Put right off riding out

[stormox]

I think if someone gets close enough to read the words they are too close!!
Also motorists should be looking out for pedestrians, cyclists horses and other obstructions - half of them seem to be on mobile phones these days - even hands free ones can distract drivers!

 

[criso]

One of my jackets has please pass wide and slow on a flap that can be unrolled or tucked into the collar. There is no noticeable difference in how drivers and cyclists behave when it is displayed to when it is tucked away.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I find the cyclists just as bad as motorists and half term add kids on bikes in the mix, had a family 1 adult 2 kids wiz up behind me last week kids were screeching, horse was on one anyway and I had to ask 3 times for them to slow down the adult thought it was funny!

 

[cauda equina]

What an idiot
A horse v a kid on a bike, who is likely to come off worst?

 

[Flame_]

I find the cyclists just as bad as motorists and half term add kids on bikes in the mix, had a family 1 adult 2 kids wiz up behind me last week kids were screeching, horse was on one anyway and I had to ask 3 times for them to slow down the adult thought it was funny!

This is the thing. If you can get off the roads in public areas you have to contend with thousands of cyclists, families with stray children, dog walkers with loose dogs, all sorts of weird and wonderful scooter/ pushchair contraptions, groups who believe they require the whole width of any track instead of just going one behind the other, bloody off-road motorised trail bikes, the list is endless and I find it all too stressful and risky to bother with anymore. My biggest worry is that the situation will force all riders to the same conclusion and our arenas and farm rides will be jam packed with us.

 

[Muddywellies]

I witnessed a horrible incident the other day caused entirely by an inconsiderate road user passing a horse rider at speed. Poor rider fell off on the road. Why in God's name is everyone in such a bl**dy hurry these days. With a bit of thought and consideration, everyone should be able to safely share the roads, but horse riders seem to be at the end of the food chain and almost always come off worst. It's just becoming far too dangerous.

 

[CanteringCarrot]

Do any of you ride with a helmet cam or something like that. I strongly encourage it so make incidents can be documented with video.

I cannot believe how people act.

 

[poiuytrewq]

I found this when I was "in the countryside" but not out in the sticks. It's just too busy to feel, or indeed be, safe. Soon hacking will be farm rides around field borders and other paid-for access on private land, that's it IMO.

I wish! Sadly round here they get paid to leave margins for birds and wildlife meaning it would be loosing farms money to allow riders.

 

[cauda equina]

If Defra wanted to it could pay farmers to put in permissive tracks
It really p****s me off that the govt spouts all this stuff about getting people out into the countryside but isn't prepared to look after the ones who are already there

 

[Chappie]

I wish there were farm rides up my way! Nothing like that.

This has probably been posted about a lot already and I should go look and read back properly, but does anyone have a camera attached to their body? If anyone can recommend something I might get one of these, the community warden says without that there is zero they can do about dirt bikes on bridlepaths. Well they actually say I ideally need licence plate footage (but the bikes don't have plates). And to call the police the moment it happens... difficult.
And ive had some loose dog incidents the few times I've been out, it would handy for that.

I'm not sure about the helmet cams for saftey reasons and think it could be damaged easily, if not a fall then a passing branch!

 

[Britestar]

Mine says please pass wide and slow. My friend has one of the polite ones. She’s dressed in black, on a big bay, and quite bossy and they do tend to take notice of her!

I have a similar set up, but didn't stop a cyclist screaming at us this morning "you shouldn't be on the road!" because we asked him to slow down (nicely).

 

[Chianti]

Heres some lettered hi viz wear:

https://www.equus.co.uk/products/hy-equestrian-hi-viz-waistcoat-please-pass-wide-slow

View attachment 69052

I've got one of these. I don't know if it makes much difference.

 

[MyBoyChe]

I bought a lorry about 7 years ago because our local roads were just getting too dangerous to venture out and I always box up to ride. As someone else said though, even if you do find a nice quiet bridleway and some safe hacking it is full of walkers, cyclists, feral kids, out of control dogs, remote control cars being raced about et al. NOw I fully appreciate everyone has the right to be enjoying the outdoors but some of the things they are doing completely ruin the quiet enjoyment for others and certainly arent compatable with horses. I dont believe anyone has more right than pthers but I do wish people could learn some manners and how to behave appropriately in the countryside with all that that entails. Im on the verge of giving up riding out and to that end have just bought a smaller pony who I can enjoy at home, lunging and longreining, maybe some trick training, maybe even taking him out in hand for walks, but actually getting on and riding him is at the bottom of my to do list

 

[cauda equina]

MyBoyChe, that's so sad
People have been going about on horses for centuries (and many of us for decades) and now it looks as if it might all be coming to an end, because of 'progress'

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

This is the thing. If you can get off the roads in public areas you have to contend with thousands of cyclists, families with stray children, dog walkers with loose dogs, all sorts of weird and wonderful scooter/ pushchair contraptions, groups who believe they require the whole width of any track instead of just going one behind the other, bloody off-road motorised trail bikes, the list is endless and I find it all too stressful and risky to bother with anymore. My biggest worry is that the situation will force all riders to the same conclusion and our arenas and farm rides will be jam packed with us.

I stay away from roads anyway neither of mine are great one just hates cars at speed the other dislikes bikes coming up behind him, as you say even the wood paths get packed full of people bikes and dogs, there are some crop fields we can go round but you do sometimes see people on those although they are not meant to be, that's why I just write off the weekends now for riding it's not worth the risk

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Cholsey farm riding in the Chilterns has some very good riding you park up and choose a route there are quite a few.

