Hand signals

Mythical

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24 November 2011
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Lancashire
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Ok I know the basics, left, right, slowing down, thanks, plus a few more advanced ones which aren't in the pony club road safety test.
Yesterday though, two ambulances passed us on the road. The first screamed past a junction we were a few metres away from us on blues and twos. I head it coming and pulled into a gateway just in case. We both saw it but they couldn't have seen us. (although, don't think I'm under any illusions that they would have slowed down if they had!) I mention this to point out I already knew my horse could cope with loud noises and wasn't in a silly mood.
The second, a short while later I suspect had been downgraded just moments earlier. I heard the sirens and trotted on to another gateway to wait. The sirens went off long before the vehicle passed us and when it did pass us, it slowed to a crawl. No when I say "gateway" I mean, the gateway of a utilities compound - you know the type, they have room for about eight vans, so we were a safe distance from the ambulance. My horse wasn't on edge at all, she was stood with her head down, not an ounce of tension in her body. The rest of the road was clear and i could see quite clearly that there were no other vehicles for miles. How could I have indicated to the driver that it was very considerate of him to slow down, but not necessary in this instance? (I probably wouldn't have waved the driver of any non-emergency vehicle on, but I feel I can trust their training not to let them make stupid descisions on the say so of a stranger)
 
I'd say you did exactly the right thing, I assume you thanked the drivers as they went passed? No matter how safe you think it is you should never signal a vehicle to pass.
 
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