Hackers please learn some manners!

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

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Ok, not everyone. But the rude people I just passed now, and the rude people I pass regularly on my way home from work....

If a car slows down or pulls over, at least have the courtesy to raise a hand, or give a nod, or even just a smile. All four of the horses/riders I am talking about have quiet mounts who look perfectly happy in traffic. So it wouldn't hurt, would it? I can understand if it's an anxious youngster and the rider might need to keep both hands occupied but even then, a nod is easy enough. But if you can't manage two reins in one hand on a happy hacker then you shouldn't be on the road!

The outcome otherwise is that next time it might not be a fellow rider in the car, and they might not bother to slow down. Perhaps the speeding moron I met this morning on a single track lane had previously met the rude riders - anyway I am just glad my youngster isn't backed yet.

I know it's not the first time this subject has been mentioned and sadly I'm sure it won't be the last. But please, if only for the sake of other horses, have some manners!
 
Totally agree, it's annoying when you see other riders out on the road with bad manners. I do remember at least one other thread a couple of months back, but that's just a reflection of the fact that it's something I see frequently, and the way some drivers behave towards horses, that fact doesn't help the situation in the slightest.
 
I could not agree more my OH who is not at all horsey knows to slow down but came home from work on Friday with smoke coming out of his ears. Having be stuck behind two selfish cows, two a breast trotting, on small road near to Melton Mowbray. Completely unaware of the tail back as the happily chatting. OH said if he had not be running late for his meeting in Nottingham he would have stopped and given them a mouthful. I said he should have next time they might not be so lucky. OH said there had been many gate ways they could have moved into or drop into single file. They only dropped into single file when someone came towards them. He said the car behind him gave them a blast on his horn and finger out of the window of the car. He said the horses luckily stayed calm they were very lucky. Next person who the driver behind OH might not be so lucky in the fact he more than likely will not slow down for horses.
 
I'm usually the one on the less confident horse so friend does the waving but I always smile or nod. However I do have a really bad shoulder muscle pull thanks to 4x4 going by rather fast yesterday and startling horse. It was already sore but him jumping and pulling the reins finished it off. Am now experiencing serious front end lameness :(
 
*sprinkles* said:
This bugs me too, it gives riders a bad name.
Click to expand...

Totally this!

I try to be as courteous as possible, always raise a hand or give an exaggerated nod and smile, trot on to a driveway or suitable verge if there's no room for them pass etc. The amount of riders I pass round here who don't thank or even acknowledge me, I feel I want to let other local drivers know that we aren't all bad!
 
Drives me bonkers too, have said something on a few occasions, as its all our lives on the line when you come across someone who has had enough of rude horse riders! If I can't take my hands of the reins for whatever reason, I nod, smile or say thank you, is it really that much to ask if they have slowed down?
Must say, on one occasion, when a car had come past seriously fast, another driver wound the window down and apologised for the lunatic!
 
Just playing devils advocate here but why should they thank road users for something that they should be doing legally anyway? Other vulnerable road users like cyclist or walkers etc don't, so I was just wondering where the need that riders feel to wave comes from?

Personally I am a nodder, even if I am on a good horse much like when I drive my car I believe in having full control so two hands on reins (or the wheel) at all time!

This is not so much about the people who take all the room or ride double or don't pull over for traffic but the rest who move out the way, trot on or go single file. Why the need for the waving? Isn't it in the high way code that drivers should pass wide and slow. Why do we have to thank them for following the law.
 
Hmm. driving up to a blind bend in the road, I was delighted to get stuck behind three horses, two a breast. They did not move over so I waved at them politely to do so. They didn't. They then tried to wave me on when they decided it was safe, but it's MY decision when to overtake on a bend, not theirs.

No hi vis, and no bloomin manners, and boy did they give me some looks. :mad: But then I pass them safely, and I am sure they can read my "Slow down for horses" window sticker. :rolleyes:

Just because you have been riding for years, on the same lanes for years, and think your horse is safe, and you are having a cosy chat, it does not mean that you can ride in such a way. One day you will not be so lucky.

Rant officially over.
 
