Horse rider left shaken in shocking display of poor riding during triathlon
Further statement:No event warning on road I would not have been out on the road in any form had I known there was a sporting event on. I saw no signs alerting the local that an event would take place on the road I was on and when, hence why I went out like any normal early Sunday morning this time of year.Hit and run cyclist Nobody stopped and the cyclist that hit me seemed to show no remorse by what looks like him lifting his middle finger at me whilst riding off as I screamed. I'm very thankful to the event officials for their prompt investigation into identifying the individual and the sincerity in which they are taking the incident. As mentioned, police are also investigating and both aim to work together.Lack of road awareness Although one cyclist hit me, I am surprised there wasn't more. Many individuals on this stretch of road at this time had passed dangerously and irresponsibly – too fast and too close. They also put other road users at risk by putting themselves between my horse and oncoming vehicles.Ongoing concernIt was terrifying being on a spooked horse and knowing that these individuals weren't willing to stop. I am lucky to ride such a calm animal but there are other horses that really wouldn't have tolerated the speed and proximity of those cyclists, risking everyone. I am genuinely concerned. There are many amazing road users that pass safely (and who should always be thanked by horse riders) but there does seem to be a growing lack of awareness of how to pass horses safely on the road and indeed with other vulnerable road users such as cyclists. I think that is what is more shocking in this instance as I felt victimised by many of the individuals on bicycles on that road at that time and particularly by the one individual that hit my horse and I.Damaging incident My horse was on the defence with every cyclist he met from then on after the hit and didn't calm until we got away from cyclists on that road. I strongly hope there are no long term effects associated with cyclists coming up behind him from now on. I have had amazing support from the cyclist and triathlete community – so much so that some have offered to do some desensitisation work with my horse if he has picked up a new fear of cyclists. I want to pass my deepest and sincerest gratitude and respects to everyone involved in this sporting community for their support and consideration. I realise it is a few select individuals and not in any way a reflection of the majority of cyclists out on our roads.Mutual ground I am in full support of our want to all get home safely and enjoy our sports peacefully. I hope this doesn't divide us but makes us stronger in raising awareness of what seems like an ongoing and escalating issue regarding the lack of safety awareness from some individuals when passing vulnerable road users. Pass slow and wide should apply to both of us from everyone and anyone out on the road – as is stated in the highway code.Edit: Under investigation with police and the Human Race officials. Grateful to everyone for their support and kind words. Horse and I are OK. No warning to local residents, signs, etc… Went out at 7:30am to our other farm down the road and came back on same road 9am. I have lived here all my life and never had a problem with cyclists – as with my horse, who is bombproof on the road. I am wearing a yellow hi-vis hat silk, coat, gloves and gilet. My horse is wearing a yellow hi-vis rug and breastplate. The cyclist smashes along the side of my horse, taking my stirrup in the handlebars and bruising up my ankle. My horse rears and bolts forward, taking off one of his back shoes. Not a lot I can do I think but what should I do? I had no knowledge of the event and repeatedly had near misses where cyclists failed to slow down and put themselves, me, my horse and drivers at risk. No one stopped to see if I or the horse was ok after this hit. I'm still in shock and feeling very sore along one side of my ankle.
Posted by Jennifer Katherine on Sunday, June 17, 2018
Event organiser Human Race Events has launched an investigation after triathlon competitors rode into a horse and injured its rider during the bike leg of the Royal Windsor triathlon on Sunday.
Video of the incident was posted online on Sunday, quickly going viral on Facebook, with the rider saying that she was “in shock” after the incident but that she had also received good support from the triathlon and cycling communities.
In the video the horse rider, posting on Facebook as Jennifer Katharine, is riding down the middle of the road as riders start to pass at high-speed on her right.
Despite the speed of the riders passing close to its right, the horse remains remarkably calm until a couple of riders decide to undertake the horse, one of whom clips the horse and the horse rider’s ankle, causing the horse to panic and leaving the horse rider with bruising.
In a lengthy caption accompanying her Facebook post, the rider described how scared she was being on a spooked horse and her disappointment at the dangerous standard of riding shown by the competitors in the triathlon.
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However she also said that she was grateful for the support offered by other cyclists, and that she recognises that the behaviour of the riders in the video is not representative of the riding standard of all cyclists.
“Nobody stopped and the cyclist that hit me seemed to show no remorse by what looks like him lifting his middle finger at me whilst riding off as I screamed,” she wrote.
“It was terrifying being on a spooked horse and knowing that these individuals weren’t willing to stop. I am lucky to ride such a calm animal but there are other horses that really wouldn’t have tolerated the speed and proximity of those cyclists.
“I am in full support of our want to all get home safely and enjoy our sports peacefully. I hope this doesn’t divide us but makes us stronger in raising awareness of what seems like an ongoing and escalating issue regarding the lack of safety awareness from some individuals when passing vulnerable road users.
“Pass slow and wide should apply to both of us from everyone and anyone out on the road – as is stated in the Highway Code.”
More than 1,800 competitors took part in the triathlon, who were told in the event pack that “roads are open to live traffic and [they] MUST obey all Highway Code rules”, which state that horses and their riders – just like cyclists – should be passed wide and slow.
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In response to the incident, Human Race Events, said it would be launching a swift investigation with competitors disqualified and banned from all future events.
“We are currently investigating an incident at the Windsor Triathlon involving a group of cyclists and a horse rider. We are taking this very seriously. Riders will be identified and disqualified from all Human Race Events. All riders are briefed to follow the Highway Code,” the organiser wrote on Twitter.
“We do not condone dangerous cycling of any kind. We sincerely apologise to the individual affected.
“We are in contact with the individual affected by the horrible incident earlier today at Windsor Triathlon. We want to sincerely apologise to her and her poor horse.
“We have convened a senior level committee internally, and along with British Triathlon we will be reviewing the video evidence to identify those involved in this. Those at fault will be disqualified and banned from all future Human Race events.
“There will be further ramifications for these people with British Triathlon and potentially further action taken.”