Riding two abreast - your views

Always do with my youngster, and don't drop to single file when we have anything behind us seeing as that just defeats the point of 'shadowing' him from vehicles he still isnt 100% with yet.

Do pull in where we can though if there's a que.
 
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In my experience, the more considerate I am towards drivers, the more considerate they are back

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I agree with you 100%. Ride with courtesy and common sense, and all road users should be happy.

I can see no argument to support riding in the middle of the road - it's simply enough to ride away from the curb (just as cyclists should do). This means that cars have to give pause before passing you and means that you are more clearly visible to all traffic.

There's nothing worse than an ignorant road user - be it rider, car user or cyclists. As with everyting common courtesy applies to us all - and there's no reason why it can't be applied.
 
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So no its not just putting yourself in the line of fire, its also putting other horse riders in the line of fire, by giving them a bad name..

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That is a very good point.

That is why "all cyclists jump red lights" - no they don't! "all motorcyclists are hooligans" - no they aren't!

So, we all need to be 'good examples' so that we don't all get tarred with the same brush and end up being given no consideration - and therefore put in danger.
 
I ride two abreast most of the time and move into single file to let cars pass. One friend I ride out with has the mindset that we are allowed to ride up to the white line so she doesnt usually move into single file when a car is passing unless it is a bend or a large vehicle passing.
 
i usually ride out on my own so would ovbiously be single file, i dont mind people who rise two abreast aslong as they use passing places to let traffic past, i think riding two abreast has its advantages, it helps to slow the traffic down and pass more safley as they dont try and squeeze past you with oncoming traffic as they purley have no room, my friends horse was killed in september by a car that drove into the back of him, they were riding two abreast and she was on the outside, the horse on the inside was unharmed, you cant help but think would two horses have died that day if they were single file.
 
I always ride two abreast. On single track roads I have been shoved into a ditch one too many times by cars that fly past without slowing down and if on my own I will let car see me stay in middle of road till it slows down and then move over to let them past and then thank them. If there is two of us we do the same as the roads we hack on are too narrow for a car to pass safely at speed. On bigger roads I also think it is safer to ride to abreast which makes the cars wait till it is clear the other way before passing I dont think it is safe for a car to pass you when there is traffic coming the other way.

I ride defensively on the roads which might appear rude to some drivers but I have learned the hard way and have had been clipped by wing mirrors shoved into ditches or onto the pavement by people passing either too fast or when there is not enough space. I do however always thank people with a wave or if horse os feeling to sharp to hands of reins I will nod my head.
 
I have to hack down a fairly busy road and I find that if I ride single file some cars just dont seem to slow down or dont move out and give you any space or respect. I alway wear hi viz with "please pass slow and wide on the back" but doesnt always slow them down. I do alway move in for corner or when a car has slowed down and wants to pass.
I did once have a woman stop her car and tell me it was illegal to ride double file, even though I was out with a child who I put on the inside to protect her from traffic. She was to quick to drive off again before I could reply.
 
I used to ride 2 abreast with my friend all the time, we had to ride down quite a busy country lane (it was a cut through) and we found that cars did actually slow down when we were 2 abreast, but if we were single file they didn't slow down at all. We always thanked people for slowing down too. We would get into single file to let them past and then go back to riding together.

Most riders I see these days never say thanks, which annoys even me!!
 
My instructor always says you should make sure motorists respect you on the road. e.g. If you are leading a horse then push it out into the road dont walk really near the curb. Then motorists acctually slow down - otherwise they are impaitent and just think they can zoom past you at which point you do feel like being rude to them (always handy to have a whip!)

I once had to dismount and lead my TB back to the yard because he had wound himself up something chronic and was a danger to me and the road. Some idiot tried to overtake by one of the bolards instead of waiting 5 seconds and then another guy just zoomed straight at me when it was clear we were turning right (hand signals, moved to the middle of the road etc)

I often find you have to make drivers wait. They will stop if you insist on turning.

I ALWAYS thank/nod/wave/smile to respectful drivers. But those who just zoom past I most def. do not.

Often, I ride two abreast because my TB is a bit of a nutter. One stupid guy shouted at me and my friend to ride single file and I felt like yelling back, "Not unless you want my horse on your bonnet, you ar5ehole!"

I have had many times where my horse has danced across the middle of road, often onto the otherside because he has spooked and wound himself up. Funnily, I always find they respect you then!

So, yes, obvioulsy, keep safe, round bends ride single file etc but make sure road users respect you just as much as an car!
 
