Anyone else have to put up with inconsiderate people on the bridlepath?

I don't think anyone was slating novice riders, but were suggesting that they should not be riding alone on public highways and byways, putting their own and other peoples safety at risk. I absolutely agree that if you can't control your animal, be it dog, horse, lion or elephant, then you should not have it out in public. Or at least not without someone else who can offer you the necessary help, should a situation occur which most normally comepetant handlers could manage without difficulty, which you cannot cope with.

Don't go all serious on us it's late.
 
I envy you all...no bridle paths at all near me. We have some nice winding roads, complete with traffic. Thankfully, most local drivers are nice and considerate, but every so often you get a speed freak! Hippo has ignored all traffic so far, save for the mini JCB parked by the yard one day - she stopped dead and neighed at it! She's even had a small van reverse up to her whilst it was turning to leave the yard. I was so proud of her; she didn't even blink (I was bringing her in from the field at the time so I wasn't on board!)

As far as dogs go, I'm working on getting Hippo used to these curious beasts. There are a few that are sometimes brought to the yard. She seems more concerned they might eat her hay!
 
I think we should have abut of a reality check here. How many of us can honestly, hands on hearts, say that we have never lost control of our horses/dogs/children? The point is to be making the effort, and to be warning other people if you aren't succeeding, surely? My horse is fine with dogs (she did kick one once, but it was swinging on her tail at the time, and owner was doing f-all about it, so fair enough), but if we meet things she hasn't seen before, I expect her to trust me and not bog off, and tbf, she usually does, even when it's cows. She has never yet spooked at anything I have said 'good morning' to, but good manners are, luckily, the norm round our way, and most drivers of tractors, buses etc. Are really very helpful, as are most dog owners (tail swinging terrier owner excepted). Cyclists are great, and they are much appreciated, especially by my horse, who usually tries to set off in hot pursuit of them!
 
Don't go all serious on us it's late.
It is :D and it took me so long to post that I didn't realise that you had all started on the hallibut :D
Mind you I still can't quite match mangling a bit of punctuation with putting lives at risk and potentially damaging a horse, but I suppose to some it is as impprtant (odd fish if you ask me)
 
It is :D and it took me so long to post that I didn't realise that you had all started on the hallibut :D
Mind you I still can't quite match mangling a bit of punctuation with putting lives at risk and potentially damaging a horse, but I suppose to some it is as impprtant (odd fish if you ask me)

I think the sole reason you posted was to do a few fish puns.
Well, you should have had your skates on - we finished a whale ago.
S :D
 
Ah, but that's my point, you see. Telling a linguist not to get upset about poor language is akin to telling a rider not to worry about poor transitions and badly-fitted tack. It's also slightly lazy and often worn as a badge of honour ("Don't correct me I'm dyslexic "). Would you tolerate such wilful incompetence in riding (Don't scrutinise me; I don't know the aids)?

People who are dyslexic don't choose to be that way and those that I've come across who are sufferers have without exception been determined to overcome their problems and were worthy of recognition for their perseverance. For a time I worked with primary school children who were struggling with their reading. They had varying problems ranging from forms of dyslexia to just having been left behind when they couldn't work at the same rate as the other children but they weren't idiots by any means. I recognised every small step those kids took. If I'd constantly criticised them every time they misread a word it would have just destroyed their confidence totally. I found it more rewarding helping them rather than pointing out their shortcomings. If you want great literature then don't post on chatboards, you may not get perfect grammar or spelling but hey you might learn useful stuff along the way!;)
 
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Also you can have dyslexia where numbers are concerned too. I have a relative who is working to overcome this condition.
 
