Anyone else worry about traffic?x

[Kirstyx1]

Hi all, im back in the saddle after 15 years and wondering if anyone else worries about fast car drivers? The roads by me although in the countryside are much busier than what they were years ago and the grass verges are extremely narrow. Unfortunately have to use the roads to access bridle ways etc. My mare is brilliant in traffic it's the traffic I worry about when hacking out. Worrying about everything now I am new to it all again! How does everyone else get on on the roads? X

 

[Widgeon]

I think most people on here would agree with you - it's hard and unless you're lucky enough to have access to bridleways straight out of your yard, it's pretty unpleasant. Some people box up to hack anywhere, even short distances, because their roads aren't safe to ride on. If your mare is brilliant in traffic then you're already doing quite well! Just remember lots of high vis and work out the best way to ride any nasty corners etc. It's often worth driving a route that you ride just to check out how much visibility a driver has - i.e. how early will they see you. Good luck

 

[Kirstyx1]

Hello Widgeon, Thank you for your reply, that's such a good idea. To drive the route first and see what other drivers can see, I notice nutters driving way too fast round bends infront of me when I'm driving sometimes and it makes me shudder to imagine being on the horse and meeting them!. I have to rely on family to box me about now and then as I don't have a trailer license just yet but again a really good idea and the high vis, I guess many of us are in the same boat. Thanks again x

 

[greenbean10]

My horse is super in traffic so I don't tend to worry about it too much - I actually feel safer on the roads as traffic is the only thing he doesn't seem to spook at! The only thing I sometimes worry about is cyclists as they are quiet so worry they will come up behind us and spook us. The roads around me are very quiet and I usually find that people in cars will slow down for us. I'd say probably 1 in 10 cars go too fast which is obviously more than it should be.

If you are nervous on the roads maybe a good thing would be to have someone walking on foot with you also wearing hi viz? Then they can slow down any cars who are driving too fast. Is there another horse you can go with who is also very steady? Sharp corners can be really horrible on the road and there's only one around me, so I definitely breathe a sigh of relief once we've gotten past it! xx

 

[Leo Walker]

Mine is brilliant in traffic and I'm in a very horsey area so cars are usually used to us. I still avoid it as much as possible. I'm lucky to have big fields to drive round as well as the school, but unfortunately I do have to go out to do roadwork. You make sure your visible and you ride/drive defensively and then its a case of hoping for the best unfortunately. A hat cam can help a LOT! People tend to behave better when they think they are being recorded.

 

[CMcC]

I think everyone worries about riding on the road to some extent.

I think one problem is that people tend to recount and share (eg on Facebook) their experience of bad drivers, cyclists etc along with shocking hat cam footage and this goes viral and everyone weighs in and abuses the driver/cyclist. I know their are occasions when bad driving either through thoughtlessness or deliberate nastiness effects riders.
But I try to think about all the people riding on the road everyday who don’t go home and post on Facebook, “Had a lovely ride round the lanes today. All the car/van/lorry/tractor drivers, cyclists/motorcyclists, pram pushers, were kind and considerate, turned off their engines/gave me plenty of space. Here is some footage of a lovely DPD driver from my hat cam giving me lots of room and slowing down as he passed me.” My experience is definitely that most other road users are friendly and considerate. It is our responsibility as horse riders to wear lots of hi vis and say thank you. I try and concentrate I. This when I set out.

 

[greenbean10]

I think everyone worries about riding on the road to some extent.

I think one problem is that people tend to recount and share (eg on Facebook) their experience of bad drivers, cyclists etc along with shocking hat cam footage and this goes viral and everyone weighs in and abuses the driver/cyclist. I know their are occasions when bad driving either through thoughtlessness or deliberate nastiness effects riders.
But I try to think about all the people riding on the road everyday who don’t go home and post on Facebook, “Had a lovely ride round the lanes today. All the car/van/lorry/tractor drivers, cyclists/motorcyclists, pram pushers, were kind and considerate, turned off their engines/gave me plenty of space. Here is some footage of a lovely DPD driver from my hat cam giving me lots of room and slowing down as he passed me.” My experience is definitely that most other road users are friendly and considerate. It is our responsibility as horse riders to wear lots of hi vis and say thank you. I try and concentrate I. This when I set out.

Completely agree with this!

 

[Kirstyx1]

I think everyone worries about riding on the road to some extent.

I think one problem is that people tend to recount and share (eg on Facebook) their experience of bad drivers, cyclists etc along with shocking hat cam footage and this goes viral and everyone weighs in and abuses the driver/cyclist. I know their are occasions when bad driving either through thoughtlessness or deliberate nastiness effects riders.
But I try to think about all the people riding on the road everyday who don’t go home and post on Facebook, “Had a lovely ride round the lanes today. All the car/van/lorry/tractor drivers, cyclists/motorcyclists, pram pushers, were kind and considerate, turned off their engines/gave me plenty of space. Here is some footage of a lovely DPD driver from my hat cam giving me lots of room and slowing down as he passed me.” My experience is definitely that most other road users are friendly and considerate. It is our responsibility as horse riders to wear lots of hi vis and say thank you. I try and concentrate I. This when I set out.

