Its no wonder theres so many arrogant drivers!

[gill84]

I am probably going to get a whole load of grief on this subject but this week has seriously peed me off!!

Monday i was driving a fully loaded artic, pulled out of the yard and was doing about 30mph, comes round a bend heres 2 horse riders coming towards me, no hi viz, 2 a breast, attempted to brake but obviously (or not as some folk seem to think a fully freighted wagon can stop as quick as a car) couldnt do it without creating noise, air breaks, gear changes etc. The horses didnt bother but one of the riders shook her head and mouthed obsenities at me.
It was a dull day and with high hedges they just werent visable enough!! You would think they would have more sense when they know they are on a road near a busy truck depot!

Thats rant 1!

Rant 2. Wednesday, thursday and yesterday i was back driving buses and the route ive been doing is near a mentioning no names well know eventers yard. Came across 3 riders on different occasions on wednesday again none of which had high viz which IF they come from said eventers yard you would think they would have more sense. It was on a narrow country lane so i stopped and let the horses pass me and not one of them on any occasion thanked me!!

Thursday passed 2 horses one of which was clearly a baby coz it went sideways past me. Again i stopped, again no thanks, but on the plus side the baby horse had a high viz breast plate on

Yesterday past 3 young girls on ponies, all in bright hi viz, ponies as well. Again did the courteous thing of stopping and they ALL said thank you!
Later in the day came across another horse, high viz vest, but rider yacking on her phone, didnt even look at me!!

So then i got to thinking its no wonder theres so many arrogant car, bus, lorry, tractor, whatever drivers about when theres so many arrogant riders about!
We all come on here to rant about how car drivers and such dont slow down, dont pass wide enough and make our quiet hacks out so dangerous at times! Ive done it myself. But when you get kind courteous drivers its only right to thank them else thats just another driver whos gonna think "bloody horses,sod it why should i slow down if im not gonna be acknowledged".

And im a massive high viz fan, i wouldnt dare go out without my vest on, boots on the horse and her breastplate. She also wears a high viz exercise sheet in bad weather. It helps drivers see you quicker and really really really helps out large vehicle drivers like me if we have that extra 10 seconds or so to stop!!

I think i just had a bad week last week as most of the time fellow horse riders are courteous to large vehicles that slow down, but theres just that few who throw dirty looks or are too busy chatting on their phone.

So in conclusion if us horse riders want respect on the road, maybe we should give respect to other road users. But not to the ones who speed past us or dont pass wide enough. For those we should have a specially adapted whip with a spike on it to scrape down the side of their car as they pass

 

[siant2]

no Hi Viz is not acceptable..... def no excuses (it is cheap enough). Seems like you do a lot of driving - so am sure you are bound to meet good and bad examples of all road users - not just horse riders.

As an aside I always thank cars which slow down with a nod of the head or a friendly hand wave. Although i am not always able to take reins into one hand on my horse as she relies on my contact for security and starts jigging and swinging bum out into road on occasions.

Am not sure whether all drivers are looking out for my head nod as a thank you......and it worries me that they think im not being rude. So please look out for a head nod too!

 

[Pedantic]

One of my pet hates, no viz and no thank you and no consideration, but I suppose it's the society we live in now, ignorant cyclist's all over the path and no lights etc, drivers park wherever they like, mobile use while driving, it will never get better as we have bred a Enshrine of Tools.

 

[Jesstickle]

I went out today for a hack with two of the girls. All of us had tabbards and breastplates, I used a hi vis sheet, the girls both have hi vis tail wraps. Every single other person on the yard laughed because they think we over do it. I think they're idiots. I always try and say thank you if I can (ie horse isn't plunging about like a goon) and if I can't manage it one of the others will have it covered for me. Manners cost nothing after all. It does make you wonder about some people doesn't it?