Mind you I still can't quite match mangling a bit of punctuation with putting lives at risk and potentially damaging a horse, but I suppose to some it is as impprtant (odd fish if you ask me)

Try telling that to the unfortunate operator of a poorly written and then poorly translated user guide for a powerful piece of machinery. Odd fish indeed :rolleyes:
 
People who are dyslexic don't choose to be that way and those that I've come across who are sufferers have without exception been determined to overcome their problems and were worthy of recognition for their perseverance. For a time I worked with primary school children who were struggling with their reading. They had varying problems ranging from forms of dyslexia to just having been left behind when they couldn't work at the same rate as the other children but they weren't idiots by any means. I recognised every small step those kids took. If I'd constantly criticised them every time they misread a word it would have just destroyed their confidence totally. I found it more rewarding helping them rather than pointing out their shortcomings. If you want great literature then don't post on chatboards, you may not get perfect grammar or spelling but hey you might learn useful stuff along the way!;)

Oh crikey. You surely know I wasn't having a go at people with dyslexia. I am a linguist and a speech therapist so don't preach to the converted. You must have seen the number of signatures on the internet claiming dyslexia as an excuse for poor spelling.

I don't want great literature. The point I'm trying to make (somewhat unsuccessfully, clearly) is that many users of this forum will savage any users who are inexperienced but will cheerfully be inept at such a basic task as writing in their native language. In horsey terms, imagine a question like "How do you spell 'definitely'? How would you lot treat such a basic question in the horsey world? ;)
 
Dogcalleddill- I am unsure where I have made any comment regarding your riding skills or control of your horse? So I fail to see why you are making rude comments about my poor grasp of language? If I wish, I am perfectly capable of reasonable language skills with a little effort. However if it was a subject that had any interest for me, I would join a linguist forum & seek to improve.
 
Try telling that to the unfortunate operator of a poorly written and then poorly translated user guide for a powerful piece of machinery. Odd fish indeed :rolleyes:
I might if I was on a forum for translators, but I'm not, I'm on H and H, so safety on and around horses is more important in this context, don't you agree?
Oh and Shills, sorry I was caught a bit flat on those, but will try not to cast any more red herrings.
 
Oh crikey. You surely know I wasn't having a go at people with dyslexia. I am a linguist and a speech therapist so don't preach to the converted. You must have seen the number of signatures on the internet claiming dyslexia as an excuse for poor spelling.

I don't want great literature. The point I'm trying to make (somewhat unsuccessfully, clearly) is that many users of this forum will savage any users who are inexperienced but will cheerfully be inept at such a basic task as writing in their native language. In horsey terms, imagine a question like "How do you spell 'definitely'? How would you lot treat such a basic question in the horsey world? ;)

In the past, as a DIY livery, I have been asked by my fellow liveries such questions as;
'Excuse me, can you look at my horse - I think he's lost a shoe but I'm not sure?' and
'Can you tell me which is hay and which is straw?' and have answered them all politely.
Not everyone on HHO is daemonic...
S :D
 
Oh crikey. You surely know I wasn't having a go at people with dyslexia. I am a linguist and a speech therapist so don't preach to the converted. You must have seen the number of signatures on the internet claiming dyslexia as an excuse for poor spelling.

Why must I have seen anything on the internet claiming dyslexia is an excuse for poor spelling? As a matter of fact no I haven't - you're making assumptions as you seem to be making assumptions about the general intelligence of the majority of posters on here! As for not having a go at people with dyslexia then I think you need to word your posts a little less aggressively!
 
I can be as cheerfully inept at writing my own language as I like dogcalleddill.
This is an open forum so if people with a grasp of English poorer than your own disresses you, find another if you don't like people expressing forthright views in response to your posts and the responses you got where quite mild in comparison to some them it might not be for you. I would also suggest that you don't stray into an of the barefoot threads until you have a thicker skin.
 
Why must I have seen anything on the internet claiming dyslexia is an excuse for poor spelling? As a matter of fact no I haven't - you're making assumptions as you seem to be making assumptions about the general intelligence of the majority of posters on here! As for not having a go at people with dyslexia then I think you need to word your posts a little less aggressively!

Fair enough, perhaps you haven't. They exist, though.

I've made no assumptions whatsoever about intelligence. I've merely stated the facts that this forum contains poor grammar and spelling. Mooch through a few posts and contradict me.

I don't know where I've been aggressive. If I have I apologise unreservedly.
 
I can be as cheerfully inept at writing my own language as I like dogcalleddill.
This is an open forum so if people with a grasp of English poorer than your own disresses you, find another if you don't like people expressing forthright views in response to your posts and the responses you got where quite mild in comparison to some them it might not be for you. I would also suggest that you don't stray into an of the barefoot threads until you have a thicker skin.

