How to get drivers to slow for small pony?

R

redriverrock

Well-Known Member
Joined
24 December 2011
Messages
574
Visit site
Is it just me or does anyone else have problem with drivers not respecting small ponies when they are passing in the same way they might a large horse? We have a 11.2 3 year old which we are walking out...he is pretty good but not bomb proof. We all wear hi viz and lead him right in the edge...also we have my son walking at the back, me at the side to push him over if needs be and my daughter leading him, Im not sure how much more safe we could make it!! Twice now we have had drivers who have clearly seen him and just carried on...not slowed down at all. This he can cope nicely with when they are coming towards him but if they speed up behind him he is not overly happy...I can see an accident happening if this continues.
Probably alot of people are going to say do more groundwork etc...we have and still are doing alot most days but at some point he needs to start going out, how can i make drivers more aware...just because he is little dosent mean they shouldnt slow down??
 
Would it help to get a fully trained horse to walk at the side or is that not possible?

Not horsey myself so just a thought
 
My ex racer is bomb proof and this is certainly an idea, we want the little one to get used to doing things on his own though
 
Sounds like you are doing everything you can regarding walkers and hi viz. However the bottom line is, safety. Can you change the route,times/weekend days etc, so that the traffic is less and visibility on the roads you use, is greater ?
If you already go out at the quietest times, then, maybe discontinue walking out for another 6 months and concentrate on other confidence boosting education. He's young. Time to mature and reflect may make a difference.

Or, could you walk him out with a bigger lead horse to give him confidence and make the traffic respect the horses a little more ?
 
I used to pin 'L' plates to my tabard when riding my young Section A. People definitely slowed down when they saw us. (Not sure of the legalities or insurance if you do this but just an idea!)
 
I can see what people are saying about him being young, confidence isues etc but I feel we really need to start getting him out. We are learning this pony to be bomb proof, after all he needs to be safe for small children to handle and he is doing really well...just wish drivers would slow down the same as they would for my larger horses and he would be fine.
 
fatponee said:
I used to pin 'L' plates to my tabard when riding my young Section A. People definitely slowed down when they saw us. (Not sure of the legalities or insurance if you do this but just an idea!)
Click to expand...

Thats a good idea!! Have thought about the polite range but dont think he would kid anybody with that!
 
I tend to keep the horse towards the middle of my side of the road, and walk near the white lines myself. I also wear 'Polite'. It seems to work for most people. I suspect that most don't spend the time on the approach thinking 'well, that can't be a police person because.....' - I think they just see the tabbard and automatically slow down. I like it because I can then give them a big 'thank you' wave and hopefully they are pleased about that and have a laugh about how the tabbard fooled them and will be nice to the next horse they see!
 
soloequestrian said:
I tend to keep the horse towards the middle of my side of the road, and walk near the white lines myself. I also wear 'Polite'. It seems to work for most people. I suspect that most don't spend the time on the approach thinking 'well, that can't be a police person because.....' - I think they just see the tabbard and automatically slow down. I like it because I can then give them a big 'thank you' wave and hopefully they are pleased about that and have a laugh about how the tabbard fooled them and will be nice to the next horse they see!
Click to expand...

Good point, I suppose the automatic reaction of taking there foot of the pedal would help...by the time they,ve thought about it they should be going slow enough to pass nicely. I really dont want to stop taking him out so will try all tactics!!
 
What about asking the drivers to slow with your arm and thanking when they do or the l plate certainly sounds a good idea. I think drivers need educating on horses. There is only a small section in the highway code but once a test is passed unfortunately people never look at it again.
 
I totally agree, alot of drivers seem to have no idea. The other week I had one idiot beeping his horn to let me know he was coming! I have tried putting my hand out which does work with most people and i always thank people...most of the traffic is local and they know us. Hate to say it cos I am originally a 'townie' but it does seem to be holidaymakers who think dashing past quickly is the safe option!
 
Unfortunately, some drivers either just don't care, or don't know any better.

