Riding on roads.

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Christmas_Kate

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Following the post about poor Benson in Latest News....
How many of you hack out on roads? Do you use any B roads? Do you always wear hi-viz? Even when leading?
I always feel 'nervy' hacking out along country lanes etc, even though I've never had an accident involving a vehicle (just inconsiderate drivers). It's mainly when going around blind bends etc, I always feel the need to trot on to get past the bend quickly.

Apart from hi viz etc, is there anything else that can be done to make riding on roads safer?
I liied the idea in this weeks H&H letters re riding in a police jacket..
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, but fear if we all did it drivers would cotton on.
And what are your views on hi viz with warnings written on ie "caution young horse'? Do you think drivers take any notice?
 
I ride along B roads and the yard I have moved to involes mainly roadwork. It does make you think seriously though with the amount of accidents that have been reported just on here recently.
 
we can go in three directions, one, a little lane, the second a bendy country road, and the third a B road. It does frighten you, especially when so many people speed and don't give a damn about horses.
 
i hate riding on roads, but have to do a little roadwork to get to the bridleways, i always wear hi-viz - personally i think it should be made law - and have 3rd party insurance - again this should be made law - some people have found an L plate sewn onto a tabard works wonders as it is something drivers seem to relate to a little better, trouble with some tabards is that the driver has to be quite close to you to read them, and have heard about a driver nearly hitting a horse as he was concentrating more on reading the tabard!
 
Ride on A & B roads (have to if I want to get off the yard, without getting the lorry out). Always have Hi-Viz and Reflective brushing boots, Tabbard and Quarter Sheet. I was hit by a car years ago whilst riding/leading at work (three riders and six horses), apparently the volvo driver 'couldn't see as blinded by the sun', but didn't feel the need to slow down/stop.
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Fortunately all horses and riders were O.K. just bruised.
 
If I'm hacking out from the yard, tends to be quiet country lanes onto bridleways or around the farm.

If you're wanting to go further afield/longer hacks. The one up onto the downs - you have to ride along a quietish b-road. Not overly busy, but has its days when you get the odd feed lorry/tractor/combine harvester. Other main hack means crossing a main road on quite a nasty junction or negotiating a mini roundabout. Have only ever done it twice and it wasn't what I call fun.

if I'm hacking pony out - it's bridleways from the yard - miles & miles of tracks and woods to ride through - much prefer it.

I always hack with a tabard on atleast, even when just on the bridleways etc. I don't mind roadwork, but wouldn't say it's my favourite activity and always breath a sigh of relief once I'm off road.

Something I remember from my R&RS training was that a study was done on how cars reacted to horses who had the reflective leg bands on - seemed that most drivers slowed down or even stopped much quicker/were more responsive because they primarily thought it was a police horse and not just someone randomly hacking.

When I was working at the yard - I had the delightful job of taking the hacks out as front escort. Because the groups were maximum of 5, occasionally 6, dont think I ever had a rear escort so it was up to me. I always dreaded doing it, but got on and did it - because of the fear of what if something happens. You can't trust a 9yr old to tell you when there's a car behind you so I did learn to have eyes in the back of my head. And yes people laugh at the check behind every few strides (was drilled into us with R&RS training) but I had to and have to say I got so use to doing it, when taking atleast 2 hacks out in a day (even if one was on foot) that I always keep checking behind me - even on bridleways.

So I'm actually on some levels, glad that I was given that job & gained experience of doing it. Taking 6 kids out may seem easy, but it's not as simple as it looks. But it really developed my awareness of riding on the roads and I'm thankful for that. I did however always get one of the safer horses to ride so that I didn't have to worry about having a spooky horse to concentrate on whilst watching the kids.

And another thing which was good - those kids were hacking out EVERY 4 weeks. Even the beginner/littlies group were out on the lanes (ok with on foot escorts/helpers) but I think it helps them develop their own skills and so they don't rely on an arena fence
 
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i live in the middle of liverpool and this is all off the road my yard is on the middle one is my aunties horse! we have to cross this road or ride down it to get out and its a bus route but our horses are very good about it but all in all we have very good hacking can go for miles
 
Yes! there are a number of things you can do to make it safer when riding on the roads.

Never ride out on the roads when there is low bright sunshine as this dazels drivers and they can't see you. Never ride out when it is getting dark or is dark. Take your BHS Road Safety Course and exam - you will learn a lot.
 