Of course you can, Goldenstar. And you're demonstrating that admirably. But my point, which you are all missing, is that you (HHO forum) are extremely unforgiving when it comes to horsey things but get extremely defensive about your ignorance in other fields. I just wish that courtesy and politeness could be accorded to all members in all situations.

I think it's a sorry reflection on the state of the world that I'm supposed to feel grateful that I didn't get savaged as much as I could have on other forums. That I need a thicker skin. Have manners entirely disappeared? Why behave differently on a forum than in real life? Cowardice, perhaps?
 
Of course you can, Goldenstar. And you're demonstrating that admirably. But my point, which you are all missing, is that you (HHO forum) are extremely unforgiving when it comes to horsey things but get extremely defensive about your ignorance in other fields. I just wish that courtesy and politeness could be accorded to all members in all situations.

I think it's a sorry reflection on the state of the world that I'm supposed to feel grateful that I didn't get savaged as much as I could have on other forums. That I need a thicker skin. Have manners entirely disappeared? Why behave differently on a forum than in real life? Cowardice, perhaps?

I have never been unforgiving to novices one person made a comment that could Been seen as unforgiving in reply to one of your posts , I never did . You are not in charge of politeness on the forum some people on here express them selves on full throttle in response to everyone they slightly disaggree with, personally it's not my stlye but I will give as good as I get if the fancy takes me some times I ignore I don't want to go on a wishy washey forum where everyone must be nice to each other all the time it would be tedious.
I don't think some of the posters here will behave differently in real life some will some won't it's up to them .
One person posted a point of view you did not like and suddenly all of us spend all our time savaging novices .
So people ( other than you of course) are inconsiderate on the bridleways and people on the forum do not show sufficent courtesy and politeness there's a theme here isn't there.
 
I'd hazard the guess people aren't as fussed about grammar as they are about horses is because it is a horse forum. Clues in the name really. Assuming with your superior language skills you realised this would imply it was about horses?
As for manners i still fail to see why you have made rude remarks about my lack of english when I haven't made any mention of your riding?
The reason I get wound up about out of control riders is because it could be my daughter, someone else's child, horse, dog whatever that gets hurt when the rider looses control. And when sensible people hack out, they get the backlash caused by the minority.
 
No one has missed your point, although you have avoided some that have been made to you.
I think you would find that people would offer the self same advice, to those people who put other uses of bridleways at risk through being unable to control their horses, in pretty much the same manner, face to face as they have on here. As has been pointed out, those who cannot control their horses in the face of fairly normal hazzards are likely to get ALL riders a bad name. The people who can and do control their horses are displeased to read about those who can't and in the case of the OP, then blame other people for their short comings.
 
Of course you can, Goldenstar. And you're demonstrating that admirably.

While you're giving people pointers on their appalling spelling and grammar dogcalledill, and the amount of it in the H&H forums that makes you weep , you might want to examine your own..

As a linguist im sure you'd be horrified to see someone using 'And' to start a sentence with.
 
Oh my, just caught up with this thread. I didn't expect such a response.

Amymay, I should've expected such a sarcastic and unhelpful response from you; it is clearly your speciality. Are you gratuitously rude to everyone you meet, or only when you can murk in internet anonymity?

You say I haven't bought a confidence-giving cob. I would beg to differ: she is a cob who gives me confidence. Ergo, she is a confidence-giving cob. I defy you to disprove this. She tries to leg it once in a blue moon and I have these situations under control.

I've spent ages lurking on this site, as it is such a useful source of information. But the snobbery and hostility are unrivalled.

You all savage most posts by a novice and rue the day novices were allowed to keep horses. Why? You slate anyone who does not have your level of expertise.

So jog on Amymay and try being nice to someone for a change.

I'm glad you're happy with your horse, and that she's everything you want. I don't think my post was sarcastic - I was merely making an observation on what you posted - my bad.

I don't agree there's snobbery on this forum - for the most part just good common sense (and no nonsense) advice and discussion. I also don't agree that people with less experience are slated. People are slated for stupidity usually - pop in to vets, and have a little look there (or even on this thread....).

