Car driving up behind my horse! ***RANT ALERT***

snopuma

snopuma

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Yesterday was an interesting hack!

I have had my ex-racehorse for 5 weeks, we have had some issues, wall of death lungeing, broncing in the school, panic mode throws head up and runs apply the brakes and leaping on the spot - I should point out she is not 'just out of racing' and has been re-trained but she is not established and as much as I am getting used to her she is working me out too!

so she's had a week off, the back lady has been and I have a horse who is in a lot of pain, treatment done and advised to hack as much as possible to keep her relaxed and long and low, so off we set with my friend on a 'nice' hack, we are lucky that we have a nice private single track lane to ride out before doing a little bit on a busier road and then back onto very quiet lanes.

All is well we set off, my mare is bold and not much fazes her she takes the lead and only spooks at things which any horse would, so we are riding along for about ten minutes when a car whizzes up behind, we look round there is no where for us to go and the car slows then speeds up again 2 feet on the back side of my mare, she goes into a canter and I bring her back to walk we now only have about 20ft to walk to pull in and let the car go past on a blind bend, as we pull in the car stops next to us and the old bag in the car shouts at us that we should have trotted on!

As you can imagine I went mad, I told her exactly what I thought of her and her driving she said she has been around horses for 30 years! I said then you should know not to drive up the arse of a horse like that you stupid cow! then I said I'm going to report you to the police and moved my horse nearer to the back of the car, so she tried to reverse into me! If I ever see her again I will punch her in the face, I have reported to the police but they say they can only log it! There must be a way to make her learn from this experience, as I said to the police I don't think I have to trot just because a car is coming, you wouldn't expect an old lady to run down the road to let a car get by would you?

The rest of the hack was lovely! but I was still annoyed enough to phone the police when I got back!

Cookies to those who made it to the end! x
 
I think the threat to reverse into you should be enough to make the police take it seriously. I'd call them back and say you are really unhappy with the way your complaint was dealt with given the threatening and abusive behaviour and ask that they at least contact this woman to warn her that this is unacceptable. Tell them that you are frightened of meeting her again.
 
This is a problem where I live too. I have a small tarmac road for about a mile outside our stables, then onto the main road. It's your typical 'quiet country road' surrounded by farms. But you still get idiots, who either don't understand or don't care. I walk my 4 yr old unbroken mare along the road as part of her learning. She's fine with cars. The other day we were walking along, and a car came up quickly behind her. I tried to move her onto the grass verge, and although she went, she moved her bottom over so she was still on the road. An easy mistake for a green horse who's not used to road work. I smiled sweetly, gestured for him to give me 2 seconds to move her over, but he just sped on by, inches from my mare's backside! Who's fault would that have been if she'd kicked our or had a hissy fit?! I'm just so glad she is a fairly calm horse.

People who don't know horses, don't know how to treat them on the road. This is certainly not an isolated incident, and I've had many near misses over the years. We are still legal 'road users', so why can't we be treated with respect?
 
Sorry but why didn't you trot on? And I really wish people with horses would turn around and face traffic, I know car drivers can be ignorant but we riders really need to think about courtesy when riding as well. Turning around and facing traffic is the safest thing for car, horse and rider. I also hate riders that don't thank people for slowing down. I'm affraid it works both ways, just because your on a horse doesn't mean you own the road.
 
There are some total idiots on the road nowadays. Have to say I have seen a large majority of 'horsey' people amongst them too :mad:

I used to trot on to a decent passing place but over the years have adopted the attitude that I have as much right to be on the road as anyone else and I shouldn't have to rush to please them.

I am always polite and thank drivers who slow down and show consideration to me and my horses. I am also quick to show my other feelings to those who fail to slow or drive in a manner which could cause horse to spook etc :rolleyes:

At the end of the day, I know my horses and how they will react under different circumstances (one is completely sound out hacking and I don't think a bomb going off would phase him, another one is definantely more spooky and worries about lots of things). I don't hesitate to tell a driver to wait behind me while I find a suitable pulling in place, I will not squeeze myself into a hedge to allow a vehicle to pass but will always leave plenty of moving room in case horse / pony fidgets and swings their quarters out.

Drivers are also insulated in their vehicles to what nature is throwing at us riders, they can't hear the wind rustling the trees or blowing dry leaves about or see / hear potential hazards just ahead (eg. pot holes, bags in hedges, other vehicles approaching around a bend in the road). Think that this is part of the problem. They just see the horse / rider and think 'got to overtake that as quickly as possible'.:mad:
 
One practical thing we could do is email all the local driving schools. Ask them to make sure they teach their students how to pass horses and how horses may react when frightened (and how to help!). I don't remember getting any instruction when I was learning to drive, despite some of my lessons taking place on country roads.