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Then again...
If you ride as a vehicle, cars have to overtake you properly, as they would another car, but if you ride single file, they can be tempted to just carry on past, getting dangerously close to you?
But on blind bends you could get hit riding two abreast?
Oh ive confused myself!
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My point exactly.
Two abreast stops would be "idiot drivers" of large farm vehicles, lorrys, dustbin wagon and cars pulling trailers who are happy to try to squeeze past you, if they think they just might be able too! This resulting in rider and horse being squashed in to a smaller space than is safe.
Riding two abreast where these situations arise frequently means that if the driver decides to press on regardless and actually risk killing you and your horse, at least you have a witness! and he has got to put himself in the position where he actually made a decision to squeeze past two riders, who were unmissable as they were slap bang in the middle of the road, rather than make the excuse that he didn't really see them when he squashed them into the hedgerow!
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As for making great efforts to thank drivers for not killing us, what a load of B*****Ks. I think it is our right to space and respect on the road, after all we do not have a set of brakes in an emergency, rather the opposite if you are on the horse!. Why would someone, especially a horse rider themself, expect riders to take one hand off the rein so that they can make some great bl**dy thank you gestures to a stupid driver who really thinks that is so important, when a nod of appreciation will serve.
The attitude of the OP makes my blood boil!!!

I am a driver and have driven for over 30 years and I never expect great gestures of thanks from riders, and I never pass a horse at more than 15miles per hour.
Poor rider maybe on a young or fizzy horse.

You should have more consideration
Its a no brainer for me.
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My instructor always says you should make sure motorists respect you on the road. e.g. If you are leading a horse then push it out into the road dont walk really near the curb. Then motorists acctually slow down - otherwise they are impaitent and just think they can zoom past you at which point you do feel like being rude to them (always handy to have a whip!)

I once had to dismount and lead my TB back to the yard because he had wound himself up something chronic and was a danger to me and the road. Some idiot tried to overtake by one of the bolards instead of waiting 5 seconds and then another guy just zoomed straight at me when it was clear we were turning right (hand signals, moved to the middle of the road etc)

I often find you have to make drivers wait. They will stop if you insist on turning.

I ALWAYS thank/nod/wave/smile to respectful drivers. But those who just zoom past I most def. do not.

Often, I ride two abreast because my TB is a bit of a nutter. One stupid guy shouted at me and my friend to ride single file and I felt like yelling back, "Not unless you want my horse on your bonnet, you ar5ehole!"

I have had many times where my horse has danced across the middle of road, often onto the otherside because he has spooked and wound himself up. Funnily, I always find they respect you then!

So, yes, obvioulsy, keep safe, round bends ride single file etc but make sure road users respect you just as much as an car!

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Hear Hear Pete!!
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If you are leading a horse then push it out into the road dont walk really near the curb.

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Totally incorrect. You should lead the horse from the right hand side - so you are nearer the traffic not the horse. Just as you should lead a dog.
 
If it's safe to do so and you need to then I don't have a problem with it but the road outside our yard is a 60 and is very narrow, has a massive hill and is bendy so its just dangerous. I was driving to the yard from work the other day a two people from the yard were riding side by side approaching the brow of the hill with a huge queu of traffic behind them and they just rode past all of the lay bys instead of letting anyone past which really annoyed the driver in front of me so she just overtook when she clearly couldn't see so it is just dangerous on some roads. What annoyed me the most was the riders where both on loan ponies and the ponies are well behaved and both are good riders so there was really no need
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As for making great efforts to thank drivers for not killing us, what a load of B*****Ks. I think it is our right to space and respect on the road, after all we do not have a set of brakes in an emergency, rather the opposite if you are on the horse!. Why would someone, especially a horse rider themself, expect riders to take one hand off the rein so that they can make some great bl**dy thank you gestures to a stupid driver who really thinks that is so important, when a nod of appreciation will serve.
The attitude of the OP makes my blood boil!!!

I am a driver and have driven for over 30 years and I never expect great gestures of thanks from riders, and I never pass a horse at more than 15miles per hour.
Poor rider maybe on a young or fizzy horse.