Nearly all my hacking has to be done in the roads.

Just today idiot speeding driver revved up as passing us, we were practically in the hedge Id moved so far over!

Always weear hi viz rein bands and leg wraps, and hi vis waistcoat if day is dull.

ooh so can you buy these police jackets then?
 
I don't hack out on the roads, but use the road to get to the fields to hack in. Its a B road, but pretty quiet. I wear tons of reflectives and usually ride on the verge just in case. I wear a reflective jacket so it doesn't have writing on it. Used to wear one saying "please pass wide and slow", not sure if people actually read it though. Don't think they're much that can be done to make it safer apart from staying as far in to the side as poss, or on the grass verge. I know some people don't agree with going on the verge, but if someone comes flying round the corner they should fly past me, rather than into me.
 
You can get the jackets similar to the ones the police wear... aka long fluorescent ones.

Riding in a jacket marked police is technically immitating an officer and not something you should do
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We don't have any other hacking than roads. There are one or two 'fast' roads (i.e 1/2 cars every 5 mins on a fast day) but aside from that they are quiet country lanes. I hack out in coat, exercise sheet and hat, all reflective. People round here are good at slowing down though.
 
We have an old railway line and a main road - well kinda 2 as the yard is on a link road. I've only ever crossed the main road to get to a quieter back road, which thankfully isnt very windy at all.
Thankfully as the outdoor school is right next to the roads the horses seem to get accustomed to the noises.

When I first got Beau I had to ride him along a road, only for 1/2 mile though. I must say that although he was going soooo slow(just ot be akward!) all the drivers who passed were courtious, slowed down and I got no angry words. My sis pointed out that could have been as I was sitting on top of 700kg of rather moody looking animal and I had a scowl like the devil gave me it!

My Hi Viz vest just has an '! ' on it. I was actually looking at Hi viz gear to buy yesterday, and for what it actually is the price is stupid! its far more expensive than its actually worth - a reason why I think somepeople DONT buy it! 4 hi viz leg wraps £14, bridle kit £10, hat band £5 (approx and cant remember which site so dont ask) I know its only £30, but out of my monthly budget that is like my weekly FOOD allowance.

I am off ot buy some tomorrow though as want to go for a hack and with the good weather and dryness I just know the fairweather bikers are going ot be out tomorrow!!
 
Having not read the latest news section you just sent shivers down my spine - I thought something dreadful had happened to Beanyowners Benson. Absolutely tragic loss of life yet again. A girl on our yard had a horse killed from under her when a driver sped through a puddle behind her - horse spooked and was killed instantly. She is very nervous about hacking now - understandably and everyone on the yard wears Hi Vis (I was lucky enough to get the MOD set sent to me when they did the freebies). We do have a B road but it goes through the village which is windy and often has police speed traps so they don't speed too much and the next part to the field is very straight so not too bad. I hacked Murph out yesterday and had a post office lorry revving behind us - swung out put foot on gas and sped past made a real racket and even Murph spooked badly (and he is normally 200% in traffic). I don't know how else we can educate drivers they just seem to think of us as someone holding them up.
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I hate riding on roads. We have quiet country lanes, but you never know what van, car or tractor will come past and at what speed. There isn't a lot of room to move out of the way and I was think 'what if'.

This is why I have bought a lorry to go hacking on the beach and the woods, so I can enjoy my riding without thinking about what could happen if a car came by too quick.

I always ride in high vis if out, and sometimes have worn my yellow flourescent Ambulance jacket. Didn't slow people down, they must assume I could fix myself if I fell off!
 
Well, im sure its fine if its a police officer using it
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But, for example, borrowing your friends to hack out in is then immitating an officer and you can get in trouble for it
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Im sure they're very effective though
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p.s. only know this because one of my best friends is an officer and I had the bright idea of borrowing his when i used to hack out :P
 
ring the post office complain like hell and threaten to blacken their name in the local paper, they can work out who it was by the route and the time!
 
I'll ride J on the roads, but not H.

J I've ridden on A & B roads. He's fine in the heaviest of traffic and is totally non fussed about hacking next to an active RAF runway and standing at a train crossing while a train crosses. He's fantastic best TB I've ever had.

However I still wouldn't ride him if it was getting dark, or if it was windy.
 
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