I know it won't help with older drivers, but it's a start. I prefer to think that most people are ignorant, rather than malicious. My mini lectures to friends about safely overtaking horses have been generally well received :D
 
Trying to reverse into you, is pretty out of order :mad:.

Personally, I would have trotted on so she could pass, I really don't think it is too much to ask!

There's a woman on our yard who rides down the white line to slow traffic down. Hell, it winds me up and I'm a rider, I can only imagine how those who dislike horses on the road feel when they get stuck behind her!!!
 
To those who think I should have trotted on -

1. We literally had no chance to make that descision she came flying along, slowed, and then sped up again, we ended up cantering, and then back to walk, if you think that I am going to trot after that think again.

2. In the winter months I often hack out my 'sound when its soft' navicular horse, I would not trot him on the road for the Queen, so anyone else really hasn't got a say in it, I am not risking never riding my boy for the sake of a minute of someone else's time.

3. Also as I think I tried to get across, I am sitting on an ex-racehorse, with a tendancy to panic and buggar off, so I am not going to trot evry time I hear or see a car what will that teach her, ' Yes please whizz along everytime you hear a car, DANGER, RUN!!!!'

I have been imformed that said cow in the car is in fact something to do with the hunt, so that explains alot.

And for those of you who question my ability, I am a 39 year woman, with 30 years experience, I used to showjump and now dressage and I love to hack my horses, its fun, its a great education for them and me, I am capable but you will never see me so frightened or angry as when person decides to risk my horse or my life.
 
Trying to reverse in to you is a blatant threat and should be treated as such.
I would speak to the police and ask that they deal with her threatening behaviour, had she been wielding a knife at you would it have been seen as threatening with an offensive weapon ? Im pretty sure threatening to run into you is every bit as dangerous and likely to be as lethal.
Tell them youre just looking for a warning to ensure she doesnt treat any other riders in this manner and lets her know it will not be tolerated
 
did you get the registration plate? I always carry a pen and my hand is a good portable notepad! I would def call back IF you have that information and report as threatening behaviour. To reverse back or even pretend to shows her complete disregard for everyones safety. Horses have right of way on the road - Its a pity people do not understand/appreciate this. If there had been an accident she would not have had a leg to stand on.

If you know she is connected to the hunt and you do want her to be spoken to - could you contact the hunt and find out who she is? It depends on if you want to open up a huge can of worms.
 
Why the hell are people agreeing that you should have trotted on! Horses are entitled to be on the road whereas cars have to pay for the privilege. Fine trot on if it is safe to do so, but nobody should ever feel they should have to!

:mad:
 
KazzOnAPiano said:
Why the hell are people agreeing that you should have trotted on! Horses are entitled to be on the road whereas cars have to pay for the privilege. Fine trot on if it is safe to do so, but nobody should ever feel they should have to!

:mad:
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Hmm, this is just the sort of attitude to p**s off drivers who are none to keen in the first place :(.

The 'I am entitled to be here' argument smacks of a petulant teenager to me.

I just think with a little give and take, then horses and cars can rub along nicely.

Obviously not in the OP's case because the woman did not give her chance :mad:.

As I said before, if you can trot, and you can move to a place where the car can pass, then why not trot on :confused:?

If I can trot on, I do, if I can't, then I don't and the traffic has to wait. If traffic comes too close behind her and we pick up trot, she is likely to break into canter. That normally gets them to back off :o:D.

Simples :).
 
I don't trot on and won't as my horse arthritis, but I do appologies for this when a car stops for me. But no way would explain to an idiot like her. One lady did that to me once on my old horse and he kicked out at the car, she soon backed off.
 
Hope you have filled out the BHS incident form
Whereas I agree in trotting out when and where it is safe to do so does that mean that a pedestrian having to use the road because of lack of footpath,taking children to and from school say,has to make everyone run on every time a car comes?....
 
jinglejoys said:
does that mean that a pedestrian having to use the road because of lack of footpath,taking children to and from school say,has to make everyone run on every time a car comes?....
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If you are walking on a road without a pavement, you should walk towards the traffic (according to the highway code), so running would be pointless :cool:.
 
Call the police back and say you're not happy with them just logging it, this was a dangerous and stupid act, I've had the police tell me this same thing and always regretted just accepting it
 
caterpillar said:
OP were you wearing hi viz?
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Yes I was, my friend actually said to the woman can't you read, and she said I would if she wasn't moving about, yes well you tend to 'move about' when you horse sets sail when a car is up your ar*e!

My hi-viz says 'Please slow, young horse in training' and its a medium size a little big for me and bright yellow, my horse is black and was wearing 4 white brushing boots, and a white saddlecloth, and we were in the sunshine, not the shade!