I walk around our lanes locally, LRing my daughter who is 5 years old, on her shetland pony. And I have been amazed at how some of the drivers do NOT make any allowances at all! One in particular is a lorry which is regularly around our lanes - even when I put my hand up to slow/stop him, he just kept coming.

I'm not sure what the answer is. I think I may start videoing vehicles with my phone if possible, that don't slow down, particularly commercial ones, and pass the videos on to the companies or the police, if it's bad enough. Thankfully, pony is a traffic proof star, who hasn't yet let us down - but the drivers don't know that!

You'd think when they saw a small child & small pony, all of us wearing hi-viz, that they'd slow down & make allowances, but sadly not.
 
I hardly use roads at all , too many idiots about . BUT if I do I always carry a schooling whip ( sometimes with hi-viz tassle at the end ) I walk on the offside and hold the whip at a right angle . I think drivers slow just to see what it is ! Most also don't want to risk marking their cars . Many years ago I did have one who stopped for a discussion 'cos he'd driven into the whip , Er , YOU drove into the whip . YOU were too close , THE END
 
I agree with the re positioning on the road - don't stay as close to the side as you can, go further out into the road and become an obstacle that they have to go round - once they've slowed down you can move into the side and make it easier for them to pass..

L plates may help. Perhaps someone behind flagging traffic down?
 
I only ride on the lanes but when I'm ride and leading the youngsters or out with my 6 year old on her pony, I put my wb (solid in traffic of any kind) in the middle of the lane until they have slowed down enough and then I move into the side- realise I'm being a bit more bolshy than is normal for me, but the speeds some people shoot passed a tiny 6yo on an 11.2hh amazing me! :mad:
 
It really winds me up seeing people leading from the wrong side obviously you should be leading so you are between the traffic and pony so you can push them over. We have shire horses in our town and do the stable lads lead them correctly nope they have no idea.
 
Kaylum said:
It really winds me up seeing people leading from the wrong side obviously you should be leading so you are between the traffic and pony so you can push them over. We have shire horses in our town and do the stable lads lead them correctly nope they have no idea.
Click to expand...

To push them over AND to not get squished when they leap away from the traffic
 
As people have said positioning on the road is important.

Take enough of your lane that
1) You are clearly visible
2) You have an escape route back to the kerb IYSWIM if you need it
3) When you need to ask a driver to slow down LOOK at them, catch their eye - somehow you become human and worthy of notice!
4) Be very clear with your signals but don't be surprised if drivers don't know the arm flap, slow down. Most recognise the upturned palm as at least slow down and if you need them to stop be prepared to step into the road to make that clear.
5) Say Thank you a lot and very effusively ;)but on the other hand be prepared to report dangerous drivers, they shouldn't just get away with it.

I had an absolutely rock solid in traffic pony and as a result he was always in demand as an escort for traffic shy and young horses especially on our Essex roads. As I was riding shotgun a lot I learnt what did and didn't work with what are probably some of the most ignorant (in both knowledge and manners!) drivers around - you really have to be both cautious and implacable and the same time...I found that telling (politely) rather than asking was more effective.
 
Kaylum said:
It really winds me up seeing people leading from the wrong side obviously you should be leading so you are between the traffic and pony so you can push them over. We have shire horses in our town and do the stable lads lead them correctly nope they have no idea.
Click to expand...

^^^^^^This^^^^^^^^^

and the hand-signals to slow the traffic.

Saying that, we once had a driving instructor, with pupil aboard, tell us that the bombproof R&D Section A with small rider should be on the pavement, when we asked his car to slow.
You can imagine the reply he got, including the fact that the pavement there was so narrow a slightly overweight pedestrian would have had trouble - never mind the pony and THREE walkers.
 
Just re-read the OP and I'm not sure why you are particularly keen on such a small pony going out on its own. Children should always be accompanied IMO.
 
Kaylum said:
It really winds me up seeing people leading from the wrong side obviously you should be leading so you are between the traffic and pony so you can push them over. We have shire horses in our town and do the stable lads lead them correctly nope they have no idea.
Click to expand...