 

[MiCsarah]

I hate horse riders who don't say thankyou, it really irritates me. My boss once went past 2 horses in the countryside and neither one said thankyou, they were from a massive 4* eventing yard as they have this ladies or gentlemans name plastered all over them. When my boss quite polietly said to the girls that as a fellow horse rider it is virtuous to say a thankyou whether that be a nod of the head or a thankyou with the hand. The girl replied to her with an F OFF!! My boss was so shocked that she went and complained to said big eventer.
We all say we want respect on the roads but half of us horse riders don't show it, as somebody who rides horses for a living I wouldn't dare not say thankyou, most of the time it's with a smile and a head nod but I also worry that some cars won't notice this

 

[Black_Horse_White]

I agree with what you are saying and I always wear high vis and thank curtious drivers, I also drive too and have had horse riders not acknowledge me passing but then I'm only doing what the highway code tells me to do " pass slowly and give them plenty of space" it's only because so many drivers out their do not follow the highway code.

 

[tallyho!]

Pot, kettle, swings, roundabouts, six, half a dozen...

Can't generalise. Met genuinely nice drivers as a rider and polite considerate drivers as a rider... And in equal amounts in opposition.

 

[ArabianGold]

To many horse people don't say thank you, quite often I pass numerous people out riding (people often travel to my area to ride around the country park) and a majority of them seem to struggle with a thank you.. Must get snotty nose syndrome when they mount upon there precious stead...

But then I must say while out riding my nut of a TB on the road today she decided to spook across both lanes because of sheep in the field next to us, a driver in front coming towards us must have seen the look of fear in my face as he stopped the car and waited for me to gather my mare together and walk her past... I said a BIG thank you to him so hopefully he we consider doing the same again...

All it takes is a nod of the head...

 

[Teeni]

I wouldn't hack out without any Hi-Viz, better to be seen than sorry.
If i can't take a hand off the rein i always try to smile and nod a thanks to drivers.
This morning i went out in the following all Hi-Viz: yellow jacket with pink tabbard over top, yellow exercise sheet and pink leg bands. One of the liveries commented on how bright i was, good because thats the whole point.

 

[Hairy Old Cob]

Courtest Costs Nothing Hi Viz Very Little.

 

[smiffyimp]

Ive got a good one for ya... just got in from yard (4pm - so getting really quite dark) girl dressed in black on dark coloured horse on road - no high viz....wait for it - it gets better...with her black dog at her side on a lead being led from the horse!!!

Poor dog is all I can say, guess who'll get squilched when said horse spooks (which it did-thanfully no squilching).

Im no angel, but common sense.....

 

[Black_Horse_White]

I always pass horses wide & slow because that's what the highway code states. So I don't expect to be thanked by riders, unless I've given way to them. Most drivers don't look at you anyway they just speed off shaking their heads 

 

[JFTDWS]

.with her black dog at her side on a lead being led from the horse!!!

Poor dog is all I can say, guess who'll get squilched when said horse spooks (which it did-thanfully no squilching).

I do this sometimes. Just because you can't trust your horse around dogs doesn't mean the rest of us can't.

On the other hand, provided the driver has made some effort to slow down and give us some space, I do thank drivers and I do make sure my horse is hi-vised. I don't care if riders don't thank me when I pass them (unless I've had to stop and give way) but I see red when they try and wave me past on a corner - I don't care if they think it's safe, it's my responsibility to make sure the road is safe for me to over take and I can't just put my trust in some numpty on a horse...

 

[MrsHutt]

Although our ride was very quiet yesterday, we did have a couple of drivers pass us - wide and slow! We were hi-vized up nicely. One stopped altogether so we could pass as H had seen a sheep and was acting a bit daft! (must be a different kind from those that live next door to him!) I gave a big smile, head nod and mouthed 'thank you' and got a lovely big smile back. Chap drove off slowly and quietly.

By the way - carrying on from the thread about hi-viz colours, I saw a cyclist with a MULTI-COLOURED hi-viz vest on the way back from the yard this afternoon. It was yellow, pink and orange and VERY visible in the murky half-light. He also had a red flashy light thing on the back. If he hadn't been going so fast, I'd have asked him where he got it

 

[4x4]

And another thing...when did cyclists stop using bells? We have had a couple of guys lately very politely dinging their bell from a way back - fab - gives you time to get into single file or whatever to let them past on a quiet lane, much better than the ones that creep up behind you in silence!

