Road Hacking ... So misserable!

[Scotsbadboy]

Hi All

I need to vent please. I am so unbelievably sick and tired of hacking on a short piece of road from my yard to private road hacking down to the bridleway. We are currently in the thick of East West Rail and HS2 traffic and the trucks are unbelievable! The amount, the speed, the lack of awareness, its just horrendous right now and coupled with the blind bend i have to ride on and the usual numpty drivers I'm feeling very low today.

To top it all off i tried to hack yesterday, got caught in some weird, dark and moody snow storm type weather so turned round and headed back. The boy was on his toes anyway and then some cyclist comes up behind us and passes close and deathly quiet ... well it put him over the edge and im ashamed to say i lost the plot with the cyclist! She was swearing at me, i was swearing at her, my sensitive horse was obviously upset at my shouting but i was just so angry, im ANGRY and im UPSET, what is wrong with these people!!
I know its about education and tolerance but for gods sake i am sick to death of these cyclists which have just multiplied since lockdowns began! For that split second when his bum went down and he spooked, for that split second i thought it was a car hitting us and i think that's why im still so upset this morning

Im so lucky, i have my horse at home, i have great hacking a stones throw from my yard and yet i feel trapped and scared after too many near misses recently and the dread i feel when i hear the traffic as im tacking up! Do i really have to resort to loading up and driving to the top of the private road? It would take me longer to hitch up, load up and unload than it would to ride the few hundred yards!!!

I try and report all near misses to the BHS and im thinking of writing an article for the local 'news mag' that comes out to the local area as they are always looking for articles (I'm not sure they'd appreciate what i have to say, lol!) and currently writing a letter to the local MP so no real point to this thread other than a rant and a moan! I try so hard to be positive, i literally train my brain to ignore the sound of the cars and trucks whilst i tack up, i generally dont think about that road but yesterday shook me up and yes, i am ashamed i lost the plot at this stupid cyclist!

 

[DirectorFury]

Get a hat cam that's good enough to capture number plates from quite far away, and some hi-vis with a CCTV logo on it - I find this tends to concentrate the minds of the drivers! Then you have proof to approach the site managers or the police with and could use it to build a case for your local mounted division to come and do some policing along that stretch.

Very few drivers will modify their behaviour until they realise there's something (i.e. video proof) that will cause actual consequences for them.

 

[ponyparty]

That sounds absolutely horrible and I'm not surprised you lost it. The thing is, when we have lots of negative experiences, it all builds up and then something that perhaps isn't really worthy of it as a standalone event, sends us over the edge! I've done it myself before, and not been proud of it, but I think it's human nature. You sound like you're doing all the right things. Just one other idea, would it be possible to get a "Slow - horses" sign installed on that stretch of road? It might take some badgering of the Council (I think that's who decides/installs them...) but could be worthwhile looking into? Hope you're ok anyway and neither you nor your horse suffer any long terms effects from the continuous negative experiences! Sounds like a nightmare stretch of road. Maybe do box up, just for a few times, until you've recovered a bit from the shock?

 

[chaps89]

Last year I did alot of road riding on suburban roads and found the trucks were usually really good. Is it worth contacting HS2, the contractors/truck companies and giving some polite but pointed feedback?

 

[scruffyponies]

I would pop a few cones of my own up in strategic places. Nobody ever questions who put them there (especially if you paint a white box around it), and they help slow the traffic.
Also, don't ask the council about putting up a 'slow horses' sign. Just do it.

 

[Hanno Verian]

I would contact HS2 and the respective other clients who's contractors are causing a problem, in the case of HS2 they have a Community Relations team thats a good start point - All of their contractors will be signed up to the Considerate Constructors scheme https://www.ccscheme.org.uk/affected-by-work/affected-by-works/ I would be getting in touch and telling them that there is a problem, they wont know unless you tell them. Even if all that happens is that their drivers are briefed to be more aware of horses on the roads and perhaps the BHS Pass Wide & Slow is incorporated into their briefing at least its something. HS2 will not want the bad publicity of their contractors causing issues in the area, the contractors will not want the bad publicity either its then a question of how effectively it filters down the line

I would be logging and reporting via police/BHS as well as to the client the more information you can give them - date, time, place, veh reg, contractors details the better even more so if its backed up by helmet cam footage.

 

[Scotsbadboy]

I would pop a few cones of my own up in strategic places. Nobody ever questions who put them there (especially if you paint a white box around it), and they help slow the traffic.
Also, don't ask the council about putting up a 'slow horses' sign. Just do it.

Thank you all, i appreciate it. Scruffyponies its on my list, when i asked a couple of years ago they said no to signage but now im just going to do my own (via a sign company) and put them either end of the bend!

 

[CanteringCarrot]

It wouldn't hurt to see if you can get an article published and/or spread the word a bit.

