Am I the only rider that thanks drivers these days?

When I'm out on the roads I have hi vis coat and FatD wears fluorescent boots on all legs and a fluorescent on the fronts and a yellow sheet :) I always raise my hand, mum and YO would kill me if I didn't. The only time I haven't was I was riding out a mare that belongs to my friend and she tried to kick out at a car :S so I think the driver was just pleased I got her out of the way!
 
Fortunately I ride my horse on quiet country lanes and the majority of traffic that passes us slows down. I always nod and smile and, if possible, acknowledge their courtesy with a wave.

Some months ago I was driving to my yard using the same narrow lanes and came up behind two riders, riding abreast, no hi-vis, happily chatting to each other. The road was straight with ample green verge each side but both riders continued on their merry way, oblivious to me driving behind them. I couldn't pass so continued to follow them, believing they would separate and allow me to pass. After quite some time they still had not moved so the only way I could draw their attention was by quickly pipping my hooter, which I really didn't want to do :eek: but it did the trick and they rode in single file, glaring at me and mouthing something through my window :eek:

Usually I would have let this go but I was annoyed with their behaviour - they were mature women riders givign other riders a bad name. To their surprise I pulled up in front of them and got out of my car. I was going to ride so had my riding gear on, which left them with no illusions that I was 'just another unhorsey road-hog'. I asked them was this the way they usually treated drives who slowed to allow them to move over and they were shamed enough to admit they were in the wrong.

Unfortunately, as other threads have noticed, it only takes one or two rude riders to make it difficult for the rest of us! :mad:
 
No your not the only one, I wear hi-Vis and always say thank you, (even to those drivers who nearly knock the stirrups of my feet!!)
Does pee you off when I pass a rider and don't get a thank you.
 
As most people have said, if you don't say thank you it makes them less likely to slow down for you and other riders the next time round! As both a rider and driver I make sure I slow down alot, or say thanks to those at do. However, for those that don't I have to resist the urge to shout - often an arm thrown up in the air in disgust is my gesture of choice! It also reaaaaaly grinds my gears when people don't slow down at all when you are waiting to come out of a junction...where is the common sense! And it really bugs me when I slow down for riders and get nothing from it - I feel like saying something along the lines of 'I ride too and it's people like you who give us a bad name..'
 
I think it's quite shocking how many posters have encountered rude riders. I really feel ashamed to be associated with some of them when they show a complete disregard for drivers, pedestrians etc. I almost get the impression from some that because they are on a horse, they feel they are "above" the traffic and that they shouldn't have to bother showing any politeness!

I am sure some of it is simply that nobody ever taught them such manners, though anyone riding their horse on the streets should be capable of thinking that up on their own. If you ride in public then you are put into the "rider" category by those who see you. I for one resent people making this category seem rude or unappreciative because I am part of the riding community too and that is NOT how I behave. I will continue to smile, nod, wave and speak to/at thoughtful people that I encounter, no matter what their method of transport, because I am grateful when they have taken the time to make things a little bit safer for both me and my horse.

If I didn't have to ride on the roads then believe me, I wouldn't. The sad fact is that, like many of us, I have no choice and would like to have a harmonious relationship with those I see. It makes life more pleasant for us all (including those of the 4 legged variety).

*rant rant rant* :D

ETA: I'm the OP and still ranting, bad times!
 
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Sorry if someone mentioned this, havent read all posts. but years ago I had a hi viz tabard that said "Thank you for slowing down" on it. Never seen one since though
 
kaylouise67 said:
If, for whatever reason, I can't wave etc...I shout 'thank you' loud enough for them to hear through their car windows!

I cannot abide bad manners. Not only did I not get a thank you off these two riders they also decided to add dirty scatty looks to the mix. How the devil in me wanted to blow my horn that day...
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Me too, I wear hi viz and always wave or shout 'thank you'.
The worst culprits in my neck of the woods are the equine students from the local college of ignorance. They never wave or say thanks, or wear hi viz. What they do do is ride two abreast down major A roads at peak times, ride on the pavements and generally get up everyones noses. Must be on the syllabus.
 
If I pass riders that dont make any attempt to say thank you, or WORSE give me dodgy looks, I pull past them, stop my car, get out and say to them that I'm a rider so I will always pass slowly but had I not been a rider I wouldnt stop next time. Without fail, they're very apologetic - and I did pass two again on the way home and they were saying thanks to everyone!!!

I also got out when I nearly killed a cyclist the other day who was wearing full black at about half 6! Told her I'd nearly killed her and she said "ye that happens alot"......well wear hi viz then?!?!?!
 
I remember when every young rider in the area seemed to be a member of the pony club and if you didn't wear hi-viz or say thank you you got reported to the DC who knew exactly who you were by any scetchy description and got the full wrath from the DC.

I am glad to say I rarely ride out a horse I do not trust completely and the only real encounter I have had with a rude driver apart from speeders who are stupid more than rude was riding down a road with cars parked on the other side and a hedge on my side so only room for one vehicle. I was about four cars in and a car came zooming around the corner further down the road and tried to come down the gap. Don't know where they thought I could go but just carried on walking towards them. Luckily on a massive 17.2 hunter so no questions asked. When I was about 2 metres away they reversed. I thanked them and they told me I didn't own the road. I pointed out it was my right of way and thanked them again......But was thinking @?:>?@ers!!!!

But still thanked them! :D
 
Supertrooper said:
I always thank people unless they make no effort at all to slow down in which case I ignore them. If I can't safely take my hands off the reins I nod and smile and if they have car windows open
I say thankyou. I also always say hello to people that are walking or cycling and let children come up and stroke horse aswell xx
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I do this, I think its nice to be nice, and I hate it that so many people who ride by me are so ignorant, if I can manage to wave while keeping a racing fit TB under control I am pretty sure the happy hackers can manage.
 
