Near miss out hacking :(

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katymay

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Popped out for a lovely hack with a friend this morning, both ponies are superstars in traffic but my boy Jester doesn't enjoy anything that speeds past him and will have a little wobble.
we were hacking though a little village on a quiet road, both decked out in high vis, trundling at walk down a hill approaching a blind left hand bend, friend was leading when a van approached us at speed, screeched when he saw us which caused the car behind to do an emergency stop, Jester in his blind panic swang his bum into the road and the van narrowly avoided hitting us, I shouted Jesus Christ slow down you idiot, by the time the van had stopped it pulled over and a girl got out, I said you nearly hit my horse you were travelling too fast to which she replied you aren't supposed to ride two abreast (we aren't that stupid it may have looked like that when Jester spooked but I was tucked in behind) I told her we were not and anyway we are entitled to ride two abreast but the fact of the matter is that you were speeding, she replied I wasn't driving and I said well would you mind telling your colleague to please slow down for horses, he got out of the van and gave me and friend a torrent of abuse, claimed not to be speeding, bleated on about it being illegal to ride two abreast, I told him he might want to study the highway code and again repeated we were not riding two abreast!!
they were both shouting and swearing at us, tried to say if it had been a tractor going round the bend instead of us they would have had a head on collision.
some other random man in a car decided to get out and say he hates horses and cyclists, all horses should be dog meat and why don't we ride in the fields, to which we replied there are no fields and bridleways around here do you really think we want to risk our lives on the roads? I pay my taxes he said (hmm I don't then?) then called friends horse old run down nag!
fed up of trying to educate idiots and shaking like a leaf we decided to hack on, random dog food man then drove past us about 50 miles per hour, attempted to hit his car with my whip as he was so close but he was too fast, wish wish wish I have worn my hat cam that day, wish I had taken photos to name and shame on FB.
I'm very shaken up by the whole thing and will be wary of hacking out incase I see that dangerous man again, he obviously lives locally as he said he has seen us ride two abreast before, yes we do on the busy top road to slow traffic down but always go to single file to let them past.
is it worth reporting anywhere bearing in mind I don't have the registration numbers? and no business name on the van?
 
You poor thing that sounds awful! I would report it to BHS as it was a near miss and also report it to the police on 101. The police won't be able to do anything now but if the local man gives you verbal abuse again it will prove a course of conduct and they would be able to give him a harassment warning
 
Good God you poor thing. Honestly unbelievable how stupid some people can be. Glad you were all ok. Unfortunately it might be difficult to identify the idiots without the registration numbers but might be worth ringing the police just to make them aware of these nut cases.
 
You poor things. I moved yard on the basis the hacking at my old yard became just too dangerous.

Like you I would be decked out in hi-vis, ride as close to the edge of the road as possible and be polite to EVERYONE who came past me. But the small village we only had to hack around (nearest off road was a 40 min road hack away) ended up becoming a short-cut for people. They would fly round the roads and I would always get abuse if I asked them to slow down.

The one that did it for me was being out alone and signalling a boy racer to slow down, where he completely ignored me and decided to reverse back up the road to me get out the car and chase me calling me an f**ing sl*g because I ride a horse.

It just isn't worth the risk sometimes, sadly there aren't many quite villages anymore :( I'm now super happy at a yard with full off road hacking and it is absolutely lovely not to worry about getting mown down anymore by horse haters!
 
Is it bad that I threw my riding whip at a car which shot past us at 60mph today?
We were a group of 5 horses, including 4 child riders, 3 of whom were novices. He was about 3-4 ft away, and deliberately chose not to slow down. If one of those ponies had been less than steady...

Not so much Road Rage as Rein Rage. I wish I'd had half a house brick in my hand instead.
 
wow they sound like a bunch or idiots! So glad that you and you're horses are okay! I can't believe the behaviour of some people!! Defo sounds like you need to get a head cam if you have people like that driving around your village!!
 
I had a near miss with a tractor 10 days ago. The driver wasn't for stopping and when I forced him to he was none to happy. We were on a very very narrow road and we only wanted him to switch off the engine till we were past. The result was that my horse scooted on by it but then slipped on the grass verge and fell on the road. The tractor just drove off.
 
Definitely report it, description as best you can of people involved, the vehicles and time and place. If anyone else reports them, or you have cause to report them again, the fact the police already have a record of a complaint will help your cause.
 
Report it.

Y/O and I used to ride into the nearest village each summer morning at 6am to avoid the traffic.

It became apparent that every day, a particular car would come screeching up behind us and upon seeing us, would accelerate and overtake far, FAR too close. This road was a rural one which we knew could be a rat-run later, hence the early time. We rode it tactically, tactfully and thoughtfully every day, thanking drivers, trotting round the blind bends etc.

In the end there were one too many misses and by that time, I had memorised his number plate and car make. It wasn't just us he was putting in danger, or anyone coming in the opposite direction: his anger at seeing horses on the road had made him reckless to the point of self-destruction. Now THAT'S scary!