The CCTV/head cam is a good idea.

Boxing up might not save you time but might save you stress. Which could be worth it, at least for now.

People are so unaware. Whether it is a cyclist, runner, walker (with or without dog), rider, or whatever foot traffic I always slow and give a wide pass. My "rush" is not worth a life. I still can't believe that people behave like this. Cyclists are usually quite ok here and sound their bell when approaching from behind and generally slow down when they pass a horse. Some even stop if we are going opposite directions and let us walk past. Takes a few seconds out of their day. I'll also stop and move to the side to let them pass when I see them or when they ring their bell. It's so simple.

But the roads aren't so terrible here, although it only takes that one driver.

I would be a bit of a pest about it. If you put up a sign, what's the worst that could happen?

 

[pansymouse]

I've had most success with professional heavy goods vehicle drivers using the positive reinforcement and education route. If a vehicle is particularly considerate, I email the fleet manager and ask that the driver is recognised and explain why their actions were correct and considerate - a lot of HGV drivers will get recognition for considerate driving in their performance review process so are very happy when people take the time to let their line management know. If a driver is particularly or consistently inconsiderate I will also email their fleet manager, explain why and offer to input to driver training - most companies have an ongoing driver training programme.

I work for a company who run a fleet of HGV vehicles and at our depots thank you emails are routinely printed and pinned to the notice board in the crew room.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I feel your pain. I have a similar piece of road and it is HORRIBLE and I feel sick even thinking about it now. But I literally wear tons of hi viz (rider and horse), front and rear cameras (also as visible as possible) plus I made my own 'Caution horses on road' signs (or rather I got a company to make them then I put them on posts at strategic points in the road). I also hang up temporary signs on my fence - huge ones - when I go out which tell drivers to slow down and give me space or stop when asked. Admittedly its overkill for a 10min stretch of road but seems to have helped.

 

[Reacher]

I quite understand how you feel - I sometimes get the churning feeling when tacking up and I can see large lorries etc driving past.
There are some good cctv gilets on eBay though they would be better with the cctv logo on the from front as well as on the back.

 

[Wishfilly]

I agree that contacting HS2 with both positive and negative feedback may be a good idea. I'd also maybe ask them about times when the road might be quieter, as that might make your hacking slightly more relaxing.

It does sound really stressful, and I'm not surprised you lost it with the cyclist. I do think a lot of cyclists have no idea how to behave safely around horses, and education is important, but in the moment we can't always control how we react.

If it helps, I once lost it with two cyclists who whizzed through the middle of a ride I was escorting from a trekking centre (we were crossing the road to get back into our driveway, and they shot through a slight gap between two horses. Luckily, they didn't go behind the known kicker. Sometimes people do things that leave you so scared, you can't actually control your reaction!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Luckily, they didn't go behind the known kicker.

Is it wrong to wish they had. Might have learnt something if they survived.

 

[SEL]

I had a bad ride yesterday. My stretch of road is a bit longer (about a mile) but its the only way to the start of the bridlepaths and joins 2 villages - so you wouldn't expect it to be a race track. Fortunately not many lorries on a Sunday, but I was overtaken by cars that swerved around me at the last minute (pony and I dressed like liquorice allsorts so they really can't have been looking beyond the end of the bonnet), packs of cyclists which made no attempt to warn me of their presence nor slow down and a motorbike that was obviously using the road to see how fast he could go.

Even the cars that passed wide didn't bother to slow down. I was so pathetically grateful for the ones that did I gave them beaming smiles and a big wave. The pony is really, really good in traffic but even she was starting to get jumpy.

I really don't know what else we as riders can do to get the message across. I like ideas on here about large signs and my OH has told me to invest in a go pro - but when drivers won't even slow down for my friend's kiddies who are on the lead rein then you've got to wonder :-(

 

[Griffin]

I second emailing the HGV companies with both positive and negative feedback. I often email our local bus company and the refuse collectors to praise them and it does help.

Get a hat cam (with a hi Viz to say you're recording) and keep reporting to the BHS any near misses (you can download the Horse I app to make is easier). Speak to your regional or local BHS because they have got signs they can put up on risky routes. However, my yard owner put their own up on the verge and no one moved them for years.

It is a pain but contact your MP, local/parish council and the police. If you can get local support from other riders or vulnerable road users that can help.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

This is the sign I got done on Signomatic. Its attached to a post we placed on a bad bend, its reflective as well as hi viz.


This is the one I got printed at Giddyup Graphics size either A1 or A0 (can't remember!) on a yellow background and I hook it over my fence which faces the oncoming traffic just before I hack out.

 

[Scotsbadboy]

View attachment 69661
This is the sign I got done on Signomatic. Its attached to a post we placed on a bad bend, its reflective as well as hi viz.

