A survey conducted by UK-based car leasing company Flexed has reported that around 94% of road drivers have demanded legally binding proficiency tests for horse riders before they are allowed on the public roads.

In the survey that covered more than 1,200 drivers, 70% of them thought horse riders should at the very least have third party insurance before riding on public roads and 58% of drivers said that Highway Code advice telling riders to avoid busy roads and roundabouts should come under the law.

Sections 49 to 55 of the Highway Code deal with the riding of horses on public roads, with certain rules backed up by law, while the majority of the Highway Code’s single page on horses is only advisory, and riders do not even have to prove they or their animals are ‘roadworthy’.

"It’s only right that both drivers and horse riders are taught how to share the road responsibly."

According to drivers, there should be some sort of minimum standard of horsemanship before taking to roads in both country and urban settings, as the number of young riders are increasing.

Flexed spokesman Johnny Ratcliffe said: "Who hasn’t been stuck behind a line of horses when driving down a country road?

"It’s momentarily annoying, which results in hostility between both parties. It’s only right that both drivers and horse riders are taught how to share the road responsibly."

These figures may represent road users’ prejudice against riders due to their ‘nuisance value’ and extra care they need when passing.

"These people are just as entitled to use the public roads as any car, bus or lorry. But with children as young as 12 years old riding a horse in traffic, you can see why there are calls for enforceable training."

One car user was quoted as saying: "Sometimes it’s just kids up there. Would they know what to do if their horse bolted into traffic? It’s cruel on the horses, if anything."