I think the problem is our neighbours husband drives very fast and ran myself and my mother into the ditch one day, thankfully we were in a car. I doubt asking him to slow down would make much difference but yes most car drivers are very considerate when they see a horse. The lane by our house is very bendy with no real verge just high hedges, I have to go up there to get to the nearest bridleway. Your right it's best to take the positive approach though, and think of those who are careful x

 

[Kirstyx1]

My horse is super in traffic so I don't tend to worry about it too much - I actually feel safer on the roads as traffic is the only thing he doesn't seem to spook at! The only thing I sometimes worry about is cyclists as they are quiet so worry they will come up behind us and spook us. The roads around me are very quiet and I usually find that people in cars will slow down for us. I'd say probably 1 in 10 cars go too fast which is obviously more than it should be.

If you are nervous on the roads maybe a good thing would be to have someone walking on foot with you also wearing hi viz? Then they can slow down any cars who are driving too fast. Is there another horse you can go with who is also very steady? Sharp corners can be really horrible on the road and there's only one around me, so I definitely breathe a sigh of relief once we've gotten past it! xx

Hi Greenbeen, ah the lane by us leading to the bridleway is very bendy and bout 1 mile long a bit less. I think the worry stems from having a bit of a nightmare neighbour driver. I wouldn't want to cross paths with him on a horse, she's so good in traffic it just unnerves me that she might get hurt. We do have another horse but no one else rides. I wish we had only one bend, hi vis is a good idea I would have forgotten that, Thank you xx

 

[Kirstyx1]

Mine is brilliant in traffic and I'm in a very horsey area so cars are usually used to us. I still avoid it as much as possible. I'm lucky to have big fields to drive round as well as the school, but unfortunately I do have to go out to do roadwork. You make sure your visible and you ride/drive defensively and then its a case of hoping for the best unfortunately. A hat cam can help a LOT! People tend to behave better when they think they are being recorded.

A hat cam is such a good idea, i haven't ridden for so long I'm out of touch with these ideas haha. I bet that will help alot. Riding defensively is always one to keep in mind too, and I do agree alot of it is luck unfortunately! Thank you xx

 

[Desert_rider]

To get to the Bridle ways from the yard my share horse is on, you have to go along an extremely busy A road for around 250 metres. I high vis to the max and lead her in hand, then jump on when we get to the village or bridle way. She is fantastic in traffic and doesn't even bat an eyelid at articulated lorries, but I feel far safer doing it that way. The speed and distance some vehicles pass us by at makes your toes curl.

 

[Kirstyx1]

That's another good idea, walking beside should make you more visable and able to slow any fast traffic down easier? I'l try that. I would be more scared of lorries than my mare i know I am when driving x

 

[hopscotch bandit]

Hi all, im back in the saddle after 15 years and wondering if anyone else worries about fast car drivers? The roads by me although in the countryside are much busier than what they were years ago and the grass verges are extremely narrow. Unfortunately have to use the roads to access bridle ways etc. My mare is brilliant in traffic it's the traffic I worry about when hacking out. Worrying about everything now I am new to it all again! How does everyone else get on on the roads? X

I hack all the time now as my mare can't do anything else. I estimate that I have hacked her out over 2,500 times now in the 15 years I have owned her so I really know what I am talking about! My tops tips are:

You need to make sure you are seen as much as possible, I ride out in a prolite vest, hat bands and have an exercise sheet and hi viz leg bands every time I go out, summer and winter, dark days and sun shine days. In fact the latter are more dangerous. A proven fact - a car driver upon seeing a horse and rider combo in hi viz will have 3 seconds of thinking and then braking time in the 40m distance he will travel whilst going at 30mph. This alone is the difference between getting hit and not getting hit. Riders think if they have a bright top on or they are on a grey horse they will be seen. Its amazing on a sunny day with the sun in the drivers eyes how invisible you actually are. This is true when you are driving down a country lane with overhanging trees, going from bright light to dark takes your eyes time to adjust - flashing leg bands are literally a life saver. And in the Autumn when riders mingle really well with the autumnal colours. I think people are stupid riding out without any hi viz on and have zero respect for themselves or their horse. I wouldn't anymore ride out without my hi viz than I would ride without a hat on, or drive without a seat belt on.

You need to pick your time to hack. Don't hack in rush hour unless you are just going down the lane and back. You shouldn't be surprised if people have little patience for you if you are causing a huge queue of traffic behind you because its a busy time. That is having respect for other road users. Its a pain as I have a job where I start early and finish early so I can feasibly be off hacking at 4.45pm if I want. Unfortunately, unless I'm just going down the lane and back I have to wait until after 6pm until the traffic has died down sufficiently, so as not to annoy those drivers wanting to get home for their tea!

