I just don't think I want to ride on the roads anymore :-(

tobiano1984

tobiano1984

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Quite a few of you know that I had a horrible accident in January - I was hit by a truck half a mile from my yard (was going too fast, spooked my horse), hospitalised for a week, foot completely smashed up, elbow and finger broken. My beloved Rupert suffered an un-fixable broken leg and had to be put down. Nearly a year later I'm hesitantly 'back on the road', on my very reliable cob - he was actually present at the accident and was an absolute rock, but is still only 5 and still a living creature so I wouldn't be silly enough to say he is bombproof, but he doesn't flinch at much. I only go out with at least one other person on a safe and steady horse, one of my liveries is a great nanny and guards me as well as slowing traffic.

But although I'm ok going out on the cob, there's no way I'd go out on one of the youngsters or TBs. I just don't enjoy it at all and hearing a car coming quickly just makes me feel sick. I don't even particularly like other people hacking out my horses!

The roads are unavoidable if you want to hack from our yard, although you'd think they would be OK as just small country ones nothing big. But there are still so many absolute ****** out there - in the last couple of weeks I've had one middle aged lady gesticulating at us when she sped past, and we asked her to slow down, and another one a couple of days ago, also middle aged, also in a stupid coloured new Mini, who when we waved her to slow (no face pulling or craziness, we were on the side of the road and she was speeding) actually stopped and yelled 'I pay taxes to be on the road!' and sped off!! I was shocked especially as this wasn't some chav in a knackered boy racer car, but a well to do 50-60 year old lady, driving a newish car, just not the sort of person you expect to be speeding down a country lane and refusing to slow for horses. Surely she has children, grandchildren, dogs, loved ones??

I almost want to never ride on the road again - if I come across that woman again I can't be held responsible for my actions! But I also don't want to sign my horses up for a life of no hacking.

And on this point, there is a grass track running alongside the road that I had my accident on - but we aren't allowed to ride on it because the farmer said he's paid a subsidy by the Government to leave it wild (for flowers, bees etc) and if horses or people walk on it he'll lose the subsidy as it no longer qualifies. I find this insane, and if we had been allowed on it I might still be in one piece and Rupert might still be alive. Why can't field margins be ridden on? I don't think the farmers themselves would be bothered, it seems to be down to the rules of the subsidies. The few bridlepaths we have are badly maintained and lead from road to road.

I can't wait to move and live somewhere with no road hacking but am stuck with our current yard for now.

Anyway, rant over. Just so fed up :-(
 
Yes I remember your awful accident. I am branded a wuss by family and other local riders as I refuse to ride on the roads. I keep the horses at home and need to ride up a B road only a couple of hundred yards to get to what used to be quiet country lanes but are now horrible due to everybody's perceived need to get everywhere in the least amount of time possible.

I am lucky to have transport and fantastic riding out a 5 minute drive away. Yes it's a hassle to load up rather than just turning out the driveway but I'm happy. Both my horses are brilliant on the road but I am not ashamed to admit that riding on our roads terrifies me.

I would ride on the grass track if it's your only solution. How does the farmer stop people walking on it? Is the farmer connected to your yard in any way? If the farmer isn't bothered, who is going to come out and check from the government/DEFRA or whoever makes these payments? Unless it's fenced off or has great big signs saying keep off.....go for it. Won't wind back the clock but if it allows you to enjoy hacking again then surely worth it.
 
Nicnac said:
I would ride on the grass track if it's your only solution. How does the farmer stop people walking on it? Is the farmer connected to your yard in any way? If the farmer isn't bothered, who is going to come out and check from the government/DEFRA or whoever makes these payments? Unless it's fenced off or has great big signs saying keep off.....go for it. Won't wind back the clock but if it allows you to enjoy hacking again then surely worth it.
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I do think about boxing up and travelling - would be better than no hacking at all although I don't have time to most days, just want to get out for a quick half an hour hack.

I might just ride on it until the farmer comes out - what happened was that a farm manager/worker stopped some people from our yard and told us to get off it because of the whole government thing. I might just try again and if someone stops me I'll ask to speak to the farmer. No he isn't anything to do with us, I've not met him just his staff! There's no fencing or signs.

it doesn't solve all the road issues, just cuts out the bit where I had my accident.
 