As for your linguistic skills - good on you. How exactly is that relevant though?

And as an aside - I don't jog. My knees are buggered :D
 
I don't want great literature. The point I'm trying to make (somewhat unsuccessfully, clearly) is that many users of this forum will savage any users who are inexperienced but will cheerfully be inept at such a basic task as writing in their native language.

In fairness, as far as I recall, the posters who picked up on your comments about your cob were Amymay and myself. Now, I accept that my posts may contain typographical errors and occasional grammatical errors due to loss of concentration, but I object to the implication of illiteracy. I'm probably better educated than you, not that it is relevant or important, on a horse forum.

I also think you ought to reconsider your choice of words in your original post - which implied that you lacked control over your horse in certain circumstances when hacking. I don't think that it is acceptable to take a horse out in public, when you know it is potentially going to become uncontrollable and become a danger to other road or path users. That is irrelevant to level of riding skill or whether the rider is a novice or not. Indeed, off the forum yesterday, I was applauding and extremely experienced and talented rider on this forum for making the decision not to hack their horse off the yard because it behaves dangerously. I don't see why you assume people have a problem with novices - people have a problem with stupidity and a lack of regard for other people's safety. I gather you didn't mean for your comments about your cob to come across this way. Clearly this is a good thing for anyone who uses your hacking routes, so naturally I am pleased to hear it :)

'Can you tell me which is hay and which is straw?'

My mother asks this all the time :D
 
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In fairness, as far as I recall, the posters who picked up on your comments about your cob were Amymay and myself. Now, I accept that my posts may contain typographical errors and occasional grammatical errors due to loss of concentration, but I object to the implication of illiteracy. I'm probably better educated than you, not that it is relevant or important, on a horse forum.

I also think you ought to reconsider your choice of words in your original post - which implied that you lacked control over your horse in certain circumstances when hacking. I don't think that it is acceptable to take a horse out in public, when you know it is potentially going to become uncontrollable and become a danger to other road or path users. That is irrelevant to level of riding skill or whether the rider is a novice or not. Indeed, off the forum yesterday, I was applauding and extremely experienced and talented rider on this forum for making the decision not to hack their horse off the yard because it behaves dangerously. I don't see why you assume people have a problem with novices - people have a problem with stupidity and a lack of regard for other people's safety. I gather you didn't mean for your comments about your cob to come across this way. Clearly this is a good thing for anyone who uses your hacking routes, so naturally I am pleased to hear it :)

Thank you for putting that far more eloquently than I did.
 
Thank you for putting that far more eloquently than I did.

:) Whilst some posters may not agree with everything you say (I occasionally don't myself!), I always get the impression that you take the time to write your posts clearly and accurately and they come with a great deal of common sense. I don't get the impression you are sarcastic on here at all. Perhaps my perspective is wildly out of whack with the rest of the forum :D
 
Although off the original thread, I thought I would relate my dog/horse incident.
I was hacking with a coupe of friends on monday through Ashton Court, a large country park in Bristol, open to dog walkers, horses, mountain bikers - just about everyone who wants to enjoy the open space.

A staffie & lab came haring round a corner towards us. The staffie was slightly gobsmacked to see the horses. Had we turned tail and run he would have been after us in an instance. Instead we stopped and I started talking to the dog, who ignored me but realised that these things were some kind of extended human, he ran round the horses legs in and out of them barking and really wanting them to run away. They ignored him, as they are trained to do. He ran off to chase something else.

A group of girls ran after him, with babies in pushchairs etc. saying sorry and that they didn't know what the dog was like with other animals. i said if that was the case he should have been on a lead. They continued off chasing him to see what mischief he was getting up to.

People like this are everywhere, for our horses sake and for the sake of other people around us we shoudl be training them to behave appropriately.
 
:) Whilst some posters may not agree with everything you say (I occasionally don't myself!), I always get the impression that you take the time to write your posts clearly and accurately and they come with a great deal of common sense. I don't get the impression you are sarcastic on here at all. Perhaps my perspective is wildly out of whack with the rest of the forum :D

Wouldn't life be boring if we all agreed with each other:D

As for sarcasm, I have neither the wit nor the intelligence unfortunately......:eek::p:D
 
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