Didn't slow down for horses on the road today, not sure if I was to blame though...

My sister and I have ridden out today in torrential rain and found car after car that refused to slow down, even with a 'Horse in Training' Tabard on with a notoriously spooky horse and several waves of the arm to slow down. Nearly all were speeding through the village, made even worse by standing water. I admit that half my problem is that I'm too polite, I thank literally everybody that passes us, regardless of what speed. Although you were speeding, the riders could surely have graciously accepted your apology, rather than a torrent of abuse. How very rude!
 
To be completely honest, I would say you were all at fault. You shouldn't of been speeding, and they should have made themselves more visible. In the eyes of the law though, you would be to blame.

I will readily admit I have driven too fast along country roads, and had a few near misses, thankfully mostly with oncoming cars around blind corners rather than with horses.
I did have one which involved a group of 4 riders, riding at dusk, only 2 of them with tabards on. They were riding under trees and I did not see them until I was virtually upon them. This incident scared me enough to make me drive no more than 30mph on these roads now.

Unfortunately I was involved in a horrific road incident in May, whereby me and 3 friends were riding along a straight road. Perfect visibility, about 3pm. We were all in Hi-Viz tabards etc. Cut a long story short, car ploughed into the side of my friends horse and broke 3 of it's legs. Needless to say he was PTS there and then. This has thoroughly scarred me for life and I will never, ever ride on the road again. It is just far too dangerous.

Although I am definitely pro-hiviz, be safe be seen etc, it just goes to show that any form of prevention does not necessarily mean you are safe. As a horse person, just be aware that there will be horses around and slow down.
 
Not read all post so sorry for any repeats!
Faults all round I guess.
Only last week, I was riding my friends 16.2hh ISH mare round the estates - I am ALWAYS trussed up in hi viz no matter what the time, weather, horse I'm riding, route I'm taking etc. Mare decided whilst going up a road where people DO speed, she was going to spook sideways (into the road) and start jogging sidewards. The car behind me, luckily wasn't speeding.
So, yes you would have had more chance of avoiding an accident whilst not speeding, BUT they should have been wearing suitable hi viz definitely.
K x
 
Well done for being so honest OP . I'm sure a lot of us been in the same situation . Easy for the holier than thou to criticise. We are all human and there were errors on both sides. At least you have had the guts to admit yours.
 
recently an experienced horse owner, new to my yard was going to hack out but was stopped by YO who said where is your hi-viz? she hadnt thought about it, and was unaware that her insurers (NFU) regard it as part of restrictions of cover that you wear hi viz or you won't be covered.
 
IMO you were all at fault, you by your own admission for speeding but the riders for the lack of hi-viz, its quite surprising how many riders go onto the roads with nothing at all so in your defence that would have given you seconds more to react.

I always wear hi-viz as does everyone at our yard. Correct me if im wrong but I do believe it isnt law to wear Hi-viz but less likely to come back and bite you on the bum should there be an accident and the driver claim he didnt see you???...
 
Renvers said:
recently an experienced horse owner, new to my yard was going to hack out but was stopped by YO who said where is your hi-viz? she hadnt thought about it, and was unaware that her insurers (NFU) regard it as part of restrictions of cover that you wear hi viz or you won't be covered.
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Thats good to know as im with NFU. I do always wear hi-viz, as do my children.
 
Quite agree fiona. One feels its rather overstepping the mark for lower classes to wish to ride, let alone own horses. And it is a well known fact common people are less likely to wear hi viz than the upper classes. One can only imagine the shame of purchasing a new horse & discovering a previous owner had been a commoner from brians! It simply wouldn't do my dear! One feels proof of blueblood should be required to ride.
Only joking 'commoners' is such a snobby comment its actually amusing.
 
Out of interest, I would like to know if this was a 2 lane stretch of road, a wide single or narrow single track road?

Reason being, OK, OP shouldn't have been speeding but most of us have probably sped at some point but if a 2 lane stretch of road and the OP was traveling towards the riders (which I think from reading her post she was as she couldn't see quarter sheet on lead horse nor tabbard on rear rider) then doing 45/50 on the opposite side of the road kind of makes a difference to this debate?

OP wouldn't have been overtaking riders from behind / close as hadn't seen them in time. I have cars driving past me on a regular basis at these speeds while out hacking and while not ideal my horse copes with it.

