Car flags, is it just me?

Munchkin

Munchkin

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Am I alone in thinking that it is our responsibility to attempt to avoid accidents whilst these things are around?

Riders seem to think they are the rulers of the road. As a car driver I am sick to death of being held up and ignored by riders. I'm not surprised the non-horsey drivers cannot stand us.

We know the world cup is beginning, we know people will have flags on their cars. Personally, despite them being extremely tacky, I quite like seeing them as it's the only time this country appears patriotic. If your horse is, or is likely to be terrified of them, stay off the road.

It is not everyone else's responsibility to pussyfoot around because some riders cannot control their horses or refuse to take measures to avoid a situation in which they cannot control their horses. Of course accidents happen, but the Equine media are naturally blaming the drivers, which IMO doesn't do anything whatsoever for our cause.
 
I have to agree with what you've written. It doesn't take much to get horses/ponies used to different environments/objects... i've worked with mine in the field with some flags and they're now not in the slightest bit bothered by them. Fortunately i dont have to go on the road much, but i do ensure that my ponies are safe to do so when needed... And i know not all horses react in the same way to things, so i would agree that if a horse is likely to be silly/cause an accident it should stay off the road during this short time... its only a few weeks....
 
excuse me . but many horse riders and horses have as much rights to be on the roads then cars .
more so i think have more rights considering they where generaly used before cars where invented . i think football should be banned conserdering the amount of fights and drunken people there are when footballs on
and i never get the reason for flags and all the c*rap that comes with football
and may i add the most bombproof horses can bolt if unshore of something, horses are flight animals you can never be sure that a 100% even with the most bombproof ones but i do agree that young or inexerienced horses should be limited to save the risk of accidents
 
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Also according to my OH (who is a mechanic) they are actually illegal.

You can do your best to de-sensitize a horse to things but accidents do happen and alittle forward thinking by both car driver and rider would help. I.e car driver realising the noise the flags make plus the movement so driving at a sensible speed or even waiting for rider to pull into a gap etc would help.

I also try to pull in for cars to pass whenever possible and thank them for passing at an appropriate speed, don't tarr all horse riders with the same brush.
 
Munchkin said:
If your horse is, or is likely to be terrified of them, stay off the road.
I see you live in cloud cuckoo! Whilst staying off the road (for many reasons, not just the flags) would be absolutely wonderful for all horse riders, this isn't always possible. Some people HAVE to use roads to get to bridleways and, unfortunately, there is no way I know of knowing (please correct me if I'm wrong) what kind of car is going to come past you next, or in an hour or so's time when you're on your way back.

If you can teach us all how to read the future, or perhaps suggest some other, slightly more realistic approach, I'm sure we'd love to hear :)
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i do think it is sensible to try and 'flag proof' your horse if you think they may react badly.

and i do understand OP's point- if a horse bolted because of the flag is it safe to hack that horse out? is it safe to go past a plastic bag in the hedge?

as i pointed out in my other thread, my very recently backed 4yro met a car decked in flags the other day and didn't blink an eye.
 
b***** hell, that's a bit strong ! If people have the urgent need to put those tacky flags in their cars, more fool them. You can only desensitize a horse so much - are you suggesting I now have to go out and buy - let's see....c*** flags, horrible scarves, tacky T shirts (cos they rustle), bunting and all the rest, and spend hours in the yard de-sensitizing my boy ? I think not.

I would breathe the heathen words "lets hope....knocked out....." very quickly under my breath if I knew I wouldn't get shot down for it...oh dear, I just did it anyway :D:D:D sm x
 
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I think that's a bit harsh to say we should stay off the roads. It may be a short time but when you work full time you are limited to when you can ride and after the winter from hell I don't see why I should curtail my sport in favour of someone elses! As said as long as the car drivers show some consideration for horses and realise they may be scared and stop or at least slow down when coming towards them it shouldn't cause too many problems. My horse isn't usually bothered by flags but if it's a fast driven noisy car the addition of flags could well set her off! I also make sure I always thank cars and if possible trot on to get out the way as do the majority round my way. There are always exceptions of course.
 
Am so glad i live in scotland lol, anyone driving around with flags would probs have their car rammed!! Have to say tho there is absolutely no way i could stay off the roads for the next few weeks, i have to ride on them as there is nowhere else. Horse would probs be terrified of them but as long as I am considerate to other drivers i expect the same back from them!
 
Happily, Saskia.

