Grrr, some people are unbelievable!!! Two incidents of irresponsibilty in one day!!

Enfys said:
Moomin1 said:
I think I may just get the council to re-jig the roads though to remove the bends.................QUOTE]

As requested, re-jigged road for you ;):)

0e4d1446.jpg


Swap you a bend any time, this damn road (aka country lane, is dirt - hard top stops at the intersection) is like this for 10 kms, straight roads, no hedges either, may be safe to ride on but they are Boring!!!!!!!!!:)
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Enfys, thanks for re-jigging the road for me! :D Looks much safer, but yes I see your point about it being more boring!! Now I hope Enfys that your horse isn't anything other than robotic or you shouldn't be hacking out at all!! ;)
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Piglet said:
Some drivers reactions don't fail to amaze me any more, several years ago when I was a Traffic Warden :o:o back before we became an extinct species (don't ever associate me with the Civil Enforcement Parking Officers we have now) and it was amazing the change in some drivers if you dared to criticise their parking/driving they became screaming banshees. Am sure they wouldn't have reacted so badly if I had called them a paedophile or a rapist!! :eek::eek:
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^^this. Always amazes me how when someone pulls out on you, or some such, and you beep to let them know what they've done, that 9 out of 10 will then give you the finger and get aggressive even though it was clearly THEIR fault in the first place. Like "how dare you criticise my driving?!"!

And re hi viz and those who don't - they'll spend much time, effort and money to deck their horses out in expensive protective boots, cutting edge tack and nice soft woolly numnahs and accessories. But then turn their noses up at something that's so cheap and simple but much more likely to protect them and their horse from death/serious injury on the road than any sheepskin girthsleeve, just because it's "not cool". Seriously, grow up!


ETA: I only wear a tabard.
 
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And re hi viz and those who don't - they'll spend much time, effort and money to deck their horses out in expensive protective boots, cutting edge tack and nice soft woolly numnahs and accessories. But then turn their noses up at something that's so cheap and simple but much more likely to protect them and their horse from death/serious injury on the road than any sheepskin girthsleeve, just because it's "not cool". Seriously, grow up!
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There's an awful lot of assumptions there.
 
Thanks to everyone who has responded in a more helpful and sympathetic manner.
Dosymare you don't seem to be taking the time to read my original post, or that of Cobrastyle who was riding my mare at the time. If you find it acceptable to drive flat out (sorry - shall I rephrase that so as not to confuse you - 'drive at national speed limit') around a blind bend and then ignore a rider asking you to slow down when their horse is clearly spooking, then to grind to a halt right next to you and start reversing towards the horse quickly and shouting the odds, then I pity any horse riders who hack out near you. This woman said she had horses of her own and should have known better. The fact that she stopped and started reversing backwards towards a blind bend on a national speed limit road is lunacy and thank goodness no other cars were coming or I dread to think what may have happened.

I'm pretty sure that if this woman's actions had have caused a serious accident resulting in the death of a child or anyone for that matter then your response would be different.

In a nutshell, what you have advised me is to never hack my horse out again because she spooked on the road, to stop making stories up because these sorts of incidents just NEVER happen, and to only stable my horse where there are countless bridlepaths/fields etc and there is no requirement to even meet a road. Helpful, thanks.
 
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amymay said:
There's an awful lot of assumptions there.
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More of a generalisation really and prompted by the comment about competition/professionals vs cob-riders! I'm willing to put money on there being more people who won't ride their horse out without first putting on items of tack beyond a simple saddle and bridle than there are people who won't ride out without first puttng on high viz.

If anyone can give me ONE good reason NOT to wear hi viz then I'll shut up.

But anyway, back to the OP - I think I'd be angry if a driver not only drove recklessly past/near/towards me but then proceeded to go out of their way to behave in an agressive and dangerous manner towards me/my horse just because I'd asked them to slow down!
 
Personally, I think if you go round 'ordering' drivers to slow down and the like with hand signals and so on, they are far more likely to stick two fingers up to you and treat the next rider they meet with little consideration.

Re high viz - the most I put on is a tabbard and generally only on a dull day, but I don't ride on the road an awful lot. TBH, if a driver can't see a horse without hi viz on the road in good conditions then they shouldn't be driving.
 
