look how horse friendly my town is!

They really dont like us do they
blush.gif
 
Mind you some of what was said did make sense, riding in Hi-vis gear etc, is a good idea and we ride in it whenever we ride out. Some of the manners of our local teenage riders leaves a lot to be desired. I have been known to stop and point out the errors of their ways when I'm in the car, explaining to them that I reap the whirlwind of their bad behaviour when I ride out.
 
I really am not surprised - from what I see on here I do not believe most riders meet them half way. Courtesy and accomodation goes both ways.

I am surprised riders do not do better at the end of the day they are really increasing the risks upon themselves.
 
Not referring to this thread in particular but with some of the comments on there (and other similar threads I have read) some horsey people really don't do themselves any favours. Yes, we have a right to be on the road and can't always choose which roads and stick to quiet times - especially at this time of the year but comments like 'we have more right to be there then cars' are never helpful. I have come across some really rude / discourteous riders, going out in poor light wearing dark clothes, riding 2 abreast and making no effort to pull in somewhere safely to let traffic past. Why should we expect all drivers to pass wide and slow (as they are supposed to) when we make it so difficult for them?
 
I agree that riders should always be in high viz clothing at all times. Even on bright days. However car drivers seem to be unaware that horses have just as much right of way as cars. I rarely ride on the road as I never feel safe but when i do it angers me that drivers dont know simple hand signals eg asking them to slow down by raising your arm up and down or even ignore you when you raise your hand asking them to stop.
 
sadly from the few threads I read on that forum, I err on the side of the car drivers....
confused.gif
I would not put my horse at risk riding on a fast road which had blind corners, I would not ride in the rush hour on busy roads out of consideration for other road users and if I am causing a queue on a horse or in the lorry I pull over and let peopel past.
I think many horse owners/riders do the rest of us no favours at all........
 
[ QUOTE ]
I think many horse owners/riders do the rest of us no favours at all........

[/ QUOTE ]
Sadly, I have to agree with you. We have to ride on the roads round here and most of the other road users are very, very good - slow down, stop, etc. However, there are a few riders who never seem to know what traffic is behind them, don't make any effort to pull over and let traffic past and don't acknowledge that other road users have made an effort to pass them slowly and with consideration. I have seen riders on mobile phones, with earphones attached to Ipods and generally not paying any attention to what is going on around them.
frown.gif
Hi viz gear is still considered Naff by some - I must be naffest of all then
smile.gif
 
Sadly, I don't think that this problem will ever be resolved even if all riders were to wear hi viz gear and show courteous behaviour at all times (as they certainly should) because you will always get drivers who resent the fact that horses are on the roads. These people believe that horses have no place on the road as they can't bomb about taking corners at 60 mph. I bet most of us have been overtaken when we are driving at the correct speed on the most dangerous roads/blind bends etc by someone who was so much more important than us that they had to overtake us despite the huge risk involved to other road users. Can we ever, truly expect people like this to care about us when we are on our horses?
frown.gif
 
I agree with what most people are saying on that discussion, apart from that cars don't have a right to be on the road,and that horses don't because they don't pay road tax. There seems to be a fair few riders out there who are stupid enough to not wear reflectives and ride through busy areas with no common sense or courtesy. But on the other hand there are many drivers who drive stupidly close or fast past horses that are trying to keep out the way. I pulled onto a verge recently to let a car pass with more room, and they didn't even pull off their side of the road, passed with less than a foot to spare.. When moaning to my dad about it, he said many drivers don't realise horses can spook and won't always behave 110%, which is unbelievable, but apparently true!
 
My goodness this debate has been rumbling on for 3 years now!!!!

You poor thing how unfriendly are those villagers!

Agree that the 2 teenagers should have been wearing hi viz, the 2 abreast is correct but they should have pulled over into another road, bus stop etc (if possible) to allow the traffic past. It is true about the 10 car rule following slow vehicles mind you not many do actually pull over and allow traffic past.

