Carriage drivers, have you ever...

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pennyturner

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Had a motorist yell 'hwahhh!' at your pony as they overtake, in a deliberate attempt to make them bolt?

This happened to me today. The guy tried twice.
Fortunately, despite it being only his 6th time in harness, the horse took no notice whatever.

It would be great to have a real time, real life version of a 'report' button for pillocks.
 
This was a "game "played by boy racers where used to live. speed past music pounding beeping horn hanging out window shouting!!!!police werent interest even when given reg numbers etc due to polical correctnest till a hubby followed one and threatened to beat crap out of them. oh surprize surprise multiple police cars arrived. sick fun :(
 
Eesh! Good pony! And glad you're ok. Wonder what planet people are on sometimes that they find potentially causing a serious accident entertaining!! Have to say the people round me for the most part tend to be very considerate when I'm out long reining my little guy (think mostly they're shocked to see such a tiny horse lol) - but I don't take him out much in the carriage yet as he's not 100% with buses/lorries - but it is always a worry whether people will think.
Hope you don't come across that idiot again!
 
Wouldn't be quick enough to do this myself but once out wih very experienced acquaintance and a driver deliberately drove very close as he overtook while his passenger shouted out of the window. My friend whacked the top of his car with his whip. Hopefully frightened the little ****** to death, because it did me. Horse behaved impeccably throughout. I'm not recommending it though!
 
lora3786 said:
Eesh! Good pony! And glad you're ok. Wonder what planet people are on sometimes that they find potentially causing a serious accident entertaining!! Have to say the people round me for the most part tend to be very considerate when I'm out long reining my little guy (think mostly they're shocked to see such a tiny horse lol) - but I don't take him out much in the carriage yet as he's not 100% with buses/lorries - but it is always a worry whether people will think.
Hope you don't come across that idiot again!
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Thanks, but don't worry. We weren't in any danger. I think you'd be shocked at the kind of thing I expect the ponies to put up with and go past quietly!
 
daughter's groom said:
Wouldn't be quick enough to do this myself but once out wih very experienced acquaintance and a driver deliberately drove very close as he overtook while his passenger shouted out of the window. My friend whacked the top of his car with his whip. Hopefully frightened the little ****** to death, because it did me. Horse behaved impeccably throughout. I'm not recommending it though!
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Yup - I have been known to do that too - although usually as a last resort to prevent a car overtaking dangerously etc. However, this guy overtook me on the inside as I was preparing a right hand turn, so my whip arm was stuck out on the wrong side. :(
 
Not shouting, but near an old yard someone chucked a coke can out of the window. Fortunately it missed the pony's head by about a foot. Doubt the police would have been bothered if it had hit her.
 
I've had that happen to me too, car full of lads chucking beer cans at pony as they drove past :(

In the area I am most people are reasonably courteous passing when I am riding but driving they don't even seem to register that it is a live creature they are passing. When I take friends out they are shocked at the difference in drivers passing a driven rather than a ridden horse. Slowing down is a rarity. Also, last time I was out I stopped at a junction where it always takes a while for there to be a gap in the traffic for us to cross and a van pulled up behind us and left about 3" between the back of the trap and the front of his van. I tried to ask him to give us a bit more room in case the pony took a step back but he just told us to get a move on.

I used to really enjoy driving, and the pony is brilliant, but go out less and less now because of the behaviour of other road users.
 
Yes I agree that drivers seem to have less respect for horses in harness. Where we are now is great for riding, loads of off road hacking but the countryside is split by a major road and I haven't driven since we moved here. I don't think I could, there just aren't enough safe roads to make it worthwhile. A real shame as my current youngster would make a stunning driving horse.
 
Not while driving but I have had this happen when I've been hacking, it was several years ago when I was a young teenager and it scared me and my usually chilled pony. I don't know what is wrong with people. Glad you are ok.
 
Yep, teenagers deliberately trying to frighten the horse, by waving whole torso out the window, - didn't work though. Getting a helmet cam for Christmas.
Most drivers are lovely; there are three sorts. The waiters - hang back 200m and drive past at 2mph faster than we are going, The racers - who barely slow down, and the efficient - who slow a little to look for trouble and then pass quickly if it all looks ok.
I think it helps that my OH is usually on the backstep, older male and doesn't look like a traveller.;)
 
I just bought a cart from a lady who told me horrendous stories of abuse from strangers whilst driving. She wasn't a traveller, but her horse is a coloured cob :(

Some years ago a couple of kids in Andover shot at us with a BB gun. Hit both my daughter (passenger) and the pony, who to his credit took just one canter stride, and steadied on finger tips. I know it hurt, because daughter told me so.

It is SO important that driving horses can cope with this kind of stuff. It can be totally accidental, like the poor chap (years ago) whose vintage motorbike backfired 3 times right by our pony as he carefully overtook us. Pony was steady, but he was mortified. Lol.
 
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