Sorry not sure if ive misunderstood...we do not lead like this?? The pony is on the verge..we including whoever is actually leading him are always closest to the traffic...
As for questioning why we should even want a small pony to go out on his own..the ultimate plan is we will use him for driving and so the more he sees from an early age the better. This pony is not nervous and is actually amazingly brave for a 3 year old, he is not scared of traffic and has had a multitude of tractors etc pass him...all of which he has proved to be very calm and well behaved with. my problem is the wallys who seem to think...small pony, no need to bother slowing down. I have tried walking further into the road and then moving over when they have slowed down but this is not an ideal situation.
 
redriverrock said:
Sorry not sure if ive misunderstood...we do not lead like this?? The pony is on the verge..we including whoever is actually leading him are always closest to the traffic...
As for questioning why we should even want a small pony to go out on his own..the ultimate plan is we will use him for driving and so the more he sees from an early age the better. This pony is not nervous and is actually amazingly brave for a 3 year old, he is not scared of traffic and has had a multitude of tractors etc pass him...all of which he has proved to be very calm and well behaved with. my problem is the wallys who seem to think...small pony, no need to bother slowing down. I have tried walking further into the road and then moving over when they have slowed down but this is not an ideal situation.
Click to expand...

Never said you do it's just an observation that I see each day in my town that people do.
 
Kaylum said:
Never said you do it's just an observation that I see each day in my town that people do.
Click to expand...
Sorry, wasnt sure!
I think sometimes I feel like just not bothering taking them out...even on our quiet rural roads, such a shame cos I loved hacking out as a youngster
 
redriverrock said:
Sorry, wasnt sure!
I think sometimes I feel like just not bothering taking them out...even on our quiet rural roads, such a shame cos I loved hacking out as a youngster
Click to expand...

no you must keep taking them out, it's the biggest part of their education.
 
We will keep taking them out as I totally agree it is the only way to build up confidence in the big world etc.
I have decided that I am going to be abit more assertive when traffic is approaching...especially from behind and basically just make them slow down, and then give a big friendly thankyou!!
We have had real problems finding genuine bombproof safe kiddies ponies so I am determind that our little youngster is exposed to life as much as possible.
 
redriverrock said:
We will keep taking them out as I totally agree it is the only way to build up confidence in the big world etc.
I have decided that I am going to be abit more assertive when traffic is approaching...especially from behind and basically just make them slow down, and then give a big friendly thankyou!!
We have had real problems finding genuine bombproof safe kiddies ponies so I am determind that our little youngster is exposed to life as much as possible.
Click to expand...

My lad was going past the supermarket carpark when he was a 2 year old, stopping talking to people getting patted he would go anywhere in hand. And so when riding time came nothing bothered him.
 
Kaylum said:
My lad was going past the supermarket carpark when he was a 2 year old, stopping talking to people getting patted he would go anywhere in hand. And so when riding time came nothing bothered him.
Click to expand...
Sounds like a great idea, we are always coming up with ideas to see how he reacts to strange and potentially scarey situations...poor pony!!
 
redriverrock said:
We will keep taking them out as I totally agree it is the only way to build up confidence in the big world etc.
I have decided that I am going to be abit more assertive when traffic is approaching...especially from behind and basically just make them slow down, and then give a big friendly thankyou!!
We have had real problems finding genuine bombproof safe kiddies ponies so I am determind that our little youngster is exposed to life as much as possible.
Click to expand...

I really think that's the attitude you have to take :) Most drivers aren't sweeping past you trying to hurt you, it's just that they don't know (or care tbh) the right way to do it. A tabard saying please pass wide and slow might also help.

My now retired boy was ride and drive and absolutely incredible on the road whether in harness or under saddle - wouldn't move at a junction if a vehicle was coming, didn't blink at huge traffic even if they were trying to wind him up and would wave a back leg if a car sat too close behind him. It did have downsides though :o he had been known to overtake a car (in harness!) at a traffic lights because it didn't move off the minute the lights went green and he was a sod for taking unauthorised -shorter- routes home if you didn't have your wits about you...

After being completely spoilt having such a good horse in traffic you really do appreciate people who put all the hard work into making them that way.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top