It is not essential to own a horse in order to take the test as many riding schools and centres organize them for their pupils. Similarly, you do not have to attend a centre in order to take the test and training. Although the published dates refer mainly to tests being held at centres, if a group of 8 or more people can get together, many trainers and examiners are happy, subject to a satisfactory risk assessment, to come to them. This obviates the need for your own transport.

The exam tests your roadcraft and riding ability, not the horse or pony! The test is in three parts as described below.

The Theory Test – This tests your knowledge of the Highway Code and the generally accepted rules of riding on the road. Generally this will be a written test, but in certain circumstances it may be an oral test. Eight out of ten questions must be answered correctly in order to pass this section and move to the next stage.

Simulated Road Route – This stage takes place in off road conditions, i.e. in a field or indoor school. It is designed to test your reactions to a series of hazards etc that you may encounter on the roads. Candidates also undergo a tack and turnout inspection of both horse and rider to ensure that all equipment and clothing is in a safe and suitable state for riding. Again you need to obtain a minimum mark of 80% in order to proceed to the next stage of the test.

The Road Route – You will follow a set route along the roads, so that the examiners can assess your competence in dealing with cars and other hazards you meet on the roads. You will usually be given the opportunity to walk the route without your horse prior to the test.

HOW DO I TAKE THE TEST?
If you would like to find out more about the BHS Riding and Road Safety Test, please contact the BHS Riding and Road Safety department on 01926 707 803 or contact your local BHS Riding and Road Safety Representative, Pony Club or affiliated Riding Club.

FIRE!
Fire! A word that every horse owner dreads, conjuring up visions of terrified horses trapped in their stables as tongues of flame and thick smoke threaten to engulf them. How do owners and yard proprietors lessen the risk of fire? How do they make sure the fire brigade can respond quickly if a fire does start? How do they make sure the horses can be swiftly moved to safety?

The only publication of its kind and written by Harry Paviour, a retired serving brigade officer and now Fire Risk Surveyor for the Fire Service College at Moreton in Marsh, the book sets out clear guidelines on assessing fire risk wherever horses are kept, be it a large riding school, livery yard or smaller privately owned premises, taking the reader through all the steps needed to minimise the risk of fire and loss of life, equine and human.

Dealing with potential arson attacks, liaising with the local fire brigade, ensuring sufficient water supplies and disaster planning are all covered by the author who quotes personal experiences during his time as a fire officer. Although a reference book which goes beyond the equestrian world - it will be an essential tool for all fire brigades, licensing officers, surveyors and architects involved in rural premises - it is highly readable and is a must for every horse owner and yard proprietor.

Guidelines for Fire Safety in Equine and Agricultural Premises by Harry Paviour is published by The British Horse Society and available from the BHS Bookshop (tel: 0844 8948 1660) or visit: www.bhs.org.uk (Price £29.99 plus p&p) or at any BHS show stand.

Helicoptor Low Flying
All helicopters share common mission profiles: they depart from their operating base, navigate to an objective area, deliver the required effect (whether this is direct fire, surveillance or support to ground forces), and then return to their operating base. Recent conflicts in Iraq and Afganistan have shown how vulnerable helicopters can be to a wide variety of weapons, and helicopter crew's primary means of survival is to fly as low as possible, to minimise exposure to these threats by achieving surprise, and thereby reducing risk.

Tactical helicopter low flying is therefore vital to protect both crews and the troops they support during operations, and is used for concealed approaches and departures, operating in confined areas, pick-up and delivery of troops and under slung loads, and for both direct fire and observation. The low flying skills necessary to conduct these missions have to be constantly practised during peacetime so that helicopter crews are ready for operational duties anywhere in the world, often at very short notice. Helicopter crews training for these activities in the UK may be authorised to fly down to ground level when necessary.

Helicopter crews are highly trained to avoid horse riders if at all possible and special drills on the helicopter are used to minimise disturbance if riders can be seen in sufficient time.

Visibility Trials
In the spring of 2005, MOD conducted trials to see what could be done to increase the conspicuity of horse riders. Personal strobe lights, emergency radio beacons, infra-red devices were all examined, but none offered a robust and cost-effective solution. Trial BRIGHT EYES was devised to test the effectiveness of high visibility clothing and initial results were very encouraging, leading to flight trails using volunteer riders, arranged with the assistance of the BHS. The live flight trial investigated the range at which helicopter crews detected riders dressed in 'normal' riding wear, and then looked at the effect on detection range when high visibility clothing - comprising jacket, helmet cover and exercise sheet - were used. The trial showed very clearly that, providing the riders were in line of sight of the helicopter, high visibility clothing significantly improved detection ranges, allowing the crew to see the riders in time to avoid over-flight. Whilst high visibility clothing may not always prevent helicopters from over-flying riders, it does provide a considerable and cost-effective improvement in rider safety.