Grass track - do you mean a verge, or actually part of the field. If part of the field then no you shouldn't be riding on it.

Where I used to keep my horse, the roads were awful. Surrounded by lots of lovely fields, but no bridleways, it's simply tough, you cannot ride on private land, just because it's grassy.

However if it's the verge, and owned by the council, then yes you can ride on that bit!
 
I am really sorry to hear that you are stuck in such a horrid situation. I can really understand why you wouldn't want to be on those roads they sound really dangerous. I have had a few near misses only and occasionally I tense up when I hear one coming to fast! Most drivers where I am near Maidstone in Kent are really good and slow down. If you are worried and have access to a school or field why not spend a bit of time getting back into the saddle before going back out and scaring yourself. Your cob sounds brilliant by the way. You also seem to quite justifiably have some PTSD, have you thought about some counselling, or even just talking it through with someone. Or if that doesn't appeal start a campaign to open filed margins to horses. I hope your moves comes soon.
 
wench said:
Grass track - do you mean a verge, or actually part of the field. If part of the field then no you shouldn't be riding on it.

Where I used to keep my horse, the roads were awful. Surrounded by lots of lovely fields, but no bridleways, it's simply tough, you cannot ride on private land, just because it's grassy.

However if it's the verge, and owned by the council, then yes you can ride on that bit!
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No it's the edge of the field - there's a verge, steep ditch, then the track. The steep ditch is the reason I couldn't get out of the way when I was hit!!

I know we shouldn't ride on it - which is why we currently don't - but I would like to try and track down the farmer and ask.
 
Nicnac said:
I would ride on the grass track if it's your only solution. How does the farmer stop people walking on it? Is the farmer connected to your yard in any way? If the farmer isn't bothered, who is going to come out and check from the government/DEFRA or whoever makes these payments? Unless it's fenced off or has great big signs saying keep off.....go for it. Won't wind back the clock but if it allows you to enjoy hacking again then surely worth it.
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OP - a truly horrific experience and so sorry you lost your boy. What you feel is completely understandable. You just need to make the decision that you are happy with regarding hacking whether it be to carry on or to not hack from home anymore. Is it possible that on weekends or when you have more time you could box up and go somewhere as least then you wouldn't feel as though the horses never get to go 'out' as such. However I totally disagree with NicNac please don't ride down this farmers track, yes it's so frustrating but then sadly is life and I find it totally disrespectful to the farmer to do so. I'm sure riders would kick off if someone trundled over part of their garden!
 
Sukistokes2 said:
I am really sorry to hear that you are stuck in such a horrid situation. I can really understand why you wouldn't want to be on those roads they sound really dangerous. I have had a few near misses only and occasionally I tense up when I hear one coming to fast! Most drivers where I am near Maidstone in Kent are really good and slow down. If you are worried and have access to a school or field why not spend a bit of time getting back into the saddle before going back out and scaring yourself. Your cob sounds brilliant by the way. You also seem to quite justifiably have some PTSD, have you thought about some counselling, or even just talking it through with someone. Or if that doesn't appeal start a campaign to open filed margins to horses. I hope your moves comes soon.
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We're near Canterbury in Kent - a vast % of the drivers we encounter are lovely and go out of their way to slow down/wait, including the huge grain lorries from the feed merchants near us. It's the 5% who are late for the school run or work who aren't so great, and unfortunately it only takes one inconsiderate moron to kill you or your horse!

I have had some counselling - and have been riding in the school for months now (albeit not to my former glorious standard..!).

