Car flags, is it just me?

How is a horse going to get better on roads if you are saying unless they plod round like a dobbin they shouldnt be out?

Maybe some horses are fine at home but when taken out get more nervous so need to be out meeting different situations to help them with de-sensitizing them!

No horse is 100% bombproof even though we all like to think our own are but they are a flight animal. They are like men all the same but just got differnt heads on so you know what 1 is yours!
 
...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.
Click to expand...

:D :D :D might have to steal this as my fb status today too :D
 
Smile kids I met bunting across the whole street out hacking in high wind no joke overhead about 300 metres zig zag from house to house. they made some racket.... sit up leg on....life insurance... but can't say ban bunting. few sparky rides later one bombproof horse (well three!) Its all part of riding a horse and as you leave the yard accepting the risks you will come across.
 
It is not possible for me to avoid the roads at the moment. My share cannot be ridden in the school as he has a bruised sole and the surface compacts in there and prolongs his recovery. However, he is a big fat bloater and really needs exercise or else he will become ill from being overweight, plus it doesn't do his legs or feet any good especially when already injured. He is also a spooky Arab, and the only thing that makes him better on the roads, is getting out on them more often. He doesn't like the flags on cars, and especially 3 big ones on flag poles outside a house we ride past sometimes. He doesn't like skips, big lorries or tractors either. And sometimes he doesn't like his own shadow.

I try to get him used to plastic bags etc and feed sacks whenever we have any to hand, but it just really freaks him out more and seems to make him worse. He would stand and snort at a plastic bag all day if someone didn't either make him go near it and deal with him being a poof, or remove it so he could feel safe once again lol

A little respect goes a long way, for both parties. I am always polite, thank anyone who slows or stops, try to keep out of the way etc. But i also expect drivers to be aware of ALL dangers on the road, not just horses. And to respect these in appropriate ways such as slowing down when politely requested to do so. Luckily, most of them around us do so.
 
I won't be hacking my boy down the main road (A38 through our village 30mph but most do 40) or on any fast stretches of the B road until the world cup is over. Normally he copes with 4 pubs and associated banners and the car wash but I think it is the noise they make and the speed at which they can be heard coming up behind them which causes issues with mine (rather than what they look like) so although 9 times out of 10 he is likely to be ok to me it is not worth it for the other 1.

I can desensitise him all I like at home.... it doesn't always work when out and about... I blame that on his genes :)
 
I dont really care, each to their own, but personally all they do is make me think of drunken fat bellied yobs shouting yorping ect, it all seems a bit chavvy, whenever I see the flag thats all it now reminds me of, which is a bit of a shame really, I know lots of decent people with the flags so I know it's just my own feelings rather than the reality of it, bu then I am possibly a snob :D
 
Munchin- I posted the original thread about car flags and I havent seen any comments in the media or otherwise asking for them to be banned..

On a hack I would only meet about 3 or 4 cars so to come face to face on a single track road with a speeding car and flapping flags would be daunting for even the most steady neddy! I agree it is our responsibility for the safety of our horses, other road users and ourselves but I dont think that a lot of the car drivers will appreciate that some horses will find the flags spooky, hence the post!
 
Genius Hugo!!
We can't escape the dreaded flags. Our YO has hung the most ginormous one right outside the yard, complete with three 'normal' size flags on flag poles. All three of them are cracking away in the wind as we speak. And you can hear them in the indoor school.
Yes, my lad is having 'concentration issues' in the indoor, and his eyes are out on stalks when I walk him past the yard flags but he'll just have to get on with it.
Compared to those though, car flags will be a walk in the park!!
 
EQUISCENE said:
Munchin- I posted the original thread about car flags and I havent seen any comments in the media or otherwise asking for them to be banned..

On a hack I would only meet about 3 or 4 cars so to come face to face on a single track road with a speeding car and flapping flags would be daunting for even the most steady neddy! I agree it is our responsibility for the safety of our horses, other road users and ourselves but I dont think that a lot of the car drivers will appreciate that some horses will find the flags spooky, hence the post!
Click to expand...

I didn't even see your thread, mine was posted in reaction to this http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/298993.html :)
 
Flicker
Your YO is clearly very patriotic!! Either that or aiding you in de-sensitising your horses. Very nice of him/her!
 
Car flags = look stupid
Spooky horse = normal
Riding on the roads = allowed and normal
car flags v spooky horse = not good
answer = distroy all car flags
how? = I don't know, but there must be a way!! ;)

On the bright side, c'mon guys - do you really think we are going to do well in the is world cup? Nah, flags will soon go and we will have a majority nation of sulkers which is another matter altogether!!!??!!
 
I do get what you're saying OP.

I too detest the attitude of some riders who think that they have a right to do this and a right to do that, when in reality, owning a horse is a huge privilege.

Luckily, Zoom has a big hole where her eye should be on the side of traffic so doesn't tend to notice things too much :D
 
I think this convo was started a bit strong!!
I, for one, cannot reach most off road hacking without going on the roads first - let's face it I think most of us will have a possibility of meeting at least one vehicle on any of our rides!

Agreed though, how can horses get better with roadwork unless they go on the road? Its fair enough getting your ned to stand in a yard looking at say, a running car with a loud exhaust - but riding past one when its driving at 65mph in a 30mph zone is a completely different matter! Please do not think of us all as people who think cars must go past our horses at 3mph on the opposite side of the road with no music and the windows up...if I can hear a car zooming up behind us, yes I will ask them via hand signals to slow down. We expect a bit of consideration, as drivers expect a bit of consideration from riders - hence why we pull over and stop to let people through, or trot on to enable a wide enough gap for cars to pass!

