Race horse excercise on road

[Janah]

I had occasion to drive through Ditcheat yesterday where Paul Nichol's horses road excercise.

I was really pleased to see most of the riders wearing hi viz. As they were in groups they didn't all need to wear them.

Most of the riders in the groups put up their hands to thank me. The ones who couldn't take hands off the reins smiled.

I thought how professional they all were. Iv'e seen other race horses out on roads and all you get is a sullen look.

 

[amandathepanda]

I remember riding past David Nicholson's string when he was at Condicote (that's showing my age!) and I remember how friendly & professional they all looked too! Ok, that was in the days before hi-viz but they all waved, smiled or nodded depending on how explosive their horses are. If this can be done on hyper fit racehorses then there really is no excuse for the rest of us to not say thank you!

 

[Morrigan_Lady]

Thats really good to hear.
I know when I worked at a race yard, we never wore Hi-Viz gear and I have to confess we never thanked drivers either!

 

[Maesfen]

[ QUOTE ]

Thats really good to hear.
I know when I worked at a race yard, we never wore Hi-Viz gear and I have to confess we never thanked drivers either!

[/ QUOTE ]

Shame on you!
Thanking drivers should be the 11th Commandment for ALL riders and taught as soon as they get on a horse however old/young the riders might be!

How do people expect to get respect on the road if you don't show it too?

I know not all drivers are good, that's obvious but why alienate the good ones that are out there?

 

[jesterfaerie]

I myself have never come across racehorses out on a hack but it is very nice to know that this yard handle it in such a professional manner.
And as Panda rightly says, if they can do it then there is no excuse of others not to.

 

[seabiscuit]

Paul NIcholls staff are all just the lovliest bunch of people they really are !! It is mandatory for them to wear hiviz

 

[Aleka81]

At all the yards I have worked out we have always said thank you. Nicholsons at Jackdaws, Twistons at Guiting Power and now at a much smaller pointers yard near Stratford. Its just common courtesy!

 

[gracemacrae]

I ride out for Lucinda Russell and we all wear hi-fiz for at least for first lot and we all say thankyou to everybody that passes (even the rude car drivers!)

 

[MillbrookSong]

if its dusky at 1st lot or foggy we wear hi viz but not any other lots generally and i do always try to thank drivers unless i feel i cant but then i will always nod my head/smile

 

[PeterNatt]

It is a Health and Safety issue these days that any members of staff etc riding horses out on the roads should be instructed to wear Hi-Viz by their employers as otherwise if there was an accident the employer would be in serious trouble. Also the Hi-Viz must comply with the appropriate British/European Standard.

 

[Penniless]

Here in Newmarket, no-one is allowed to ride out until light. Rules are back-protectors MUST be worn and high-viz gear on as well. The no early riding part upset some staff we know who work for Clive Brittain, as they used to pull out between 4-5am and now have to start later and finish later because of the rules. Maybe that's why some of the Newmarket lot look grumpy in the morning!