Hope above makes sense to someone :o
 
littlelegs said:
Quite agree fiona. One feels its rather overstepping the mark for lower classes to wish to ride, let alone own horses. And it is a well known fact common people are less likely to wear hi viz than the upper classes. One can only imagine the shame of purchasing a new horse & discovering a previous owner had been a commoner from brians! It simply wouldn't do my dear! One feels proof of blueblood should be required to ride.
Only joking 'commoners' is such a snobby comment its actually amusing.
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LOL :D :D
 
littlelegs said:
Quite agree fiona. One feels its rather overstepping the mark for lower classes to wish to ride, let alone own horses. And it is a well known fact common people are less likely to wear hi viz than the upper classes. One can only imagine the shame of purchasing a new horse & discovering a previous owner had been a commoner from brians! It simply wouldn't do my dear! One feels proof of blueblood should be required to ride.
Only joking 'commoners' is such a snobby comment its actually amusing.
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It's also a rather ignorant insult, as a commoner isn't a low-class person, it's simply a person who isn't titled nobility. In other words, we're almost all commoners.

Unless, of course, it's really Lady littlelegs. M'am.






*Tugs cap and walks backwards from room.*
 
nikicb said:
I agree that she can't slow down if she doesn't see them, but she was going 25% over the speed limit at the time, thus endangering herself and any other road users.
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And I'm sure you have never, ever gone over the speed limit in your entire life have u?! Goodness me, get off your high horse.
 
dressagelove said:
And I'm sure you have never, ever gone over the speed limit in your entire life have u?! Goodness me, get off your high horse.
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I don't think it's being on your high horse to point out that speeding endangers life. Just because most of us sometimes do it, doesn't make it any less dangerous or illegal.

If you ever get caught by a speed camera, try telling them to get off their high horses. :D
 
I haven't read all the replies - and OP I truly admire your honesty with your post. However if you are talking about blame, then yes it was your fault. You should only drive as fast as you are able to stopsafely if you come across the unexpected. By your own admittance you were speeding - in poor light and poor road conditions. Why weren't you driving according to the weather conditions? What if it had been a child walking along the road, or a cyclist?

I agree that the riders should have had hi-viz on and I never ride without it, but it isn't the law, it is just advisable.

However I am the first to admit that I have, and still do exceed the speed limit but if you do, then you have to accept blame.

OP - not having a dig at you, just telling as I see it, and you are clearly a very honest person.
 
dressagelove said:
And I'm sure you have never, ever gone over the speed limit in your entire life have u?! Goodness me, get off your high horse.
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I haven't! (like I said, I went 1mph over, but I don't think it even was, my Mums car is funny with the speedometer) And I tell my friends off who do. It's not big and not clever! It actually scares me how many of you admit to going over the limit :S
 
domane said:
If it was THAT dim and wet that the OP didn't see them until she passed them, then I honestly can't see that driving at 40mph would have made much difference to her noticing. At 50 OR 40mph hitting a horse would kill it, so not really much point in arguing over the speed. I wouldn't take my horse out on a fast road in those conditions.....
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domane its not all about reaction time...its also about braking distance which is markedly longer when going 10 mph faster AND in wet conditions!
 
about a third of the posters seem to have missed that the OP said that the riders here WERE wearing hi-vis, just that it old and tatty.
 
lula said:
about a third of the posters seem to have missed that the OP said that the riders here WERE wearing hi-vis, just that it old and tatty.
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I got that but it is hard to tell from Op's discription exactly what condition it was in. The way OP describes it they may as well not have been wearing it so not really relevent.
 
Hmmm... I don't think I'd be speeding in wet weather! I don't think people appreciate how much less grip your tyres have. I think the OP was pretty inconsiderate in this case.
 
I admire the OP's honesty in admitting that she was speeding too. However, she was at fault for not driving correctly for the conditions, poor visibility and a wet road, plus she had local knowledge that the road is used by horse riders.

Emergency drivers are taught to read the road which enables them to travel faster on calls without endangering other road users. Speeding in itself does not cause accidents, poor driving does.

Good point about the grubby Hi Viz though, it does make quite a difference.
 
I for one admire the OP honestly.... After all she could have ommitted the speeding fact and I'm sure the responses would have been so much different. I would say at least 70% of us have driven above the speed limit and in less than ideal driving conditions at some point in time when rushing or just not paying attention. If this post makes at least one rider rethink their riding attire at dusk then it'll be a worthwhile post IMO.
 
