Ever wonder why us riders get such a bad name?

RunToEarth

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So to most motorists we are the worst thing on the roads, we are a pain, and we don't pay road tax.
Now I'm very lucky where I am, I have a lot of off road hacking and trails onto the moors, but roads are still a part of my every day routes. Since being a little girl I have always been taught to stick to the side, make your actions clear, and out of decency when there is a big lorry behind me on a small country road, where I can I will hop onto the curb, because I know you shouldn't, but it makes everyone's life easier.
Today when I was hacking out, I saw four girls a little younger than me, riding four a breast on the road, they were actually on the other side of the road, so obstructing traffic coming both ways. Now I hate it when drivers try and overtake in inappropriate spots- like between bollards,because it is just not needed, and dangerous- especially as I lead and ride, but these four girls spaced themselves out so that no one could over take them on a very straight stretch of road, as if they believed they had the right to stop cars overtaking them.
As I was coming the opposite was, I tucked into a drive way to let a car overtake them, at about 20mph, which is a very considerate speed to overtake a horse at I believe? The four girls started swearing and making hand gestures to the car which had not only gone slowly but considering they had made it very difficult for him to overtake had given them as wider birth as he could, and looked at me as if to say - "What is their problem"
I feel so sad to see things like that, because it is thanks to people like them that horse riders get a crap reputation. I have no quarms about people driving past me at 80mph on anything I ride apart from the youngsters, I always thank everyone that slows down and passes me wide- I think it is a decent thing to do. The only times I get arsey are when people try overtaking me when I have two horses, and I am overtaking parked cars, or inbetween bollads- some drivers lack the common sense.
I'm so angry, I think if I hadn't been outnumbered, Oshk and I against four equichavs who looked rather scary (I was half expecting to see a bottle of white lightening aboard!) I would have said something about how rude they were to the extremely patient man!!
 
Its people like them that make motorist think that we are all like it! I dont really have to do alot of road work but the roads I do need to go on a very busy ones, most drivers do slow right down so do the lorries and I always thank them.
But I know quite a few young riders that think that they own the road and will ride their horses almost in the middle of the carraige way or will be riding down the road with a mobile either glued to their ear or in their hand while they text their friends, then they proceed to abuse drivers if they over take!!!!
I can never remember being like that!!!!
 
There is a couple who live a little way down from us who do this. It's only two of them on 16hh hunter-types, but the woman rides out about 6' from the kerb and the man rides a further 6' out from her on our narrow country road, so there isn't room enough for anything to get past. When cars appear they absolutely insist on riding as they are the quarter mile up the road, with the cars stacking up behind them all the way, until they get to the wider bit where the cars can finally struggle past, and neither will then thank the drivers who've been queueing up behind them for the past five minutes. Worse than that, I'm usually coming back just as they're setting out and they'll wave and slow down to say what a lovely day it is, etc. whilst I get to stare into the face of all those raging motorists stuck behind them. *cringe*
 
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...riding down the road with a mobile either glued to their ear or in their hand while they text their friends...

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Oh god, you have just stumbled on my biggest pet peeve of all time. What if the horse spooked? What if a driver lost control and came hurtling towards them? I can feel my blood pressure going through the roof just thinking of it.
 
Yep, I sometimes am a little envious of my friend, she has mastered the art of wedging her phone in her hat to talk, with my coloured I just couldn't take my hand off of the rein without him anticipating a canter and zooming off without me, my phone never comes out when I am riding!!
 
TBH I would have given them a damn good mouthful.....Little brats
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ETA:
As for the phone thing, if I get a call or a txt I'll always answer/respond. Luckily I can wedge my phone in the harness of my polocrosse hat but not in my GPA so one hand has to stay off the reins. I aways make sure I stay aware of whats going on around me and I'm still always polite to passing vehicles. I don't see the problem as long as you're careful.
 
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TBH I would have given them a damn good mouthful.....Little brats
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Same here Im a right mouthy cow at times lol
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I hate that- I reccently stopped and blocked the road for a woman on a baby who was napping (She wanted to go off down the lane, but horsey wouldn't go past the sign- bit ironic, as it's a warning horses!
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). She never said thanks, or even give me a smile.

I caught up later with her (sans horse
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) and she said 'I don't see why I should thank you. I never asked you to stop!'

I was totally shocked by her attitude.
 
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Oshk and I against four equichavs who looked rather scary

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LMAO!!!!!

Serious subject I know, but you've just given me my new favourite word! Equichavs - I shall use it to death!!
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I caught up later with her (sans horse
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) and she said 'I don't see why I should thank you. I never asked you to stop!'


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OMG what a cow!
 
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