Free Phone Advisory Service
As a result of the MOD review of helicopter low flying, a number of improvements have been made to the MOD freephone advisory service, first launched in March 2005. This improved service, with more detailed information on helicopter low flying is available to horse riders by calling 0800 51 55 44.

BHS Safety Advice for Riders
Horses have a highly developed sense of hearing and extremely mobile ears that allow sound from all directions to be detected. Horses can also hear sounds that are inaudible to humans, and can detect faint noises up to 4km away. The horse's ears prick up and turn towards the sound and this 'Pryer Reflex' can show where the horse's attention is focussed. If a sound is unusual, eye movement and head movement may follow to try and identify the sound, providing a good warning for the rider.

Why Do Horses Spook?
Originally, horses were grazing herd animals and their hearing was a primary defence against predators. Even today, the horse's basic instinct has not changed, and in response to real or imagined danger, the horse will run away, particularly when faced by something unfamiliar. The horse is also very sensitive to any insecurity or lack of confidence in the rider and will respond accordingly.

What Can I Do as a Rider?
The horse is likely to hear a helicopter before the rider, and the 'Pryer Reflex' may indicate the horse senses danger and where the danger is coming from. Horses can distinguish specific words and become familiar with a rider's voice, so it is very important to talk to the horses to calm them. Running a hand along the horse's neck can also have a calming influence. If the horse is frightened, it is vital that the rider remains calm, keeping their legs in contact with the saddle but not clamping them on the horse's sides, as this may be interpreted as rider fright, and will also urge the horse to go forward. Sit deep in the saddle, relax and try to keep the horse listening to you until the helicopter has passed.

Further information www.mod.uk/issues/lowflying

The British Horse Society have had a meeting with Mr Geoff Dight, Structural Maintenance Project Engineer for Somerset County Council (SCC) regarding the use of Stone Mastic Ashphalt (SMA) in the County.

The meeting was very productive and it would appear that SCC are very aware of the difficulties encountered by horse riders on the SMA surface.Somerset County Council, like most councils, are using SMA extensively. It would appear that SMA has been in use for quite a number of years but approx 4 years ago it was highlighted by the Department of Transport that the road network was generally falling into disrepair.
To this end the Government set targets that Councils had to arrest deterioration of the roads by 2004 and recover the repair of all roads by 2011. This has meant that Councils are expanding surfacing maintenance from predominately main roads into all classes of roads, which now impacts more greatly on horse riders.

SMA is being laid, as it is quiet tarmac. Also, whilst the material cost is not that much cheaper than other road surfaces the method of laying it is quicker and more cost effective and also means that there is less old road to take up which impacts on waste product for councils to dispose of in an environmentally friendly way.

However, following concerns about safety for all road users, Somerset CC are now overlaying newly laid SMA with a 3mm quartzite grit. This grit is spread over the SMA and rolled over the surface before being swept up again. This scuffs up the newly laid surface offering better traction and in turn is deemed to be safer for all road users. They are using this technique on all roads of over 40mph or over as standard and this is being applied to the whole width of the road surface not just the edges.

Any road in Somerset with a speed limit of under 40mph SMA will be laid without the additional surface treatment. However, Somerset CC are very receptive to the concerns of horse riders and in a number of areas where a known group of horse owners have a problem they have endeavoured to come up with a solution even to the extent where they have used an alternative to SMA. They have said that where problems or potential problems are highlighted and affect a number of riders they will try to come up with a solution. This is down to the constraints that the council has regarding time, labour and financial resources. However it is the responsibility of horse riders and owners to find out about new road surfaces being applied in their areas. They can find out about which roads are going to be re-surfaced, as Somerset County Council regularly update local papers. Also, County Councillors have a list of proposed works in their division and District Councillors are generally informed. This highlights the need for local riders/horse owners to be in contact with their County councillor and their Parish Councils.

Mr Dight has agreed to supply BHS Somerset’s Road Safety Officer, Mrs Bridget Chalfont-Griffin with a list of roads, which have been surfaced in SMA in the past three years, and also a list of those that have undergone the additional treatment. He will also keep her up to date with the future use of SMA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Mrs Bridget Chalfont-Griffin (BHS Somerset Road Safety Officer) – 01749 870114
Mrs Julie Garbutt (Development Officer) 01749 880152
Mrs Sally Whittaker (BHS Somerset Chairman) – 01749 880264