The world cup only goes on for a few weeks. During this period it is safe to assume that there is a high possibility of encountering a car with one or more flags attached to it.

Unless you ride your horse to work or school, I'm sure that it is not necessary for it to be on the road.

Whilst I realise that it is not necessary for cars to wear flags either, the argument that car flags should be banned because horses don't like them holds as much weight as horses being banned because they don't like car flags.

I cannot stand the "I have a horse therefore I have more rights in life than anyone else" attitude of some.

There will be car flags during the world cup - deal with it!
 
Munchkin said:
Am I alone in thinking that it is our responsibility to attempt to avoid accidents whilst these things are around?

Riders seem to think they are the rulers of the road. As a car driver I am sick to death of being held up and ignored by riders. I'm not surprised the non-horsey drivers cannot stand us.

We know the world cup is beginning, we know people will have flags on their cars. Personally, despite them being extremely tacky, I quite like seeing them as it's the only time this country appears patriotic. If your horse is, or is likely to be terrified of them, stay off the road.

It is not everyone else's responsibility to pussyfoot around because some riders cannot control their horses or refuse to take measures to avoid a situation in which they cannot control their horses. Of course accidents happen, but the Equine media are naturally blaming the drivers, which IMO doesn't do anything whatsoever for our cause.
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Thank you, I agree with you.
Whilst we cannot stop horses spooking we can try and avoid the situation wherever possible. If that means de-spooking them at home, hacking out with a non spooky nanny then so be it.
 
The flags annoy me for non equine reasons but again, thats another story.

I don;t care what people put on their cars so long as they drive past me in a reasonable manner. Slowing for 60 down to 40 on a country lane is not what I consider reasonable. Flags or no flags.

If I came across a car with flags while riding the spookier of my critters (birds are his main dislike) if the car came past at a reasonable speed, and I pulled over then no problem. Its those that drive like morons passing horses that I don;t like.

I do think people should be in control on a hack, and I do agree that many horse riders are ignorant in the way they ride too. Which gives the rest of us a bad name.

However, the car flags, bunting, and massive flags hanging on the front of peoples houses will be there long after the world cup is over for England. (sooner the better.)
 
To be honest I always try my best to de-spook my horses at home first, not only for mine and my horses own safety but I also think you have a responsibilty to other road users not to take a danger on the road.
I no some horses are more spooky than others but if I knew 1 of mine were perticularlly bad I would try and avoid putting ourselves in a siutation.
and like you said its only for a few weeks
 
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just to ad if all drivers and riders were considerate and showed respect to eachother there wouldnt be a problem
 
I don't see the problem with them to be honest. If your horse is likely to detonate that much over a simple small flag, then it shouldn't be out on the road to be honest. I don't expect my horse or any of the others to spook or have issues them, and none of ours do. Gives me a hand bombproofing them and am quite grateful for having something completely random and of the ordinary for the horse to see out!

As much as I detest football, it's just as big as the horse sporting community, if not bigger....so I do think they're entitled to show their support really. Car users put up with us out hunting all winter don't they? Surely we can be understanding for a couple of weeks of small flags on cars ;)

The arguemement of 'horses were on the road first' is a long time gone and it's that attitude that contributes to accidents sometimes. We also used to live in caves, hunt mammoths, and walk everywhere... ;)
 
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Munchkin said:
Unless you ride your horse to work or school, I'm sure that it is not necessary for it to be on the road.
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I really don't know where you live but I don't think it's on the same planet as everyone else! Sometimes, people don't have access to arenas / open fields etc and have to hack (also for fitness etc). I don't think that anyone should be on 'yard arrest' just because the world cup is on.

FWIW, I haven't seen any cars with flags whilst I'm hacking and I don't think it would make any difference if I did. People can do what they like can't they?

Munchkin said:
I cannot stand the "I have a horse therefore I have more rights in life than anyone else" attitude of some.
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I don't know anyone that has this attitude. Seeing as you do, maybe you need to fine some new acquaintances?
 
