Am I In The Wrong For Being Cheesed Off About This?

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Mistakes were made this morning and I nearly broke my neck!

So I forgot that there is an Endurance event on around our hacking this weekend and merrily set out with Dex this AM, after he’s had the week off! I realised the error I had made when the first two came galloping at us across the open field we were in, and then past us without slowing or any acknowledgment at all - Dex just about kept a lid on it, and I did a U-turn thinking I’d try and make it back to the road before the next lot.

I didn’t make it back to the road and the next lot cantered up behind me on a single track and straight past me and around the corner, despite clearly seeing I was on a horse that was trying to bugger off with me and then broncing. The point at which they went around the corner out of sight I unclipped my jacket and hopped off before he decked me and I hurt myself.. and we walked the rest of the way home.

I realise they have paid to partake in the event, and it was my error for going out, but I value my neck much more than them adding 20 seconds to their time to have some basic courtesy AND I have ‘young horse’ written on my flashing hi-vis!

I'm feeling rather cheesed off!

 

[GrassChop]

Is it easy to tell who's in the event and who isn't? If so, then I would say they should have had basic manners to other riders in the area that weren't participating.
I don't really know how it works with things like that. I've seen hatcams of people hunting and people don't stop when others are walking or having issues so maybe it's normal?
Still though, extremely annoying and glad you got out without getting hurt.

 

[Steerpike]

I'm sorry you have had this problem. If it is an EGB event riders are told to be polite and courteous to all members of the public they meet out on course. I would suggest you write an e-mail to the ride organiser explaining what happened, if you got their numbers even better so the organiser can send them an email and any action could be taken against them.
Edited to add I'm an endurance rider and would be cheesed off with that but I am too long in the tooth for behaviour like that so would have said something to them even if they weren't endurance riders!

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would complain its rude and dangerous.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

I think it was obvious, I didn't have a number and was going the wrong way for the first set on a big ID who isn't build for long distance, and then the second time they would have been able to see he'd lost it even if I was a competitor..

Thank you @Steerpike, it's good to get the view of a competitor! I didn't get their numbers but I think I might email them, I just wanted to sense check that I'm not being a pansy and if it's to be expected that a horse would be okay with being cantered past like that. I was too busy trying not to get decked to say much, and then they were out of sight. The stewards that saw me when I made it back to a different gate than I came through (why I didn't see them originally) did ask if I was alright which was kind.

 

[Steerpike]

The stewards may not have been needed at that gate until a certain time depending on where it was on the course and when riders where expected, I'm really sorry you have had a problem, we aren't all like that!

 

[JFTDWS]

Yea that’s not good. Is there something the organisers could do in the way of signage / reminders so you don’t end up in that situation again? I know you were aware of it, but a more recent reminder might’ve prevented it?

The riders were ridiculously rude, but my experience of people is that rudeness is pretty inevitable unfortunately.

 

[Steerpike]

Ride organisers do put signs up on bridleway gates, fence posts, gates ect warning members of the public about the up and coming event.

 

[Glitterandrainbows]

Honestly horse people are so selfish sometimes believe me, they don’t mind winding horses up as long as there not on the back of them but when them tables turn there always the nervous ones in my opinion! Nothing pees me off more!!

 

[SOS]

As someone said out hunting/other activities yes people don’t always stop or slow down to pass a walking horse or that having issues but that is irrelevant as you weren’t competing in the event and therefore hadn’t chosen to be involved!

I’m guessing you were using public bridleways? If so I would be quite annoyed if there was no signage and that’s how the riders reacted. It’s an events responsibility to adequately inform people if using public spaces.

 

[Ruftys mum]

I'm sorry you have had this problem. If it is an EGB event riders are told to be polite and courteous to all members of the public they meet out on course. I would suggest you write an e-mail to the ride organiser explaining what happened, if you got their numbers even better so the organiser can send them an email and any action could be taken against them.
Edited to add I'm an endurance rider and would be cheesed off with that but I am too long in the tooth for behaviour like that so would have said something to them even if they weren't endurance riders!

I took was an endurance rider and always slowed down when approaching a horse in front. I also checked that it was okay to pass. All the riders who I competed with did the same
Manners in all areas seem to have deteriorated

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Unfortunately a lot of race competitors seem to think that the whole world should give way to them. We get this with cycle time trials round here. The roads are still open to all traffic and the few bridleways that we have are also open but the competitors act is if they are the only ones there.
I would definitely email the organisers. How are you supposed to know that you may meet up with the race? Do they go round every yard, livery and private, in the area to advise everyone to steer clear? Do they actually have permission to be racing along the paths/tracks?

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

In this instance there was no signeage at all, on the way back I did notice a couple of sprayed white arrows on the pavement but a) they weren't that bold so you wouldn't see unless looking for them and b) the estate I was on (public bridleways) rears game and often has shoots and clay shoots etc for which they also spray arrows and what have you.

I would never canter or trot up to someone and always check my canter spot is clear before heading off, for people/dogs and other riders! I was quite shocked that they didn't think anything of it, but the fact they didn't think twice made me wonder if I was being the problem! That being said we also had someone canter up behind us on the fun ride we did the other week, thankfully they then stopped as it was the end of the stretch but perhaps it is more frequent that people just don't think....

 

[JackFrost]

Similar thing here recently - Endurance GB put an event on. They didnt put any notices up to warn about it. Fortunately I happened to find out in time and not take my young horse out .
After it was over, I tracked the route they took, and some bits of it were,IMO, just not safe to ride with anything other than a very experienced and sure footed horse, yet it was an open event.
Some bits were very narrow paths used a lot by pedestrians and dog walkers, who wouldnt have had any chance to get out the way.

god help anyone getting inadvertently mixed up in it. It all just seemed irresponsible and inconsiderate.

