A campaign to educate motorists on how they can safely pass horses on the road will hold its annual awareness rides next month, including in North Wales.

Pass Wide and Slow, whose Facebook group has attracted almost 23,000 members, will host 187 rides across the UK and Ireland on Sunday, September 19, one of which will be based at Caernarfon Castle.

The rides will aim to spread the word about the importance of keeping a safe distance, ideally a minimum of two metres, while passing horses at no higher a speed than 15mph.

This year’s ride follows the British Horse Society revealing that 1,010 incidents involving horses and UK riders were reported to them from February 29, 2020 until February 28, 2021 – of those, 46 horses died and 118 were injured.

Ann Williams, a member of Pass Wide and Slow, has helped organise the Caernarfon Castle ride, saying: “It’s to raise awareness about how to pass horses, to show that we are around.

“In our area, it’s not too bad, but obviously in other parts of the country, it gets really bad with horse riders on the road. People don’t know what to do or how to pass them, so they pass too close.

“I’ve had it myself. I rode in Beddgelert, but now I’ve chosen not to because they come so close. I’d rather put my horses in my trailer and drive for a mile instead of riding through the village, because it’s too risky.

“I was appalled by how close drivers come to me. All that a horse needs to do is make one step and it will be hit. For me, personally, it’s not worth it.”

This will be the third Pass Wide and Slow awareness ride in North Wales, having been previously held in Porthmadog and Pwllheli, and will also involve a collection for the Wales Air Ambulance.

The ride will start by Byw'n Iach Arfon leisure centre at about 10.30am, with stops at the Anglesey Arms pub, the Garddfon Inn in Felinheli and, of course, the castle itself.

Marshals will join for some of the approximately 12-mile ride, carrying a large banner explaining their cause to passers-by, while volunteers will also ensure the roads stay free of horse manure.

People are still being encouraged to get involved, either as a walker, rider or foot soldier, with Ann adding: “Up to now I’ve got about ten riders, so hopefully, we’ll get about 15, and ten to 15 foot soldiers too.”

Fancy dress is also an option for potential riders, who must sign a disclaimer form on the morning of the event and have their own insurance and Hi-Viz clothing, as well as ensuring their horse is used to traffic.

Debbie Smith, co-founder of Pass Wide and Slow, added: “I don’t want my ride or any other organisers’ awareness rides or drives to cause trouble.

“It is not a protest; we move out of the way and don't deliberately hold drivers up. We just smile, thank them and hope that they enjoy seeing a group of riders or carriage drivers out together.

“I just want to educate drivers on how, as riders, we keep ourselves safe. We are now using cameras and Hi-Viz, and this is also a way to encourage riders to be polite to drivers.

“The Pass Wide and Slow Group has a lot of followers who have lost their horses, partners, husbands or wives in an equestrian accident while riding or carriage driving on roads.

“With 22,800+ members, we want improved road safety for ourselves, and better off-road facilities for horse riding and carriage driving.”

To join Pass Wide and Slow’s Facebook group, visit www.facebook.com/groups/passwideandslow. For more information on the Caernarfon ride, click here.