Riding on verge or road - response of drivers

MrsMozart

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Friend and I rode out last week. Lovely hack, but had to come back along a main road.

The verges are okay for one horse width, but not brill. Whilst we were on the verge, the majority of cars/vans/wagons all went by close and fast. Our neds are pretty bombproof, but it made for a bit of a miserable last part of the hack
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Anyhooo, the point of the post is, when the verge became too narrow, we went onto the road. What a change in the drivers! Everything slowed right down, drivers moved right over to go past us. Horses were still trolling along in the same style. The only thing that had changed was about twelve inches of land.

No point to the post really, just interesting m'thinks
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.
 

AmyMay

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I've noticed this too. And to be honest, I never ride on the verges. No. 1 because traffic just doesn't slow down if you do, and No. 2 becuase I never know what's on them.
 

StarFell

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I find drivers around here exactly the same - for some reason they think they don't have to slow down or move out when we're on the verge but if we're on the road they do. Strange
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Silverspring

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I agree and avoid riding on verge for this reason. Drivers fail to realise quite how quickly a horse could shoot sideways off a grass verge and into their path.

I drive past horses being ridden on the verge as slowly, and giving as much space, as I would if they were on the road. Maybe even giving more space as I sometime wonder if the person is riding on the verge cos the horse is young/nervy.
 

Blue-bear

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we do the same around here, and generally either way still get moaned at by drivers. we have a few youngster and have no choice but to go out onto the main road so i generally put them on the verge and then put my big lad who is pretty much bombproof on the road on there outside.
 

Tinkerbee

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[ QUOTE ]
Same happens round here, So now when me and tink ride out, tink rides on verge and i ride on road, that makes sure the lorries slow down

[/ QUOTE ]

Basically what she said.
If I'm on the road and it's busy but pony is being a fruit loop, I stick on the verge and stick my whip out
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to keep cars at a reasonableish distance
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sallyellis

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Have to agree with amymay on this one having a mare who will spook at nothing I find cars just shoot past if you are on the verge and do not realise that my horse might see a horse eating monster even if they cant see it and what could happen if she shot out into their path is unimaginable...why dont drivers think about it. I wish they would actually do an advert which highlights just what a horse may do if spooked on the roads might actually make them think twice when they pass a horse. Not knocking the adverts that exist if they ever get shown but maybe filming something actually playing up/spooking might be an eye opener as to why they should slow down and pass wide. Opps sorry that went on a bit, I will get off of my soapbox now.
 

lauraandjack

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I tend to stay off the verges as you never know what is there - holes, litter, broken glass etc.

Being in the road does make people think and slow down or give you more room as they pass. If you're not in their way they just treat you as a pedestrian. The much hated riding 2 abreast trick makes them slow down even more!

MrsM - why do people think horses shouldn't be on the roads? Roads are not just for cars! We have as much right to ride on them as cars do to drive.

I think a lot of the negative attitude towards horses on the road comes from 1) lack of awareness (non horsey people just do not understand the presence of horse eating monsters) 2) inconsiderate/ ungrateful horse riders (come on you know there are loads) who make no attempt to acknowledge considerate drivers, so they are less likely to slow down for the next horse they meet.
 

Flame_

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No, lots of drivers really think horses just shouldn't be on the roads. While I disagree and I do ride on the roads I see where they're coming from. The roads are so dangerous now there is so much traffic, without putting large, unpredictable animals into the equation. Particularly as said horses are usually owned for pleasure and aren't actually using the roads to get from A to B, but to do a round trip back home for exercise and fun. I can see that to a non-horse rider why this would seem pointless except to pose unnecessary risk and get in the way. They don't get why horse-riders wouldn't want to just ride around an arena, like riding schools.

As for riding on verges, no I don't unless they are like giant wide ones. My horse is petrified of large vehicles and I tend to be trotting in the middle of the road to stop them passing until there is somewhere wide to pull in.
 

Quadro

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i hae to agree i think part of the problem is people who do not say thank you it is a simple gesture that will make drivers realise what they have done is correct and even if you cannot take your hands off the reins a smile and nod will do
i have "aquired" an old police fleece jacket and it work wonders for making people slow down on the roads
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miss_bird

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OK when did the grass verges get so narrow, we used to be able to ride nearly two abreast on most of them, now i dont go in them at all i stick to the road, unless there is a big wide verge and a queue of traffic behind me then i pull in stop and say thnk you to every driver
 

Pep12

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I have been known to leap on to the verge to take evasive action. I would rather be safe than have some a*** hole run up my horse's arse because they are driving too fast round a blind corner. i tend to ride very defensively (years of experiences good and bad). i also use the Mr whippy trick if I feel someone is going too fast or not likely to give us room. I always say thank you, even to the ones that barely slow down at all, as if you don't, next time they may not do it at all.
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littlemisslauren

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I HATE passing riders that never say thank you, there is a big yard near my house at home and they NEVER aknowledge drivers slowing down or passing wide, its rude and gives the rest of us a terrible name.