I like the idea of campaigning to open field margins to horses - no idea where I'd start, council I guess.
 
lottiepony said:
OP - a truly horrific experience and so sorry you lost your boy. What you feel is completely understandable. You just need to make the decision that you are happy with regarding hacking whether it be to carry on or to not hack from home anymore. Is it possible that on weekends or when you have more time you could box up and go somewhere as least then you wouldn't feel as though the horses never get to go 'out' as such. However I totally disagree with NicNac please don't ride down this farmers track, yes it's so frustrating but then sadly is life and I find it totally disrespectful to the farmer to do so. I'm sure riders would kick off if someone trundled over part of their garden!
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I know - I would like to find out the reasons though and see whether there is an opportunity to open up field margins as it seems like an unnecessary waste of land that doesn't have death machines on it!
 
tobiano1984 said:
I know - I would like to find out the reasons though and see whether there is an opportunity to open up field margins as it seems like an unnecessary waste of land that doesn't have death machines on it!
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Are there many local riders?
Could you get together and approach the farmers about permit riding? I'm not sure how much subsidy payment they get but if you could get close to that in permit payments maybe you could get permissive access?
 
I hate riding on the roads due to my horse being hit many years ago. I sometimes wonder if a hi viz with a graphic picture on would do the trick. Sorry for your loss op and I totally know how you feel with riding on the roads.
 
lottiepony said:
However I totally disagree with NicNac please don't ride down this farmers track, yes it's so frustrating but then sadly is life and I find it totally disrespectful to the farmer to do so. I'm sure riders would kick off if someone trundled over part of their garden!
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I based my comment on OP which said grass track next to road assuming it was a type of verge. As this is not the case, i.e. track is separated from road by verge and steep ditch then I retract my comment.

Agree OP that you should talk to farmer and maybe other local farms to see if you could open up a TROT route around you.
 
tobiano1984 said:
But there are still so many absolute ****** out there - in the last couple of weeks I've had one middle aged lady gesticulating at us when she sped past, and we asked her to slow down, and another one a couple of days ago, also middle aged, also in a stupid coloured new Mini, who when we waved her to slow (no face pulling or craziness, we were on the side of the road and she was speeding) actually stopped and yelled 'I pay taxes to be on the road!' and sped off!! I was shocked especially as this wasn't some chav in a knackered boy racer car, but a well to do 50-60 year old lady, driving a newish car, just not the sort of person you expect to be speeding down a country lane and refusing to slow for horses. Surely she has children, grandchildren, dogs, loved ones??
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I'm afraid as a cyclist, horse rider and business driver, I hate to generalise but these are exactly the types of people who will try and bully you and who drive too fast, thinking they have some sort of right to do as they please.

We have to hack on the roads though the village from our paddocks to the nearest bridleways. It is only a mile or so each way, but unfortunately the village is becoming more and more of a rat run, with more and more traffic trying to drive faster and faster (through a 30 M.P.H village with traffic calming in the middle).

When I first started to ride horses again about six years ago, I used to worry about holding up cars, and would hop up onto the pavement to let streams of traffic past, but we would get shouted at by one or two of the locals for doing that, so it seems I couldn't win either way. Since taking up road cycling two years ago, I am afraid I have become a bit more hardened, at least to vehicles, as there are only so many times you can slow down or stop to let cars and vans past, only to get no form of thanks. These days I don't make it hard, but I certainly don't stop any more.

Whether on bike or horse, I keep a careful ear / eye on the traffic and if it is safer for me to move into the middle of the road, prior to a right turn, I do it, and the traffic behind can show a bit of consideration and patience... even if they don't want to.

OP; I hope you are able to slowly rebuild enough confidence so that traffic and the thought of riding along a road does not spoil your riding.
 
So sorry about your horse, and ongoing problems.
Grass field margins attract subsidies under 2 different schemes- one for conservation ( these can't be ridden on- I think bods from DEFRA inspect them periodically and can withdraw the money if they don't like what they find), and the other to provide public access- these can be ridden on. There are maps on the internet of the access ones; not easy to find but if you google something like 'DEFRA countryside access (your area)' anything local should show up.
A couple of farms near me have been ploughing up their grass margins as the DEFRA money has dried up. It's a good suggestion of Nicnac's to see if you could get a TROT scheme going. If there are lots of you at the yard who would use it (and be willing to pay) maybe the farmer would consider making another track alongside the existing one
 
OP,

Would you consider getting one of the hat cams?
They really do make the inconsiderate, selfish type of driver rethink how they pass you - the fact that there could easily be comeback from their actions makes them a lot more, how shall I put it? human...

