Irresponsible Riders

[dorito]

The reason I do not go on Fun /sponcored rides is the fact that riders do not take any consideration.
.

so THAT'S a fun/sponsored ride? well I never....

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Basically - what goes through a riders mind to trot past other riders on a narrow, single track lane without first calling out to check if it is OK to pass?

This happened numerous times and at one point we trotted on as a car was coming up the lane behind us. There was a group of 5 riders behind us by some distance who trotted up too (car was behind them). Knew riders had caught us up as my pony had his ears back but when he started hunching his back and getting grouchy I knew they were very close. On checking over my shoulder one rider was a foot off my ponys bum

Surely these are the salient points!

The lane was narrow and at least one horse got so close it was within kicking distance.
IMO the problem is that young riders are not taught mounted manners in the way that those of us who went to good RSs for a number of years before acquiring our own, or were brought up in hunting/PC families were in 'the good old days'. How many times have I read on here about riders at comps who don't follow the left-to-left rule, etc, etc? It's all part of the same 'me first, I'm alright, Jack' culture which seems to be prevalent in many (but fortunately not all) riders these days.

 

[Pedantic]

NOA

 

[DragonSlayer]

A quick 'Excuse me, I'm about to pass you'...called out costs absolutely nowt.

After being dumped a few years ago and injuring my back on a 'fun' ride by a group of riders who had galloped up and smacked into the arse-end of my horse and thought it funny (I was talking to my friend I was riding with, if they had yelled they were coming, I would have prepared my horse) I agree that a warning is much welcomed....

 

[AprilBlossom]

I think that I have this view because around here, regardless if you ask/forewarn or not, you'll get an earful from whoever you pass *rolleyes*

 

[zaminda]

Personally I always think it polite to warn people you are passing them. That said, I once asked to pass some people, who were very rude, and said they were about to canter. They had already held us up for some time, but we had waited for somewhere safe to pass them. I have also been on the recieving end of out of control people crashing into the back of me. On one occasion the man got kicked, on another, the woman crippled my horse. 5 years later, she is still intermitently lame as a result.
Manners cost nothing. Might I add, as someone who tends to be overtaking, I have never found myself hoarse at the end of the ride, including when doing 50 miles.

 

[Hollyberry]

NOA

Glad to see you back, always makes me laugh, totally agree.

 

[Kenzo]

You dont always know how a horse will react if its a youngster its first time out, yes you could ride at the back but you may get late arrivals catching up, expect riders to pass yes, but its nice for riders to be polite and check before passing.

 

[OFG]

Surely these are the salient points!

The lane was narrow and at least one horse got so close it was within kicking distance.
IMO the problem is that young riders are not taught mounted manners in the way that those of us who went to good RSs for a number of years before acquiring our own, or were brought up in hunting/PC families were in 'the good old days'. How many times have I read on here about riders at comps who don't follow the left-to-left rule, etc, etc? It's all part of the same 'me first, I'm alright, Jack' culture which seems to be prevalent in many (but fortunately not all) riders these days.

Ah, there's the crux of the matter then. These weren't young riders - they were adults (for the most part) and some of them looked like they competed at a fairly good level (going by the tack / event saddles used) and the fact we saw some of them in the lorry park at the end of the ride, their whole set up screamed event / SJ competitors.

Agree that nowadays some people do have the attitude that as long as they are OK then to hell with everyone else

 

[Mince Pie]

Ditto this.

I take it those of you who require a warning/ have to give permission before allowing anyone to pass don't go hunting??

Actually yes I do - but I find the hunting field tend to know what the different coloured ribbons actually mean I mean when I have both green and red ribbons in a youngsters tail on a fun/endurance ride and the amount of people who tell me how pretty they are but why didn't I do her mane too...

 

[Littlelegs]

On a single track lane I would prob have shouted 'coming through'. However it does annoy me how some riders think the world should halt for them. Like April blossom, I meet quite a few on local bridleways. Racing past close by is rude, however dawdling along a bridleway for several miles & expecting everyone else to dawdle behind too is equally rude. Courtesy goes both ways. (and not aimed at you op just a general rant).

 

[EstherYoung]

Crumbs. I've done 100s of pleasure rides and lower level (up to 25 miles) endurance rides over the years and there are 3 unwritten but adhered-to rules:

1. ALWAYS call out "Is it ok to pass" if you're coming up behind another rider(s). Usually it's fine. Sometimes they'll want to trot on to a gap and pull out of the way.

2. ALWAYS slow down (to walk from trot, to trot from canter, from gallop to canter, to match their pace (walk, trot or canter).

3. ALWAYS leave a good clear space (2-3 horse's lengths) between you and them when you're behind them. DO NOT go up their horse's arse. Unless you like yourself and your horse to be kicked. Unless you like them to be unseated by a buck/kick.

simplez.