I did think hard about reporting him. He'd know it was us if the police paid him a visit ... and what then? would it make him MORE angry and reckless next time he saw us?

But how would I feel if I heard someone had had an accident out riding involving him? I'd never forgive myself.

So I picked up the phone ...
 
I hope you got the numbers of the offending cars. If so, report to the police. Sis and I reported a driver, many years ago and later saw his name in the local paper,he had been in court and found guilty of careless driving.
Admittedly it wasn't long after a policeman's wife had been involved in a RTA with her horse, which had been hit by a car driven by joy-riders on a local road, so our local force was very much on the.ball where horses were concerned.
 
katymay said:
Popped out for a lovely hack with a friend this morning, both ponies are superstars in traffic but my boy Jester doesn't enjoy anything that speeds past him and will have a little wobble.
we were hacking though a little village on a quiet road, both decked out in high vis, trundling at walk down a hill approaching a blind left hand bend, friend was leading when a van approached us at speed, screeched when he saw us which caused the car behind to do an emergency stop, Jester in his blind panic swang his bum into the road and the van narrowly avoided hitting us, I shouted Jesus Christ slow down you idiot, by the time the van had stopped it pulled over and a girl got out, I said you nearly hit my horse you were travelling too fast to which she replied you aren't supposed to ride two abreast (we aren't that stupid it may have looked like that when Jester spooked but I was tucked in behind) I told her we were not and anyway we are entitled to ride two abreast but the fact of the matter is that you were speeding, she replied I wasn't driving and I said well would you mind telling your colleague to please slow down for horses, he got out of the van and gave me and friend a torrent of abuse, claimed not to be speeding, bleated on about it being illegal to ride two abreast, I told him he might want to study the highway code and again repeated we were not riding two abreast!!
they were both shouting and swearing at us, tried to say if it had been a tractor going round the bend instead of us they would have had a head on collision.
some other random man in a car decided to get out and say he hates horses and cyclists, all horses should be dog meat and why don't we ride in the fields, to which we replied there are no fields and bridleways around here do you really think we want to risk our lives on the roads? I pay my taxes he said (hmm I don't then?) then called friends horse old run down nag!
fed up of trying to educate idiots and shaking like a leaf we decided to hack on, random dog food man then drove past us about 50 miles per hour, attempted to hit his car with my whip as he was so close but he was too fast, wish wish wish I have worn my hat cam that day, wish I had taken photos to name and shame on FB.
I'm very shaken up by the whole thing and will be wary of hacking out incase I see that dangerous man again, he obviously lives locally as he said he has seen us ride two abreast before, yes we do on the busy top road to slow traffic down but always go to single file to let them past.
is it worth reporting anywhere bearing in mind I don't have the registration numbers? and no business name on the van?
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How awful for you, you may want to remember which one to quote to people it is a easy one to remember 215 http://www.highwaycode.info/rule/215
 
I would have taken REG and report to Police, just whistling at women is now a HATE crime, so I think the verbal abuse you got was far worse. NOFA
 
I've got to say, those of you throwing whips at cars or trying to hit them, do you think that driver is going to be any more inclined to drive sensibly past the next horse they pass? I understand the anger but showing your anger achieves nothing. Sounds like a horrible situation OP, I'd be really shaken up too.
 
KatPT said:
I've got to say, those of you throwing whips at cars or trying to hit them, do you think that driver is going to be any more inclined to drive sensibly past the next horse they pass? I understand the anger but showing your anger achieves nothing. Sounds like a horrible situation OP, I'd be really shaken up too.
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Have to agree with this. Do not engage with people even if they yell abuse at you. I have had this happen to me on several occasions, alot of near misses as I am forced to road ride alot. If I saw someone who had almost hit me pull over and get out of their car, I would be trotting in the opposite direction. I have witnessed a road rage fight and it definetly not something I want to get involved in especially from the back of my horse. OP post sounds like another driver joined in as well! Report the driver,get the reg but resist the urge to yell at them, why put yourself and your horse in danger from some lunatic who not only drives terribly but wants to be abusive to you also? There is no way I would stick around and argue with these people
 
KatPT said:
I've got to say, those of you throwing whips at cars or trying to hit them, do you think that driver is going to be any more inclined to drive sensibly past the next horse they pass? I understand the anger but showing your anger achieves nothing. Sounds like a horrible situation OP, I'd be really shaken up too.
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Also you are far more likely to end up with a traffic shy horse if the whip flies back and his the horse
 
Thanks all, will be reporting the incident, only reason I haven't yet is had to spending the evening in A+E with son last night due to suspected broken thumb!.
I realise now that attempting to smack his car with the whip was a stupid thing to do think at the time I was so angry and trying to protect my poor boy.
I have now charged my hat cam and hubby has given me a body worn camera like the security people use.
Next time the camera can deal with it and I will continue on my merry way.
I couldn't sleep last night as kept replaying it in my head.
 
