Pony and trap racing is due to be banned in areas of Buckinghamshire following hundreds of incidents in recent years.
The Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is due to come into force on Friday (8 May) under Section 59 of the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014.
It will apply to the A413, from Chalfont St Peter to Denham, and the A40 between Beaconsfield and Denham.
“Persistent, unregulated pony and trap racing along the A413 and A40 cause significant risks to road safety by obstructing and disrupting the highway network, and create an intimidating environment for road users and local residents,” stated the Buckinghamshire Council’s Development Control Committee report.
“In accordance with statutory requirements, a public consultation was undertaken between December 2025 and January 2026 to seek stakeholder and resident views on introducing a PSPO to address this behaviour. The consultation returned strong support for intervention, with the majority of respondents recognising the problem and endorsing the proposal for restrictions on both highways.”
The order will be enforced by Thames Valley Police, who will issue Fixed Penalty Notices of £100.
If a fine is not paid, the offender may be prosecuted before the magistrates’ court and fined between £500 – £1,000. Police data recorded 639 pony and trap racing‑related incidents between 2020 and 2025.
“We are aware of concerns around pony and trap racing across Buckinghamshire,” a Thames Valley Police spokesperson told Your Horse. “We have been working with our partners to prevent any anti-social behaviour or offending and increase the safety of road users.
“A Public Spaces Protection Order (PSPO) is used to allow local authorities, in partnership with police, the power to impose restrictions on activities in a specified area to tackle anti-social behaviour.”