Absolutely. It's basic trail manners.

In my experience anyone who was seen to be being rude/inconsiderate out hunting would get bawled out too. It's part of riding defensively and avoiding getting you and/or your horse kicked, especially if you are the one doing the overtaking. It doesn't mean grinding to a halt, it just means passing only where it is safe to do so. People do take young horses out (they have to start somewhere) and you often find stallions out there too.

And yes, I would call out to 50 odd riders if necessary. I'd also smile and thank everyone who passed me politely. Likewise if I was aware that I was holding people up, I'd try and get myself of the track and let them past.

Those who wouldn't ask other riders if it was OK to pass, what would you do if you came across a member of the public on the trail whilst on a fun ride?

 

[OFG]

On a single track lane I would prob have shouted 'coming through'. However it does annoy me how some riders think the world should halt for them. Like April blossom, I meet quite a few on local bridleways. Racing past close by is rude, however dawdling along a bridleway for several miles & expecting everyone else to dawdle behind too is equally rude. Courtesy goes both ways. (and not aimed at you op just a general rant).

no worries. Totally agree too, rude to hold up other riders on a bridle way. In fact, on this particular ride we trotted on to wider sections of lane / path and pulled over lots to let other riders who wanted to move along at a fair pace to pass and go on their way.

We were content on this occasion to ride sedately along the lanes and pick up the pace on the open sections, doesn't mean everyone wanted to do the same.

It was also a very hot day and knowing that the ride was approximately 15 miles didn't want to go haring off from the start - ponies wouldn't have appreciated it come the latter part of the ride

 

[Sophstar]

Whatever fun ride you go to...you will always encounter these kind of people. Our last fun ride in April, I took my laid back cob and my friend was on her youngster for her first day out. We knew we were going to be slower than a lot of people and regularly moved to one side, to let groups go past. If we heard them coming we would do it automatically but the majority of people gave us warning and shouted out if it was ok to pass. It's just common courtesy.

Of course, there were a group of 4 teenagers on the last stretch home who destroyed the 'everyone is pleasant today' bubble who rather than simply ask to go past, one teenager had a skitty thing up the backside of my cob, who doesn't usually bat an eyelid but the grumpy face and swishing tail started and her friends were yanking their poor ponies round. I asked the girl to remove her pony from the backside of mine and wait until a suitable wider path so they could pass. Of course she didn't and in the end, they squeezed past us and cantered off up the concrete track.

Riders behind us told us they had been told off numerous times by other riders but they still continued. Luckily my cob didn't kick her as it would have been very much her own doing.

 

[marmalade76]

I'd rather hunt than do pleasure rides as I think the riders are more realistic as to their horses giddyness/excitement and therefore better prepared.

Out hunting you will have other horse close to yours (and if your horse doesn't like this it's upto you to keep it out of the way), you will have people passing you and you will have the hunt staff trotting and cantering past you on lanes, tracks and headlands, you might get a warning that they're coming but they certainly won't ask you if it's Ok for them to pass!

 

[marmalade76]

On a single track lane I would prob have shouted 'coming through'. However it does annoy me how some riders think the world should halt for them. Like April blossom, I meet quite a few on local bridleways. Racing past close by is rude, however dawdling along a bridleway for several miles & expecting everyone else to dawdle behind too is equally rude. Courtesy goes both ways. (and not aimed at you op just a general rant).

This is exactly what AB and I and getting at. It partly comes from the many posts we read on a local FB group when people complain that their horse bucked/reared/bolted because someone had the cheek to pass them. IMO, if you are unsure of what your horse will do in this situation and are not experienced/confident enough to deal with an excited horse, don't go. If you know your horse gets excited, doesn't like being passed, etc, and you know you can't cope with your horse in this situation, don't go. It's not fair to expect everyone else to pussyfoot round you just 'cause you've over-horsed yourself. It was even suggested on said FB group that we have seperate fun rides for those who only want to walk and trot and those who are more gung ho!

My horses have all hunted and competed and so have been used to being passed, ridden in groups, etc, and yes, some of them did get excited in such a situation, but I was always in reasonable control whatever was going on around them.

 

[AprilBlossom]

This is exactly what AB and I and getting at. It partly comes from the many posts we read on a local FB group when people complain that their horse bucked/reared/bolted because someone had the cheek to pass them. IMO, if you are unsure of what your horse will do in this situation and are not experienced/confident enough to deal with an excited horse, don't go. If you know your horse gets excited, doesn't like being passed, etc, and you know you can't cope with your horse in this situation, don't go. It's not fair to expect everyone else to pussyfoot round you just 'cause you've over-horsed yourself. It was even suggested on said FB group that we have seperate fun rides for those who only want to walk and trot and those who are more gung ho!

