mbf938
Well-Known Member
Wondered what other people thought about this as a few things recently have made me think that horse riding is becoming less and less popular, to the point where horse riders are considered 'snobs' or an annoyance to others more than they used to be.
The three main things I have noticed:
1. Road users attitudes to horse riders: I saw a road users survey I think H&C TV posted on facebook highlighting that drivers think that horse riders should take a mandatory ride and road safety test before being allowed on the roads, the recent incidents of horses being hit by cars, and personal experiences of drivers going past very close or fast (and I ride on a lane that is only wide enough for one car at a time to pass and is access only going to a dead end, so who knows where they think they are going at the speeds they go!), and drivers not thanking you for pulling into the side, into gateways and waiting for them to pass. There seems to be a growing disdain for horse riders even when you are not on main roads.
2. Riding schools closing down: 2 in my local area have closed within the past 5 years. I'm not sure if this is cost of insurance premiums and tightening regulations or if less people were learning to ride but I wonder if this is a national trend? Children seem to have lost having a 'pony mad' phase now and don't seem to play outside like they used to either.
3. Bridleways: There seems to be fewer and fewer of them with more public spaces having 'no horses' signs. Makes hacking very difficult as road users want you off the roads but land owners want you off their land! Those that are still in use round me have obstructions - I looked up what the law is on this and it says that you have the right to go round the obstruction if you are still on the same landowners land, but to do this on one of my hacks you have to use a footpath that brings you back to the bridleway and, whilst this is not illegal (I checked this too although if you cause damage, you could be charged with a criminal offence relating to the damage), footpath users obviously aren't keen on it. This particular obstruction is deliberate as the landowners do not want horses using the bridleway. I fear the BHS may be fighting a losing battle re bridleways and it is very sad as it also stops cyclists and in extreme cases those on foot from using them.
Not to mention the hunting ban, although depends on your views on hunting but the hunts often organise a lot of the fun rides and usually had good relationships with landowners.
It all seems very sad as it's a healthy outdoor activity where you can see lots of the countryside and get in touch with nature etc which is something less and less people get to do when we are living in a glass and concrete world with obesity looming as the next big health crisis :-(
What do other people think?
The three main things I have noticed:
1. Road users attitudes to horse riders: I saw a road users survey I think H&C TV posted on facebook highlighting that drivers think that horse riders should take a mandatory ride and road safety test before being allowed on the roads, the recent incidents of horses being hit by cars, and personal experiences of drivers going past very close or fast (and I ride on a lane that is only wide enough for one car at a time to pass and is access only going to a dead end, so who knows where they think they are going at the speeds they go!), and drivers not thanking you for pulling into the side, into gateways and waiting for them to pass. There seems to be a growing disdain for horse riders even when you are not on main roads.
2. Riding schools closing down: 2 in my local area have closed within the past 5 years. I'm not sure if this is cost of insurance premiums and tightening regulations or if less people were learning to ride but I wonder if this is a national trend? Children seem to have lost having a 'pony mad' phase now and don't seem to play outside like they used to either.
3. Bridleways: There seems to be fewer and fewer of them with more public spaces having 'no horses' signs. Makes hacking very difficult as road users want you off the roads but land owners want you off their land! Those that are still in use round me have obstructions - I looked up what the law is on this and it says that you have the right to go round the obstruction if you are still on the same landowners land, but to do this on one of my hacks you have to use a footpath that brings you back to the bridleway and, whilst this is not illegal (I checked this too although if you cause damage, you could be charged with a criminal offence relating to the damage), footpath users obviously aren't keen on it. This particular obstruction is deliberate as the landowners do not want horses using the bridleway. I fear the BHS may be fighting a losing battle re bridleways and it is very sad as it also stops cyclists and in extreme cases those on foot from using them.
Not to mention the hunting ban, although depends on your views on hunting but the hunts often organise a lot of the fun rides and usually had good relationships with landowners.
It all seems very sad as it's a healthy outdoor activity where you can see lots of the countryside and get in touch with nature etc which is something less and less people get to do when we are living in a glass and concrete world with obesity looming as the next big health crisis :-(
What do other people think?
