How to get drivers to slow for small pony?

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
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We're walking our three year old out at the moment and kinda 'box' him in a bit... He's at the side of the road, person leading walks down the middle, person a bit of a distance up front and a third behind... Big red L on the chest/rear of the hi vis tabards and young horse has got his own L plates...

It keeps the traffic from popping up out of no where around bends etc and person front or back stays in the middle or nips quickly to the car that has had to pull up to explain it's a young, inexperienced horse and thank you for waiting type thing... The idiots - tough, they can just suck it up IMO... The unknowing, are normally quite interested and can be curious and chatty... It is a single lane back road and the vehicles are encouraged to pass him when we get to a passing area so he gets a good look without being totally squashed in a hedge...

I lost my tolerance and 'niceness' with road numpties somewhat when my eldest daughter had to loop the lead rein over a pony's neck and send my grand daughter ahead to be with my son lead reining my youngest so eldest daughter could get between the ponies/small riders and an idiot who was up the pony's backside and beeping the horn... She found it quite frightening and more than a little intimidating...:(
 
I'd say it sounds like you're doing all the right things :) I'd get your son to do the "slow down" arm wave, and you to carry a long schooling whip - not for the horse, but for the cars ;) Stick it out and if that hits a windscreen / wing it sounds horrific in the car, but shouldn't do any damage, it'll certainly make them pass slow and wide!! ;)
 
Hi,

I have a flashing leg light thingy -goes on my leg about the top of my boot - that really slows drivers down, not sure where it came from as I've had it years, its called seeyou or something similar.

I also find going riding with somene on a pushbike is good, they ride next to me and can make traffic slow down just by how much road we take up - not that we're blocking it - just making sure that cars can see from further away that there is a horse.
Also, if I'm on my own, I dont hug the hedge, I ride out into the road as traffic can see you sooner (particluarly on bends) and you have somewhere to escape to if needed.

Hope this helps
 
I was just thinking this today, I'm an adult rider but my ponies 12.2...I swear that some drivers don't think that he will mind them whizzing past because he is so dinky and cute, in face he is the sharpest pony I have to hack out, far sharper than any big horse that I occasionally hack with, and although pretty good in traffic, does not take kindly to cars passing him by millimetres, sometimes I wonder if it's because they don't actually see us because we are not high? I wear high viz and if the roads clear I ride quite far from the edge, sort of towards the middle of the road to make ourselves 'big' and then I feel safer, he is just so small. I thought about the polite range but not sure if anyone would be fooled!! :o along the same lines, because he is so small and thelwell looking, people also think they can run up to pat him, again, that's not something he loves... :p

Oh yes and always carry a schooling whip, I carry mine usually horizontal again to make myself big :)
 
Thankyou for all the great advice and encouragment...nice to know I am not the only one who has this problem.
I certainly think the answer is to be far more assertive and make the numptys slow down. I would never take any horse out if I thought they were a danger to other road users but he has to learn...if they pass wide and slow he is 100% fine.
Love the horizontal schooling whip idea...seems so obvious but hadnt thought of 'hitting' the cars with it! Also will get some L plates and see if that makes a difference...
this is the pony that some t**** think isnt worth slowing down for

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alot of drivers won't slow down for people leading a horse (on foot) as they seem to think that the horse/pony will be fine as there is someone on the ground to stop the horse jumping on to their car!

also if you are walking you tend not to have as much 'presence' as if you were on a horse so again drivers can't be bothered.

definately use clear arm signals and make yourself big to the traffic (kind of like you should with a horse!).
 
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