Don't usually do this but really cross!!

[bellaboo]

Now usually i keep quiet about things that annoy and upset me but this subject i feel really strongly about.
I was driving down a road i regularly use when suddenly out of a small wooded around on the right hand side of the road a horse and rider came out. Now i slowed down as much as could without causing an accident or sending my husband and small child throught the windscreen, and this women shouted at me to slow down. I would never ever speed past a horse and rider but this women just stepped out on the road from a wooded area on the wrong side of the road and proceeded to ride down the wrong side of the road, she had no fluro's on at all and was riding a dark chestnut horse, when driving in the sun through a darken area she was very difficult to spot.
What annoys me the most is when i slow down for riders and get no thanks, but this really wound me up, i was following another car and she just stepped out and proceeded to shout at me, well she should never of stepped out when the road was not clear, especially in a dark area.
No wonder drivers don't slow down for horse riders when riders themselves don't respect the road or other drivers on them. I think both drivers and riders need some sort of education to prevent accidents and so everyone can use the roads safely.
Sorry rant over, but it no wonder why there is so many horse related accidents on the road.

 

[Tangaroo]

I would have stopped and got out and told her everything you have just said. I always stop when i slow down and people dont thank me. I just tell them that manners cost nothing and they are giving all us horse riders a bad name by not saying thankyou. I even told my best friend off once! She makes a point of saying thank you now.

 

[joanne1920]

i dont blame you for being upset and angry, sounds like she is an accident waiting to happen x

 

[kerilli]

you should have had a rant at her, tbh. i've stopped and given someone grief when they've been totally ignorant, ambling along in the middle of the road round a corner, not protecting the horse at all. or when i slow right down and drive past carefully, and they don't even acknowledge me... makes me see red.
i think horse riders often forget that although they can hear oncoming traffic, drivers can't hear them...
she was massively at fault. sometimes telling someone that you are a driver who is considerate to horses, but that basically THEY GOT IT WRONG, is worth it. might save the horse's life in future.

 

[WishfulThinker]

I can see why you are angry as she basically thought that as she was on the horse she had the road. I have had to emerge from woods before onto a road, but I always listen and look around and then only go out if it is clear.

 

[fruity]

I know two lady's that ride out together and they go through our dark wood thats a fast road two abreast! With dark clothing on,the only thing that stops them getting killed is the 2 grey horses they ride! They never say thank you when you slow down and a lot of cars beep at them for being so rude,i always think that these cars are now going to think all riders are like this and next time they'll think twice about slowing down and thats just not fair on all the other horse riders.

 

[snurse]

I've been trying to teach my horse the Highway Code. When we are coming onto a road - even though they are very quiet lanes, I make her stop and wait while we look for cars. I'm sure she thinks I'm mad!

 

[hadfos]

Nothing aggravates me more than horse riders with no manners and common courtesy(after all they cost nowt),no wonder most drivers dont slow down for us,i own a horse and i feel like that!!I always say thankyou,even if it is just a nod of the head!

 

[hannah87]

i passe a guy yesterday riding a horse on the wrong side of the road, i slowed rite down and he thanked me - i nearly pulled over to ask him why he was riding on the wrong side but i didnt. there are so many ignorant drivers already that wont slow down for us on horses , why encorough them with thoughtless riding??

 

[Enfys]

Bramble, was he an older rider? I'm asking because 30 years ago I took a Hunting and Country Lore Certificate at Pony Club and, I distinctly remember it, we were told that we should ride on the 'wrong' side of the road (talking country lanes here) because that way you were facing the traffic and people had more time to slow down, and you had more time to get out of the way etc.
I am not saying it was right, but when I had lanes to ride on I tended to stay in the middle and pull over/trot on as and when I needed to.