You need to always have a phone on you and tell someone where you are going. If its not possible to tell anyone write on the yard notice board the time you set off, your route and the time you expect to be back. Then hopefully someone might look for you if your horse appears without you or you ring in trouble.

Finally you need to thank every car driver. I often hack down a stretch of A road that is 30mph going through the village. Its a pain in the neck having to raise or nod your head at every oncoming vehicle or raise your hand to the ones that pass you or give signals to the ones that sit behind you waiting to pass. But I always think that if I were a driver and a rider couldn't be bothered to take a second to thank me next time I wouldn't slow down. Obviously I wouldn't carry out this threat, but if I were a non horsey driver I wouldn't really blame them if they did!

If you do all the above, whilst I can't guarantee you will never have a close shave or get hit by a car, you have lessened your chances by about 95%! So go out and enjoy yourself, have respect for other road users and above all have respect for your horse and yourself.

 

[dogatemysalad]

Just to add to other tips, chose your time carefully. Our village has become a rat run for university staff , a significant number of whom seem to be unaware of the damage a horse landing on the bonnet will do to their speeding cars. 8.30 am and 4.30 PM are times when locals keep of the roads.
Does the OPs neighbour have a routine, so she can avoid the times he's on the road ? Little bendy country lanes with high hedges are the worse kind of road to ride, walk or cycle on these days. I do the same as kirstyx1, I drive new routes to check for blind spots and clearance on bends before riding.

 

[oldie48]

I don't "worry" about traffic per se but I am very aware of it. Apart from all the other good tips you've been given I'd add listen, don't use an ipod or chat away incessantly if you are in company, you can usually hear trouble coming but a driver won't hear you. Know your lanes if they are narrow and windy, know where you can get off the road if necessary and be prepared to turn round if your nearest safe spot is behind you. I've been lucky in that all my horses have been good in traffic, my present one is too with the exception of big farm machinery so when they were silaging/haymaking I kept off the road as busy contractors and an anxious horse just don't mix. I also wear a florescent hatband, a driver will sometimes catch sight of that bobbing above a hedge on a narrow windy lane long before he sees me.

 

[hopscotch bandit]

Know your lanes if they are narrow and windy, know where you can get off the road if necessary and be prepared to turn round if your nearest safe spot is behind you. I also wear a florescent hatband, a driver will sometimes catch sight of that bobbing above a hedge on a narrow windy lane long before he sees me.

I second this. I know every inch of every lane round by us. Our hacking is pretty dire but once you have crossed the main A road and then are off the other main road its quiet. But every now and then you get a car batting towards you so its good to know where to hide. If I hear a car approaching me fast round a blind bend I will halt my horse (there isn't enough time to turn) and moved her over with my legs which she does instantly on command and stand on a verge ready with my 'you're going too fast idiot' look on my face.

THe hat band definitely helps with high hedges.

What amazes me most is the time it takes drivers to slow. I'd like to think my reactions are so much quicker.

 

[FourLeafClover]

Hat band is my number one piece of hi vis kit 🙂 invaluable with sharp bends and high hedges. I have a grey silk with an enormous Pom Pom on it and a hi vis pink band so we’re pretty visible! (I always wear a tabard and sometimes an exercise sheet too in winter. Don’t usually bother with leg bands as they’re filthy so quickly there doesn’t always seem much point!)

 

[hopscotch bandit]

These are brilliant off ebay! They have an elasticated Velcro fastening so fit easily around your horses leg and there's enough play in them to stretch over boots also. They flash on and off and they also have a quick flash setting.

 

[Tiddlypom]

In addition to the advice above, I recommend recruiting a ninja cyclist who can calm any wayward traffic. Mine was able to step in today when I was approaching a left turn before a blind bend, with two cars politely waiting behind me, whereupon a small but aggressive terrier barrelled out of its garden to have a go at the horse in the middle of the road! Horse is good with dogs but there are limits, so ninja cyclist chased the dog back to where it should be and I was able to safely turn off the road.

Lots of hi viz coupled with positive riding. I now also have a hi viz ride on fly rug. Having said that, now my mare is fit enough to go further I am going to start boxing up to get off road, as the lanes round here are so much busier than they used to be.

 

[hopscotch bandit]

Tiddlypom you have the exact set up as me although I have my air jacket under an open Polite Notice vest. It did actually go off the only time I fell off losing balance going through a gateway and I figured that even if it were zipped up the pressure from the air jacket would tear the thin material of the vest but I know its not ideal.

At the time of buying the vest in 2014 I was competing and wearing my vest over my show jacket hence why I didn't want a hi viz air jacket but wish I had one now as that's all I do is hack.

 

[Kirstyx1]

Thank you so much to everyone who has replied, your help and advice is very useful x