How Would You Respond?

Shantara

Shantara

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I wrote a letter to the local newspaper (With a bit of help from horserider) a while back and I've got a lot of positive comments from people around here. However, when I put it on the internet, I've got 2 responses I didn't expect, as they're from friends who know how much riding means to me. I don't want to just ignore them, but I don't want to get into an argument.

How would you reply?
Here's the article, then the two comments..

Article...
"With the roads becoming ever more busy, I'd like to highlight the difficulties experienced by horse riders on the roads in trying to keep safe and prevent accidents. I totally appreciate that horses on the roads are an inconvenience to motorists, but in order to reach bridleway routes, some road work is unavoidable.
I ride at a local stable in North Crawley and I have had several near misses with cars. I know most accidents and mishaps are down to lack of horse knowledge as I know no one wants to cause an accident. Luckily the horses I ride are well trained and very good in traffic.
However, all horses can be unpredictable, so a slow speed and plenty of room is very much appreciated.
That said, I must point out not all drivers behave badly, I have also had a lot of good experiences where drivers have seen my horse is in distress, stopped and turned off their engines until the panic is over.
I would also like to urge riders to make sure they are wearing hi-viz when riding on the road, in any weather, good visibility or not.

Drivers-
• Pass wide and slow
• Don’t get too close behind the horse, it may kick out or become frightened
• Do not sound your horn or rev your engine

Riders-
• Invest in some good quality High-Viz equipment for you and your horse.
• Thank drivers for being courteous

Thank you for reading"


Comment 1
We have a lot of cyclists on the road here,I'd say neither horses or cyclists belong on them,I find riders taking their animals on the road with racing cars irresponsible to be honest,if the roads have additional lanes(which mostly isn't the case) then it's fine,other than that,no.
I have never encountered a horse rider on the road here so far(when I still went horse ridding we used country lanes,with no traffic),but cyclists...and for gods sake there's nothing more annoying than a bunch of cyclists blocking your way


Comment 2
I just wish the locals here that rode horses on the roads would be more considerate of drivers. My hubby once went down the road, saw the horses, slowed up to an unbearable speed (if it can even be called that XD) and went into the other lane of traffic (it's a country road, so there was no threat really). One of the older men on a horse shouted out, "You better slow down, BOY!" and some other things at my husband as his horse wasn't even phased by anything.

And like 'insternamehere' said, there's nothing worse than a bunch of cyclists who don't know the rules of the road.

That being said, we do avoid horses the best we can, and slow up immensely for them, despite their riders' attitudes. My hubby said even if he hit the horse and rider, the horse would be the one to pay for no reason.
 
To be honest it is best to ignore them. I often to speak to a really nice guy that I see in the pub. I always thought he was really nice and sensible, BUT when you mention horse riders, he changes because he genuinely thinks all horses (and cyclists) should stay off the road, because roads are for cars and cars should be able to drive fast.

Sadly, no matter how reasonable you may be, and how correct and civil your letter to the newspaper was, you will not change their views.
 
I would just ignore it. You will just enter into a heated debate if you reply.

You have to remember that not everyone likes horses. To a person who doesnt like them/never had anything to do with them seeing horses on the road is a pain in the ar*e. Especially if they are in a hurry. Granted, they shouldnt live in the countryside if they dont want to encounter a horse on the road but i would just take a deep breath and walk away. Easier said than done tho (especially for me!)
 
Comment 1 is not worth a response!

Comment 2 is fair enough, just highlights the fact that some riders can be just as inconsiderate as the motorists

:)
 
I would just ignore it. I know lots of people who don't think horses should be on the road, but I just don't go into it with them as it becomes heated to quickly!!!! Even my OH has told me horses shouldn't be allowed on the road!!!!!!
 
Yea, it may be best to ignore them, as neither are from the UK (Cannery Islands and US I think)
I once argued with an American chap over horses on the road and there was a big misunderstanding about me riding on a highstreet. He assumed I meant a big city road or motorway...I meant the tiny highstreet in my village!

It's hard though, I try my best to advertise road safety for everyone...extremely hard to bite my tongue and leave it!
 
