No Ridden or Accompanied Horses

No Ridden or Accompanied Horses signs appear at motorway entrances alongside other vehicle prohibition signs, at tunnel entrances (Dublin Port Tunnel, Jack Lynch Tunnel), on urban dual carriageways in Dublin, Cork, and Limerick, and increasingly on greenways and cycleways where pedestrian and cycle traffic is prioritized (Great Western Greenway Mayo, Waterford Greenway).

The signs are distinct from 'No Horse and Carts'—this prohibition covers ridden horses and horses being led/walked.

Common in Phoenix Park Dublin on sections where horse riding is restricted to designated equestrian trails.

Horses being ridden or led on foot are prohibited.

This covers all horses, ponies, donkeys being ridden or accompanied whether on bridle or lead rope.

The prohibition protects both horse riders and other road users—horses on high-speed roads create unpredictable hazards, sudden movements can cause multi-vehicle collisions, and horses suffer severe injuries in vehicle collisions.

On greenways, the prohibition protects cyclists and pedestrians from horse-related hazards.

Equestrians must use designated bridleways, off-road trails, or Local Roads where horse riding remains permitted.

Phoenix Park has extensive designated riding areas.

Violating horse prohibition signs results in €80 Fixed Charge Notices and 2 penalty points under Road Traffic Act regulations covering animal control on roads.

Motorway violations result in dangerous behavior charges: fines to €1,000 and potential animal welfare investigations.

Horse riders causing vehicle collisions face full civil liability—insurance rarely covers equestrian negligence.

Horses on motorways or in tunnels result in immediate Garda intervention, horse seizure, and potential animal cruelty investigations if horses are injured.

Greenway violations result in €40-€150 fines under local authority bylaws and potential riding ban orders.

Theory test questions on vehicle and user restrictions test knowledge of differences between vehicle types prohibited on various roads.

You must distinguish 'No Horse and Carts' (prohibits horse-drawn vehicles like sulkies and carts) from 'No Ridden or Accompanied Horses' (prohibits riding or leading horses).

Questions test understanding that motorways prohibit all non-motorized transport and slow-moving vehicles.

Understanding equestrian traffic regulations demonstrates comprehensive road user awareness.

Practical tests don't typically encounter horse prohibition signs, but questions about vulnerable road user safety including equestrians appear in theory examinations.