Touch wood, me and my girl have not yet come across the car flag monster...however, when we do it will come to the "if you don't like it, its tough I'm telling you its okay" conversation! I'm certainly not proposing a ban on England support! (For however long it lasts! :p)
 
Hugo said:
Why not just ride out when the match is on. All car flag owners will be glued to the telly!!!!
Click to expand...

YES.
Actually, I did do this when the big matches were on the last time the world cup was happening (god was that 4 years ago already?!). The roads weren't totally empty, but I clearly remember that all roads were completely free of inconsiderate yobs during those times ;)
 
Hugo, he is patriotic and likes to put on a bit of a display. You should see his house during Christmas - another fabulous time to desensitise the horses to flashing lights, waving Santa's, jingling bells and prancing reindeer.
He also has an obsession with diggers - cue heavy machinery about on the yard 365 and 24/7.
Oh, and his kids play in the drive (which overlooks the yard) with go-carts and super soakers.

The horses on our yard are all pretty chilled by now!
 
This is a tricky subject but today I was getting my friends horse out of her field on the farm. As I brought her through the gate onto the farm drive a car went past on the main with two flags at a very fast speed. Other horses by hedge went ballistic her horse went over the top of me.

I am not saying any right or wrong here I am not injured however I am playing with her 'well-bahaved' horse while she is on holiday so that I can get my nerve back after owning a somewhat erratic gelding.

My advice to her when she returns is get the England matches timetable and hack out to it if you can.
 
HUGO - he hey !! what a fab idea :D Total Genius, I bow down in awe !!!!!!

Ride while the matches are on folks !!!!!!!! Tis sorted, fab idea. And it'll mean not having to try and find non-football or South Africa related programmes. I am a total convert..... :D:D
 
I haven't read the replies (sorry) but I do think that horse owners should do all in their power to ensure their horses are tolerable of the flags. If you can't get your horse used to them, then don't ride on the road. End of.
 
I think "munchkin" you are trying to wind us all up here??? Coz hey, the vast majority of us all pay our road tax and have as much right to be on the roads as anyone else - we'd all far rather be off-road than have to take our horses' and our own lives in our hands every time we go out riding.

It isn't possible to "bombproof" our horses to every single thing we have to meet on the road, i.e. buses letting off air brakes, tractors, bicycles, kids in pushchairs, etc etc., and you can do something in the yard and be OK then go out on the road and meet it, and because you're in a different environment, the horse will spook.

So its not that we've not tried to "deal with it" as you put it, its just that horses are by nature unpredictable creatures and one cannot prepare for the unexpected.

Do you actually ride? I just wonder ...
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
I think "munchkin" you are trying to wind us all up here??? Coz hey, the vast majority of us all pay our road tax and have as much right to be on the roads as anyone else - we'd all far rather be off-road than have to take our horses' and our own lives in our hands every time we go out riding.

It isn't possible to "bombproof" our horses to every single thing we have to meet on the road, i.e. buses letting off air brakes, tractors, bicycles, kids in pushchairs, etc etc., and you can do something in the yard and be OK then go out on the road and meet it, and because you're in a different environment, the horse will spook.

So its not that we've not tried to "deal with it" as you put it, its just that horses are by nature unpredictable creatures and one cannot prepare for the unexpected.

Do you actually ride? I just wonder ...
Click to expand...

You may want to re-read my posts, and a fair few of the replies from those who agree with me. Apparently you've never heard the phrase "deal with it" in the context in which I wrote it before either.

Do I ride? I actually took my 4 year old out this evening, on the road, where not surprisingly we were passed by two cars bearing flags. Did he react? Yes. Fortunately not that badly, but it was a risk I chose to take and I wouldn't be wailing about it to the newspapers and suggesting flags are banned if he'd reacted more severely... I'd have kept him away from the roads until the world cup was over.
 
I'm just getting back on board after an operation, so really don't want my pony spooked by passing flags. I was thinking maybe if I get a couple of flags of my own, attach them to her saddle, she'd not worry about a couple more going by.
Hmmm... on second thoughts, some idiot football fan will probably sound his horn loudly just as he comes alongside because he's happy that I'm supporting the cause won't he?
 
saskia295 said:
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?



I don't know anyone that has this attitude. Seeing as you do, maybe you need to fine some new acquaintances?
Click to expand...

Well done Saskia, I, like you, dont know anyone with that attitude. I also have to hack up the road to our one piece of off road riding and this is a narrow country lane which is used by a lot of cars. Most people are pretty good but occassionally we have an idiot flying past. We did have someone with flags the other night and my mare just looked a bit surprised and did a small jump but within herself (her feet didnt move if you know what I mean) as after all to a horse it is a bit unusual.
 
Katt said:
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!
Click to expand...

Yes Katt it does appear that so many people have so little to do that they have to resort to this - I to am sick of it.
 
I do think, she was just on about all people which are complaining about the flags. NOT that you should go on yard arrest full stop...just if you're not confident about riding by flagged cars, then just don't go out or put yourself in that situation you're not comfortable with to start with whilst you know it's that time. It was more of a passing comment that for a couple of weeks of the year, every 4 years, surely it really doesn't pose that much of an issue to horse riders screaming to have them banned now....

I posted my thoughts the other page back so shan't repeat my views but just thought I'd say, what I think the OP was on about?
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
I think "munchkin" you are trying to wind us all up here??? Coz hey, the vast majority of us all pay our road tax and have as much right to be on the roads as anyone else - we'd all far rather be off-road than have to take our horses' and our own lives in our hands every time we go out riding.
Click to expand...

You pay road tax for your horse?:eek::D:D
 
Hi I havent read all the posts but have got general gyst of it,I dont think the drivers realise the problems these flags cause but I did notice in the last world cup that once england start losing matches the flags etc start coming down;) sorry football fans:D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top