 

[starryeyed]

I can't stand riders who take up the whole road & don't bother to stop talking to thank a driver who's waiting for them - so rude!!
I always, always make a point of thanking a driver who has slowed down for me, after having a horse who's incredibly nervous in traffic it means a great deal to me to have a car go that little bit slower past us, and I make sure that they know I'm grateful that they've bothered to do so. If the window is down I'll say thank you as well, can never be too thankful these days!!
I'm a great fan of the hi-viz too, someone once commented that i'd dressed my horse up like a christmas tree and they were surprised I didn't have a string of fairy lights round him - it's only a matter of time...

 

[tallyho!]

Guys, I do agree as a driver that many riders can seem stuck up but in defence of riders, as a car drives past, you want make sure a young or inexperienced horse is in full control so you may have hold of the reins and this can translate as arrogance. I ride young horses in Bath and do need to keep wits about me and cant say thank you to every car that drove past... That would equate to hundreds. The way some cars rev up, riders are within their rights to avoid dangerous situations by using techniques like riding wide or with a whip out to the side.

My horse thankfully is well trained and dare I say, bombproof. I regularly ride him in Victoria Park on the buckle but I don't feel the need to thank everyone who drives past, I am just another road user just like a cyclist or walker.

I think riders are due some common respect even if they don't say thanks at every opportunity. Do we expect the same of cyclists? No! This is rubbish.

Riders, get used to traffic.

Drivers, be nice to horses.

All we owe each other is some mutual respect. That is all. Christ, horses of long ago put up with much more than a passing car/lorry/bus. To drivers - what if it were a child?

 

[gill84]

Good to see most of you feel as strongly as me about hi viz. As for the rider in black with a black dog thats just asking for trouble, the stupidity of some people is unbelievable sometimes.
As for the subject of thanking drivers yeah even a nod is better than nothing, or a smile
And yeah cyclists frustrate me too! not just as a rider but a driver too. They think they own the road, they fly past us horses with little or no notice and will not slow down to make passing them in a vehicle easy. The're the menace on the roads, not horses. I find them alot more unpredictable than any horse, wobbling about and hogging the road

 

[MiCsarah]

I also lead my dog from my horse sometimes, especially if were just going down the road to the headlands

 

[Polo*Pony]

I went out today for a hack with two of the girls. All of us had tabbards and breastplates, I used a hi vis sheet, the girls both have hi vis tail wraps. Every single other person on the yard laughed because they think we over do it.

I HATE it when people on my yard take the mickey about hacking in hi viz. I don't mind pedestrians etc. commenting on how bright we are when we ride past -they're usually friendly but even if they're laughing, I don't really mind - but absolutely I hate being made to feel stupid by other horsey people who are happy to hack out without any hi viz. Makes me feel like I'm being "precious" when actually all I want to do is protect my horse, myself and people in cars from an accident.

I hi viz myself AND horse in case we get separated, which they find really amusing confused. Odd really, given that one of the girls' horse ditched her a few months ago at the side of the road and took off at top speed down a variety of busy roads. If she'd been wearing hi viz we'd have found her that bit quicker - we'd have seen her at the end of the road and run straight up, rather than wasting time checking every bit of hedge/ditch/garden on the road! Similarly I think the drivers who were faced with a loose horse galloping down the road would have seen him quicker with hi viz boots/breast plate/anything. Yet still, none of them wear hi viz - girl who fell off nor those who helped look for her.

Sorry. I'll stop ranting now as that's actually got nothing to do with the main point of this thread!

I also get annoyed (as a driver) when riders don't say thank you if I've had to stop for them. I don't mind otherwise as agree you can't thank everybody all the time on busy roads. I don't see too many drivers where I hack so do try to always thank them - I don't always wave as my horses can be sometimes a bit difficult, but always make the effort to make eye contact and smile/nod/mouth THANK YOU! if I daren't actually wave.