You should have more consideration
Its a no brainer for me.
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Lol, if it is our right to space and respect on the road, then why is it 9 times out of 10 we don't get it? My OH came home today ranting about his little encounter, and one of the things he said was 'do they think they own the road or something?!' - obviously you do....and its exactly this kind of attitude that riles so many people. I went to a driver awareness training course a few months back as I got caught doing 80 on a dual carriageway, I brought the topic of horses/horseriders up, and every person in that room (about 30 odd) seemed to be of the attitide that most horse riders were inconsiderate and shouldn't be allowed on the road. I wonder why
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Also, had you read my posts later on, I have in no way stated I expect horseriders to take their hands off the reins to thank people, I said there are other ways of thanking people....so I'm glad my attitude makes 'your blood boil', despite me quite clearly saying a nod is perfectly acceptable, and being something I do too (as an owner of an ex racer who isn't exactly a plod)
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Whatever your opinion of me, I will still hold to my view of do as you would be done by, and will continue to thank those drivers that make an effort to slow down for me, in the hope that it raises the opinion of horseriders in my area at least.

Anyway, happy NYE to you all...I'm off out to a party now!
 
Not if you are driving a HGV or towing on a road with bends. Which was what we often experienced in Scotland. Cyclists are much more difficult to overtake.
 
Riding two abreast is stupid and agravates otherwise horse friendly drivers. It vastly increases the difficulty of passing safely,and riders often ignore suitable places to let traffic pass.Riding two abreast should be reserved for when there are a number of horses. ..... But I am amazed at some of the things taught to young riders. Some years ago I was driving a large HGV down a narrow country lane past a riding school.The Pony club were doing their road safety.I was utterly amazed when the pratt doing the instructing (and who I knew well!) stepped out in front of my lorry and tried to waive her pupils forward ,out of their nice safe driveway,to block the road in front of the only vehicle in sight.I dont think the lesson was lost on her pupils when she had to jump out of the way.
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The highway code says...

"never ride more than two abreast, and ride in single file on narrow or busy roads and when riding round bends"

So i think it is OK to ride two abreast but not on bends or busy roads?

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Is ride and lead illegal then???

Also has anyone seen BHS Road Safety Video - does it need up-dating again?
 
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I used to ride two abreast with my youngster on the near side to shield him from traffic when he first used to go out on the roads. Also, I couldn't always take a hand off the reins to thank traffic.

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Ditto - except for the last bit. We back a lot of youngsters and - if they're nervous of traffic (and only visitors tend to be as my own are brought up around vehicles and fed from a tractor or Land Rover - so see ALL vehicles as potential food source
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) then we'll ride them in a pair with a sensible companion on their first two or three outings.

Was doing this one day - on a VERY back road - when a car approached at speed. Signalled him to slow down - he did - JUST for long enough to shout: "If you'd ride single file I wouldn't HAVE to slow down!" before accelerating away! The idiot didn't realise that if he hadn't slowed down - and we'd been single file - he would have had a VERY expensive 17 hh Warmblood on his bonnet - and it would probably have killed HIM!

I suffer a local IDJIT who WON'T slow down for horses although he knows better. He's a builder and usually is pulling a trailer with a mini-digger or other plant aboard. THAT sort of rig travelling at 60 mph will freak out even the sensible hunters - and I had a rider end up on the floor just the other day due to him. He stopped when he saw the rider on the ground - then sped off again. He had a visit from the police (again!)

But even when riding a just backed 3 year old, I always wave a thank you! If you CAN'T ride a horse with one hand for just the minute it takes, then it shouldn't be on the road at all IMHO!
 
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I do agree that you should move off the road if there is a queue behind - although in my experience cyclists don't do that!!!
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Not sure I would expect them to.

You can drive past a cyclist at 30-40 miles per hour without 'spooking' them, and you get a clearer view of the road from behind them.

So you don't have to wait so long to pass and therefore you are unlikely to have a serious queue behind them.

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Not if you are driving a HGV or towing on a road with bends. Which was what we often experienced in Scotland. Cyclists are much more difficult to overtake.

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What more difficult than a horse???

But a considerate cyclist would pull over in that situation....

Generally speaking I can get past a cyclist easier and faster than a horse - but I don't drive an HGV.
 
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I have always ridden two abrest when I can, pulling over when we hear cars coming.

If I'm on my own, I ride down the middle of the road.

Why?

Because the majority of roadusers drive as if horses should be on the verge. By riding down the middle of the road and holding up traffic, I forced them to go at my pace and I forced them to pass wide (once they cross the white line they might as well go for it properly).

As Holly said, I am the one putting myself in the line of fire. But I find when you go out of your way to block roads, they have no choice but to stop.

Only vehicle I won't argue with is a lorry. They stop for no man!