 

[Steerpike]

Unfortunately a lot of race competitors seem to think that the whole world should give way to them. We get this with cycle time trials round here. The roads are still open to all traffic and the few bridleways that we have are also open but the competitors act is if they are the only ones there.
I would definitely email the organisers. How are you supposed to know that you may meet up with the race? Do they go round every yard, livery and private, in the area to advise everyone to steer clear? Do they actually have permission to be racing along the paths/tracks?

As I mentioned in an earlier post, ride organisers do put posters up informing members of the public that there is an event on and in our area yes they do tell any yards they know. They do not need permission to use bridleways but they always ask the land owners permission.

 

[tristars]

Glad you are ok!

 

[JFTDWS]

Ride organisers do put signs up on bridleway gates, fence posts, gates ect warning members of the public about the up and coming event.

Yes, I know they should, and usually do.

But obviously in this case there was an oversight or an entry point that was missed because the OP didn’t see any (as they’ve confirmed in a more recent post).

Additional signage is hardly a big ask.

 

[Caol Ila]

I'd be cheesed off too.

My friends who ride endurance say it's SOP on their rides to slow down when approaching another rider and ask if it's alright to pass. And that's usually other competitors rather than randoms out on the trail. If they didn't slow down when you were clearly having an issue with your horse, that's a massively dick move.

 

[Nonjumper]

Was it endurance or a sponsored ride?? I used to do a fair few sponsored rides back in the day and to be honest getting charged past was sadly par for the course in my experience. But I'd expect better from those taking part in an endurance event, and they should have held back and asked if it was OK to pass, and given plenty of room too.

 

[canteron]

Was it on private or public land?
If private then maybe it’s a bit nebulous- but if in public they should definite steward it very closely and they shouldn’t be putting members of the public in danger.
Either way, a letter to the organisers would be appropriate.

 

[little_critter]

The rider info for the endurance ride that was near here last week.
It’s clear that they must be considerate.
It’s also in the general Endurance GB rules that you must seek permission to overtake other competitors, not just blast past them.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Definitely an Endurance ride and definitely on a public bridleway that goes across the estate at the top of the lane having come in off of the Downs and then onto a lane and up into the forestry (also bridleways), I passed a couple of dog walkers, two cyclists and three other pleasure riders also riding the route (who I warned of course!)

That's interesting @little_critter - thank you for posting! I didn't see anything on social media about the ride but someone from the yard did as to be fair they posted that they would be there in the yard group chat last weekend, which is why I am more than happy to hold my hands up to say that going out at all was an error - hence the 'ADHD Tax' thread, I don't hold any short term memory really so I should have made note somewhere.

 

[Caol Ila]

You should still email the ride organizers and complain, even if "going out at all was an error." Like Little_critter's message says, it's part of Endurance GB's code of conduct to be considerate of other trail users when riding on public paths. It sounds like these guys were anything but.

 

[Nonjumper]

someone from the yard did as to be fair they posted that they would be there in the yard group chat last weekend, which is why I am more than happy to hold my hands up to say that going out at all was an error - hence the 'ADHD Tax' thread, I don't hold any short term memory really so I should have made note somewhere.

I feel your pain as I also suffer from shockingly poor short term memory and can be told something only for it to be gone within seconds, so it's the sort of thing I'd do.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

Mistakes were made this morning and I nearly broke my neck!

So I forgot that there is an Endurance event on around our hacking this weekend and merrily set out with Dex this AM, after he’s had the week off! I realised the error I had made when the first two came galloping at us across the open field we were in, and then past us without slowing or any acknowledgment at all - Dex just about kept a lid on it, and I did a U-turn thinking I’d try and make it back to the road before the next lot.

I didn’t make it back to the road and the next lot cantered up behind me on a single track and straight past me and around the corner, despite clearly seeing I was on a horse that was trying to bugger off with me and then broncing. The point at which they went around the corner out of sight I unclipped my jacket and hopped off before he decked me and I hurt myself.. and we walked the rest of the way home.

I realise they have paid to partake in the event, and it was my error for going out, but I value my neck much more than them adding 20 seconds to their time to have some basic courtesy AND I have ‘young horse’ written on my flashing hi-vis!

I'm feeling rather cheesed off!

This peeves me on sponsored rides, the common
courtesy is to go back to trot or walk while you pass someone then resume your pace once clear of the other rider. Or at least the riders would say is it ok if we pass. I would contact the organisers.

Anything else is rude or dangerous.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Whether or not the course was flagged, or you been told or not that the event was on, the endurance riders should have treated all other members of the public with courtesy and respect.

It was not a closed event on private land, it was on land open to and accessible by the public.

I’d be fuming and would be putting in an official complaint to the organisers. Don’t get fobbed off. Putting out a load of orange flags doesn’t give the competitors the nod to go hell for leather past non participating members of the public.

 

[Skib]

The horse riding leaflet for the Royal Park where I ride says one should not approach a pedestrian at a trot. You must slow to a walk. However, walking there this week, with daughter and s.i.l., we were all almost run down by two lads riding down hill on those green hire bicycles. Cyclists are supposed to keep to the riding tracks.

 

[webble]

Thats really awful and I would put in a strongly worded complaint about it, as you say its not in the rules, its not how competitors should pass even if they thought you were a fellow endurance rider

 

[pistolpete]

I’d be more than cheesed off! When people canter past or even trot past if you’re not fully expecting it/in control/ on a youngster. It’s really unnerving. Not acceptable behaviour competition or not!

 

[PeterNatt]

You need to make a formal complaint to the Ride Organisres and also Endurance UK. There is asbsolutly no excuse for them behaving in this manner and the riders need a written warning.