I sometimes ride with a friend who has one (and a high viz that says 'smile you're on camera') and it is very noticeable how quickly drivers back off and pass properly when they know that they are being filmed. If I road rode regularly I would definitely have one as I too, live in an area with more than it's fair share of nobbish drivers.
 
cbmcts said:
OP,

Would you consider getting one of the hat cams?
They really do make the inconsiderate, selfish type of driver rethink how they pass you - the fact that there could easily be comeback from their actions makes them a lot more, how shall I put it? human...

I sometimes ride with a friend who has one (and a high viz that says 'smile you're on camera') and it is very noticeable how quickly drivers back off and pass properly when they know that they are being filmed. If I road rode regularly I would definitely have one as I too, live in an area with more than it's fair share of nobbish drivers.
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I was going to suggest this. May not stop people being wally's but it may make them think again if they get a call from the police
 
You're very brave to go back on the road. We've given up. We were always polite and thanked people but you always get the idiot that doesn't give a damn. Worst one was on a very narrow country lane nowhere to tuck into. Car coming towards us two women gassing. We were waving and shouting. Driver suddenly looked up, saw us, slammed on brakes and said 'I didn't see you' I really wanted to damage her!
 
I'm so sorry about your accident and losing your horse is just awful it really is, did the driver get prosecuted?
I really don't know what to say, only you can decide if you wish to carry on hacking, it sounds like a awful area where u are, we are lucky to have single lanes which are very quite and only lead to horsey places so everybody is nice. Maybe boxing up would be the best option
 
My oh is a farmer and I don't ride on our field margins!
We own a riding school and so there are lots of horses hacking out locally, most people are great but there is one young lad who likes to try to scare my horse by beeping his horn, spinning his wheels and so on. I now have his number plate so if he does it again I will report him.
On a positive note I met an enormous lorry on a narrow stretch of road today. He stopped, turned his engine off as I walked passed. I thanked him and he was so lovely and polite I will be writing to the company.
 
So sorry to hear about your horrible accident. We have the same sort of idiot drivers near us, I have to go along single track roads (with passing places) for about a mile to get to the bridleways.
So now, I mostly lead her along the road, as I figure that if the car hits me, they may be in a lot more trouble than if they hit my horse, so hopefully they will slow down, plus together we take up more road width. Most of the time that theory works, but on Saturday some idiot just aimed his car straight at me on purpose! Luckily I did have a verge for us both to go onto, but it was scary.
So cue me buying a Go-Pro head cam, it hasn't arrived yet, but I will def use it in future.
Have you contacted the BHS about a local bridleways group? There may be one in your area that you could join up with and get some TROT routes opened up?
 
I think I'm definitely going to get a hat cam, I've heard they do wonders at slowing people down! And it would be so satisfying to record some of the idiots we deal with and send it to the police. Not sure what they do though, call them up and tell them off?

And yes I will speak to the BHS Access people and see what's going on around me. There's a TROT ride nearby but have to hack on the roads for half an hour which defeats the point a bit!!
 
tobiano1984 said:
I think I'm definitely going to get a hat cam, I've heard they do wonders at slowing people down! And it would be so satisfying to record some of the idiots we deal with and send it to the police. Not sure what they do though, call them up and tell them off?
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A lady not far from me was leading her youngster along the road and a DPD driver drove straight at her with "get off the road" attitude, she went flying, the horse galloped off down the road. She reported it to the police and they interviewed him under caution, but because she didn't have any hard evidence, it was his word against hers, however, if she'd had a "hat cam" on, they would certainly have prosecuted him. So the police round our way are very supportive, I would recommend reporting the idiots if you can get any evidence.
 
tobiano1984 said:
We're near Canterbury in Kent - a vast % of the drivers we encounter are lovely and go out of their way to slow down/wait, including the huge grain lorries from the feed merchants near us. It's the 5% who are late for the school run or work who aren't so great, and unfortunately it only takes one inconsiderate moron to kill you or your horse!

I have had some counselling - and have been riding in the school for months now (albeit not to my former glorious standard..!).