 

[tallyho!]

Oh well I dunno Gill, there are some very good cyclists where we are. I suppose that could be because horses are a regular occurrence and they have been 'taught' manners

Never had a bad experience of a bad cyclists in my 22 years of riding.

As a driver... Well that is much different!!!!

To me, I think the councils need to protect vulnerable road users. You in your tin cans will survive a hit, not so the horse, rider nor cyclist. After seeing a chap die under an artic in Bristol, I can say I am on the cyclists side 100percent. Man vs machine = no chance.

You can say all you like about not being able to see, or rider in the wrong, but it does not wash with me.

 

[LaurenM]

I've always said it works both ways. I always say thanks unless the car hasn't bothered to slow (happens 40% of the time).

Whilst riding I made 5 people aware that there was a dirt bike around the corner. I had 2 thanks.

They don't often wear hi-viz in my area - really annoys me. Especially with it getting darker. Grr.

 

[alsxx]

I've been on the receiving end of so many rude horse riders (with/without high vis and riding up to 3 abreast!) which irritates the hell out of me, so I find myself asking how a non-horsey person would feel..... soooo when I hack out on the roads, I thank everyone (with a hand up and nod and a smile) that makes any effort to slow down. Yup sometimes they dont slow down enough for my liking, but I hope that by being polite they will make more effort next time.

I also ride defensively, if I see a situation developing, I move myself and my horse out of the way. I quite often stop and stand in a driveway/on a verge to let cars pass, would rather that then end up in an accident.

 

[shellonabeach]

I wear plenty of hi viz and try to thank ever driver which passes me either with a hand signal or a head nod however....

I keep my horses down a lane which has a large haulage depot at the top of it and the lorries frequent the village B road to get onto the A roads. Yesterday out hacking 4 lorries passed me and my friend. Two slowed upon seeing us and two I had to signal to slow down to which they barely took any notice (and they saw us in plenty of time). Luckily I was on my old boy who does not worry about the lorries but had I have been on my big mare it would have been a different story.

The lorry drivers regularly pull out of the depot entrace behind horses rather than wait 2 minutes for us to ride the 20m across the road out of the way and trying to hold a 16.2 from launching into the path of oncoming traffic because she doesn't like big vehicles behind her with an artic lorry sitting behind her air brakes hissing etc is not easy (her dislike of large vehicles behind her is work in progress and she is fine with them coming head-on.)

The lorries use a windy 40mph road with blind bends to exit the village a couple of months ago I was almost hit by a lorry who went round a blind bend too fast, I could hear him coming but had no-where to go as there is a ditch by the side of the road. He tried braking, air brakes hissing tyres screeching and ended up on the other side of the road to avoid hitting me. If I hadn't been so shaken up I'd have got the registration number and reported him.

 

[Foxhunter49]

very lucky where I am (N. Dorset) roads are very narrow and twisty - locals tend to drive faster but are expecting to meet cattle, horse or sheep being driven along the roads as well as having to pull in for lorries and tractors.
I always thank drivers whether it is a hand wave, a nod or more often a verbal thanks.
Whenever I have slowed for riders and not been thanked then I will stop and in no uncertain terms tell them that they are ungrateful ignorants!

Had to laugh when I pulled in for the field of one of the local hunts to go by. As I waited in a very narrow lane, they trotted past and I am not fibbing when I say every single rider thanked me either verbal, raising a hand or with the men, raising their hats. There were over 90 riders.

 

[Cadfael&Coffee]

Had to laugh when I pulled in for the field of one of the local hunts to go by. As I waited in a very narrow lane, they trotted past and I am not fibbing when I say every single rider thanked me either verbal, raising a hand or with the men, raising their hats. There were over 90 riders.

oh how lovely!!!

agree re: thanking- i always smile and thank almost every car which either a. slows down or b. gives me plenty of room, if nothing else so that i make a good impression, so they might slow down for me next time!!!

