HORSES DON'T DENT, THEY DIE.

melxvengeance

melxvengeance

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 July 2010
Messages
268
Location
Ayrshire, Scotland
www.facebook.com
Please support a campaign I'm helping to run to raise awareness of horse & rider safety on the road. Many drivers need to be educated to PASS WIDE & SLOW - too many horses/riders are being injured, or even worse killed, on the road because these simple steps are not being followed. For example the latest case of the poor mare Ruby who was killed by being hit by an overtaking vehicle towing a trailer.

You can join in on the discussion on our increasingly popular facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/groups/horsesafetyawareness/

And follow us on twitter: http://www.twitter.com/HorseSafetyAwar

Something needs to be done about this.

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I had heard about this earlier, and have to say it made me cry. Far too many horses are being killed on our roads, and it always is someone else it happens too, but one day it could be you. Horrid thought my heart goes out to them RIP Ruby.
 
marydoll said:
I think you need to ask tfc to let you put a warning in your title, as although you cant see anything the picture is very emotive
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The picture is being used in the flyer to shock. I know it is rather upsetting but much more affective than a photo of a horse hacking along the road. I will try and put a warning in to the title myself. :)
 
I shared this on Facebook and two of my friends shared it from me.

One of the horses from our barn was hit while out on a trail ride, luckily it was minor and nobody was hurt. The shocking part was that the driver had to be chased down by a couple of cyclists who just happened to be auxiliary police officers. The only reason he pulled over was because he was concerned that his car was dented and that my friend should have to pay him! :mad:
 
I have linked the page and written a plea for all my friends to re post. As I think of poor Ruby it has reduced a normally non emotional man to perfuse blubbing. So sad on every level.
 
I've posted this on my Facebook page & twitter. Being reasonably young (22) I'm hoping that some people who don't usually see these sorts of things will look & take note.
In fairness most drivers are pretty good round my way but if it makes even one think again then thats enough for me!
 
This is tragic, and I think you are doing a great job trying to raise awareness in this way. Yes the photograph is very distressing but you are right in saying it will have far more impact than just a horse in hi viz hacking along a road. I have joined your Facebook group and will share it with as many others as I can. I used to ride along a main road as part of a circular ride from my house. I wont do It anymore because so many people don't slow down and it's just too dangerous, I find it worrying enough the speed some people come round the corners on the lanes :mad:
 
If you need help spreading the word please let me know. I feel very strongly about horse n road safety and regularly post posters and videos on my Facebook. Ruby poster was also posted and went on to be posted by numerous friends. Anything to raise non horsey people awareness is great. My other half had no idea how to drive past horses till he met me. He now slows down and passes widely or stops when he meets horses on the road. I have also been known to stop and congratulate people in their hi vis! As I once came across a young girl out hacking and because she was kitted out head to toe I saw her miles away, gave me plenty of time to slow down and pass her safely.
 
I can't quote as I'm on my phone but thanks for clearing it up. I think its a brilliantly shocking way to draw attention to the issue.
I was just thinking personally how I'd have felt if it was me sat there and then this appearing without permission.
I hope this campaign helps.

I'll be posting it myself once I get on a computer. :)
 
Me and my daughter (11yrs) were hacking out this afternoon on our 2 well behaved mares when we heard vehicles approaching fast from in front of us. A small hatchback and a moped were racing up the road towards us, moped was on our side of road and despite us wearing hi viz they just didn't slow down. I signalled with my arm for them to slow down and all I got was the 2's from the driver (car full of teenage lads), My usually quiet mare bucked and fortunately I was ready for it. Needless to say we headed off onto the nearest track as our intended ride was further down the road and I half expected them to turn round and chase after us.
I'm afraid photos of dead horses won't stop the likes of who we encountered today, perhaps a hefty fine, points on their licence and a huge hike in their insurance would be better as that's the only language they understand.
 
FPErin said:
Me and my daughter (11yrs) were hacking out this afternoon on our 2 well behaved mares when we heard vehicles approaching fast from in front of us. A small hatchback and a moped were racing up the road towards us, moped was on our side of road and despite us wearing hi viz they just didn't slow down. I signalled with my arm for them to slow down and all I got was the 2's from the driver (car full of teenage lads), My usually quiet mare bucked and fortunately I was ready for it. Needless to say we headed off onto the nearest track as our intended ride was further down the road and I half expected them to turn round and chase after us.
I'm afraid photos of dead horses won't stop the likes of who we encountered today, perhaps a hefty fine, points on their licence and a huge hike in their insurance would be better as that's the only language they understand.
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Get yourself a mini headcam and put it on for hacking, if you come accross eejits like it again, flick the record switch and then let the police see it, youll have their reg number, and proof that theyre dangerous
 
Brilliant to hear so many of you are in support. Through following our facebook and twitter pages we can increase the support. I know already we have contacted H&H mag, local radio stations, done interviews etc. I am in charge of the twitter page and an admin in the facebook group. The more that can be done the better.
 