Your letter was very good and reasonable, but just ignore the comments. Some drivers think that only cars should be allowed on roads - they haven't read their Highway Code lately, obvioulsy.

I would say that 95% of motorists, lorries, etc. slow up and give me room. I wear High Viz on the roads and stop and allow cars to come past if I am in a lane and try to avoid holding them up.
 
This subject really p*ss' me off! Purely because horses were on roads before cars so we have equal right if not more right to be on the road HOWEVER I have come across others on horses who do not say thank you when you stop for them, so the argument can be turned either way. It would be nice if everyone on the road could just have a bit of consideration for eachother and then we wouldn't face a lot of the problems that we do on the road.

I had a situation a couple of months ago where I was hacking out my spooky youngster on a country road, i could here a car was coming pretty quick so I pulled into a layby, and this car that came around the bend was going much too fast and as he was about to squeeze passed us my boy spooked into the middle of the road! There must have been inches between his back legs and the car - but did the driver slow down or even stop to see if we were ok? Not a chance! Just sped back up again and he was gone!

Sorry, rant over!
 
Just realised that I haven't actually answered your question at all lol - sorry, got a bit carried away! I agree with the others that it's probably not worth wasting your breath on the comments and let them blow over your head.
 
We have a lot of cyclists on the road here,I'd say neither horses or cyclists belong on them,I find riders taking their animals on the road with racing cars irresponsible to be honest,if the roads have additional lanes(which mostly isn't the case) then it's fine,other than that,no.
I have never encountered a horse rider on the road here so far(when I still went horse ridding we used country lanes,with no traffic),but cyclists...and for gods sake there's nothing more annoying than a bunch of cyclists blocking your way


I would respond -
Thank you for your comments, it is always useful to hear other people's points of view. i can assure you that we are in complete agreement that the roads are not always the best place for horses to be ridden, as a horse rider I would very much prefer to be using the quiet country lanes you were fortunate to have access to when you used to ride, however times have changed and the increase in cars on the roads, and the loss of many of our traditional bridleways, have forced riders to use roads which are far busier than they would prefer. As the law in this country currently states that horse riders and cyclists and motorists all have a right to be using the public highway together, we are very much "stuck" with each other and the only realistic way forward, that I can see, is that we should all accept the situation and act with due consideration to all other road users, without a doubt you are quite right - this does indeed involve a certain amount of consideration and "give and take" on all sides.


I just wish the locals here that rode horses on the roads would be more considerate of drivers. My hubby once went down the road, saw the horses, slowed up to an unbearable speed (if it can even be called that XD) and went into the other lane of traffic (it's a country road, so there was no threat really). One of the older men on a horse shouted out, "You better slow down, BOY!" and some other things at my husband as his horse wasn't even phased by anything.

And like 'insternamehere' said, there's nothing worse than a bunch of cyclists who don't know the rules of the road.

That being said, we do avoid horses the best we can, and slow up immensely for them, despite their riders' attitudes. My hubby said even if he hit the horse and rider, the horse would be the one to pay for no reason.

I would say - How I agree with you, there is no real excuse for rudeness, you are clearly a most considerate driver and I am sure the majority of riders who see you slow down for them really do appreciate your consideration and I quite agree that there is nothing more irritating than coming accross other road users who do not understand the rules of the road, it is in all our interests to make sure we fully understand the highway code and that riders and drivers and cyclists are aware of the appropriate way to behave when encountering each other.
 
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Quite honestly, I would not take the bait, but simply ignore them. I see no point in creating an argument, people all have different opinions, and are entitled to them, like it or not.:)
 
If you have to engage with people like that, then I find appealing to their self interest helps a lot.

Point out that we have a legal right to ride on the road, and that we do not have the option, as they do in other countries (Sweden, for example and I think maybe even Scotland) to ride on other people's land.

Then ask them if they understand how much damage hundreds of kilos of horse hitting their car can do to it.

My favourite was a guy who wound down his window one day and screamed at me "why can't you just ride in the fields". He looked pretty stupid when I calmly replied "I don't own the fields and I don't have permission to ride in them". Bearing in mind that I was in a National Park on a single track country road at the time, I can hardly imagine the amount of trouble the rest of you are having with motorists like him.
 
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