 

[Celtic Fringe]

My pony is on a yard which is in a prime cycling and walking destination. I rarely hack out on a Sunday as although he is unfazed by cyclists etc it is just not a nice experience. Both me and pony are top to toe in reflective gear and I carry a long whip - useful to stick out sideways and run along the side of cars that are too close!
Most cyclists are quite polite, some are obviously trying to beat some sort of time record and don't slow down or say hello at all. I generally say 'hello' or else swear loudly if they take no notice. Best was one lovely guy on a bridleway who stopped and asked if he should go past us. 'Yes please' I said 'pony has just stopped for a poo' (yes - I know he could have kept going). 'I wish I could too' said the cyclist .........

 

[Reacher]

Sorry about your experiences OP.
I’m lucky to live somewhere the roads are comparatively quiet.

Can you get hi viz with a “safety camera ? “ text /logo? If worn with a hat cam they may cause drivers to take notice

 

[scats]

I’ll only take mine on quite roads now and I prefer to actually box them to a farm ride where it is safe.
The behaviour of many drivers horrifies me, if I’m honest. I’m not sure I want to even take my chances anymore.

 

[Celtic Fringe]

Cholsey farm riding in the Chilterns has some very good riding you park up and choose a route there are quite a few.

I’ll only take mine on quite roads now and I prefer to actually box them to a farm ride where it is safe.
The behaviour of many drivers horrifies me, if I’m honest. I’m not sure I want to even take my chances anymore.

I know I'm a grumpy old git but this is the other reason that I avoid hacking out at the weekend. My pony is near a popular venue where a large number of people box to there to ride out. Many are there to enjoy a good hooley in some lovely countryside - and why not. However, the routes are mostly on rights of way and not private land. Sadly the big increase in riders going at speed has lead to some bridleways becoming very deep in the last few years and we also need to keep a very sharp lookout for groups on previously quiet routes. One lovely lady went up the back of my pony the other day as hers 'was a bit strong' I understand that these groups bring much needed income to rural businesses but there are some downsides too.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I know I'm a grumpy old git but this is the other reason that I avoid hacking out at the weekend. My pony is near a popular venue where a large number of people box to there to ride out. Many are there to enjoy a good hooley in some lovely countryside - and why not. However, the routes are mostly on rights of way and not private land. Sadly the big increase in riders going at speed has lead to some bridleways becoming very deep in the last few years and we also need to keep a very sharp lookout for groups on previously quiet routes. One lovely lady went up the back of my pony the other day as hers 'was a bit strong' I understand that these groups bring much needed income to rural businesses but there are some downsides too.

I totally understand that and I have arab horses and they can be very upset and wound up by the slightest thing, I am very careful when and where I hack out I wouldn't want to go where people bomb around at all I would never do it so I am always respectful of where I ride, but I have had people that don't give a shit because they are on a horse that doesn't care what or who goes past.

I can appreciate you ride in that area every day you don't want the volume of riders and people going silly I wouldn't want that either, I am always respectful and I think because my horses can be hot and silly I don't take risks, I try to keep everything calm and be in control, but a lot of people are not unfortunately!!

 

[sunnyone]

I'm not a morning person so in summer I tend to go out in the evenings. The lanes are a lot quieter then.

 

[Brownmare]

It's gone crazy round us too lately. Our farm entrance is on a national cycle route so you can't move for cyclists on weekends but mostly they are ok, it's the car drivers being a***holes at the moment. Just the other day I had a couple of idiots in a white merc blat past me at 40 in a 30 zone! The other trend seems to be cars overtaking me from behind into oncoming traffic and forcing them to stop. I had one who forced an oncoming cyclist into the ditch! I have started hacking out with my hunting whip so I can stop cars coming too close or overtaking where there isn't room, it's also useful for keeping dogs on flexi leads at bay. Unfortunately I only have road hacking unless I box up so I just have to grit my teeth and get on with it. I'm dreading backing my youngster this summer....

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I'm thinking that a hi viz caparison for the horse, full armour for me and a lance (with a great big swishy flag attached) and mace (the bludgeoning kind) should see me right for hacking.

 

[EchoInterrupted]

Do any of you ride with a helmet cam or something like that. I strongly encourage it so make incidents can be documented with video.

I cannot believe how people act.

I ride with a helmet cam and hi viz, and while people are already quite respectful where I ride, I swear to god when I wear the blinking helmet cam everyone who comes from the front literally crawls past me. Don't know if I'm just imagining it though.

Generally I think riding with a helmet cam is a great idea and probably helps when it comes to holding drivers responsible in cases of putting riders at risk. If it has a blinking light on the front to signal its filming it probably helps with getting approaching drivers to slow down as well. I don't know if having "safety camera in use" or something like that on the back of a tabard would help with drivers passing from behind.

 

[tatty_v]

I must admit these stories do make me feel lucky - although the roads are fairly busy round us, 90% of road users are really considerate. I think the cycle clubs in MK ran an education programme on horses fairly recently - as soon as a peleton sees us, the leader calls out “horse”, they all slow down, go single and file and ask us if it’s safe to pass. I really appreciate that as although pony isn’t fussed by bikes, it’s nice not to have them hurtling en masse past us.

If anything sometimes I have the opposite problem - pony is as near as bombproof as you could wish for and some people can be so considerate and slow that he gets impatient and tells them to hurry up and get on with it ?

 

[PeterNatt]

I wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket s that other road users can clearly see my hand signals. If you ever have any issues the please report on the www.horseaccidents.org.uk web site as this information is very useful when we negotiate with local authorities and government for improved off road riding for horse riders and carriage drivers as well as spending more money on educating road users on how to behave around horse riders and carriage drivers.