Kids hacking on roads

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Suzie G

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Coming back from our first Affiliated show today we got caught up in a long tailback on a busy country road, eventually got to the front to find it was 2 girls (about 11 or 12 years old) from our yard trotting 2 abreast but also all over the road, with a car behind them with hazard lights on. No hi viz, no body protectors.

Eventually got back to the yard after being behind them for about a mile. Some time later the car pulled into the yard then the girls appeared on their ponies.

I decided to tackle the car driver (turned out it was one of their dads) About the safety of what they had just done, I figured it might have been a one off but no, apparently they do it all the time and he said that at no time were they or anybody else in danger and he was waving cars passed when it was safe to do so. He didn't seem to think there was any issue at all.

Anybody else think its wrong or illegal even? There is loads of safe hacking round the fields, xc course, big indoor and outdoor arenas!
 
They are old enough to take their riding and road sense test (12 years) and should be encouraged to do so.

At least a father was accompanying them.

I think that riding two abreast is safer than single file as traffic has to go round you rather than squeezing past.

Children have to start on the roads some when.
 
No I don't think its "wrong", neither should it ever be "illegal" - I remember doing the very same thing when (a very long time ago!!) I was a teenager. Mind you there wasn't anything like the traffic on the roads then, nor was there such a thing as "hi viz". All I had was a little battery-operated stirrup light which I used to flick on and off when there was something coming!!! Gosh, wouldn't do that now though.

Agree that these young people were foolhardy; we've got two kids who trot around the roads around here - and they haven't got a clue about how to ride in the sort of traffic we frequently get, OR wear any hi viz. Basically they're an accident waiting to happen unfortunately. I don't know if they're Pony Club members; because if so then one would hope that they would receive input/instruction of how to ride safely on the roads - that should surely be a high priority for any Pony Club teaching sessions????

Unfortunately many parents are not horsey and so simply don't understand just what a dangerous situation their offspring might be putting themselves in; think the only way is (very gentle) education of said parents, if possible, and IF they will listen. Good thing that you had a word with the parents, but a pity they're obviously not listening - if OP sees them again perhaps it might be appropriate to rachet up the pressure as it were by giving them some accident statistics and/or show them the dreadful photo of the poor horse & rider that was on here not so long ago. That just might make them think a bit?
 
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No theyre not in pony club or any other club or riding school. Parents aren't horsey so probably didn't really know as u say. Hopefully, even though he was defensive it may ave sunk in.

It was more about how they were riding on the road and especially the fact that car drivers that were coming from the opposite direction and finding these ponies in the middle of the road.
 
My sister and I used to go for hacks on the roads, started when I was 11 and she was 8! We knew the roads, knew the rules and mum trusted us to be safe. We went two abreast because it stopped people squeezing past us until we found somewhere safe, but we'd trot to try and be courteous, and then thank drivers.
 
No, not wrong or illegal. They should know how to safely, but same goes for all the numpty adults who hack on the road. Tbh, given the state of some posts on here with adults complaining that the world doesn't stop when they hack, I would feel more confident about my 7yr old hacking on a road alone than some adults. Let alone all the adults who are accidents waiting to happen that hack on public land. If a kid is either novice or on a small, easy to miss pony, then ideally a mounted adult is best with them, but in the absence of one good on the dad following in a car. Tbh, not sure what your issue is, if you had been held up by two adults would you have been approaching them about it & ranting or thinking they should only hack off road?
 
I used to hack out on my own when I was about 10, and my parents couldn't be bothered to accompany me, neither are horsey, so this is probably a better situation! Granted they should be wearing hi-viz, but good on them for getting out and about. Riding isn't just about doing circles in a school.
 
OP, are you saying the dad drives behind them all the way (presumably at walking speed), with his hazard lights on?

That sounds risky to me. Impeding the flow of traffic and causing confusion, I would have thought.
 
We used to do this when we where kids we used to hack back from hunting as far as we could and my mum would meet us before we took to the road as the light faded .
I think they definatly should have been wearing hi viz.
And two abrest is safer IMO
They where with their Dad so it's no else's business IMO.
 
Yes, he drives behind all the way. It wasn't just the fact that they were holding up traffic it was that they were all over the road.

Just seemed dangerous to me. All it would take is some idiot speeding (plenty of them about) and it wouldn't have been a nice hack anymore.
 
Quite a few people follow those that hack home from our pc rallies like that especially on the main road. I think its a sensble thing to do if you have to go on a busy road. So what if cars have to slow down a bit? They could be behind a broken car going slowly, or a tractor etc and have the same hold up, its life!

Yes the kids need to learn road safety and wear hi-viz, but the way the roads are today, I'd rather they were with an adult even if they're "trained".

And yes, a lot of adults need to do the course too!
 
There seems to be a certain group in my area who go for hacks usually in ones or two's with a bloody 4x4 trailing behind them with hazards on. Makes it a right pain in the arse trying to get passed when you can't see whats coming properly.
 
Weebarney- if you can't see if its safe to overtake then you're too close behind. Possibly they feel the need to hack like that because of pain in the arse tailgating drivers?
 
Exactly how far back am i supposed to be passing from? 2 streets away perhaps? Its totally unnecessary to hack in residential streets with a 4x4 escort!
 
