A frightening incident on a quiet Gloucestershire road has sparked important conversations about safety and communication between cyclists and horse riders. When a group of cyclists participating in an organized sportive (non-competitive cycling event) passed a young rider and her pony without warning, the consequences were heart-stopping.
Five-year-old Bethany was enjoying a relaxing hack on lead rein with Gemma Park, a friend who works at the livery yard owned by Bethany’s mother, Vanessa Roxburgh. The pair was just moments from home in the Newent area when the first cyclists appeared on the scene.
“They were slow at first, and one of the cyclists said ‘There’s a few more of us behind,’ but I didn’t expect the sheer volume of them,” Gemma explained. “The next cyclist for some reason passed on the wrong side of the pony, and quite close, which spooked him a bit—and then there was a big group of them.”
When Everything Went Wrong
What happened next unfolded in terrifying seconds. The pony, a Welsh Section A named Crunchy, was overwhelmed by the sight and sound of multiple cyclists approaching downhill at speed.
“It all just happened so fast. There were maybe six to 10 of them, coming downhill, making that high-pitched whirring sound of bikes en masse, and the pony went: ‘That’s enough, I’m out of here,'” Gemma recalled.
The panicked pony bolted—but not in the direction Gemma anticipated. Instead of heading toward the safety of home, Crunchy galloped faster and faster down a steep hill, his panic mounting with each stride.
“He got faster and faster and more and more panicked,” Gemma said. “I was thinking ‘For God’s sake, don’t let go,’ but in the end, it was impossible to hold on to him.”
Young Bethany tumbled from the saddle as the frightened pony continued his desperate flight down the hill.
A Scary Moment That Could Have Been Worse
When Bethany hit the road, she was bleeding and crying, with a fat lip and a bloody nose. Thankfully, two cyclists showed compassion in the chaos—one stopped to help Bethany while the other managed to catch Crunchy and bring him back to safety.
However, the majority of the group continued cycling past the scene of a distressed child and panicked pony without stopping or slowing down.
“While it was going on—she was on the floor and the pony was panicking and spinning—the others ignored us and just kept on going past, quite quickly,” Gemma said. “The road’s so bendy and narrow; it wasn’t suitable for an event like that. What if they’d met a car at that speed? It doesn’t bear thinking about.”
A Preventable Tragedy
While Bethany’s injuries were fortunately minor—requiring only a new helmet and time to recover emotionally—the incident has left a lasting impression on everyone involved. The situation was entirely avoidable.
“I still can’t quite believe it happened and it was so avoidable,” Vanessa said. “If we’d known the event was on, we wouldn’t have gone out. Apart from a bloody nose and a fat lip, and Beth needs a new hat, everyone’s fine but it could have been so much worse.”
This incident highlights a critical gap in communication between sporting organizations and local equestrian communities. Cyclists, riders, and local event organizers must work together to ensure that all road users are informed and safe.
Moving Forward Together
For horse riders and cyclists to safely share our roads, advance notice of organized events is essential. Narrow, winding roads simply aren’t suitable for large groups of fast-moving cyclists, especially in areas where horses and their riders regularly hack out.
The equestrian community deserves advance warning of such events, and event organizers have a responsibility to choose appropriate venues and notify local riders. When cyclists and horse enthusiasts work together with mutual respect and awareness, everyone stays safer on the road.
Bethany’s close call serves as an important reminder that on our shared roads, communication, caution, and courtesy aren’t luxuries—they’re necessities.