I like the idea of campaigning to open field margins to horses - no idea where I'd start, council I guess.
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What side of Canterbury are you?
 
I've given up road riding. It struck me that it's really not fair on these animals to ask them to go up against fast, roaring lumps of metal, risking their necks - for what? Yeah sure animals were on the roads first, but the world's changed whether I like it or not and I can stubbornly cling to my 'right' to use the road and end up dead/horse dead, or I can just stick to off road riding. I now box up to go to forests, beaches, parkland etc. instead.

I feel a bit better driving because you seem to be acknowledged as a 'vehicle' more.
 
I lost my fab offroad hacking when we moved to our own place with land. I *have* to go about a mile on the road to get to the nearest bridleway, & then it's just a loop before coming back on the road. I used to go miles by myself before we moved, but now I never, ever do. I always have my sharer with me on my other horse, we are always hi-viz'd to the max (not that I wasn't before; now we have the full works), always have a companion either on foot or on a bike & I use a martingale when I don't normally. Plus take all possible precautions like wearing decent, properly fitted riding clothes & boots (not slopping around the yard type of things), have long whip & spurs, no bare arms just in case. (If I got dumped on the road, I think that *some* fabric would be better than none at all.)

Interesting idea about hatcam - I'm going to look into that.

So, yeah, don't feel that you're alone for not wanting to go on the roads. I won't either unless I've taken all possible precautions, & even then I'll abort if there's poor visibility, road is slippery, high winds (= potential giddy horses) etc. And I'm always relieved when we get back without incident.

T x
 
So sorry to hear about your accident. I am another who doesn't ride on the roads. I had a very nasty bolting incident over 20 years ago where I was almost hit by a car on a bolting horse and it terrified me. I have since had therapy to get over the sheer terror of it and now can at least ride near to the road (as in a private field alongside the road), but cannot ride along it. I am lucky that we have 200 acres of private off road hacking on my yard so I don't really need to go out. Are you able to find a yard which has some private off road hacking?
 
I almost want to never ride on the road again - if I come across that woman again I can't be held responsible for my actions! But I also don't want to sign my horses up for a life of no hacking.

And on this point, there is a grass track running alongside the road that I had my accident on - but we aren't allowed to ride on it because the farmer said he's paid a subsidy by the Government to leave it wild (for flowers, bees etc) and if horses or people walk on it he'll lose the subsidy as it no longer qualifies. I find this insane, and if we had been allowed on it I might still be in one piece and Rupert might still be alive. Why can't field margins be ridden on? I don't think the farmers themselves would be bothered, it seems to be down to the rules of the subsidies. The few bridlepaths we have are badly maintained and lead from road to road.
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...de-on-the-roads-anymore-(#CVuwezYzd5ebdXh1.99


Are there many local riders?
Could you get together and approach the farmers about permit riding? I'm not sure how much subsidy payment they get but if you could get close to that in permit payments maybe you could get permissive access?
Read more at http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/foru...de-on-the-roads-anymore-(#CVuwezYzd5ebdXh1.99


Well, you wouldn't believe the hours and hours of work that I and many others put in to try and get some sense out of the Powers That Be about riding on margins, etc. I was at that time attending several farm conferences and I always tried to slip it in somewhere, wrote numerous letters to Councillors, MPs, Civil Servants, etc. etc. etc. And I was not alone!

The most successful organisation was TROT, the Toll Rides Off-Road Trust, who did get rides put in next to "margins" with the knowledge and help of the local DEFRA people. TROT is a charity that will help riders to put in local routes, provide the paperwork and address concerns like insurance and liability. However, from personal experience, the hardest thing is to get riders to put their hand in their pocket to pay for the subscription, and then to get the riders to stay where they are supposed to be and not ride on forbidden places. The popular Toll Ride at Ragley Hall has been closed as riders used to
a) not pay for a permit, and b) ride where they were not supposed to and when told by the landowner or representative were rude! So the ride was closed. And after all the hours that I and many other people put in to provide the route, we were mightly unimpressed by our fellow riders!

The most important thing about putting in a permissive ride is that you must have the support of the local riders and that the "own" it and it becomes a sort of community project. They can be very popular and very successful.
 
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