Should you have or witness an incident involving a horse, you should report it to the British Horse Society (BHS) even if no one is hurt or it is a near miss. The charity collects data on all horse-related incidents, whether they are ridden, driving a carriage or cart, led in-hand or loose.What classes as an incident?The BHS classes an incident as any unplanned event that has:resulted in a rider or handler feeling concerned (e.g. verbal abuse)resulted in a horse reacting in an unsettled way (e.g. excessive noise)the potential to cause injury to a rider, handler or horse even though it may not have at this time (a near miss)already caused injury to a rider, handler or horse (an accident)A road incident could involve:road/off-road usersdogsslippery road surfaceslow-flying aircraftdronesfireworksIf an incident does not fit into one of these categories, it can still be reported using a General Incident Report Form and emailed to the BHS.How to report an incidentIncidents can be reported to the BHS in one of two ways: via its Horse i app (see box below) or using an online form.The Horse i app can be downloaded to your smartphone and allows you to quickly submit details.Since its launch earlier this year, the app has seen a 250% increase in the number of hacking incidents reported.Where to find the Horse i appApple devices: download the app in the App store hereAndroid devices: download the app in the Google Play store hereAlternatively, you can submit an online incident report via the BHS website.To submit a report, you need details of:where the incident occurredwhat the incident involvedthe approximate date and time of the incidentwhether the incident was a near miss or resulted in injury to the person in charge of the horse or the horsewhether you were a witness, in charge of the horse or otherthe status of the horse at the time of the incident (e.g. ridden, led in-hand, long reined, loose, etc.)details of your visibilitydetails of the road, rights of way and any other parties involveddetails on whether the incident was reported elsewhere (e.g. to the police or council) and whether any action was takenyour personal detailsIt is essential that you report every incident. This is the data that the BHS uses in its work to help make the roads safer for horse riders and has led to mounted police patrols in problem areas, where drivers who pass the police horses incorrectly are pulled over and educated using the key messages of the BHSs Dead Slow campaign.Reporting to the policeIt is also imperative that you report any incidents, including road rage and poor driving, to the police viaOperation Snap.Your Horseadvises wearing acamera while riding on the road, so that you have footage you can share with the police when reporting an incident. Having this increases the likelihood of success. It is also important to report incidents on the same day, as there is a short window for police to investigate.Related contentWhat to look for in a hat cam for horse ridersThe Highway Code: a solicitor explains what it means for horse ridersHow riders can work together to improve road safetyRoad rage has nearly doubled and 58 horses killed on UK roads in 2024The post How to report an incident or a near miss when riding a horse on the road to the BHS appeared first on Your Horse.