I was involved in a similar accident in the Isle of Man, on Tuesday. We were in a group of 4, where the front horse of our group was hit by an oncoming car, thrown over the whole car, with rider still on board. He broke 3 of his legs, one completely snapped in half. He was pts on the roadside. By the grace of god, the rider came away with whiplash and a mild concussion. How she is not dead I will never, ever know.

It was the most traumatic experience of my life. The noises and images will stay with me for the rest of my life and I count my blessings every day now that it was not my darling boy that was hit, as it so easily could have been. We are just trying to pick up the pieces and help our friends through what we have all been through, especially my friend whose horse it was killed.

I fully, fully support your campaign, we have launched one similar. I have now joined yours, and I urge you and anybody reading this to do the same. It is called "Manx Horse Road Safety Campaign". The amount of support recieved so far has been amazing.

Promoting this cause, and hopefully raising awareness and bringing knowledge can only do good, and if one more accident such as your beautiful girl being brutally killed, or my friends gorgeous boy, can be prevented they will not have died in vain.

I really feel for you, so devastating.
The police took pictures at our accident too, I really really hope, although distressing, the shock factor can be enough to make some people realise.
 
My heartfelt sympathies go out to anyone who has ever lost a horse in a road accident, I cannot imagine ever having to deal with something like this. Just reading two of the posts on this thread have made me seriously question whether any of ours will ever be taken out on the road again, certainly the children will never ride their ponies on the roads, it is just not worth the risk. I have always hacked out on fast country roads and our horses are rock solid in traffic but it just doesn't matter, how the hell can you stay safe as long as there are idiots who simply don't care.

I think it is a sad fact that being able to ride on the road is something that is becoming more impossible as the number of cars increase, drivers are impatient because they spend so much time stuck in traffic and as soon as they get somewhere they can speed up a bit they try to make up their time. If anyone gets in their way it is just tough, they will come past anyway regardless of whether it will cost a life. I don't know what the answer is and I feel completely saddened that the riders on this thread recently involved in accidents have had to witness such awful scenes and cannot imagine how they will ever get over that.
 
Id just like to say that Id seen this picture on FB before seeing it on here. I have shared it on my FB and have just spent £70 on new hiviz set for whenever we leave home.

The picture has really made me realise how dangerous riding on the roads can be and made me want to do anything to make it safer. I always worse a hiviz tabard but in fairness it was a bit rubbish and so now (well once the new stuff has been arrived) hopefully we will be a bit safer.

Thoughts go to the owners of the horse :(
 
A while back I suggested that tabards saying "We don't dent we die" might have some sort of useful impact. Just a thought.
That photo is probably one of our worst nightmares come true.
 
Like the idea of a tabbard that says we don't dent we die!! I currently have the polite range for me and my horse!! Passed the police today while I was out walking the old boy round the village even got some looks off them!! I do think the polite range makes people slow down as they think crap police what speed am I doing!! Shame the police won't fully endorse this product, think its a great idea!!!
 
Dolcé;10740581 said:
I think it is a sad fact that being able to ride on the road is something that is becoming more impossible as the number of cars increase, drivers are impatient because they spend so much time stuck in traffic and as soon as they get somewhere they can speed up a bit they try to make up their time. If anyone gets in their way it is just tough, they will come past anyway regardless of whether it will cost a life. I don't know what the answer is and I feel completely saddened that the riders on this thread recently involved in accidents have had to witness such awful scenes and cannot imagine how they will ever get over that.
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This is why we must NEVER be forced off the roads. We need to campaign for better awareness, and driver training. There should be lower speed limits on country roads and hidden cameras. If we horseriders are forced off the roads there will be nowhere left to ride out at all. Our countryside is being swallowed up by housing and bridleways being closed rather than opened. I for one will give up horses if I can't hack out.

I don't know where all this "open countryside " is to ride on - as we can't park our boxes thanks to height restrictions. Once the selfish set of drivers get horses off the roads, cyclists will be their next target.

We have EVERY right to be on the road as technically our steeds are "vehicles". We must do all we can to keep safe - there are a couple of local roads I would never ride on - I wear hi-vis on myself and the horse, so we can be seen more easily and always thank those that slow down.
 
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