A CAMPAIGN to increase drivers’ awareness of horse riders has reached more than 1,000 signatures.

The petition was started by Jocelle Lovell of Grove Terrace in Penarth after her then 12 year old daughter, Chloe was thrown off her horse after a car passed them at speed two years ago in one of the lanes on Sully Road.

Also backing the campaign are Ulrike Smalley of Dinas Powys, Angela Baker of Barry and Rachel Francis of Penarth, local riders who have experienced similar dangerous situations.

which has seen the petition reach more than 1000 signatures since its launch last autumn.

The aim of the campaign is to raise awareness and educate people about how to safely drive past a horse.

Chloe, Ms Francis and Ms Lovell herself were riding from the Downs Side Riding School towards Cosmeston when they saw a large car coming towards them.

The car initially slowed down to pass the horses but after reaching the narrowest part of the lane, it sped up spooking the three horses and Ms Lovell's daughter Chloe was thrown from her horse.

Ms Lovell said that her daughter was not hurt badly as she was wearing protective equipment but that the incident knocked her confidence.

Ms Lovell said: "The driver may not have been aware of the situation that was created. It could have been a lot worse but that's why we started the petition.

"We always wear high visibility jackets and try to be as courteous as we can when on the roads.

"We would rather not use the roads but there are not many off road horse tracks for us to use so we have no choice.

"Everyone has the right to be on the road but the amount of traffic on the road is increasing."

She said that some people are unsure about how to pass horses properly and that it does not take much to spook even the most experienced horses.

"We do not want to make it a them and us situation. We just want to raise awareness of how to pass horses.

"We suggest driving no more than 15 mph and leaving a distance of two metres. Riders will always try to thank drivers if they can."

The campaign has been supported by South Wales Central AM Andrew RT Davies, who has recently taken on the role of chairman of a cross party group on horses in the Welsh Assembly.

The group will be meeting later this month.

"Jo, Ulrike, Angela and Rachel have done fantastic work launching the campaign and seeking to raise awareness of the dangers horse riders face on the roads," he said.

"It is fantastic that their petition has received so many signatures already, and I hope we can reach that milestone of 1,000 as soon as possible.

"The Cross Party Group on Horses – of which I am chairman – will have its first meeting of the new assembly later this month, and it would be great to have got to the magic number 1,000 by then."

For more information, visit www.facebook.com/PassWideAndSlowWales.

To view the petition, visit www.assembly.wales/en/gethome/e-petitions/Pages/petitiondetail.aspx?PetitionID=1043