Misinterpreted said:
I always do. I give a smile, nod and a hand up thank you so often that I often forget I'm not on a horse and still do it, if I'm on my bicycle or on foot - now that's embarrasing!
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Hehe, embarrassing but oh how polite of you! :D

I really wonder what the general non-riding public think of the riding community as a whole, especially as so many of us have encountered ill-mannered riders...
 
I crawled past the most rude miserable family of 4 yesterday twice, mum, dad & 2 daughters, none even smiled & nodded. It really peed me off, & I can understand why non horsey car drivers don't slow down.
 
i say thankyou as much as i can however i have noticed that people round heathfield in the back lanes are not as good at slowing down for riders as other places, i had one incident about 3 weeks ago with a unmarked police car he practically drove into the side of me and my horse and my friends horse when he could see that our horses were playing up at the bin lorry, the horses were not fussed by the actual lorry but everytimes its air breakes when it set them off, having got past the lorry knowing the car was behind us and we were on a courner i asked the driver to wait my horse was cantering sideways on the spot doing his rocking horse impression, the driver could plainly see we were struggling and over took us anyrate and was about 5 inches off running his car into my horse, needless to say i was very angry.
i say thankyou to everyone that slows down to a resonable speed, although it is tricky as my horse can tend to fidget on the roads and somtimes i cannot afford to take my hands of the reins to say thankyou properly but most drivers can understand cause i look terrified on the roads no matter when is happening,
i find its not a problem with riders saying thankyou to drivers its the problem of drivres never seem to acknoledge your friendly smile nod/orhand signal to say thankyou, but i do know someone who did not get a thankyou from a rider got ut her car and said to the riders your not giving hore riders a good name when you dont nod or wave to say thankyou for a car slowing right down and over taking with a good distance (its okay she is a rider as well) the girls have always said thankyou to cars since XD
 
maddyb said:
i find its not a problem with riders saying thankyou to drivers its the problem of drivres never seem to acknoledge your friendly smile nod/orhand
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That's an interesting point of view. I find that some drivers slow down but completely ignore me or look away when I try to thank them and then others are extremely grateful, wave back and give me a huge smile! Even if none of them acknowledged my thanks then I would still thank them because they have done me a favour by slowing down. If I thanked them, then expected them to thank me for thanking them... should I then thank them for thanking me for thanking them? :D
 
I was just thinking of this thread today! I drove twelve miles on a reasonably busy B road, and went past seven horse riders (possibly due to a lovely afternoon and the fact that it was half term, although they were mostly adults). Out of the seven, ONE thanked me for slowing down, and passing wide, the other six ignored me, and all the other cars that were doing the same. I was ashamed to be a horse rider! Quite a few of them were decked out in their fluro wear, which amused me - all the gear, but no idea!
 
I'm in your club HollyWoozle! It's so important to show good manners. I make a real point of it and never ever overlook it.

Another thing I think is important, and I wonder if others are the same (sorry for going slightly off topic) is taking time to say hello to walkers when I am out on my horse. in the past, I have passed too many riders who literally stick their nose in the air and act like you're not there. it especially bugs me if I have stopped to let them pass, holding my dog quietly, for instance.

On Sunday last, I was riding my horse to the hunt meet. A lady and her 2 year old raced to the end of their drive and `ooh'ed and `aah'ed. I stopped to chat and let the little boy pat my horse. I don't want anyone to think I'm a snob up on my horse:rolleyes:
 
Absolutely not, I always thank drivers, it does however really irritate me when, as there is in my local area young girls riding around, like they own the road I slow down, hold all the drivers up who would not have if not for me, and she looks at me like I just crawled from underneath a stone. Riders like her are why many drivers don't slow down :mad:
 
Happyhuntress said:
I'm in your club HollyWoozle! It's so important to show good manners. I make a real point of it and never ever overlook it.

Another thing I think is important, and I wonder if others are the same (sorry for going slightly off topic) is taking time to say hello to walkers when I am out on my horse. in the past, I have passed too many riders who literally stick their nose in the air and act like you're not there. it especially bugs me if I have stopped to let them pass, holding my dog quietly, for instance.

On Sunday last, I was riding my horse to the hunt meet. A lady and her 2 year old raced to the end of their drive and `ooh'ed and `aah'ed. I stopped to chat and let the little boy pat my horse. I don't want anyone to think I'm a snob up on my horse:rolleyes:
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I try to stop and talk to walkers as well, and stop to chat with people in their gardens too - the horses soon get used to it and appear to like being admired - good training for the youngster too (who's turning into the biggest 'gossip' of them all:)).
 
Happyhuntress said:
Another thing I think is important, and I wonder if others are the same (sorry for going slightly off topic) is taking time to say hello to walkers when I am out on my horse. in the past, I have passed too many riders who literally stick their nose in the air and act like you're not there. it especially bugs me if I have stopped to let them pass, holding my dog quietly, for instance.

On Sunday last, I was riding my horse to the hunt meet. A lady and her 2 year old raced to the end of their drive and `ooh'ed and `aah'ed. I stopped to chat and let the little boy pat my horse. I don't want anyone to think I'm a snob up on my horse:rolleyes:
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I agree with you on that. I say hello and smile at people walking, cycling, jogging, whatevering as I think it's just polite and friendly. If I walked past someone in my village and I was on foot then I would do it, so why not when on my horse? I don't tend to stop as Belle doesn't always stand still that well and I wouldn't want anyone to try to stroke her and get hurt, but I always try to wave to children. Little girls tend to love my pink high vis!
 
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