Three horses were killed on Suffolk roads last year and two in Essex as the toll of equine deaths continues to rise, according to new figures.
The British Horse Society (BHS) logged a total of five horse deaths across the East of England last year - all across the two counties.
The equine charity's 'Horse i' app recorded 322 road incidents in the six counties of the East of England - a big increase from the 241 in 2021 as horse injuries and deaths rose.
In one horrific incident in Suffolk in October last year, a horse died in Earl Soham following a collision.
The female rider received minor injuries but was "badly shaken" after the crash. The horse had to be put down.
The BHS described their latest figures as "shocking" and "reflective of the significant equine road safety challenge we’re facing".
In spite of changes to the Highway Code aimed at protecting horses and riders, Suffolk recorded 50 incidents last year, up from 34 in 2021.
Horses have died on Suffolk's roads every year over the last three years, BHS found. Two died in 2020 with 14 incidents recorded and one in 2021, with 34 incidents logged.
In Essex, there was one horse death in 2020 and 20 incidents, 63 in 2021 with no deaths and 64 in 2022 along with two horse deaths.
Across the UK, the charity received details of more than 3,550 horse-related road incidents in 2022 - a 21% rise on the previous year.
The BHS was involved as a stakeholder when Highway Code changes were made last year - including an advisory speed of 10mph and at least two metres of space for passing people riding horses or driving horse-drawn vehicles.
BHS director of safety Alan Hiscox said: "Horses are still being killed and injured on our roads, riders continue to be seriously injured and too many drivers underestimate the importance of driving carefully around horses.
"This is detrimental to the safety of equestrians. You only have to look at the 68 horses who were tragically killed across the UK in 2022."
He added: "Our fear is that guidelines aren’t being clearly explained and delivered; this needs to change.
"Urgent action is required to make every road user aware of the Highway Code changes and, critically, why it’s so important to pass horses with care."
No horse deaths were recorded in Norfolk, where four incidents were recorded in 2020, 38 in 2021 and 46 in 2022.
In Cambridgeshire, six incidents were logged in 2020 but no deaths. In 2021 there were 43, with one horse fatality and 65 in 2022 - but no horse deaths.
In all, the BHS recorded 3,552 road incidents involving horses across the country in 2022. In these 68 horses died and 125 were injured. A total of 139 people were also injured.
It found 26% of riders were victims to road rage or abuse and in 82% of cases vehicles passed by too closely to the horse. In 78% of cases, incidents happened because vehicles passed by too quickly.
For details of the BHS Dead Slow campaign visit: www.bhs.org.uk/deadslow
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