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This is how I feel absolutely!! Just put a bit more gently than I did perhaps.
It's so true, WE are the vulnerable ones and a lot of drivers think its ok to psychologically "push" us into the verge.
If we ride down the middle of the road inconsiderate drivers (which is not all - but how are we to know?) are forced to consider us.
I have ridden my safe sensible cob towards a tractor coming fast towards us, with no sign of slowing, waving my hand to flag him down, as my friends horse was turning its self inside out and about to buck friend off in panic at the vehicles approach.
It was the ONLY way to stop the driver.

HE HAD NO IDEA HE WAS THE CAUSE.
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So many drivers are rude, stupid and downright dangeous which is why horseriding is the most dangerous sport you can do. The annual fatalities in horseriding relate directly to RTAs NOT Eventing accidents and consist mostly of ordinary folk hacking out on the roads.
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As for making great efforts to thank drivers for not killing us, what a load of B*****Ks. I think it is our right to space and respect on the road,

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Lol, if it is our right to space and respect on the road, then why is it 9 times out of 10 we don't get it? My OH came home today ranting about his little encounter, and one of the things he said was 'do they think they own the road or something?!' - obviously you do....and its exactly this kind of attitude that riles so many people[ QUOTE ]


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Obviously I dont mean that we have MORE right to respect and space on the road than other users. Perhaps I should have saidf we have the right to EQUAL right and respect on the road from other users.
That should equate to being appropriate consideration due to the fact that we are on n unpredictable living creature and not surrounded by a protective barrier of STEEL !!!!!!
( rolls eyes to heaven in exasperation )
 
I always ride two abreast for a number of reasons, 1- my horse is better riding nearer the traffic as he spooks at things in the bushes, 2 - i usually have my daughter with me on her young pony, and 3- we ride down a national speed limit road and over a motorway bridge and given the chance nearly all driver will pass doing arond 40+mph. We do often get drivers giving us abuse because they have had to slow down,. I think the problem is that they don't understand that given a choice none of us would be on the roads, but in this day and age that just isn't possible
 
I can see both sides of this - I'm lucky to have a pony that is absolutely bombproof in traffic
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and as a result of this, we often nanny younger or nervous horses on the road.

Depending on circumstances 2 abreast can be the safest way to ride for both riders and motorist, even if the driver doesn't realise that!

I also "manage" drivers, using my fantastic boy to discourage (not block btw) some drivers from whizzing past at silly speeds and I find that eye contact and a firm but polite request to slow down or stop is effective - and is always thanked
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When I was learning to ride a motorbike, part of the training was that to assume that every driver was out to kill you and to always ride defensively and that is how I ride a horse too....that doesn't mean that I think I have special priviliges on the road but I do think riders, as a vunerable group are entitled to consideration and I will demand that. As I see it, our part of the deal is to avoid clogging the road "just cos we can", to trot on if at all possible and bloody well get out of the way as soon as it is safe to do so. Acknowleging drivers and thanking them should be automatic!
 
I would ride 2 abreast, and move in for cars. The only exception I have made, is if one of them is being spooky/awkward and is likely to shy out into the road, I would put it on the inside and pin it in - because cars are likely to give more room, and also better that than the horse spooking out in front of the car
 
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I can see both sides of this - I'm lucky to have a pony that is absolutely bombproof in traffic
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and as a result of this, we often nanny younger or nervous horses on the road.

Depending on circumstances 2 abreast can be the safest way to ride for both riders and motorist, even if the driver doesn't realise that!

I also "manage" drivers, using my fantastic boy to discourage (not block btw) some drivers from whizzing past at silly speeds and I find that eye contact and a firm but polite request to slow down or stop is effective - and is always thanked
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When I was learning to ride a motorbike, part of the training was that to assume that every driver was out to kill you and to always ride defensively and that is how I ride a horse too....that doesn't mean that I think I have special priviliges on the road but I do think riders, as a vunerable group are entitled to consideration and I will demand that. As I see it, our part of the deal is to avoid clogging the road "just cos we can", to trot on if at all possible and bloody well get out of the way as soon as it is safe to do so. Acknowleging drivers and thanking them should be automatic!

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Probably the best put advice so far.

Totally agree.
 
Sometimes you really need to ride two abreast. We used to do it all the time at a yard that was just off an M25 jct - people would drive WAY too fast!! If you went single file your stirrup would scrape the side of the cars, that's how close to the horses they were passsing - at 60 mph!!
At least when we were 2 abreast, cars had to 'overtake' us rather than just squeeze past!!
Wouldn't feel bad about it, compare it to cyclists - not only do they ride 2 abreast but they are also in groups of at least 12 so cars have no hope of ever getting past... but that seems to be ok!!
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Funny world we live in these days...(??)
 
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