Nerves

I took pony to nearby school last night for half an hour's worth of schooling. To get there I have to hack along two lanes the second of which drops steeply down a hill and the road surface is very smooth. We have previously slipped down this piece of road and fallen in the hedge scaring both of us. Last night it was very windy and when I got to the top of the hill I couldn't bring myself to ride down it so I got off and walked to the school. I'm not sure I did the right thing. I did ride all the way home though obviously going up the hill. Thoughts anyone??
 
piebaldsparkle

piebaldsparkle

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Of course you did the right thing, you were concerned re: your and his safty and took the safest option of leading him. Personnally if the road is slippery and he is shod, I would have road nails fitted to help his grip.
 
I think that is sensible, its not like you're letting him get away with anything or wimping out, you're avoiding potential danger. I found myself in a situation last night where I went to hack round the block, turning right out of the yard, but the cows were by the fence on the other side of the road and Norm wouldn't go past.... I did try a few times but cars kept coming and then some other riders were approaching and Norman was getting more and more wound up, therefore I turned left out of the yard and came past the same spot on the way home and had no problems at all (the cows had moved away from the fence though!). Its never worth taking unnecessary risks
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Thank you both I feel much better now. Pony is unshod as well so just shows how smooth road surface is. When we slipped you could actually see skid marks where he had tried to dig his hooves in.
 
Have you reported the slippery surface to your local council??? I think the BHS might also be interested as think I remember them doing a survey or something a while back about slippery road surfaces.
 
A rider has recently been badly injured when his horse slipped over on the newly re-surfaced Tarmac that our Councils have started using due to the fact it is the cheapest they can get their hands on. The BHS are trying to assist in a legal case with this rider and his legal team so any info, evidence etc may help towards them using tarmac that our horses can actually stand up on!
 
I believe this surface is called something like SMA and there have been several reports of it's unsuitably for horse and bike riders inc motorbikes.

BHS has certainly looked into it and H&H have mentioned it in the magazine.

I thought councils had been told to stop using it. Apparently the problem comes if they don't roll in more road chippings on top when the surface is still sticky.

Yes I'm right Google SMA road surface and all sorts comes up

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/programmes/file_on_4/4278419.stm

Definitely worth contacting the council and the BHS.

BHS article here http://www.equinetourism.co.uk/bhssouthwest/bhsroadsafety.asp scroll down to the bottom.
 
I know this section of road was tarred and chipped 2 or 3 years ago and the wear of traffic has caused it to become slippery. Tar and chip is not the best road surface anyway. I think I might have a word with a few others and see if there have been anymore problems. I do have a confidence problem anyway so I can't see me riding him down to the school again although I don't mind walking it as he is a good boy.
 
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