In a powerful call for road safety and Highway Code awareness, the British Horse Society (BHS) and Project EDWARD (Every Day Without A Road Death) are joining forces for the Lambourn to Windsor Ride. Taking place from Monday 12th May to Friday 16th May 2025, the ride aims to highlight the dangers horses, riders and carriage drivers face on today’s roads—and to promote safer driving around equestrians.
The ride starts at the famous Lambourn Gallops in memory of Knockalla, a racehorse killed on the road in 2024. It honours all horses and riders lost or injured in road incidents and seeks to prevent future tragedies. Despite changes to the Highway Code in 2022 – introducing Rule 215, which advises drivers to pass horses slowly (10mph) and at a distance (2 metres) – as well as rule 163, awareness among drivers remains critically low, estimated at just 5%.
Every day, 3 horses, including the pony of BBC Sports presenter Lizzie Greenwood-Hughes (who is documenting the journey for Horse & Country TV), will travel along the route.
Alan Hiscox, BHS Director of Safety, who is also riding says, “ The number of near miss incidents involving horses on our roads is shocking. Greater awareness on how to pass horses safely is much needed.”
Key Moments:
- Monday 12th May: Launch at Lambourn Gallops with support from jockeys (such as Hollie Doyle, Tom Marquand, and others), trainer Tom Ward, media including BBC Breakfast, the Police and Crime Commissioner for Thames Valley Police, Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue, Lee Dillon MP and key figures from the racing world.
- Wednesday 14th May: Community engagement day at Yattenden, supported by the local school, Riding for the Disabled, Thames Valley Mounted Police and Royal Berkshire Fire and Rescue
- Friday 16th May: The grand arrival at Windsor via the iconic Long Walk, escorted by Thames Valley Mounted Police. The ride will culminate with a parade in the Castle Arena at the Royal Windsor Horse Show (2pm), interviews at the Entertainment Hub, and a meet-and-greet at the BHS marquee with supporters including Martin Clunes, the Deputy Chief Fire Officer Mark Arkwell, Commander Kyle Gordon from the Metropolitan Police to name but a few
Watch Monday’s highlight reel
Watch Tuesday’s highlight reel
Why It Matters:
In 2024 alone, 58 horses died, 97 were injured, and 80 people were hurt in incidents involving horses on roads. Alarmingly, 81% of reported cases involved vehicles passing too fast or too close, and around 30% involved driver aggression. The Lambourn to Windsor Ride is not about blame – it is about raising understanding of horse behaviour, encouraging empathy, and promoting safer sharing of the roads.
Extra Initiatives: During the ride, BHS and Project EDWARD will launch a new training resource for Police Op Snap teams, aimed at improving the review of journey cam (hat cam) footage submitted by equestrians. Developed in response to research by Dr Helen Wells and Dr Santiago Amietta at Keele University, this initiative seeks to enhance consistency and empathy when policing road incidents involving horses.
Supporters: The ride is backed by a wide range of organisations and individuals
Jaguar Land Rover are providing a branded support Defender vehicle to escort the ride every inch of the way
Woof Wear are providing high-visibility clothing