My horses have all hunted and competed and so have been used to being passed, ridden in groups, etc, and yes, some of them did get excited in such a situation, but I was always in reasonable control whatever was going on around them.

Amen to that

 

[Flame_]

I think people want very different things from fun rides. Some want an off road hack and to maybe pop the odd log and others want a cross country experience, but its no fun trying to have a nice hack when people are jumping and galloping around you, it makes the quietest of horses hot and stressed.

I've been on a few years ago (Daresbury and Marbury do spring to mind) and they aren't fun if you are trying to hack round them. They're only fun if you are one of the ones there for a fast ride.

I think being passed on open fields is kind of tough luck on fun rides, but when I've been I've known full well it will wind up my horses and have been well bitted and aware of my coping ability, I feel bad for people who don't know what they are like and go thinking they'll be able to pootle round on a settled horse. Incidentally, my worst memory of being overtaken was on the Delamere Forest pleasure ride which was part of EGB and some endurance riders cantered up behind us on a narrow track, slowed to a fast trot, called out "OK to pass?" as they charged up behind us and were along side us before I had chance to say, "well no, there obviously isn't room, you'll have to hang on until its a bit wider". Then as soon as they were past they cantered off leaving our novice (and tail-ribbon attired) horses leaping around and totally puddled.

Otherwise I'd recommend the endurance training rides, but the ones run without competitive rides going on at the same time are the quietest if its easy rides you're after.

 

[Anglebracket]

I wonder why fun rides can't be staggered by speed preference? Those wanting a faster ride could go first, followed by those wanting a slower hack. This solution should make fun rides more fun for everyone.

 

[quirky]

Marmalade76 - I have hunted for years, hence my 'i'd rather hunt than pleasure ride'. Saying that, if I didn't think my horse had the head for hunting, then I wouldn't persevere. Seen too many nasty falls to be out on one whose heart is not in it.

 

[Ranyhyn]

It was even suggested on said FB group that we have seperate fun rides for those who only want to walk and trot and those who are more gung ho!

I was about to say this was the way forward, but you will always get those who a)have no real idea on their own ability and b)those who get caught out.

I just don't think there's any other way round it really than people just learning to put up, both ways

 

[Sophstar]

I wonder why fun rides can't be staggered by speed preference? Those wanting a faster ride could go first, followed by those wanting a slower hack. This solution should make fun rides more fun for everyone.

The theory is good however I start off on my arthritic cob slow and poodling about whilst everyone charges past so he can warm up. An hour and a half in, he is the one bronking across the field and attempting to canter full speed across any open space!

 

[marmalade76]

.......but its no fun trying to have a nice hack when people are jumping and galloping around you, it makes the quietest of horses hot and stressed.

I have to disagree. it might make some, usually quiet horses hot and stressed, but not all. A lot of it is down to the rider too, if a rider sits there tensed up expecting their horse to react, it probably will but only because the rider is.

I've had a few fairly hot horses, but they we're no more hot out in company than they were out hacking on their own. Perhaps the difference is that a lot of horses belonging to happy hackers who fancy the odd fun ride is that their horses don't get out enough and experience the atmosphere, perhaps they spend too much time in their stables and don't get much turnout, where as although mine were hot, they were doing this sort of thing regularly so it was no biggie for them?? Just a thought....

 

[EstherYoung]

I remember a few years ago we were on a pleasure ride, just coming back into the venue on a long rein, and two newbies charged round the corner, rammed our horses up the backside because they couldn't stop, and then barged us out the way. Our horses didn't react as they're old hands, but we could have been a kid or a novice or a kicker for all they knew and it was just dangerous and darned rude. When we challenged them about it they said that they'd never done one of our rides before and didn't realise that wasn't allowed.

At the time I remember thinking that it was very bizarre that someone would think it OK to 'overtake' in such a manner, whatever background they were from, but after reading this thread it's been a bit of an eyeopener.

If you were in the school you'd follow the rules of the school for overtaking etc, so why not on the trail? Even out hunting, if you had some speed on and saw someone ahead of you, you'd look to pass them as wide as you could, surely? And if that person was having issues with their horse, you'd try and choose a line that avoided them, surely?

