Hacking on roads

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GingerTrotter

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After a few near misses on my horse and my friends horse being "grazed" by a tractor a year ago and now another friend being nearly splatted by a speeding lorry I have decided not to hack on roads anymore :(

I must point out that I live in a rural area with "slow horses" traffic signs but I'm amazed a the drivers out there now. I remember hacking out all day on the roads as a child (i'm only 28) as we had no offroad hacking much at all and never having a problem.

I'm lucky now I suppose that I can trailer up and am 5 mins away from a big wood and 10mins away from the beach but its not as convinient as hopping on in the yard and heading out.

Is anyone else feeling the same in todays society? why is everyone in such a hurry and will not slow down!
 
Must admit (*touch wood*) that I've rarely had problems hacking / with drivers on the roads. Had a near miss last year with a taxi driver coming around a blind bend; he was going much too fast around the bend and didn't see me until the last second, screeching brakes and skid marks on the road but thankfully missed us by about a foot. He looked terrified, I thought he was going to be sick in his car and he couldn't have apologised any more. Other than that, one bad experience about 3 years ago with a bus driver (who I also had a bad experience with while cycling in the same area, and everyone in the area knew he was horrible to horses and cyclists. Bus company did nothing about it though, despite several of us complaining).

But... that's not bad going for the number of years I've been riding on the roads. I just put hi-viz on and try to be aware of things. Can't think of a time when I've had a problem with a tractor, they're usually really good (at every yard I've been at) and will wait for you to get into a layby/off the road etc.
 
Round us we used to have roads who could take a 3y/o out on for their first times out and practically guarantee you'd only meet say 3 'locals' on your whole ride. It's a very rural area and everyone knew what times we'd likely to be out (and the types of horse's we were sat on!) and always cautious-think single track/blind bends!

Nowadays I won't take anything out that might be liable to be an arse because everyones decided to use it as a cut-through and it's a nightmare, even on the most experienced 'traffic-proof' horses. The cars just come too fast and too many 'city' type folk who haven't a clue on how to drive down a country lane at all.. let alone expecting a horse to be round the corner sadly :(
 
We are very lucky to have off road hacking straight from the yard.

However I do 'force' myself to hack on the lanes once a week or so to keep the horses used to the traffic. Having said that we are very rural, so more likely to meet a tractor than a speeding car, and can usually hear them coming.
 
Used to always hack on the roads with one of my ponies as he's so safe and I trust him. With new one after a couple of near misses at the new yard I try and avoid roadwork as much as possible as he's not as quiet and don't 100% trust him on the road. Luckily we only have to do short stretches and have miles of off road hacking so it's ok.

Though the stretches we have to do are quite fast roads even though we're in the countryside people just drive like idiots down them even when they can't see whats coming.
 
simplyhunting said:
Nowadays I won't take anything out that might be liable to be an arse because everyones decided to use it as a cut-through and it's a nightmare, even on the most experienced 'traffic-proof' horses. The cars just come too fast and too many 'city' type folk who haven't a clue on how to drive down a country lane at all.. let alone expecting a horse to be round the corner sadly :(
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This is exactly my situation! the cars are using the road outside my house as a cut through and the speed they drive is insane!
I have a very traffic proof horse and a youngster. I wont ride the youngster out on that road at all but now i'm thinking about not taking the other one out either. I asked one driver to slow down and they did but then did a u-turn and came back, turning again and then slowly coming up behing us, winding down the window, accelerating past with high revvs and then the passanger leaning out at trying to hit my horse!! This is obviously a one off occurance and normal people dont act like this but it was the final straw.

90% of the drivers are fine but its the 10% of nutters that are starting to make me nervous.
 
I used to hack out on the roads, and only ever had one (major!)problem with a speeding car! After that, I have said I will never go out on the roads again, but with Donovan about to be broken to harness, I am beginning to feel I should drive him on the roads, eventually. On a good day, i feel positive about this, on a bad day, there is no way I will do it!!!
 
Its the drivers that you signal madly to slow down as they are approaching at about 60mph with a car coming the other way too and they sail past you and give you a cheery wave back... I dont think they get tought hand signals when learning to drive anymore.
 
