Dorset has seen a decrease in road incidents involving horses, statistics reveal. 

Latest data published by the British Horse Society (BHS) reveals 56 horse-related road safety incidents occurred in Dorset in 2023 out of the 479 recorded across the South West region. 

This marks a decrease for the county as in 2022, the BHS recorded 62 incidents. The number of horse fatalities recorded also remains at zero. 

The statistics were gathered as part of BHS's Dead Slow road safety campaign, urging road users to pass horses safely.

Figures are collected every year via the group's reporting app Horse i, where the public are encouraged to report any incidents involving horses on the roads. 

A spokesperson from BHS said: "At the BHS, we strive to make the world safer for horses and equestrians. As part of this, we urge horse riders to report any incidents they are involved in with their horses on the roads.

"This allows us to collate key statistics, to help better understand the rate of equine-related incidents and to lobby for change in equine road safety laws."

Devon saw the highest amount of horse related road incidents, with 141 recorded last year compared to 84 in 2022. The county also saw the highest number of deaths with 27 reported in 2023. 

Somerset saw the second highest number of incidents in 2023 at 97, closely followed by Wiltshire at 95.

The lowest number of recorded incidents in the South West was Avon at only 2 in 2023.