I am very fortunate in that my horse doesn't give two hoots about them (ex-racehorse). It was quite funny today. This morning, I was hacking round the village, and we came across some builders doing some work to a house. They had more flags than I have ever seen attached to their pick-up van. There must have been a dozen small flags attached to the pick up sides, then a massive flag attached to the centre of the cab.
It was quite windy, and my horse took a second look, but I reassured him and he went past fine, but he did a massive, stinky, grassy poo right next to them. The builders were having a cup of tea on the pavement, and I told them that he only did that because he was objecting to their flags and he was lightening his load in case he needed to make a quick run for it. We all had a little laugh. :D

but I do feel sorry for people who have horses that don't like flags, and even the most quiet ponies can become spooked by them if taken by suprise. A couple of weeks ago I saw the local riding school ponies spook at one of the parents cars which had flags on. The parent (was a father), had dropped their child off at the riding school, then drove away down the lane, too fast past a string of ponies that had begginers on, and the ponies jumped. I was poo picking my horses field and saw it all happen.
 
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Misinterpreted said:
but I do feel sorry for people who have horses that don't like flags, and even the most quiet ponies can become spooked by them if taken by suprise. A couple of weeks ago I saw the local riding school ponies spook at one of the parents cars which had flags on. The parent (was a father), had dropped their child off at the riding school, then drove away down the lane, too fast past a string of ponies that had begginers on, and the ponies jumped. I was poo picking my horses field and saw it all happen.
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Of course, accidents will happen. What annoys me though is people reacting with "car flags should be banned" and running to the equestrian media to cry about it.

As far as I'm concerned, it's a risk, and if you are prepared to take it then you must be prepared to live with the consequences should anything happen.

Saskia - apparently there are a few other responsible people contributing to this thread, so seems I'm not alone in "cloud cuckoo land."
 
OK I have a spooky horse and the car flags will be an issue. I have bought two and am working on it.

But those who say it's only a falg.

Erm no it really isn't a flag up a pole is one thing a flag waved by people is also fine neither make much noise and movement is limited.

Car flags are flapping in 30/60mph winds right at my lads eye level and make a god awful noise that you can hear approaching from a long way.
Mr car driver has no idea of this.

Trying to desensitize to that is a big challenge even my old Mr Dependable lad had palpations with them 4 years ago.

If people have flags on their cars that fine, but I would dearly love it if they could realise they racket they make and so seriously slow to a crawl when passing horses.

Oh and they also need to realise they make their cars wider and allow for that too.

Fat chance I know.
 
I'd quite like car flags to be banned but not because they scare horses.

Sad really in these times of environmental concsiousness and recycling etc as well as economic hardship that a significant proportion of the community feel the need to waste their cash buying plastic tat that will end up in landfill in a few weeks.

What is wrong with a scarf stuck to the back window or a sticker or something.......

I think it is terribly sad that people feel the need to show this sort of tribalism over a game and get so worked up about it. Do so many people really have so little in their lives that the exploits of 11 men playing a game mean so much to them. Why can't they enjoy watching a sport without all the horrible spectacle that has to go with it. I genuinely am sick of hearing about it and it hasn't even started!
 
Munchkin said:
Saskia - apparently there are a few other responsible people contributing to this thread, so seems I'm not alone in "cloud cuckoo land."
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I'm not disagreeing with you!!!!! I was just saying that sometimes for some people, it's not possible to stay off the road, as was previously suggested! Personally, I really don't care as I've never had a problem with flags. I was just pointing out that it's perhaps a little ignorant to suggest that people should keep off the road because of the world cup (and flags). Whatever happened to 'tough, get on with it'?! Jeeeeesus!
 
saskia295 said:
I'm not disagreeing with you!!!!! I was just saying that sometimes for some people, it's not possible to stay off the road, as was previously suggested! Personally, I really don't care as I've never had a problem with flags. I was just pointing out that it's perhaps a little ignorant to suggest that people should keep off the road because of the world cup (and flags). Whatever happened to 'tough, get on with it'?! Jeeeeesus!
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I'm not suggesting people stay off the road. I'm suggesting that if they want to avoid accidents, they should stay off the road, and that if they are prepared to take the risk, they should take responsibility for anything that may happen and not go crying "ban flags" to the media. It gives the rest of us a bad name.
 
Few weeks? Don't worry you won't have to stay off the roads that long.The way England play they will soon be knocked out anyway. Then you will see the flags disappear. For another 4 years.
 
on a separate sort of note.... I read this on a friend's FB status the other day (he's scottish)

...would like you to support this cause... every man suffers from erectile dysfunction at some point in their lives. If you suffer or know someone who does then attach a white flag with a red cross on it to your car this summer.

Made me laugh anyway!

I think football should be banned. the drunkeness, the hooliganism, the violence and the general irritatingness of it that I have experienced leads me to believe that its a social problem and not a sport. It's just an excuse for people to start fights and vandalise other cities.
 
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