Maybe you can get your local BHS Officer on to this so they can go to all the horse owners, livery yards and riding schools in the area and get them to wear hi viz and try and get a few more bridleways around-maybe some toll rides with the local farmers. Hopefully they can run a media compaign making car drivers realise that horses can spook at the slightest of things and end up on bonnets. Perhaps with everyone wanting to view saddams execution maybe the graphic photos of horses and riders in bits at the scene of an accident maybe will kick them into realising that they need to slow down! I know one police force locally in east anglia put out smashed up cars at roundabouts where people had died for the latest drink drive campaign. Maybe graphic is the way to go.

There are some very irate people on there fuelled by an unknown hatred for 'country way of life'. Maybe these were the same people being separated by security in tescos on christmas eve for fighting over the last loaf of bread and turkey!!!

We certainly don't want to be reading 'horses killed on nailsworths roads'
 
I've just read that forum, and I think some of the replies given pro horses don't help.
No, not everyone wears Hi Viz (I know I only wear it on dull days) and we really should. People take totally unsuitable horses onto roads sometimes, and it's not fair on other road users.
I've seen hatless riders, bareback riders, and I've heard of woman local to us that rides out on the road bareback in a parelli haltar with a foal loose beside her
crazy.gif
. I've only witnessed her minus the foal...a bad enough sight and exactly the kind of thing which causes accidents.
And in rush hour....Are there no off road hacking facilities? no menages etc??
 
I have to say today, when I got caught out in a dreadful hailstorm and my horse went very uncharacteristically stupid, my eternally grateful thanks go to:
1 All the drivers who slowed to a stop while we pranced sideways past them and
2 The thoughtful lady who pulled in just ahead and offered to 'mobile phone for help' for me!

I was fully fluorescented - his legs, tail, neck - my body and hat and we hack out regularly this way. I'm trying to think of a way to thank them, albeit belatedly. At the time, my hands were full and my face well screwed up against the elements.
blush.gif
crazy.gif
tongue.gif
 
Being an ex-Nailsworth dweller I know some of the roads they are talking about. Now most of the roads in Nailsworth are virtually vertical uphill and very twisty. Great for fittening but a nightmare for riding on the road.

I haven't been there for a year or so but I don't remember seeing many riders out in hi-viz, it doesn't seem to be particularly fashionable there. I must admit I didn't realise that Nailsworth dwellers were so anti.
 
[ QUOTE ]

I must admit I didn't realise that Nailsworth dwellers were so anti.

[/ QUOTE ]

i didnt either until this. i have had the odd few people shout at me but generally i didnt think they were too bad.

[ QUOTE ]
I haven't been there for a year or so but I don't remember seeing many riders out in hi-viz, it doesn't seem to be particularly fashionable there.

[/ QUOTE ]

i have never gone out hacking without hi viz, but some of my friends i ride with always say i look stupid and embarrasing when i ride with them and they never wear hi viz. but i love my pony so much and would never want him to be injured as well as i dont want to be injured. i also think the "please pass wide and slow" helps alot. those seconds that you get seen quicker with hi viz are life saving in some cases!
 
There are definitely some horse riders that give the rest of us a bad name.

I was hacking out in our local woods this morning. It's used by horse riders, dog walkers, hikers, cyclists, runners and the world and his wife on New Years Day. I always believed riding etiquette says that when passing walkers you slow down to a walk and thank them for standing out of the way/holding their dog or even just say hello and smile to be polite. Today I was heading up a steep path just about to catch up with three other horses when they suddenly decided to take off at a fast canter. I could see a walker with a child and a dog further up ahead but instead of slowing down these three clowns carried on hooves flying. The poor woman had to pull her child off the path out of the way and had no choice but to let the dog fend for itself. My horse wanted to follow (ex-endurance racer!) but I managed to keep him at a rather bouncy walk. I apologised on behalf of all horse riders to the woman who was a little shaken and not very happy - understandably. Riders like those three give the rest of us a very bad name. Worse thing is that the bridlepaths in the woods are owned by United Utilities and are concessionary only... if a walker got hurt by a fast moving horse and sued they could easily turn round and ban us from their land. Grrrr... some horsey people really shouldn't be allowed out
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top