Plan the ride before you leave the yard. Check your equipment, visibility and route, and choose a ride that suits both horse and rider.
Check the essentials
Highway Code rules 49–55 cover riders' equipment and behaviour. Rule 50 recommends footwear with hard soles and heels, light-coloured or fluorescent clothing in daylight, and reflective clothing in poor visibility. Rule 52 says to check tack fit and condition and make sure you can control the horse before taking it onto the road.
Read the full route guidance
The Code advises riding single file on narrow or busy roads and around bends, and avoiding roundabouts where possible. This short checklist doesn't replace those rules or practical instruction. Read the BHS road-riding guidance before planning unfamiliar road work.
The linked GOV.UK Highway Code covers Great Britain. In Northern Ireland, use the Northern Ireland Highway Code. Check local access arrangements rather than assuming every route permits horses.
Sources checked 25 October 2026.