FIFTY people took to the streets over the weekend to call for an education campaign on how to drive safely near horses on the roads.

Thirty riders and 20 walkers marched in Penarth for The Awareness Ride on Sunday, May 21, as part of the UK wide Pass Wide and Slow campaign.

Jocelle Lovell, of Grove Terrace, in Penarth, launched a petition with the backing of fellow riders Ulrike Smalley from Dinas Powys , Rachel Francis from Penarth and Angela Baker from Barry after Ms Lovell's 12-year-old daughter Chloe was thrown from her horse two years ago after a car passed her at speed in the lanes on Sully Road.

The ride in Penarth was organised by Pass Wide and Slow Wales (PWAS), a campaign set up to improve road safety for horses and riders in Wales through road user education on how to pass horses safely.

The Awareness Ride brought together riders of all ages from across the Vale.

Setting off from Lower Cosmeston Farm the riders headed into Penarth town centre, to the pier and then up the Promenade before returning to their starting point. The event was supported by South Wales Police, B&W Vets and Holm House Hotel which offered refreshments to riders and walkers.

Local photographer Sian Lewis captured the event on film.

South Wales Central AM Andrew RT Davies and independent Sully councillors Bob Penrose and Kevin Mahoney have given their backing to the petition.

In the past year alone, 426 road incidents have been reported to The British Horse Society (BHS) resulting in the death of one person and 21 horses.

Ulrike Smalley, from PWAS Wales, said: "We held the ride on the May 21 as it signifies the number of horses killed on the roads across the UK in the past year.

"It was great to see a community of horses lovers come together for a common goal."

Rachel Francis, PWAS Wales campaigner, said: "The day was a great success, not only did we collect an additional 100 signatures for the petition it gave us the opportunity to talk to passers by and drivers about how to pass horses safely 'slowly a maximum of 15mph and wide at least 2 meters'.

Jocelle Lovell and Angela Baker PWAS Wales campaigners lead the ride through the streets of Penarth.

Ms Lovell said: "We decided to start the campaign following an incident where a driver ignored our requests to slow down, which resulted in my daughter being thrown from her horse. The driver didn't even stop to see if she was okay.

"We just want drivers to be more informed and to treat us as vulnerable road users."

Olivia Griffiths, 11, and her pony Harlan won the prize for best turned out horse.

Olivia was accompanied by her mum Sarah who said: "Olivia and I like to go out riding together and unfortunately we have to use the main roads to get access to the bridle paths and off road riding available to us, so we wanted to support this ride in the hope that motorists will listen and pass us wide and slow for everyone’s safety."

Pass Wide and Slow Wales are currently collecting signatures for their petition to Welsh Government for an annual horse and rider road safety campaign.

The petition has already attracted more than 1,400 signatures and is running until September of this year.

The online petition which has link can be accessed via the Pass Wide and Slow Wales Facebook page, or by visiting assembly.wales/en/gethome/e-petitions/Pages/petitiondetail.aspx?PetitionID=1043