When i had my horse at home, i had to ride on the roads or she would have never been ridden.
 

littlemisslauren

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oooh and.. a friend of mine was hacking around her village and the police pulled over infront of her... with lights and sirens going to tell her she shouldnt be on the phone! Her is horse is pretty docile and she was in no way putting any1 in any danger by being on the phone for less than a minute! (she was calling to warn a friend who would be hacking the same route that there were kids on quadbikes on one of the tracks!)
However not many horses are docile enough to be unalarmed by a car with a siren and flasing lights pulling in right infront of it. I just cant get my head around their thinking..
 

martlin

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[ QUOTE ]
oooh and.. a friend of mine was hacking around her village and the police pulled over infront of her... with lights and sirens going to tell her she shouldnt be on the phone! Her is horse is pretty docile and she was in no way putting any1 in any danger by being on the phone for less than a minute! (she was calling to warn a friend who would be hacking the same route that there were kids on quadbikes on one of the tracks!)
However not many horses are docile enough to be unalarmed by a car with a siren and flasing lights pulling in right infront of it. I just cant get my head around their thinking..

[/ QUOTE ]
Well, actually, we expect drivers not to use phones, what's so special about horse riders that would make them exempt?
 

charlie55

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The drivers are quite good where my stables are as its very much a little country village, but... we have got a link round that comes off near by and oh my god dont we know it...

I was out on a 5 year old once, her firse hack on her own and she was brhaving brilliently!! Hadnt put a foot wrong. 2 mins away from the yard and some bloke with a sports car came zooming round the corner, i done the slow down sign, he stopped, i said thankyou. As a car was passing the other side of the road he thought he could squeeze through, his wing mirror hit the mare's bum, she booted back and made a huge dent in his car!!

As i jumped off to check her back legs while calling him every name under the sun, he wanted my details to claim off me!!! What a twat!! Luckily enough the car on the other side saw what happened so i was ok...
 

Weezy

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I reckon the farmers/property owners around here would shoot us if we rode on the verges, we are certainly NOT allowed to in the villages - all of the standard verges have a ditch too, so not a good idea - stick to the tarmac at all times.
 

Gorgeous George

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I don't ride on the verges because I've noticed too that cars slow down less, also if I'm on the road at least I've got the verge to use as an escape route if neeeded.
 

Fletchersmum

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I am very lucky where I live that I never have to venture onto a main road. I have ridden on them in the past though, and always stay on the road, you never know when a hole or ditch may pop up or broken glass etc on verges.

We do get quite a lot of tractors and lorries along our lane though, so I always make sure Im in Hi Viz vest.

I read somewhere in a horsey mag, this woman who had no choice but to ride on a very busy road, stuck an L plate on her jacket, apparently it worked a treat and everyone slowed down and gave her a wide berth.
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Silverspring

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I don't think the police should have reacted in that way, they could have pulled over and got out to talk to your friend. But you should not be using a mobile phone whilst riding and good on the police for pointing this fact out to your friend.
 

littlemisslauren

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Yes i agree and i never use one when riding. My problem was not with them for saying something to her about it but the way in with they acted when talking to her, scaring the horse and putting my friend in danger.
 

M_G

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I was asked once why I ride on the road when there is lots of farm land right next to the road.. Once I explained that I don't own the land and it would be similar to me riding in their garden they then replied : I thought you could ride anywhere with a horse and I used to get cross that they used the road.

Some people just don't understand that we only have roads in a lot of cases
 

Pearlsasinger

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In my younger days (a long time ago
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) I used the grass verges to canter on at the side of our busiest road through the village. The horse was completely bombproof.
Nowadays I wouldn't dream of riding on the verge because there could be all sorts of rubbish hidden. I also want to feel that I have an 'escape route' if necessary and the traffic round here does slow down better if you are further out into the road.
 

OWLIE185

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When I ride out now I always wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket and a crash hat with a hi viz band on it.

This makes me very much more visible to other road users and some even think that I am a mounted police officer. In addition it is far easier for other road users to see my hand signals.

These jackets cost about £12 and so there is no reason not to where one when hacking out.
 
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Donkeymad

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Horse riders do not have as much right on the road as motor vehicles - they have more, and have priority over motor behicles.
 

Fletchersmum

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Talking of motorbikes. I have always found them to be super courteous to horse riders they always slow right down, and give you a wide berth. I think its because they kind of understand where we are coming from as being vulnerable on the roads, if you get what I mean?
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