My yard is in a semi-rural location, and although we have excellent hacking some road work is always required, and I often have to ride across motorway bridges as well. However I very rarely have a problem *touch wood* and my horse is pretty good in traffic, as horses around my area have to be. I actually think road work is very useful for a horse's fitness and concentration, and I have no problem with it. I am very safety-conscious and always wear hi-viz as well.

I also think that all horses should be used to traffic as well, as even if you have all off-road hacking you never know when your horse might be required to see traffic in an emergency. Just my opinion though.
 
I'm a road phobe!

Horse, walking or cycling and I will always choose an off-road route if possible.

I'm fine driving myself but a fair old wreck in anyone elses car and refuse to sit in the back of a car without doors after having been trapped in a car previously and managed to break out through the boot. I do the annoying squeaky thing to any driver :o

I will go on roads on a horse if no other option or to get to off-road (nice low hedged clear view roads) but my fear is more that I'll be tense and panicky and horse will pick up on it, so will only hack with two people who are very calm and am relaxed with!
 
Tash88 said:
My yard is in a semi-rural location, and although we have excellent hacking some road work is always required, and I often have to ride across motorway bridges as well. However I very rarely have a problem *touch wood* and my horse is pretty good in traffic, as horses around my area have to be. I actually think road work is very useful for a horse's fitness and concentration, and I have no problem with it. I am very safety-conscious and always wear hi-viz as well.

I also think that all horses should be used to traffic as well, as even if you have all off-road hacking you never know when your horse might be required to see traffic in an emergency. Just my opinion though.
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In the past I have ridden on roads ALOT! all my horses have been backed and sent straight out hacking with a sensible older horse for company and its been the best way of getting them bold and brave.
I agree traffic proofing yout horse is a necessity and as an Endurance rider it is essential but I feel that currently the risk is out waying the worth!
I dont want to get my horse killed by a driver texting at the wheel and ploughing into the back of me. (can you tell I watched Helicopter Heros yesterday and saw the episode where the horse got hit by the car and had to be shot at the side of the road :( )
 
I didn't mean to be rude, and I hope you didn't take it that way. I have to say that I have never had a serious problem on the road, apart from the odd rude motorist, nothing dangerous. Neither have I heard of anyone local having an accident whilst riding on the road. Maybe because I'm in a semi-rural location and people are a bit more wary of horses, so they are more respectful when driving/cycling. I'm sure that if I'd had a dangerous experience on the road then my opinion would be different; ultimately you need to enjoy hacking safely and so staying off the roads might be a better option where you are. I have to say that the roads that I have to ride down are quite safe i.e. no blind bends and a 30 mph speed limit.
 
I personally think hacking or carriage driving on the roads is no longer a pleasure as you have to listen hard for traffic all the time and you simply can't afford to relax out riding any more, let alone long rein a youngster. I also think it will only get worse in the future to the extent that I do wonder how much it is worth even trying to ride. We live in an area with narrow lanes, high banks, blind bends and several impatient tractor drivers - very scary indeed!
 
GlamourPuss86 said:
I have been known to whack the car with my whip before when they've come belting past.
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We riding with schooling whips so if they come too close they will occur a knock with the whip.

Where I am it's practically straight onto a main village road but it's more like a thoroughfare than a village! If I had a choice I would not be riding on them but our local farm changed hands and the new farmer won't let us ride in any of his land so we are forced out on to the road, next field we can ride in is in the next village away which is about 40 mins hack!
We are always very well HiVized up! You can see us from a mile away! Even the whip is HiVized but we still get drivers pass very close to us on bends and driving well over the 30 miles an hour!
The other day one came so close it knocked my foot out of my stirrups!
We also get lorries go past us as stupid speeds while on the phone! If only I was a police woman! Even the double decker bus drivers can be stupid (quite often they turn up in the village at the same time and both try to squeeze past you at the same time! Thank god my girl is a good girl, she has to be!!
 
Tash88 said:
Maybe because I'm in a semi-rural location and people are a bit more wary of horses, so they are more respectful when driving/cycling.
.....30 mph speed limit.
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I am also in a semi rural place, didnt stop the speeding knob crashing into us!! Also, I may be wrong but rural roads have a 60mph speed limit dont they?
 