 

[HashRouge]

Firstly, I don't think the hunting comparisons are really relevant. I'm perfectly aware that out hunting you have no control over who passes you, at what speed or how close. Hence people like me, whose horses kick (not a "might kick" but a "probably will kick"), are probably best off giving it a miss! I'd certainly never consider taking my horse hunting because I know full well that it would only take one person to miss the red tail ribbon for her to lash out.
But I'd expect to be able to take her on a pleasure ride because I would assume that a) people wouldn't be going anywhere near as fast and b) I'd get some warning before we got overtaken. And I don't mind people overtaking us, I'd just like the chance to ensure the track is wide enough for them to pass safely and that they know to give my horse a wide berth. I've found that a red tail ribbon often isn't enough - a lot of people seem to think it only means don't get too close to the back of the horse, and don't realise that horses can lash out to the side as well. My horse isn't dangerous, provided I take certain precautions when I take her out in public. So I always make sure to stand her out of the way and to make sure other riders are aware to take care. The problem is, if I don't get any warning that someone is about to overtake, I often don't get a chance to call out a warning (which I like to do even for people who overtake sensibly because I'd hate to be responsible for an accident).
To be honest, I've found that a lot of people are idiots when it comes to overtaking, and don't seem to realize that it might be a good idea to be cautious when passing a strange horse, even if that horse has a red tail ribbon in. I was at a show a number of years ago and my mare was wearing a red tail ribbon, as always. I'd kept her out of the way while waiting for our class and was just riding her to the ring when some idiot came cantering up behind us, and overtook using the minute gap (no more than a metre) between my mare and the ring. She lashed out, but obviously the idiot was already miles away by then. It's just a good job that the woman riding behind us had been keeping a sensible distance! I should point out that she has NEVER kicked another horse at a public event in all the time I have owned her (11 years) because I am always very careful - but it is no good me being careful if people aren't sensible when overtaking! If I'd been in the same situation as the OP, one of the overtaking horses probably would have been kicked, though I'd have been shouting a warning as soon as I'd realized what was going on.

I don't want people to read this and think "well her horse is dangerous, she shouldn't take it out". My horse isn't dangerous, because I know how to manage her and am always very very careful. All my friends and fellow liveries are happy to hack out with us and for my mare to go at the front of a ride, and we have never, in 11 years, caused an incident at a show or any other event. But I really hate it when people aren't cautious when overtaking strange horses - not every horse is happy to have others pass close to it, so it's always worth checking. Owning my horse has made me particularly cautious - no matter what horse I was riding, I would always check before overtaking someone else.

 

[Foxhunter49]

With respect, on a fun ride, I would expect to be able to trot past an unfamiliar horse. It's a fun ride and if overtaking meant you had to slow to a walk each time it would spoil the fun.

If I had a horse that was funny about people riding past it, I probably wouldn't take it to something like a fun ride till I'd worked on its issues.

I disagree.

Gone are the days when all riders were taught manners as a matter of course.

It is only polite to call out from a safe distance if you wish to pass someone else.
Many people use these rides as an introduction for young horses, they would have every reason for being wary of horses coming up from behind.

If the poster's horse had kicked then no doubt the person receiving the kick would blame the kicker.

Manners cost nothing. To slow down and calling out when passing others is correct. Anyone who says or thinks otherwise is ignorant of riding manners as well as being selfish.

These rides are 'Fun' or 'Pleasure' rides and there is no set time on them. For some to think they have the right to charge past others who might be novice riders, small children, nervous riders or on a green horse and state that "Slowing to a walk would spoil the fun" is a selfish ignoramous.

 

[AprilBlossom]

I disagree.

Gone are the days when all riders were taught manners as a matter of course.

It is only polite to call out from a safe distance if you wish to pass someone else.
Many people use these rides as an introduction for young horses, they would have every reason for being wary of horses coming up from behind.

If the poster's horse had kicked then no doubt the person receiving the kick would blame the kicker.

Manners cost nothing. To slow down and calling out when passing others is correct. Anyone who says or thinks otherwise is ignorant of riding manners as well as being selfish.

These rides are 'Fun' or 'Pleasure' rides and there is no set time on them. For some to think they have the right to charge past others who might be novice riders, small children, nervous riders or on a green horse and state that "Slowing to a walk would spoil the fun" is a selfish ignoramous.

In which part of my post did I say I wanted to charge past without warning? Oh, that's right, I didn't.
Please read my post properly before you try to insult me.

 

[dorito]

This isn't aimed at any individual - but it has occurred to me while reading some of the posts on this thread, that some riders regard other riders in EXACTLY the same way that some (and most of us would agree, horrible) drivers have towards horse riders on the roads: 'if you can't control your horse, you shouldn't be out on it' etc etc.

Whether it be on the hunting field, an endurance ride, the school, a basic hack or, god help us, one of these so-called 'fun' rides the principles of good manners and safety are the same.

'Pass wide, and slow'

 

[Mithras]

It wouldn't occur to me to blame someone else for my horse's behaviour when under my own control.

 

[Meandtheboys]

And this is why I stick to properly organised fun rides...................Quote from Rules ( Sport Endurance )

Give consideration to other riders and the general public. For the safety of
all concerned, when passing or overtaking, make a request to do so and
do so at a walk or trot only.