Hacking - short distance on a busy road - wwyd

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SadKen

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I'd like to range a little further afield on my girl - in order to do so, I need to navigate a fairly busy road.

The part that I need to negotiate is about 300m from the country lane I pop out of to the one I want to turn onto (I need to cross the road). It's single carriageway, and there are wide verges either side; there's a wide middle lane after 100m to aid cars turning right. There's no denying that it's a fast road, and people may not slow down that much, probably averaging 60mph. There are also occasional very large lorries heading for the nearby industrial estate.

I would go probably quite early on a Saturday morning which should limit the lorries, and my girl isn't phased by much (although I can't guarantee she'd be overly chuffed about a very big lorry nearby).

Would you go or not?
 
Unless I was certain that the horse would stand like a rock in the middle of the road waiting to turn, I would only go on Sunday morning when the traffic is likely to be at its lightest. I have one of the most traffic (and everything else)-proof horses it is possible to find but I don't go on the nearby A-road, except in a group of sensible horses with sensible riders.
 
I would and have done similar on a reasonably traffic-proof horse.

I would be hi-vised to the max and would ride on the road, not on the verge, as I don't find traffic slows down at all if you are off the road. However, I would be comforted to have the verge as an escape route if needed.

If you haven't done the route before, it is not a bad idea to walk it on foot first. You will then be able to get a feel for how quickly the traffic passes you and also spot any hidden hazards, such as missing drain covers, big holes in the verge etc.
 
Yeah I would do it and have. However my horse is very good in traffic and the first time I did it , I rode in the comapany of horses used to the heavy fast traffic. If you can not get another horse I would introduce it slowly by letting her have a good look first, maybe in hand. IMO its not worth her taking off in front of a lorry.
 
if there is a wide grass verge I would get off and lead on the verge and get back on after am off the road. my horse even when terrified is incredibly easy to handle from the ground but I wouldn't trust him not to panic at a very fast car getting too close so I prefer better safe than sorry and always hop of is theres a potential hazard. I don't mind insisting on him going past something if hes just having a mini wobble at something off road but I wont take the chance in traffic just cant rely on drivers to be considerate
 
I have certainly done a similar thing in the past.

My advise would be to not ride on the verge as it does seem to encourage the cars to pass by fast and close (also you never know what may be hidden in the grass). Also do NOT ride into the middle turning lane - you do not want to have cars going past you on both sides - but keep to the left hand side of the road - I would probably stand on the verge at the point where I want to cross - with the horse at right angles to the road - and wait for it to be clear in both directions and trot across.

I would first try this route early on Sunday morning.
 
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eggs said:
I have certainly done a similar thing in the past.

My advise would be to not ride on the verge as it does seem to encourage the cars to pass by fast and close (also you never know what may be hidden in the grass). Also do NOT ride into the middle turning lane - you do not want to have car going past you on both sides - but keep to the left hand - I would probably stand on the verge at the point where I want to cross - with the horse at right angles to the road - and wait for it to be clear in both directions and trot across.

I would first try this route early on Sunday morning.
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Very good advice as usual :)
 
Good suggestions folks, thanks.

I could definitely do an early Sunday morning (maybe easter Sunday would be good) and getting company is a really good idea.

My girl is pretty much bombproof (we've had a giant skip lorry/mammoth tractors/motorbikes etc pass us) however this has all been for some reason on the opposite side of the road coming towards us, so she could see it coming. I have no reason to believe that she'll be bothered about lorries, but didn't think this was the best place to check hehe - if she has company she meanders along sleepily whatever's going on, so I'll definitely give that a try.

As for hi vis - most decidedly. I may even purchase some new neon leg bandages for extra neonness.

ETS I fully agree with not going on the verge unless I have to - IME they are quite sinky soft and people do race past you. Madam will wait like a statue at right angles to the road because she'll be able to see things coming, so that's no issue. :D
 
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I would with my boy he quite regularly hacks down the dual carriageway which recently we have been finding more safe than country roads- there seem to be so many loonies on the back roads- Where as on the dual carriageway 9/10 times they'll move out to the second lane and give us space.
That been said I have a very traffic proof boy!
Would probably do it on a Sunday morning when quite as others have suggested :)
 
As well as going at a quiet time, and with another horse, how about having a tame cyclist outrider with you for the first time or two.

Defo cross the road in one, at a decent trot. Yonks ago, I was taught in my Riding and Road safety course to make sure you and horse are 'never the meat in a sandwich', ie are never caught between two or more lanes of traffic.
 
Now that it is light early in the mornings I would do it all High-Vized up at 5.a.m. early in the morning when there is less traffic about but if possible go out with another sensible laid back horse and rider.
 
Just a thought... Is there a church nearby? Our village is chaos at 9am on Sunday morning, Easter Sunday would be an awful time for a nice quiet hack around here!!
 
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