Oh Rosie, how lucky you are to have that lovely looking track to ride on, I used to live on the moor with a teeeeensy weeeensy bit of roadwork to do, I never appreciated it and took the off road riding for miles for granted -"sigh". Now have to box to get to nice riding places and with diesel the price it is ............. :(
 
AprilBlossom said:
Misschaos, I have no intentions of starting an argument or anything - simply, I have no reason I don't wear hi viz if I'm honest, I just don't have anything on yard that is hi viz.
I appreciate I'm probably at one end of the scale by wearing no hi viz, and the 'santcimonious' types I refer to are those who must be at completely the other end of the scale with their head to toe hi viz at quite an extreme. The middle ground people I have a lot of respect for.
Fully appreciate being pulled up on my wording :) Not intended with any tone, just stating my position (and as I've said I can't and won't try justify why I don't wear hi viz!)
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I would have been surprised if you'd intended to start an argument and I'm not a fan of them personally either so that's all good :)

I do agree that there are those out there on both sides whose attitudes take things to extremes, including out and out sanctimony. Fact is that while that's well-intended, that attitude ultimately can be as detrimental to the perceived view of that group of road user as the other way around, and then it just fuels grudges on the other 'side'. There are ways and means of making a point calmly and reasonably (tho easier said than done in some circumstances).

I'd personally have no objections to going out dressed as a Christmas tree - I'm not exactly going to stop and lecture anyone who gives me a far miss (give me a near miss and I'll try to remember your reg)! But then similarly, the only reason I'm not visible from space is I just haven't accumulated that amount of kit. It's the same either way around; the few give the majority a duff name but I'd still 100 times rather get a (hopefully unwarranted!) lecture from someone who's gone to the effort of making themselves more visible than have a near miss with some eejit at the other end of the scale.

It was interesting to read your response - thanks. If we ever end up in HHO Secret Santa and I draw your name, you know what you're getting :D
 
marmalade76 said:
TBH, if a driver can't see a horse without hi viz on the road in good conditions then they shouldn't be driving.
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They shouldn't, but they do. And the argument is that even in good conditions they see them sooner with hi viz.

Agree about asking drivers to slow down. I had to ask drivers to slow and stop twice at the weekend as my horse (in-hand) had suddenly developed a dislike of cars coming up behind him despite never being worried before (I'm connecting it to an incident the last time we went out when a large group of walkers emerging from a muddy footpath onto the yard drive started stamping their feet to shake the mud off while right behind him). Both drivers slowed and stopped and I was smiley and waved thank you and they smiled and carried on.

At the same time I've had drivers fly past me and honk or stick their finger up at me when they've barely had to move over to go past me and I've only waved a thank you (it's automatic now, I can't help it).
 
I have solved this problem;)

I bought a 16h SFx dark bay mare. I put all hi-viz on her, black boots with viz straps, viz martingale and a viz mesh sheet, all quality yellow and all matching. To top that lot, I also wear a de-commisioned police jacket.

ALL traffic without question will slow, stop and even switch off their engines........We scare the bejesus outa them!!:D
 
marmalade76 said:
TBH, if a driver can't see a horse without hi viz on the road in good conditions then they shouldn't be driving.
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I cannot begin to describe how ridiculous I find this statement, but, just for the sake of argument, what about all those drivers out there who possibly shouldn't be driving (too old, too senile, too blind, too tired, too pissed, too inexperienced, too distracted by their children/OH, etc etc) but who, in fact, are behind the wheel of a vehicle, and to whom the extra three seconds they get to see you if you could be bothered to wear a minimum of hi viz might actually save your horse/you/them from being killed??
 
Rowreach said:
I cannot begin to describe how ridiculous I find this statement, but, just for the sake of argument, what about all those drivers out there who possibly shouldn't be driving (too old, too senile, too blind, too tired, too pissed, too inexperienced, too distracted by their children/OH, etc etc) but who, in fact, are behind the wheel of a vehicle, and to whom the extra three seconds they get to see you if you could be bothered to wear a minimum of hi viz might actually save your horse/you/them from being killed??
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^^THIS is the voice of reason! Thank you!
 
