Two police horses were undercover, helping to catch motorists who got too close to the horses on the road.
Thames Valley Police horses Atlas and Viktor removed their usual police clothing for the operation, near the Oxfordshire/Buckinghamshire border, and instead wore simple high visibility vests.
The action was taken because of concerns that cars might get too close to the horses and their riders, frightening them.
Although in England, the interaction of motorists with horses is clearly regulated. Cars are not allowed to go faster than ten miles per hour and a distance of at least two meters must be maintained.
Data from the British Horse Society shows that 130 incidents were reported across the Thames Valley last year. Among them were five incidents in which the horse was injured and three in which riders were hurt.
Anyone driving carelessly and overtaking a horse too closely is fined £100 and given 3 penalty points. However, the drivers who were stopped in the operation should only receive a warning, as the focus was on education.
Source: Oxford Mail