Tash88 said:
I didn't mean to be rude, and I hope you didn't take it that way. I have to say that I have never had a serious problem on the road, apart from the odd rude motorist, nothing dangerous. Neither have I heard of anyone local having an accident whilst riding on the road. Maybe because I'm in a semi-rural location and people are a bit more wary of horses, so they are more respectful when driving/cycling. I'm sure that if I'd had a dangerous experience on the road then my opinion would be different; ultimately you need to enjoy hacking safely and so staying off the roads might be a better option where you are. I have to say that the roads that I have to ride down are quite safe i.e. no blind bends and a 30 mph speed limit.
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No no... its interesting to hear everyone's experiences because I want to know if i'm just getting a coward in my old age! haha
I love my road hacking and dont really want to give it up because it has such benefits... but i'm aware that i'm worrying alot about it recently and dreading taking my youngster out thinking of the dangers.... If i hadnt had the recent experiences then i probably would not have this opinion, but do i carry on and hope nothing happens or do i take my horses safety into my own hands and mitigate against the hazards... but will this then create a horse in the future that may well be nervous in traffic because she wasnt exposed to it as much... its a dilema!
 
benson21 said:
I am also in a semi rural place, didnt stop the speeding knob crashing into us!! Also, I may be wrong but rural roads have a 60mph speed limit dont they?
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Maybe my yard is in more of a town than semi-rural... there is one road with a 50mph limit (national speed limit sign on a single-carriageway road) but most people only do about 40 as it is a very short stretch. And I never hack on that road anyway, I only hack in residential areas, so it is definitely 30mph.
 
Sadly GT, that road where you live is very straight and drivers think its ok to hoon along it. It's always been a fast road even when Nigel was there, and I used to hate pulling out from the yard with a horse box.
 
I think it depends on the local people. I used to hate it when I had my first horse because I had so many near misses but since i've been at my current yard I've been really impressed with how respectful people are. Not just drivers but people in their front gardens/with dogs etc. I love hacking and we dont have any offroad in the area so I dont have much choice. Its road or nothing.

I think how to pass horses should be included in driving instruction though. I cant see why it isnt. My husband had no idea before he met me. He assumed he didnt need to slow down to go past because he thought if the horse was out on the road it wouldnt be scared.
 
The country roads I am near are 60 (nsl) crazy! I counted 8 wing mirrors smashed scattered on one road which I cycle on in the quiter times and you can't even fit 2 cars round some of the narrow bends going more than 20mph yet there's no speed restriction and numerous accidents! luckily I can bypass this road and go onto a wide straight visable 40mph which is the only way to get to the bridleway but then it's hard to find a good stretch to canter on as there's lots of dog walkers and bikes etc not that I'm moaning about them but it isn't like it was 20 years ago. I'm hoping to invest in a trailer to get to the forest or even move as they just keep building on the village and it's becoming more like a town. I am worried about riding my youngster out in a few years time!
 
In the accident I was involved in, the driver was charged with dangerous driving, but not speeding as he hit us doing 60mph on a 60mph road on the brow of a bridge!
 
I always hack on the rural roads round me. I have not had problems but I tend to go first thing in the morning - so in summer that will be 6am. That is just because that routine suits my work commitments but having said that, it is quiet and the traffic that is around I can hear coming so pull my horse over onto the verge before they pass me.
 
Britestar said:
Sadly GT, that road where you live is very straight and drivers think its ok to hoon along it. It's always been a fast road even when Nigel was there, and I used to hate pulling out from the yard with a horse box.
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oh who are you? :)
I'm glad i'm not over reacting with my nerves...
 
Where I can hack we are rural but one area is a commuter run so is pretty much a nightmare with drivers speeding past but if you go down the hill or off the rat run the drivers are pretty much all considerate. Luckily my horse is a saint with all traffic.
 
Tash88 said:
there is one road with a 50mph limit (national speed limit sign on a single-carriageway road)
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If you're UK then National Speed on a single carriageway (with no dividing) would be 60mph not 50mph. If there is a solid divide (central reservation, either paved or grassed over) then it's a 70mph dual carriageway regardless of how many lanes either side.
 
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