Rowreach said:
I cannot begin to describe how ridiculous I find this statement, but, just for the sake of argument, what about all those drivers out there who possibly shouldn't be driving (too old, too senile, too blind, too tired, too pissed, too inexperienced, too distracted by their children/OH, etc etc) but who, in fact, are behind the wheel of a vehicle, and to whom the extra three seconds they get to see you if you could be bothered to wear a minimum of hi viz might actually save your horse/you/them from being killed??
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AshTay said:
^^THIS is the voice of reason! Thank you!
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^^^ Another thanks from me. Well said.
 
I always choose to have 3sec

and I generally don't go ordering other road users about, I am asking them and if they are nice enough to be considerate they get a thank you very much (if they aren't they get a ohh *** off then :p)

I do everything I can not to cause annoyance or get in peoples way/slow them up for too long :), but sometimes that might be quicker if they were to go with my suggestion of stopping etc.
 
marmalade76 said:
Personally, I think if you go round 'ordering' drivers to slow down and the like with hand signals and so on, they are far more likely to stick two fingers up to you and treat the next rider they meet with little consideration.

Re high viz - the most I put on is a tabbard and generally only on a dull day, but I don't ride on the road an awful lot. TBH, if a driver can't see a horse without hi viz on the road in good conditions then they shouldn't be driving.
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Out in the car three weeks ago, a lady dressed top to toe in joules tweed and dubarry :rolleyes: leading a little chesnut mini shetland which was pulling a cart wth two pre schoolers in it. Kids had no hats on. This was on the fosse way (busy and dangerous main road)! no hi viz, nothing. I didn't see her until we were metres away, she was causing drivers to slam their brakes on. Perfectly 'bright' day. Stupid, stupid woman, and had we not been in a line of traffic I'd have got out and told her as such.

Are you saying that the rest of the road users shouldn't have been there because this woman preferred to spend her £££'s in joules than on two small tabards?
 
DosyMare said:
Essex! Brentwood.

I don't have a theory....

I just think riders can be irresponsible at the same time. Having seen a horse spook and rider full off - said horse galloped down the road 1 mile home
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Now now ladies (and gents)

November 21st 2011, 1030 am myself, my friend and her daughter set off for a quiet hack, need to hack along country lanes with a 30 mph speed limit ti get to the off road hacking we are heading for, friend is at front, her daughter is in middle and me on bright chestnut horse at back, In single file on correct side of the road tucked in enough to be out of the way but still visible, my mount 17hh and got hi viz exercise sheet, lead pony with sheet on too, all riders with hi viz jackets and flashing head bands, weather, bright clear sunny autumn morning visibiloity good. Headign towards a left hand bend, vicky my friend says i can hear a trailer bouncing, we are at a walk and noise is getting louder so we stand to wait, as car twoing trailer (empty boat trailer) comes around corner on wrong side of road at 50 mph (remember 30mph speed limit) we signal to slow down, he doesnt make an effort and front horse is terrified as car and trailer now coming directly towards us, driver continues at speed and front horse spooks and car hits ti in back legs, ider (my friend ) is now thrown onto bonnet of can and rolls across and hits tarmac, horse now proceeds to bolt the 2 miles home at flat out gallop (ex polo pony and is very fast) 6 year old daughter is now on pony who has also turned and bolted in fear and wanting to keep up with loose horse, my friend is now blacked out on the tarmac and im in two minds as to following her 6 yr old daughter or staying with her, but i know daughter is in trouble and turn 17 hh dressage horse in pursuit (he is a brother to moorlands tortilas and i was ******** it that he would be injured) polo pony is now at full flight and im pushing big horse to catch up, we galloped all teh way home down a steep hill and across shining tarmac, thankfully daughter stayed on ( olympic hopeful with that seat at 6 years old) and we made it back with out any more mishaps. Now my point being that this is not ponies fault or riders but a careless driver who consequently was more concerned about his car and droppign the trailer off and didnt give my frienda lift home after she was laying on tarmac in front of him. We have to hack across roads to get to the bridleways, they should be slow but no one is sticking to the limits around there. Pony who was hit by car had to go back to her owners(she was on loan as a sensible hack and was until then) and friends daughters pony is now being hacked by me as she is too spookiy to hack safely with a child on board. I have never been so terrified in my life, my friends daughter was my main concern, imagine if a car had hit her and her pony on the bolt home? yes i could have stayed with my friend and not followed them but at least if something had happed i could of helped.
 
