings

Session 2 Review Session 1

Checks to be carried out (horse tack and rider)

General positioning on the road, defensive riding and riding in pairs

Mounted signalling practice

Emergency dismount, lead and remount

Session 3 Review session 1 & 2

Mounted signalling practice

Introduction to riding stop and give way junctions

Traffic lights

Simple roundabouts

Session 4 Review session 1, 2 & 3

Mounted practice riding a simulated route containing some or all

aspects required for the test

Session 5 Final training session

Mounted practice riding a simulated road route that contains

all the hazards etc found in the test (see above)

Sources of reference: Reading Material for Instructors and Candidates

Instructor: The Highway Code & The British Horse Society Riding and Roadcraft Manual

Candidate: Junior Road Rider

Sources of reference: Video

Ride Safely (Pony Club Video)

Horsesense Roadcraft for the Rider (BHS Video)