Horse riders and animals: rules 214 and 215

The short answer

When you see a horse on the road, slow to 10 mph or less. Be patient, do not sound your horn or rev your engine, and when it is safe pass wide and slow, leaving at least 2 metres. Pass other animals slowly too, and stop if a herd blocks the road.

Source: The Highway Code, rules 214 and 215, GOV.UK

Warning sign: a red triangle with a horse, for wild horses or ponies — Wild horses or ponies ahead. Rule 215: treat them like ridden horses. Image: Crown copyright, OGL.

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Two questions on horse riders

Question 1 of 2

How should you pass a horse rider on the road?
- Under 10 mph, with at least 2 metres of space Right
- At 20 mph, with at least 1 metre
- Quickly, to get past
- With a short tap of the horn
The right answer is A: Under 10 mph, with at least 2 metres of space

WhyPass horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles at speeds under 10 mph and allow at least 2 metres of space.

Source: The Highway Code, rule 163, rule 215

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A horse rider keeps to the left on a roundabout and gives a right-arm signal while approaching an exit. What intention should you allow for?
- Continuing around past that exit Right
- Leaving at that exit despite the right signal
- Stopping to let all following traffic pass
- Moving immediately into the innermost lane
The right answer is A: Continuing around past that exit

WhyHorse riders may keep left on roundabouts and signal right across exits to show they are continuing around.

Source: The Highway Code, rule 55, The Highway Code, rule 186

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The rule in plain words

Horses (rule 215). Horses are flight animals: they can be frightened by a car and move very quickly, whatever the rider does. So slow down to a maximum of 10 mph as soon as you see one. Be patient, and never sound your horn or rev your engine near them. When it is safe, pass wide and slow with at least 2 metres of space. Riders are often children, and they may ride side by side when escorting a young horse or rider. Watch for a rider’s signal to slow down or stop, and do as they ask. In the Highway Code’s words: “Always pass wide and slowly.”

Feral or semi-feral ponies, such as those in the New Forest, Exmoor and Dartmoor, need the same care as ridden horses.

Other animals (rule 214). Drive slowly past animals and give them plenty of room. Do not scare them with your horn, by revving or by speeding away once you are past. If a herd blocks the road, stop and switch off your engine until they have left it. Keep your speed down on bends and narrow country lanes, and watch for animals on unfenced roads.

What rules 214 and 215 say

Situation	What to do
You see a horse on the road	Slow down to a maximum of 10 mph (215).
Passing a horse	When safe, pass wide and slow, at least 2 metres away (163 and 215).
Near any animal	No horn, no revving, no fast getaway (214 and 215).
A rider signals you to slow down or stop	Do as they ask (215).
A herd blocks the road	Stop and switch off your engine until they have left the road (214).
Ponies on the open road	Treat them like ridden horses (215).

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What it means in practice

Two riders side by side on a narrow lane

They may be escorting a young horse or a new rider. Slow to 10 mph or less and wait behind until you can pass with 2 metres of space. On narrow roads horse riders may ride in the middle of the lane so they can see and be seen (rule 213).

A horse rider on a roundabout

Riders are advised to keep to the left on roundabouts and to signal right when they ride across an exit they are not taking (rule 55). Give them plenty of room and do not cut across them as you enter or leave.

Sheep on an unfenced moorland road

Keep your speed down, especially on bends, and be ready to stop. Rule 214 says to watch out for animals on unfenced roads, and to give them plenty of room as you pass.

Common mistakes

Passing a horse at normal speed with a big gap. Space is not enough on its own: slow down as well.
Sounding the horn to let a rider know you are there. It can startle the horse.
Speeding away once you are past. Rule 214 says not to accelerate hard after passing animals.
Edging through a herd. Stop and switch off your engine instead.

Questions about horses and animals

What speed should you pass a horse at?

No more than 10 mph. When it is safe, pass wide and slow with at least 2 metres of space. Source: rule 215.

Do horses have right of way on the road?

Under the hierarchy of road users, drivers carry more responsibility than horse riders, because a car can do more harm. You should not cut across a horse rider going ahead when you turn. Source: rules H1 and H3.

What should you do if animals block the road?

Stop and switch off your engine until the animals have left the road. Source: rule 214.

Sources

(3)

The Highway Code, rules 214 and 215 (animals, horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles), GOV.UK. Checked 4 November 2026.
The Highway Code, rule 55 (horse riders at roundabouts), GOV.UK. Checked 4 November 2026.
The Highway Code, rule 213, GOV.UK. Checked 4 November 2026.

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Quotes from The Highway Code and the sign image are Crown copyright. Sources and image credits.

Horse riders and animals: Highway Code rules 214 and 215