Yeah i did lol, driver has been prosecuted due to my eveidence, also a fiend of ours had been riding towards us at time and the car had spooked her horse too and that was the reason he was on wormng side of bend as he came roudn the corner - he was going too fast and had to werve to miss her. she then galloped after us to help but couldnt catch us. driver has been forced to undertake a driver programme thingy haha and a £300 odd fine
 
Moomin1 said:
Thanks to everyone who has responded in a more helpful and sympathetic manner.
Dosymare you don't seem to be taking the time to read my original post, or that of Cobrastyle who was riding my mare at the time. If you find it acceptable to drive flat out (sorry - shall I rephrase that so as not to confuse you - 'drive at national speed limit') around a blind bend and then ignore a rider asking you to slow down when their horse is clearly spooking, then to grind to a halt right next to you and start reversing towards the horse quickly and shouting the odds, then I pity any horse riders who hack out near you. This woman said she had horses of her own and should have known better. The fact that she stopped and started reversing backwards towards a blind bend on a national speed limit road is lunacy and thank goodness no other cars were coming or I dread to think what may have happened.

I'm pretty sure that if this woman's actions had have caused a serious accident resulting in the death of a child or anyone for that matter then your response would be different.

In a nutshell, what you have advised me is to never hack my horse out again because she spooked on the road, to stop making stories up because these sorts of incidents just NEVER happen, and to only stable my horse where there are countless bridlepaths/fields etc and there is no requirement to even meet a road. Helpful, thanks.
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Here and in all your post you say you signal to slow the car down. The signal to slow a car down is different to that of asking a car to stop!

Yes some people are bad drivers but also we do have irresponsible riders - we are not a unique bred that is always correct.
 
Moomin1 said:
In a nutshell, what you have advised me is to never hack my horse out again because she spooked on the road, to stop making stories up because these sorts of incidents just NEVER happen, and to only stable my horse where there are countless bridlepaths/fields etc and there is no requirement to even meet a road. Helpful, thanks.
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Obv I am just a retard (who cant read - nor be allowed to own a horse) who is not entitled to an opinion nor to question your actions without being insulted.

And yes incidents do happen (see below link previously mentioned) I do think you are missing the point - riders need to be responsible on the roads. Having an argument near a blind bend with a horse spooky does not appear IMO to be the best way to handle this situation.

www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-essex-12201876
 
Elsbells said:
I have solved this problem;)

I bought a 16h SFx dark bay mare. I put all hi-viz on her, black boots with viz straps, viz martingale and a viz mesh sheet, all quality yellow and all matching. To top that lot, I also wear a de-commisioned police jacket.

ALL traffic without question will slow, stop and even switch off their engines........We scare the bejesus outa them!!:D
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Hee Hee:D You need to come and work with me I ride my work horse out wearing a Hi Viz Metropolitan Police Jacket( me not the horse:)) The horse wears a hi viz quarter sheet, hi viz leg wraps and a hi viz bib which also has flashing lights when it gets dark:) and I still get drivers trying to kneecap me!!!! There are some idiot drivers out there. Our work horses get spooked sometimes especially the babies who are learning, but hey maybe we shouldn't have police horses on the road too dangerous!!!!!!! Glad you are ok OP get the reg. next time:D
 
I have just sat and read this thread from start to finish and have to say how troubled and very sad I am to read some of the threads on here.

I am not part of the H&H regular clique by any means, and nor am I a young and sprightly competition rider like so many of you appear to be.

However, I have been playing with horses for many, many years and have grown old as the roads get busier and busier. I have witnessed many acts of careless and dangerous driving around horses over the years.

I have also never, ever witnessed such a pitiful attack on someone who has been involved in one of these road rage incidents (make no mistake the driver described by OP was in a full blown attack of road rage!)

I cannot begin to understand why people on a world renowned horse forum, who, for the most part, share the OP's use and love of horses would find it necessary or acceptable to attack her in this way?:confused:
 
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