Can you believe it?!

S

saskia295

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I keep my horse in the new forest and, after riding the other day, I was driving with a friend to a local cafe (they make the most incredible hot chocolate in the world).

Anyway, whilst driving there we were behind a tiny little car (Matiz I think) and round the corner there were some NF ponies in the road. Well, what happened next astounded me... Instead of waiting for the ponies to move, the driver went forward very slowly and gave them a little nudge with the car
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I mean, WTF?!?!?!

It was 'fortunate' they went to the same cafe as we were going so we got out of the car and had a serious word. The couple in the car must have been in their 70s or 80s and their attitude was pretty much that they wouldn't care less. Un bloody believable.

P.S. Sorry for the rant.
 
Oh god some people!! On my way to work a rider was on opposite side of the road..a bloke in 4x4 came up behind her and just went out around her right into my lane! Then tried to get out of my way and nearly ran the poor woman and horse over! Poor woman looked horrified. Why cant people just wait
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one such impatient person actually drove into my horse and I despite being asked to slow down and stop on a narrow lane. I don't think we will ever get over it and has caused so much trauma since. The driver then decided to claim against ME for damage to his car. The police did nothing, he was 83 years old and did not give a damn. Some people are such ignorant, evil B********.
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Simply should have reported the incident to the police...
at which NF Wildlife unit, would pay the driver a visit and there's a 90% chance, the driver would then be reported to DVLA as unfit to drive.

Result....licence removed.....horses safer!!

Yes it does happen , can be solved and sorted.
 
Oh this whole subject winds me up.

I drive well over 30,000 miles a year on business. I thought I had pretty much seen all the stupidity, selfishness and sheer bloody ignorance while at work, until I started to ride.

Don't you just love it when they come inches behind the horse and rev their engines! Or push through a narrow road trying to squeeze past you, or come straight out of a junction practically into the side of the horse, and then give you abuse.

I could go on and on and on, but we've all been there and it does not make any impact on these selfish dangerous people.
 
Tis true Neil, I think we have all been there!!

Driving well over the 125,000 mile a year mark, I'm unfortunate to see the aftermath on a regular basis,
trouble is for a lot of people, these incidents make it so much harder for them to enjoy riding on the road.

What should be one of the most pleasureable of hobbies, is being turned into one big game of chicken, and we seem to be the target!!
 
Or the old folks who drive past in a courteous fashion, at 5mph on the other side of the road and then pomp their horns in acknowledgement when you give a thankyou wave
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I have found Sunday mornings fine on our roads until it's chucking out time at church. Then it's old fogies by the hundred ...........
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Thanks Boltonrider, I didn't really think it reportable as I didn't think they could do anything. Will definitely do so in future as, unfortunately, I doubt this will have been the last incident I see
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I know. it nearly put me off for life. i have had to move yards to find quieter roads and every time i hack on the road and see a car it is a big trauma.
we were lucky, my friend's horse had its leg knocked off by a car and had to be shot in the road. Something more should be done, ads on tv etc, but there will always be the a*** h****.
 
Trouble is Sask, a lot of people think the same!

It's actually classed as " A Fail to stop road traffic collision", which is a very serious road traffic offence!!!

You become an independant witness, and the police have to investigate, fortunately the NF team are pretty good, as with most of the other areas where our equines run free.

It's little known, but there are many many brain dead drivers, usually elderley who think they can use there vehicle as a weapon and push others out of the way. If it's reported the usual outcome is for the licence to be revoked and the person deemed unfit to continue driving.

In future should anyone witness one of these events, record the vehicle registration / make / model / colour of the vehicle(s) involved. A description of the horse involved, any sign of injury to the horse (which could make it a crime liable to a custodial sentence!!) the actual location of the incident, the direction the horse left in, and the direction of travel for the vehicle. If you can get a description of the driver as well, so much the better.
Note: These incidents are not a wait and report issue, it can be reported on the 999 system, it also falls into the the area of "Animal welfare act 2006" and various others. A crime to be resolved!!!
 
I have lost faith in the police as they did nothing with my accident, said i needed a witness, even though i had pics of horse's injuries. They took a statement from the driver and said there was nothing they would do. Would not even report to DVLA even thogh he was 83. I have to hack really early to avoid traffic. Sorry to rant, is a subject close to my heart!
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FRB, you can report unfit drivers to the DVLA yourself.
In your case, you would probably had more of a result, if you had reported as "a injury RTC".
Should a person be "injured", the incident is far more serious and becomes a higher priority for investigation!!
(Would I suggest your injured....honestly, how could you think that!!!
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There are now new protocols in place for accidents and incidents involving equines, these protocols require a set response to all incidents involving any equine.... as such these are forcing the plod to pull the finger out...the new paper trail doesn't alllow for excuses!!!!
 
Just a thought peeps, but in my response unit I carry a bundle of leaflets, aimed at reminding drivers of the suggested response when encountering horses on the road.
I also carry a few of these when riding, and when the usual occurs....I have a terrible habit of making the driver stop by force....lawfully of course.... after putting the fear of god into them and explaining how difficult there life would be without a licence (or in a wheelchair!), I give them one of these leaflets and suggest in no uncertain terms they go away and read it carefully.
I have encountered these drivers again in the same area in the future, and have NEVER had a repeat incident with any driver. In fact I normally get a response of....driver stops and allows passage, whilst politely waiting with patience!!!

These leaflets can be downladed, can I suggest everyone visits the link below, print a few off and carry them with you.
Maybe when handed one, the drivers will start to realise they are required by law to respect our presence and respond in certain ways!!!

http://www.thinkroadsafety.gov.uk/campaigns/horsesense/pdf/horsesense01.pdf
 
Thanks Boltonrider. I hope that in the unfortunate event this happens to anyone else, heaven forbid, they have more help than I did!
 