 

[skydancer]

I always thank people who slow down or stop but i do worry as i always say thank you with a nod of my head and a smile its a rare occasion that i can hold the reins with one hand

 

[gill84]

Oh well I dunno Gill, there are some very good cyclists where we are. I suppose that could be because horses are a regular occurrence and they have been 'taught' manners

Never had a bad experience of a bad cyclists in my 22 years of riding.

As a driver... Well that is much different!!!!

To me, I think the councils need to protect vulnerable road users. You in your tin cans will survive a hit, not so the horse, rider nor cyclist. After seeing a chap die under an artic in Bristol, I can say I am on the cyclists side 100percent. Man vs machine = no chance.

You can say all you like about not being able to see, or rider in the wrong, but it does not wash with me.

Council protect them how? If a cyclist chooses to undercut a large vehicle, which ive had happen to me a few times thats his wreckless disission! They sneak up the inside when they can or worse still at lights when your indicating to turn!! If they want to put themselves in that place then its their fault if they get underneath the wheels! Have you ever driven an artic? You can not see a cyclist or a sat on your passenger side outside the cab door up until the axle of the unit!! Sorry for what you witnessed but its like anything, put yourself in that vunerable place then he had nobody to blame but his self

 

[gill84]

I wear plenty of hi viz and try to thank ever driver which passes me either with a hand signal or a head nod however....

I keep my horses down a lane which has a large haulage depot at the top of it and the lorries frequent the village B road to get onto the A roads. Yesterday out hacking 4 lorries passed me and my friend. Two slowed upon seeing us and two I had to signal to slow down to which they barely took any notice (and they saw us in plenty of time). Luckily I was on my old boy who does not worry about the lorries but had I have been on my big mare it would have been a different story.

The lorry drivers regularly pull out of the depot entrace behind horses rather than wait 2 minutes for us to ride the 20m across the road out of the way and trying to hold a 16.2 from launching into the path of oncoming traffic because she doesn't like big vehicles behind her with an artic lorry sitting behind her air brakes hissing etc is not easy (her dislike of large vehicles behind her is work in progress and she is fine with them coming head-on.)

The lorries use a windy 40mph road with blind bends to exit the village a couple of months ago I was almost hit by a lorry who went round a blind bend too fast, I could hear him coming but had no-where to go as there is a ditch by the side of the road. He tried braking, air brakes hissing tyres screeching and ended up on the other side of the road to avoid hitting me. If I hadn't been so shaken up I'd have got the registration number and reported him.

As an hgv driver myself thats just bloody unprofessional!! If they know theres horses in the area they should be going a little slower to be able to react in time if they meet you. Thats also a problem we all we face, being able to hear a big vehicle but knowing fine well it hasnt seen us and wont until the last minute, horrid feeling.
He obviously made his best attempts to stop but yes wagons do make alot of noise and take a hell of a lot stopping, something not all riders appriciate. But point being the driver should have more sense if its known theres horses in the area. Have you tried speaking to the company who has the wagons?

 

[perfect11s]

Council protect them how? If a cyclist chooses to undercut a large vehicle, which ive had happen to me a few times thats his wreckless disission! They sneak up the inside when they can or worse still at lights when your indicating to turn!! If they want to put themselves in that place then its their fault if they get underneath the wheels! Have you ever driven an artic? You can not see a cyclist or a sat on your passenger side outside the cab door up until the axle of the unit!! Sorry for what you witnessed but its like anything, put yourself in that vunerable place then he had nobody to blame but his self

I just cannot belive how arogant , self centered and at the sametime fecless these cyclists can be and they allways seem to be trying to disprove darwins survival of the fittest with their stupid actions.. say they are vunrable but make little effort to follow the rules of the road, I shouted at one the other day that was scraping himself up the inside of a line of trafic look in the bathroom
mirror that's the person that is trying to kill you!!!! just a mouth full of explitives from the stupid mong .. I genraly find other horse riders thank you.. never a cyclist...