How to argue with....

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lizzylulu

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a none horsey person who is saying that young girls/teenagers or anyone shouldn't be riding horses on the roads!

My OH's dad was saying that he doesn't think horses should be ridden on road especially by young people. He said how can a person be in control of a huge animal. I tried to argue that people know their horses, and its usually the drivers that cause accidents. I said that horses have the right to be on the road. He was like well I always give them a wide berth, you never know what they might do. I was like thats what your supposed to do anyway!!! Its in the Highway Code. But he wouldn't have it!

Could someone please give me a way to argue with a none horsey person about horses being on the road please cos I was really losing my temper!

Thanks all
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To be perfectly honest, I wouldn't bother arguing ! As the law stands, its legal to ride on the road, and thats not going to change any time soon, so why bother arguing about it, especially with someone who seems so pig-headed about it?

People lose control of their motorbikes, cars and lorries as well. They drive cars drunk and without insurance. It would be interesting to know what percentage of accidents involving horses occured when the horse was under the rider's full control, and was hit by a moving vehicle.
 
My ex's mum had an accident when the owners were trying to load their horse on the yard. The horse pulled away a lept a fence straight on to my ex's mums cars. She was injured and that was very sad.
However, she blaimed the owners saying they should keep their horse under control and not have one at all!
My argument was that it was an accident and really if a horse wants to do something nobody is going to stop it!
 
Put a bit in his mouth and yank him around, kick him in the ribs a bit then get him to argue that he can't be controlled by a bit spurs. Oh, but he can't argue because his mouth is full - result!
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Well actually no I wouldn't do that but I'd be tempted! erm, smile politely and point out that its all academic because the highway code says they can, and leave it, smiling inwardly because you know he is wrong - as long as he doesn't want to behave dangerously around them his ignorance isn't actually doing anyone any harm.

This was the approach I eventually took to a housemate constantly picking a fight "rowing a boat in a straight line as fast as you can is great - riding horses is so boring". you get lots of kudos too for being the bigger person and not rising to it!
 
I disagree with horses not aloud on roads
but i have seen many kids that have been on 16hh plus horses and your talking 8-9 yr kids which could cause a problem as they are over horsed
but if there on the right sized horse or pony they have no rights in saying this.
also he got to consider horses have more rights then cars as as they where the only transport in the past life
 
Horses are legally allowed on the road so it's up to him as a driver to treat them like any other potential hazard. Presumably if he is going to ban horses, he would also have to ban cyclists, because they might do something unpredictable as well (in additional to riding without lights on a pitch black road, which happens a lot where I live). Then, you'd also have to give every driver a retest on their driving & ban anyone who fails - because we'd need to clear the roads of any bad drivers who might cause accidents. Oh, and every road would also need barriers to stop wild animals running out onto them.
I do agree that it's up to us as riders to make sure we are as safe as possible on the road but he is misguided to think that a young person can't have just as much control of their horse as anyone else. If he slows down and gives a horse a wide berth then the vast majority of horses will be perfectly safe - so at least he is doing the right thing in that respect!
 
He sounds an argumentative person, I always say that roads were built for horses therefore they have the right to use them. In any case a lot of people can't control their cars!!!
 
Horses and their riders have every right to be on the road however there are some riders that I see that definately should be OFF the road! It is these riders that make it difficult for everyone else and drivers too!
 
The same way as there are some riders who don't have road sense/safety (sad but true) then what about bot racers? Ask him that next time he goes on about horses & lack of control!! Plenty of cars are turned over/crashed/involved in collisions because they are driven by young people who feel the need for speed without having the experience or skill to control the car.
 
Ask him if he would be willing to donate several million £'s so we can have more bridlepaths?
 
I wouldnt
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SMile,say you agree,maybe even moan about horse owners not picking up their horses poo and carry on as normal...saves a headache
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