I just can't believe they had the cheek to mouth off at you tbh, thats just rude. I doubt they could tell if the OP was doing 40 or 45 could they, so in effect she could have been doing 40 on the road, still not seen them, and still got shouted at by some gobby cows not wearing hi vis.

I get so miffed off at for not being thanked for slowing down and passing wide that half the time I feel like beeping my horn at them! (I never would, but argh its annoying!) I am not a fan of real confrontation so wouldn't actually stop and say anything. Plus I'm like to then meet them when I'm out on my horse, and tbh I can't be bothered with the stress!
 
Stencilface said:
I just can't believe they had the cheek to mouth off at you tbh, thats just rude. I doubt they could tell if the OP was doing 40 or 45 could they, so in effect she could have been doing 40 on the road, still not seen them, and still got shouted at by some gobby cows not wearing hi vis.

I get so miffed off at for not being thanked for slowing down and passing wide that half the time I feel like beeping my horn at them! (I never would, but argh its annoying!) I am not a fan of real confrontation so wouldn't actually stop and say anything. Plus I'm like to then meet them when I'm out on my horse, and tbh I can't be bothered with the stress!
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I stopped to apologize, only because I thought it courteous to, seeing as I was in the wrong. I did also tell them they weren't visible until right upon them, and this was ensued by screams and shouts, to which I apologized again, suggested they renewed their hi-viz, and drove off. Both horses were fine from what I could see, so no damage done.

I know the yard they are from, and the reputation there does not do them many favours, nor does their behaviour as a whole when hacking. There have been a number of times I have passed the same riders, and other people from that yard and they have not been wearing any hi-viz, nor said thank you. On a different road they were riding three abreast, chatting away, not realising they have a queue of traffic behind them. I happened to be the first in the queue, wound down the passenger window and shouted for them to pay attention and move out of the way. That was followed by shouting too. I'm not saying this is excuse on my behalf at all, but it does give a little background, for what it is worth anyway.


There would have been no point in me passing over the fact I was speeding. I could have missed it out, and it wouldn't have been lying, but it would have been evading the truth and thus putting a different perspective to the scenario. I've no doubt at all that all of the responses here would have been different had this been the case. At least I was honest about it, and I do hope that if anything, people who have read this post look at...
a) Making sure they don't ride when it's getting dark or due to
b) Wear enough hi-viz which will make them visible to drivers
c) Check that their hi-viz stuff is clean and in a good condition
d) To drive according to conditions and within the limit, although saying that, I'm sure this won't be the case for some.

I don't have regrets, things happen for a reason, learning from them is better than dwelling on a situation.
 
RiderLizzie said:
I stopped to apologize, only because I thought it courteous to, seeing as I was in the wrong. I did also tell them they weren't visible until right upon them, and this was ensued by screams and shouts, to which I apologized again, suggested they renewed their hi-viz, and drove off. Both horses were fine from what I could see, so no damage done.

I know the yard they are from, and the reputation there does not do them many favours, nor does their behaviour as a whole when hacking. There have been a number of times I have passed the same riders, and other people from that yard and they have not been wearing any hi-viz, nor said thank you. On a different road they were riding three abreast, chatting away, not realising they have a queue of traffic behind them. I happened to be the first in the queue, wound down the passenger window and shouted for them to pay attention and move out of the way. That was followed by shouting too. I'm not saying this is excuse on my behalf at all, but it does give a little background, for what it is worth anyway.


There would have been no point in me passing over the fact I was speeding. I could have missed it out, and it wouldn't have been lying, but it would have been evading the truth and thus putting a different perspective to the scenario. I've no doubt at all that all of the responses here would have been different had this been the case. At least I was honest about it, and I do hope that if anything, people who have read this post look at...
a) Making sure they don't ride when it's getting dark or due to
b) Wear enough hi-viz which will make them visible to drivers
c) Check that their hi-viz stuff is clean and in a good condition
d) To drive according to conditions and within the limit, although saying that, I'm sure this won't be the case for some.

I don't have regrets, things happen for a reason, learning from them is better than dwelling on a situation.
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I admire your honesty, and completely agree with your last statement. We make mistakes in order to learn :)
 
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