Hacking without stirrups (roadwork)

T

Toz

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Hi
The other day I spotted a rider on the road, but she didn't have stirrups at all (they weren't to be seen, not just crossed over/feet out for a bit) and I was wondering A) if this is legal and B) what if the horse had spooked or something? I might understand if the had just taken their feet out for a leg stretch along a quieter road, but it was clear that there were no stirrups in sight. I thought it was a legal requirement?
They had lots of hi vis stuff on, but I just wasn't sure.

Just wondering :)
 
Travellers ride their ponies up and down the road in York no tack no hats on kids all illegal on the pavement on the grass verge and police go past all the time. Glad I moved away from near their site as I used to get so wound up.
 
a woman in her 60's near me hacks out for hrs at a time on her own on a mare who on occasions is a real handful, she is bareback and has been for 2yrs as she cannot get a saddle to fit the mare.

i would imagine insurance will not cover you if you are bareback or stirrup-less as you wont be seen to have taken safety precautions
 
twiggy2 said:
a woman in her 60's near me hacks out for hrs at a time on her own on a mare who on occasions is a real handful, she is bareback and has been for 2yrs as she cannot get a saddle to fit the mare.

i would imagine insurance will not cover you if you are bareback or stirrup-less as you wont be seen to have taken safety precautions
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Far from it, I have insurance that quite specifically does cover this.

Also, the Highway Code is a code. It is not law - it makes a series of recommendations, and it also mentions some legal requirements. If it states "you must", it refers to a law. If it states "you should" or "it is advisable", it is not law but advice.

Having said that, I actually don't ride on the roads on my bareback pad - I lead the horse about 500m along the road to get to the off road cycle track where I mount up :) The insurance I have also covers me for leading on the road using a headcollar and for riding using a bitless bridle.

It is true that *some* insurance companies don't cover this, but then it's quite possible for someone wanting to ride this way to change to a more enlightened insurance company ;)
 
Brightbay said:
Far from it, I have insurance that quite specifically does cover this.

Also, the Highway Code is a code. It is not law - it makes a series of recommendations, and it also mentions some legal requirements. If it states "you must", it refers to a law. If it states "you should" or "it is advisable", it is not law but advice.

Having said that, I actually don't ride on the roads on my bareback pad - I lead the horse about 500m along the road to get to the off road cycle track where I mount up :) The insurance I have also covers me for leading on the road using a headcollar and for riding using a bitless bridle.

It is true that *some* insurance companies don't cover this, but then it's quite possible for someone wanting to ride this way to change to a more enlightened insurance company ;)
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who are you insured with as I often ride bitless and need to renew insurance shortly
 
anothernewbie said:
Does that mean you can't ride bareback legally on roads? Not trying to be sarcastic I genuinely have no idea!
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We do. Sometimes we set off deliberately bareback, and sometimes someone forgets a girth, so rather than go home, we all swap until the only one without a saddle is on Buster the barrel shaped dartmoor. He's so comfy without.

I can't see the logic of a poor rider with stirrups being more OK on a road than a good rider without. I know which one is more likely to stay on!
 
I personally wouldn't feel 'safe' without the comfort of my stirrups. I can ride in the school/field fine without them and know in most cases I've got pretty good balance. On the road though we have to consider the cars out there who will give you a hard time and really not understand the reasoning behind not having stirrups. Just remember we aren't all brought up around horses and some are narrow minded about these things because of what they have been told. With regards to no helmets, well if you think your head can with stand a fall or being run over or kicked, well then carry on!
 
heebiejeebies said:
Stirrups don't keep you on
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Admittedly a long time ago, when there wasn't as much traffic on the roads, we used to have our weekly lesson at the RS and then ride and lead the horses bareback back to the summer field. We would probably have spent a good part of the lesson riding without stirrups (and reins). I don't remember any problems and i'm absolutely certain that if the H&S conscious RI had thought there was a problem, of any kind, she wouldn't have let us do it.
 
I ride stirrupless - something goes wrong in my treeless and I accidentally put too much weight in a stirrup - weeee! straight out the side door. No stirrups, can't happen; I'm forced to keep on with balance, and it works!
 
I ride bitless stirrup less and we use a Cordeo. I don't have a school so have no choice to go out on the road but as before Fidelius will cover you. They won't cover the Cordeo though so a the moment I leave on the head collar and use the Cordeo. Tell you what though these Blimming insurance companies haven't got a clue. I have great 'control' when riding Cordeo, much more than I ever did when my girl had a bit between her chops.
 
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