Pass Wide and Slow NZ

Passwide and Slow NZ Roadsafety photo. Saturday 10th May, 2025.

In September 2024, 15 Waimakariri Riding Club Horse Riders and two walkers took part in an inaugural Pass Wide and Slow event publicising the rights and responsibilities of both horse riders and vehicle drivers. Well, this was quite educational for club members. We had two incidents, one resulting in a large supermarket vehicle having an educational chat with me on the importance of slowing down when passing horse riders. The second driver passed a group of high viz riders at considerable speed and was reported to the police. And this was a road I road quite frequently and generally drivers were good. We all learned a lot about what to do and how to keep ourselves safe.

So, when Julia McLean asked me whether the Waimakariri Riding Club could find 43 horses and rider (preferably on horse) for a photo shoot what else could I say? Of course. A few social media posts, some fancy scheduling and quite a few spares later we had our 43 horses and riders.

Gradually, I worked out a plan for the staging, riders signed up and we put a few things in place to get things sorted. Some key people volunteered to be on the ground and as the day got closer – of course more people volunteered. Using a range of networks I gathered a few more people and did our best to get the communications strategy in place.

How cool was Saturday? Uber cool. I arrived with Cruz and Leanne to a well-oiled machine of Koala and Charlie checking in people and directing parking. People arrived in good time to take their equine partners for a ride to tire them out as appropriate. Cruz munched as much hay as he could!

So, the plan to have groups and rows seemed to work for most! The big row at the back set up first then by some magic the other rows got organised! There was some flexibility in the plan but for about 45 minutes or so 43 horses and riders managed to gather and pay respect.

“I felt quite emotional”. That much was clear from the rows of well-behaved horses (and their riders)! Harriet and her brood, see photo in front, were fabulous at the front and helped set the tone. Lots of pats on the neck for nervous horses who hadn’t been in such large groups before and beaming riders at the end told the story.

Lots of positive encouragement whilst Veronica did her magic with her drone. How super was it that two riders who several rallies ago couldn’t get their horses to stand still for 3 mins let alone let alone for the half hour or so we ended up in rows. Well done to the two riders who each bought new horses and managed to keep them in one place for so long. We have some stunning riders and horses. I loved it when riders who were worried about the drone followed the instruction to bow head and breathe.

The lunch crew set up for by now the WRC famous lunch time chat and catch up. Thanks, Steve, for delivering the table. Amazing spread as usual. I’m sorry about one chair that didn’t make it when I sat on it.

To be clear getting these horses and riders together was not just about one person with bits of paper and a computer. This event was about the WRC village and equine friends coming together to achieve a highly successful Pass Wide and Slow NZ event.

Thanks so much everyone who helped make this a most successful photoshoot paying respect to the 43 whose lives were lost since 2020.

For details of the campaign please go to the Pass Wide and Slow NZ website.

43 Riders and their horses. Well done everyone