Even if she is too blind to read the words, the very fact that I am wearing hi-vix should be an indication that I wish to be noticed and treated with some respect, not a target for someone, you would expect this behaviour from a young herbert, but this is a woman in her 50's who claims to be horsey!
 
If you think your complaint was dealt with incorrectly, which with the reversing bit of the incident I think it has.

Then you can report your complaint to the IPCC. Who will look into it for you.

There was a thing in the paper yesterday that a third of crimes don't even get looked at before being closed.

Why they couldn't just pop by and know on the drivers door and have a word I don't know.
 
snopuma said:
Yes I was, my friend actually said to the woman can't you read, and she said I would if she wasn't moving about, yes well you tend to 'move about' when you horse sets sail when a car is up your ar*e!

My hi-viz says 'Please slow, young horse in training' and its a medium size a little big for me and bright yellow, my horse is black and was wearing 4 white brushing boots, and a white saddlecloth, and we were in the sunshine, not the shade!

Even if she is too blind to read the words, the very fact that I am wearing hi-vix should be an indication that I wish to be noticed and treated with some respect, not a target for someone, you would expect this behaviour from a young herbert, but this is a woman in her 50's who claims to be horsey!
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perhaps the only horsey thing about her is her teeth??
 
quirky said:
Hmm, this is just the sort of attitude to p**s off drivers who are none to keen in the first place :(.

The 'I am entitled to be here' argument smacks of a petulant teenager to me.

I just think with a little give and take, then horses and cars can rub along nicely.

Obviously not in the OP's case because the woman did not give her chance :mad:.

As I said before, if you can trot, and you can move to a place where the car can pass, then why not trot on :confused:?

If I can trot on, I do, if I can't, then I don't and the traffic has to wait. If traffic comes too close behind her and we pick up trot, she is likely to break into canter. That normally gets them to back off :o:D.

Simples :).
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That is what I said...I would trot on if it was safe to do so. However that doesn't mean I SHOULD, or should have to explain if I didn't, because I AM entitled to be on the roads on a horse. It is not petulant teenager - it is the law.
 
snopuma said:
"To those who think I should have trotted on -

I have been imformed that said cow in the car is in fact something to do with the hunt, so that explains alot".

I'm not being funny but could you explain what you meant by the comment above. Why should the fact that she is something to do with the hunt got anything to do with her driving? Are you implying that everyone who hunts are bad drivers with no care and consideration for horses on the road?

Bit of a sweeping generalisation surely? I hunt and I drive very sensibly esp. when there are horses on the road despite a lot of riders round here not thanking drivers, riding 2 abreast round blind corners on single track roads chatting on mobiles with dogs ambling along with them etc. I drive cautiously and slowly giving horses lots of room because that is the treatment I would expect to be given when I am riding on the road.

If it had been me with a car behind me waiting to pass, I would have trotted on to the nearest place I could have moved in and waited to let them pass.
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How can you try and trot on when you are trying to keep safe ? I think the OP did every thing correctly, no we font own th road, but don't forget horses were on them first . And ad a car owner, who pays road tax and pays insurance I personally would appreciate car drivers slowing down on a country road that has now become a rat run, when they see 2 small children on their ponies, and if you are in such a rush that you can't slow down for 30 secs, then leave home or work a minute earlier!!!!

Jumps off soap box
 
To be fair as a horse rider and driver it does pee me off when someone just keeps ambling along at a walk when I know there is a place they could pull in not far up if they'd only kick on! I always trot to passing spaces as it's not worth the hassle.

Yes there may be reasons some people don't trot on but sat behind the wheel you don't know that and just think they're being a dozy so and so ;)
 
Little Squirrel said:
Sorry but why didn't you trot on? And I really wish people with horses would turn around and face traffic, I know car drivers can be ignorant but we riders really need to think about courtesy when riding as well. Turning around and facing traffic is the safest thing for car, horse and rider. I also hate riders that don't thank people for slowing down. I'm affraid it works both ways, just because your on a horse doesn't mean you own the road.
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Why should she turn round to face the opposite way to which she is going. The rider could be doing this all day if the road was busy and there was no mention of her "thinking she owns the road".

If I was this rider I would call the police again and report the woman for harrassment and road rage. She is danger and is likely to cause a serious accident by driving up the back of a horse.
 
quirky said:
Trying to reverse into you, is pretty out of order :mad:.

Personally, I would have trotted on so she could pass, I really don't think it is too much to ask!

There's a woman on our yard who rides down the white line to slow traffic down. Hell, it winds me up and I'm a rider, I can only imagine how those who dislike horses on the road feel when they get stuck behind her!!!
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Sometimes the road is too slippery to trot, they certainly are were I hack out.
 
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