Hacking in the morning

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Flicker

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Does anyone here hack on the roads before 9am? Just wondering because this morning, one of the DIY liveries went out for a hack at 7.30 this morning. Where we are, she would have to go on the roads, and I couldn't help thinking that it was a bit irresponsible and also a bit inconsiderate to all the people who are trying to get in to work. The roads are not wide either.
Am I being a kill-joy, or do riders like her make it harder for the rest of us to get respect from motorists?
 
i used to hack out at 7.30/8am quite a lot, though our roads are pretty quiet. When i was relying on buses to get up to the horses then back into work for 12, i had no choice but round us the roads are pretty much empty at half 7 an i made sure i did the busy roads first an went home along quieter ones.
 
No - 9.00am is the absolutel earliest I would hack out on the roads in the week (unless I rode out at 6.00am). The roads are just too busy to be fair to horse or driver between 7.30 and 9.00.
 
I would say its down to the individual person's choice but at the same time you can hardly complain about impatient drivers if you hack during rush hour. Personally I only hack on the roads at weekends or on bank holidays because then I dont think its unreasonable to expect people to be a little more relaxed about going slowly.
 
I hacked out at 6:45 this morning. It was beautiful, nice and quiet. Our roads are not that narrow so all cars were able to pass me and I don't think I held anyone up.

Surely if you are worried about holding someone up you would do this no matter what time of the day you hacked out. For instance you could hack out at 12 and hold someone up who is trying to get to an afternoon shift?
 
I don't hack out that early - mainly cos I like my bed too much and don't fancy getting up and rushing for a hack before work!

However, I think if it's light enough and visibility is good then you should be able to ride whenever you see fit. I drive to work as well and it wouldn't bother me at all if there was a horse or two out. I have to make allowances for cyclists and farm vehicles - not to mention old people in nissan micras (!!!!) - on the roads at rush hour so I don't see why a horse is any different!

If people want to hack out at that time then that's up to them, why should they have to wait til everyone else has gone to work? Not everybody in the country works 9 to 5 after all.

The racehorses near us go to the gallops at some godforsaken hours in the morning and they have to go along some main-ish roads as well. I think the more motorists who see horses out on the roads the more they learn to drive accordingly.
 
Marv99 said:
Surely if you are worried about holding someone up you would do this no matter what time of the day you hacked out. For instance you could hack out at 12 and hold someone up who is trying to get to an afternoon shift?
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You make a very valid point - however rush hour starts in many areas at around 7.30 ish - and as we all know getting to work in the morning can be stressful. The increased number of cars on the road, coupled with having to slow down or stop for horses does nothing to endear the horse riding community to non riders - and I for one am happy to be considerate of this. I therefore choose not to ride at this sort of time in the week.

It's the same with the 5.00pm ride. Although I do do that - but try and ride certain routes to lessen the impact.
 
luckily it's not an issue where i live! and to be honest i've never thought about it as rush hour at last yard was when the dairy cattle where being shifted and at this yard it's when there's good ploughing/drilling/harvesting weather lol!
tomorrow i'm out at 7.30am - i dont meet anymore people then than when i ride at any other time
 
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