A rider indeed, from Bolton I am!!

In "the job", no not in the manner you think!!!
A response driver yes, but for all emergency services, a strange position I know, but allows for a wealth of knowledge, much pleasure in correcting those "drivers" who cause a problem, and sorting the mess others care to avoid!!

If thats not confused you, just wait till ya see a horse trailer with blue lights!!!!!
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What a super leaflet btw.

I've called my brother (ex-traffic, London Met) on a few occasions to find out what I should have done about certain incidents. Apparently waving my arms angrily is not helpful...........
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And keeping abreast of what page of the Highway Code the relevant horse and rider section is on isn't easy (so you can tell them to read page 192 paragraph whatever)
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We did go out for a hack with a person on foot who was wearing a Hi Viz jacket (we were all pretty well decked out) and the traffic practically crawled past. Couldn't fathom why and the only conclusion we reached was that her walk and deportment was very much reminiscent of a police officer!
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Last thought - do mounted police ever get disrespectful motorist problems?
 
Br, thanks for the link.

We ride through a village which thanks to the joys of Sat Nav has become a rat run. The road narrowings and speed limits have very little effect, even the infants / junior school in the middle of the village fails to register and the residents are fed up to the back teeth with it. They have no problem with the (many) horses that walk / trot back and forth through the place, or the speed we travel.

I am afraid it is mainly the elderly and (dare I say it) mums in people carriers that give us the most jip. Elderly men have a nasty habit of trying to get as close as possible and the mums just don't seem to see us...well they wouldn't would they, not with the kids to shout at, the phone to answer and the CD to change in the 'in car Hi-Fi'.

Scary people!

I will carry some leaflets with me, I am sure that with my bright jacket and boots, short (No4) hair and 6' 1" height, I could not possibly be mistaken for an Officer of the Law
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OH yes, all the time!!!

Shortly, I'm considering supplying hivis wear for riders AND the horse, which uses chequered reflective striping, similar to police jackets.

I already use this, which I assume is why my horse commands so much respect. It can cause some problems, in that drivers seeing us on the road, have been known to develop tummy trouble and turn around in order to avoid approaching us?!?!?!?! Can sometimes be a problem when traffic really doesn't want to pass!!!
 
The village effect Neil!!!
The trouble we now have, sat nav is the ultimate usefull tool, especially for people like myself, responding to a unknown area, looking for a dirt track road in the wee hours of the morning. However, the better it gets, and the new models are fantastic, it progresses in routing more and more traffic thru these villages, knowing it's the quickest and most direct route. A route that people a few years ago would never have considered.
As for the village speed limit/traffic calming, I have a view that the government and the agencies have over indulged in traffic calming / speed humps / limits etc etc. There are now so many 20 zones and traffic calming layouts, people are becoming immune, they forget the reason for it, and it will only get worse.
The best suggestion is to consult with your local police force and ask about a community speed watch setup, which nvolves a group of locals being trained to use a handheld laser speed monitor. IE a speed trap gun!!
These people then work in pairs in shifts as agreed with the police and monitor certain roads, dressed in high vis. Any real excessive speeders are noted by vehicle registration and although they cannot be prosecuted under the current laws, they can be sent a letter in the post from the police force, advising them of there behaviour and the noted speed. It's also a known fact that a speeding driver passing one of these setups, gets very worried for the following 14 days, and will keep the speed down in future!!!

As for being mistaken.... I can't say that ever happens
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, unless of course I'm in the gear and carrying out traffic enforcement and safety operations on an event!!

The hi vis myself and my horse wear, consisting of "in your face" blue and silver chequers, does have a tendancy to assist when I ride out though!!!
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As does the occassional trot whilst chatting to the mounted unit girls!!!
 
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A rider indeed, from Bolton I am!!



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I'm also a rider from Bolton, but live in Surrey (well, durrr...). No chance of me being mistaken for a police officer, despite all my Hi-Viz. People do slow down, but mostly it's to stare (and sometimes laugh, yes, people are that rude), at the adult on a 12.2hh exmoor!
 
I have just emailed our company fleet managment department to find out if possible to put link to leaflet on the company car web page as noticed nothing on there re passing horses safely. Fingers crossed they will do something.
 
Funnily enough I perhaps am guilty of a hit and run - whilst on my horse! Someone came up fast behind me when i was about 15, and I was having problems with a drain - my horse liked to stop and look in them. Every one. So road progress was slow but steady when she was in one of those moods. This particular day I had asked the car behind me to slow down, but instead it stopped at the last minute with a squeal of tyres. Then hooted. Cass my horse had a panic, went into fast reverse, sat on car bonnet (cue another horn blast), she kicked the car, then bolted with me through a hedge and into the blue yonder. I didn't go back, but thought I may be liable for the car damages?!

I blame the idiot driver though! Reminds me of once when I was hacking when I was 10 on a (thankfully bombproof) Welsh Mountain pony. Gold Jag comes fast up behind a group of us, hoots repeatedly (very loudly). The other ponies (about 4 or 5 of them) go wild milling about the road. Mine stood stock still thankfully. Idiot driver then tries to weave her way between ponies, fallen-off children and the verges. Unbelievable.
 
LOL Becky,
At least the damage might make the fool think about it in future!!

Personally I'd like to damage a window on each car that does this! Maybe hitting em in the pocket is the way to cure the manners issue.???

A possible training issue here folks..... how about we all teach our horses to sit on car bonnet before making off over the hedge???? Sounds like a damn good idea when I think about it!!
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