A GROUP of horse riders who launched a petition to gather support for compulsory lessons on safe driving near horses have handed it into the Welsh Assembly.

Penarth resident Rachel Francis, along with others, launched the petition in a bid to secure support for the introduction of an annual programme to teach drivers how to travel carefully near horses.

Miss Francis’ decision to launch the petition – called Pass Wide and Slow Wales – was partly inspired by a friend’s daughter being thrown from a horse.

She previously said: “My friend’s daughter was thrown off after the horse was spooked by a speeder.

“What was worse was that the speeder didn’t even stop to check she was okay.

“That was one thing which actually made me think that something needed to be done to help make our roads safer to ride horses on.”

She added: “Our object is not to punish drivers, but to educate them through educational lessons on what not to do when nearing horses on the road – with speeding being a big not to do.”

The petition has since collected more than 1,600 signatures, with members of the group handing it to the Welsh Assembly Petition Committee for consideration on Tuesday.

“We’ve spent the last year collecting as many signatures as possible,” said Miss Francis. “The petition is to ask for a yearly education for road users on how to pass horses safely.

“Practically everyone here has faced an incident.

“Cars speeding and coming too close to the horses which can spook them happens quite regularly to us horse riders. Hopefully if our petition is accepted people will begin to learn that horses are sensitive creatures.”

Rider Jocelle Lovell said she hoped the Welsh Assembly would seriously consider the petition’s findings.

“I got involved with this petition after my daughter was thrown from her horse after a driver sped past,” said Miss Lovell.

“The driver did not stop and she was hurt.

“This petition will help horse riders and drivers. I hope the Assembly will introduce what we’re asking for.”

Claire Hall, who is a supporter of the petition, added: “It’s unacceptable that horse riders are regularly put in danger by some drivers.

“With the planned annual education programme drivers will learn what not to do when approaching horses. The programme can save lives.”