I was working for a lets just say all the gear no idea rich woman, who had a few lessons and got a handful of tbs and a pba, now the horses can be little monies on the road so I understand not always raising a hand, but on this one particular occasion we were riding through a touristy village 3 horses I was at the back and shouted for a car behind and pulled In the naughty pba , lady in front ukled in .... Ignorant boss on her tb carried on in idle of road and then as pedestrians moved back out of her way she trotted along towards the pavement, totally uncalled for meanwhile the two horses we were on were bucking nd broncing cos she has sped out of sight. It is a real bug bear of mine, I'm a serious happy hacker, cover miles everyday on my horse and I always say thank you, my boyfriend who is totally unhorsed has spent the last 6 months before I broke my girl in following me in a Subaru with big bore exhaust whilst I led her so she is bomb proof, we practiced passing her in close proximity etc. he is always amazed that drivers don't slow down even with my polite notice tabard on. He says do you have to thank people, I said no but I'm genuinely grateful for everyone that slows down, it wouldn't hur however if when I see a car and I pull in they said thanks too. I always physically say thank you too , and smile at everyone. Riders already have a bad reputation for being stuck up toffs so I am as approachable as possible whilst on horse back
 
It's terrible isn't it?! It's not the most difficult thing in the world to nod or give a smile, even if you don't want to take hands off the reins (though unless you're on a very highly strung horse then that shouldn't be too much to ask either). I've been thanking people (probably over enthusiastically!) since I was a child and it drives me insane to see riders not even acknowledge polite drivers.
I bet they wouldn't hesitate to come on here and rant about a car that shot past them as they chatted!
 
Of course, good manners should be observed by hackers and drivers alike. I wonder - is it a lack of education? I've frequently driven past riders with the utmost care and not even been acknowledged and it is annoying. Maybe some posters put up in livery yards?
 
The highway code says (last time I looked, and all us drivers are supposed to have a copy!) that horse riders can ride two abreast for safety reasons and that car drivers should not expect horse riders to wave a thank you as they need both hands on the reins.

The two abreast thing is basically to create a whole lane obsticle and prevent vehicles from being tempted to sqeeze past whilst overtaking with oncoming traffic. I have had a little old man do exactly that while I was passing a road traffic island bit of a shock! The BHS riding road safety has large groups riding in blocks leaving space for cars to duck inbetween so they can get passed. As my friend discovered to her surprize even a bicycle in the gutter, legally owns the whole lane, so beware if you try to squeeze past!

I have always nodded and shouted thank you because I think it is very important to improve the general impression of drivers that horsey people are rich arrogant snobs, because we're not! I make a point of making eye contact and giving a big smile. I may look like an idiot but I actually get friendly waves from people who see me regularly and they slow down!! If I can get out of the way by trotting or getting off the road, I will but my friend introduced me to a good rule, if the verge is mown then you don't go on it, and by that I mean outside someone's house because it's their garden and they make an effort to keep it nice so don't won't big foot prints on it.
I always wear hi-viz because it does give them a fighting chance to slow down if they are going to. I have an orange vest because it is by far the better colour for visability(I just wish there were more available) and a hat band so I can be seen over the hedges.
I never ever wave drivers on. It is their responsibility to make sure it is safe to overtake and it could be argued in the event of a accident that by waving them on you took responsibility or so I have been led to believe. I concentrate on my car or horse (whichever) and you concentrate on your vehicle!
There are always thoughtless people both riders and drivers but we have to share the roads, so it makes sense to be polite.
 
Drivers round my way may think I'm slightly insane as I go utterly overboard thanking and smiling. Also to cyclists and walkers. Response is always varied. Some are lovely. Others very grumpy. But I battle on to win them over. It's got to be worth it as we are more vulnerable than them being sat on a prey animal rather than encased in metal.
 
I think most of us have seen this or see it on a regular basis. We have a yard close to us and they seem to think that they are better than anyone else, they do not pull over when there is a gap or ever say thank you, so I just wind down the window and say rather loudly THAND YOU, they just glare at me, but it makes me feel better so very rude.
 
maybe - like the car sticker 'I slow down for horses' - we need some hi viz with a banner on the back saying 'I say thank you to careful drivers' :)
 
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