Horse killed on the road in Staffordshire :(

B

babycham

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3 April 2009
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http://www.thisisstaffordshire.co.u...half-trailer/story-16153887-detail/story.html

RIP RUBY.


When will drivers learn that a horse has a brain of its own?
My heart goes out to the owner Nicola Allen, after her poor mare was hit by a 4x4 and flat bedded trailer.. all because the driver had no patience.

Ruby was PTS at the scence after substaining horrific injuries.

"CARS DENT.. HORSES DIE"

THE OWNER HAS SET UP A PAGE ON FACEBOOK, COULD YOU PLEASE SUPPORT HER.

horse safety awareness

If just one driver sees the photo, and slows down, then Ruby's death wont be in vain.
 
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I'm going to don my tin hat here. But some of the replies on that article make sense in a round about way.

We don't use horses for transport to and from work or for essential day to day activities.

I have no issue with people using the roads to access bridleways etc, but why do some riders use busy roads as their main hacking routes?

We had a poster on here the other week who posted a video of himself riding his (impeccably behaved) horse through very busy roads, along council tended verges, and up paths. If I had no choice but to ride on roads like that, I'm sorry but I'd move! Or sell the horse. Horses are a choice, not a right, and people need to question not what their own right is, but the rights of their horse. Is it fair to be taking horses out on busy roads and endangering their lives?

No matter how safe YOUR horse is, today's roads are not safe for horses. It's just a sign of the times I'm afraid. The volume of traffic has increased to such a level that we can no longer go on a quiet hack and just come across two cars.

If ALL horse riders behaved well, wore hi viz and rode in single file - moving to the verge or a gateway for passing traffic (not dawdling along causing tail backs) we might be onto some common ground with other road users. But a majority (and I speak as a rider and driver here) are rude and get drivers backs up by causing problems.
You can honestly see why some motorists get annoyed :(

Our village has a very busy road running through it, by rights we could ride along it, but we don't. We might cross it on a quiet day to access the lanes - but never along it. It's too dangerous, not only for us, but for other road users.

If we, as riders, choose to use roads (and it is a CHOICE, not a necessity - it's not life or death that we hack out) then we need to make motorists our friends by showing some manners and courtesy. Ie, not hogging the road, using verges where we can, smiling, saying thank you, riding in single file, wearing as much Hi Viz as we can, and using the roads at non peak times. Mostly, not pootling off down busy roads just because we have the 'right'.

Don't give drivers a reason to dislike us!

For our own safety, it needs to be hard hats, Hi Viz (the more the better) and body protectors. And if you can ride off road, do! If your hacking consists of all road work and you feel going out is unsafe, move!

Rest In Peace Ruby, and my thoughts go out to her owners and rider.
 
I remember seeing a tv advert a few years ago showing the damage a horse could do to a car and the occupants in an accident and thought it was really good as many people know nothing about horses and don't see riders as people (just like the recent motorbike campaign giving bike riders names and talking about their lives)
I think if drivers knew thd damage half a ton of horse in the bonnet could cause, they may take more care
Bring back a shocking short clip I say to educate ignorant drivers
 
Please do join https://www.facebook.com/groups/horsesafetyawareness/


I set that group up many moons ago to raise awareness and nicola joined and her help has been amazing in getting the groups message across to so many people. I'm just so sad that it had to take the death of her precious Ruby to get us fired up more.

We are promoting awareness towards riders and also drivers, as we all need to pull together to sort this problem.
 
Very tragic, poor young mare, words fail me.
The roads are incredibly dangerous, and I often come across idiots driving, I did this morning. I am a considerate rider and thank all cars, however, they are some idiots on the road and it is not just when I ride that I notice!
 
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