People are permitted to ride a horse on the road provided that they abide by the road rules. Horse riders need to apply common sense to ensure they, and other road users, remain safe at all times.

If you observe any person breaking the road rules while riding a horse call the Police on 111.

Safety rules for horse riders

Safety on the road is all about recognising the hazards and minimising risk. You need to manage that risk by taking control of as many elements of your ride as you can: making sure you wear appropriate gear, choosing your route and time carefully, and making suitable allowances for young or inexperienced horse riders.

The following safety rules should be followed when riding a horse on the road:

• Always wear a safety helmet while riding. A fall from your horse could result in a head injury .
• Wear brightly-coloured safety gear (i.e. a high-visibility vest) as this increases your visibility and research has shown that it slows down drivers.
• Ride your horse on the left-hand side of the road and as far to the left as possible.
• Keep your horse on the side of the road whenever you can, but don't ride on footpaths, lawns or gardens.
• Don't ride more than two abreast. When there is traffic, reduce to single file. Single file is also sensible when the road is narrow or you’re approaching a bend.
• Don't ride on the right of any moving vehicle.
• If you're leading another animal while riding, always keep it on your left, away from the traffic.

If you're riding a horse or leading animals at night, wear reflective clothing and carry a torch.

You can view 'Information for horse riders' on the NZTA website.

Sharing the road

The road code offers safety hints for riders and drivers and suggests people in cars slow down, take a wide berth and don’t rev engines or sound horns. Those who don’t can potentially be charged with careless or dangerous driving.