interesting hack this morning...

C

Charlie007

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Quick back ground. Had ex racer now for 3 months. Done nothing but race before I got him but he did have 6 months rest. Coming on beautifully. Been on short hacks alone and in company no probs.

On to this morning!

Went on our usual route, 45mins ish. Half way round woman slams car door behind a hedge which made him jump but these are things he has to get used to. He settled and we carried on. We turn down a narrow road to then hear said woman coming up behind us. I kept in centre of road incase he jumped at car having just been spooked. Said road us about 75metres long and narrow. She could have easily gone an alternative route but o no. Decides to rev right up his backside. I turned and put my hand up for her to stop but she kept coming, then with me still more towards middle of road tries to overtake! Only choice I had was to turn horse towards her and put my hand up and ask her to stop!! Words were exchanged! Unfortunately this upset my lad and we jogged all the way home :(. We had other cars pass and he was fine. He wasn't silly inba spooky kind of way just jogging. Did hands wide and low and circled him. It sort of worked! At no point did I feel unsafe, just disappointed that all was going so well :( sorry for moan
 
I bet you she was late for work. I once met a stupid blonde in a black Audi (say no more) who ignored the priority sign and met me on a single track bridge. I wasn't going to back up anyway because it would have meant going around a blind bend and so she decided to try to squeeze past me and my little Yaris. I've always thought many women drivers haven't got a clue about the width of their vehicle and will go for a gap regardless and this proved it. The cars overlapped by several inches and the screech of metal accompanied by her screams of pure rage were hilarious. My little car cheerfully shifted on it wheels a bit and the only mark on it was her black paint. Off she went still screaming abuse. I'm not all that precious about paintwork on my cars (good thing really, it has gained several dents and scrapes from the works carpark while I'm not looking) but it wouldn't surprise me if hers wasn't a company car. Never saw her again, thank goodness.
 
To be fair you don't have the right to stop a car on the road, only the police do. However I also understand how horrible it is to have a car revving up your ass and a horse fizzing underneath you. Technically you were in the wrong here for asking the driver to stop regardless of how they reacted. Just something I always bare in mind when hacking out, even on youngsters, is that I should be as little hassle to the drivers, as well as as the most conspicuous as possible.
 
Sorry to hear about this incident.
The best way to stop a vehicle is to point at the driver for 3 seconds and then hold the palm of your hand up at them. (As taught to me by the London Metropolitan Police when I used to ride in Central London).
Always wear a long sleeved High-Viz jacket so that others road users can always see your hand signal more clearly.
 
I was hi vized so she could definitely see me!! I had used my hand to ask her to stop several times to no avail. Then she tried to overtake me. It was a very short road so I was seconds away from getting out her way but she couldn't wait. I understand I have no right to tell her to stop BUT mine and my horses safety comes first and I'm sure in hind sight she wouldn't have wanted a horse potentially on her bonnet!!
 
Horse and rider have the right of way except on motorways. Driver was wrong. Bugs me that so many drivers haven't read the highway code. Mostly drivers are sensible if a bit grumpy, but common law, natural law and statuary law, all put the horse before the car t :)
 
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