KatPT said:
I've got to say, those of you throwing whips at cars or trying to hit them, do you think that driver is going to be any more inclined to drive sensibly past the next horse they pass? I understand the anger but showing your anger achieves nothing. Sounds like a horrible situation OP, I'd be really shaken up too.
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I disagree. These people care more about their paintwork than your life. The only thing that might slow them down is a perceived risk to their precious vehicle.

As for the pony... all of mine are experienced ride and drive - they are 100% traffic and whip proof :)
 
pennyturner said:
I disagree. These people care more about their paintwork than your life. The only thing that might slow them down is a perceived risk to their precious vehicle.

As for the pony... all of mine are experienced ride and drive - they are 100% traffic and whip proof :)
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I'm with you, penny. I know someone who always cut a stick from a tree when she went hacking and broke pieces off to throw at cars if they came too close.
 
My point is, you scratch their car and the next time they may drive further away but they will also guaranteed drive a hell of a lot faster and more aggressively. Your horse may be great with that but the next poor rider they come across may get it even worse. I don't want me and my horse to bare the brunt of their anger because some other rider met aggression with aggression. Don't get me wrong, I totally understand the urge but I guarantee it will make them hate all riders more.
 
We're selling up and moving after only a year in our new place because a promised bridleway that would give us safe off-road hacking is being blocked by a local landowner, the local village is expanding and the b road is very dangerous, we have an a road on the other side and our quiet lane is being used as a cut through by idiots driving way too fast. One of them nearly hit my kids on Friday but despite the fact that he didn't have the time to slow down, he did have the time to stop and scream abuse at two little girls. Not so impressed when a neighbour came out of their house and shouted back at him. They only wanted to take their pones for a little stroll to give them a break from being ridden in the fields! We're sick of it, so we are off to Scotland to be closer to family and all that lovely forestry and moorland to ride on!
 
Unfortunately there will always be drivers that drive aggressively and dangerously, are just daft or don't know how to approach and overtake horses.
The equine industry is the second largest land based industry to farming in Great Britain.
It is estimated that Government Funded SUSTRANS has spent over £45,000,000 on creating off road routes for cyclists yet the government has not spent a penny on creating new off road routes for horse riders.
I believe this to be a disgraceful state of affairs and something that needs addressing.
I would ask anyone that has an interest in creating local network of off road routes for horse riders and carriage drivers to join the British Horse Society as they are the only national organisation that represents horse riders and carriage drivers.
Please report any accidents or incidents on the www.horseaccidents.org.uk web site so that this data can be used when negotiating with the government and local authorities for more off road riding routes.
 
PeterNatt said:
Unfortunately there will always be drivers that drive aggressively and dangerously, are just daft or don't know how to approach and overtake horses.
The equine industry is the second largest land based industry to farming in Great Britain.
It is estimated that Government Funded SUSTRANS has spent over £45,000,000 on creating off road routes for cyclists yet the government has not spent a penny on creating new off road routes for horse riders.
I believe this to be a disgraceful state of affairs and something that needs addressing.
I would ask anyone that has an interest in creating local network of off road routes for horse riders and carriage drivers to join the British Horse Society as they are the only national organisation that represents horse riders and carriage drivers.
Please report any accidents or incidents on the www.horseaccidents.org.uk web site so that this data can be used when negotiating with the government and local authorities for more off road riding routes.
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I think the arguement is that absolutely anyone can own a bicycle, hardly the case with horses. Cycleways allow families to go out together, kids learn to control their bikes in a safe environment and everyone benefits from fresh air and exercise for very little cost. I have several ex-railway lines around my area which are now public rights of way and that includes horses. They are extremely popular.
 
Good god, I'm so sorry to hear this! What a horrid experience. I think I'd be shaking too.

My SO is a driving instructor and is shocked at some of the attitudes of other instructors about horses/cyclists etc on the roads.
I think the problem is people don't see horses as animals when on the road. They are just another slow inconvenience to get past. A country machine that holds up their day, no different to a tractor.
 
myself and a friend have even joined the parish council in our area to help lobby for bridleways and cycleways, its going to be a long drawn out process but I cant sit here and moan about it unless I get off my seat and try to make it happen.
took Jester out for a hack last night, first time since incident and he was totally unflappable, in fact he was simply dobbin like, think the heat had got to him!
I notice on the BHS website that they are looking for a bridleways officer in out area but not sure I can take that on on top of the PC stuff, think hubby might divorce me!
 
This thread has given me a kick up the bum to report my near miss from a couple of weeks ago - panel van decided he could overtake me despite oncoming cars on 60mph road. If horse hadn't stopped and thrown his head back, he could have been clipped. I'm a pretty confident hacker, but it really shook me up to have him passing close enough to touch. Horse hasn't quite been his normal brave self since, not liking vehicles coming close.

I'm glad that you and your horse are ok, OP.
 
Unfortunately some drivers are a total disgrace and are a danger to other road users.
We all need to somehow teach ourselves to remember the number plates of vehicles so that we can report them to the police if they pass us in a dangerous manner, who will hopefully then tag that registration number on their data base so that it comes up on their ANPR Automatic Number Plate Recognition System when they encounter that vehicle again they can keep a close eye on the way it is driven.
 
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