I get annoyed when people ride two abreast and don't move to let cars through. I know people will try to squeeze past but I think it is still easier to get past safely if riders are single file. Fine you might let kids off as they wouldn't realise but I bet a lot of the drivers were annoyed about being held up and that doesn't put them in a good mood for passing future riders considerately...

As for the dad, I'm sure he meant well bless him. I would just be so aware that I was holding up all the traffic I couldn't bare it!
 
littlelegs said:
Weebarney- if you can't see if its safe to overtake then you're too close behind. Possibly they feel the need to hack like that because of pain in the arse tailgating drivers?
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If it was just 1 or 2 horses you can see past/through and beyond so why would i want to tailgate???? bizarre accusation to make to a horse rider! With horse plus 4x4 vision is impaired for some considerable distance and the whole 'outfit' which is to be passed is a dangerous length.
 
Silvermiyazawa said:
What are people's thoughts on being waved on by a rider on a blind bend where you, as the driver, can't see the road ahead?
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I never like to trust someone else's opinion about whether it's safe. I tend to ignore helpful wavers-on until I can see for myself! :o

I know it might offend them, but I don't know who they are and whether their judgement is to be trusted.
 
Overtaking a 4x4 is quite simple. If you are the correct distance behind then you can see what's infront. If you aren't sure where the happy medium is between tailgating & 2 streets away is, perhaps a few driving lessons may be a good plan. Although your issue seems to be with 4x4 drivers. Should they purchase a second vehicle for use in residential streets?
I ride abreast of my child. Do my best to avoid busy roads/busy times. And if its quiet I'll go single when a car has slowed. Occasionally when its been unavoidable to be on a busy road daughter goes on the pavement if no pedestrians & we're holding up traffic. If not, then tough if it slows cars. Daughter & pony small enough to be mistaken for a bike at a distance, no matter how much hiviz. Given the choice of placing my 7yr olds life in an unknown drivers hands, & angering drivers, I'll ride two abreast.
 
weebarney said:
Depends on the circumstances but i would probably wait til i could see for myself.
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"I never like to trust someone else's opinion about whether it's safe. I tend to ignore helpful wavers-on until I can see for myself!

I know it might offend them, but I don't know who they are and whether their judgement is to be trusted." - Fiona M12



Ooh, don't know how to do multiple quotes so I pasted!

Exactly my thoughts, I got loads of grief yesterday from a rider who waved me on on a double blind bend. They were getting more and more agitated so I called out of the window that I wasn't going to overtake on a blind bend - cue obscene gesture! Charming. If I am being charitable maybe they misheard me as I was quite a way behind so perhaps they thought I was being offensive??
 
Maybe if so many motorists weren't idiots, the dad wouldn't feel the need, keeping his kids safe are rightfully his priority, I wonder how many drivers were using that road as a rat run instead of one of the multitudes of motorways raped through the countryside, stuff the cars, keep the kids and horses safe :mad:
 
Have to say I've never seen or heard of parents following kids in a car, seems quite bizarre to me. I can only see it annoying and frustrating other road users. Ponies don't walk that fast it makes more sense to me that parent wears a high viz vest and walks or cycles with ponies? And whilst everyone is defending the kid's rights to safe hacking the OP also mentions they were all over the road, if they want drivers to be polite the riders have to show an equal amount of respect to other road users.
 
Foxhunter49 said:
They are old enough to take their riding and road sense test (12 years) and should be encouraged to do so.

At least a father was accompanying them.

I think that riding two abreast is safer than single file as traffic has to go round you rather than squeezing past.

Children have to start on the roads some when.
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This. I used to hack out on my own and with friends on the roads when I was only 9yrs old! I never wore a BP but did wear a high viz vest. Its weird the dad was in a car though, why could he be on a bike? Then he wouldnt end up peeing off so many drivers...
 
They have to learn somehow, maybe invite them, one at a time to go for a hack with you, so you can show them the rights and wrongs?
 
benson21 said:
They have to learn somehow, maybe invite them, one at a time to go for a hack with you, so you can show them the rights and wrongs?
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#This is what I've done with the kids from my yard. Also a rule than under 16s cannot leave yard without hi viz. Got a box from a nearby construction company and have them hanging in tack room so no excuses. Amazing thing is since bringing in this rule, the adults now wear hi viz as well just because it's there and available.

We are on the side of a busy road and then country lanes with blind bends and I felt I had to make an executive decision and teach the little ones the road sense. Often they have non-horsie parents who genuinely don't realise how close their children are to coming under a tractor if they piss about on the roads. A bit of education and I am pleased to say I regularly see 12yos from my yard out together, vizzed up, attentive to traffic and to all intents and purposes behaving as anyone could hope for.
 
littlelegs said:
I ride abreast of my child. Do my best to avoid busy roads/busy times. And if its quiet I'll go single when a car has slowed. Occasionally when its been unavoidable to be on a busy road daughter goes on the pavement if no pedestrians & we're holding up traffic. If not, then tough if it slows cars. Daughter & pony small enough to be mistaken for a bike at a distance, no matter how much hiviz. Given the choice of placing my 7yr olds life in an unknown drivers hands, & angering drivers, I'll ride two abreast.
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^^^^
This. It is not illegal to ride 2 abreast.....

In fact- riding 2 abreast is probably safer because they have to slow down and overtake properly instead of skimming your ankle and squeezing through when theres a car coming along in the opposite direction.....:mad:
 
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