View attachment 69664
This is the one I got printed at Giddyup Graphics size either A1 or A0 (can't remember!) on a yellow background and I hook it over my fence which faces the oncoming traffic just before I hack out.

Love these, thanks, i am definitely going to do two signs either end of the bend. I wonder if i can hook up a flashing light on a 4 minute type timer so i can push it on the way out and push the return one so they potentially know the flashing light means the road is occupied ..... Hmmm might need to look into that

 

[jnb]

PLEASE PLEASE get a hat camera (a visible one preferably but anything will do) - I have found in a world shattering emergency pointing to it has been the one thing the more challenged driver understands!
They don't care about YOU
They don't care about your HORSE
The only thing they care about is their CAR and their LICENCE (if they have one) and getting caught!

PS sorry for capitals, but, I reported a Jewson lorry last year as they could easily have hit me and my young cob head on had I not been decked in hi viz and had pulled out slightly from the hedge on a bend because I heard him flooring his HGV to get up the hill i was riding down - a single track village lane with high banks on both sides. I have video and they made him ring me to apologise and sent him for training!

 

[PeterNatt]

I have always ridden on the roads including central London and my advice is to wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket so that other road users can clearly see your hand signals from a distance. Also ensure your horse is wearing Hi Viz around it's legs etc.
Also take the BHR Road Safety course as this will teach you a number of tools to use when riding on the roads.
As regards HS2 the BHS would have been in contact them them at both a national and local level at the planning stage to remind them to ensure that all contractors and delivery vehicles are aware that horses are ridden on the local roads and that they must take great care. Clearly this is not being done so as above contact the Considerate Construction Team and the Sight Manager of the local HS2 team.

 

[Hanno Verian]

I had a bad ride yesterday. My stretch of road is a bit longer (about a mile) but its the only way to the start of the bridlepaths and joins 2 villages - so you wouldn't expect it to be a race track. Fortunately not many lorries on a Sunday, but I was overtaken by cars that swerved around me at the last minute (pony and I dressed like liquorice allsorts so they really can't have been looking beyond the end of the bonnet), packs of cyclists which made no attempt to warn me of their presence nor slow down and a motorbike that was obviously using the road to see how fast he could go.

Even the cars that passed wide didn't bother to slow down. I was so pathetically grateful for the ones that did I gave them beaming smiles and a big wave. The pony is really, really good in traffic but even she was starting to get jumpy.

I really don't know what else we as riders can do to get the message across. I like ideas on here about large signs and my OH has told me to invest in a go pro - but when drivers won't even slow down for my friend's kiddies who are on the lead rein then you've got to wonder :-(

Go Pro is good, a lot of the cheaper end cameras will record an event with or without audio, but often the footage is of too low a quality to be able to isolate an image of a vehicle to clearly see the number plate. Some camera is better than none, but a good camera that you can pull a clear still image off is what you need.

The Go Pro is great in terms of image quality, but you only get about 50min battery life on the Hero8 which although it has been superceeded by the Hero 9. I doubt the battery life differs much, to get that you have to switch off all the wifi connectivity etc. What you could possibly do is have it on for when you are on hi risk areas and put it into stand-by for the rest of the ride, you can control it from smart phone so you dont need to take your hat off, but just be aware of the battery constraint, I think with some of the older ones you can link them via USB to a seperate battery pack but you cant with the Hero8 (I dont know anbout the 9).

 

[jnb]

One of these has a far better battery life, up to 90min, I tend to turn mine off if there's no traffic or nothing interesting to record, otherwise using it to upload to YouTube.

https://cambox.eu/en/equestrian-sports/60-cambox-origin-horse.html

 

[DirectorFury]

Go Pro is good, a lot of the cheaper end cameras will record an event with or without audio, but often the footage is of too low a quality to be able to isolate an image of a vehicle to clearly see the number plate. Some camera is better than none, but a good camera that you can pull a clear still image off is what you need.

The Go Pro is great in terms of image quality, but you only get about 50min battery life on the Hero8 which although it has been superceeded by the Hero 9. I doubt the battery life differs much, to get that you have to switch off all the wifi connectivity etc. What you could possibly do is have it on for when you are on hi risk areas and put it into stand-by for the rest of the ride, you can control it from smart phone so you dont need to take your hat off, but just be aware of the battery constraint, I think with some of the older ones you can link them via USB to a seperate battery pack but you cant with the Hero8 (I dont know anbout the 9).

I ride with the H9 and can get 2hr15 of continuous recording before the battery gives up. Annoyingly it's not possible to add an extra battery pack and the only way to change the battery involves taking off your riding hat, removing the GoPro from its mount, and then doing battle with the battery door which requires both hands. They have introduced a way to run it from an external battery pack that will then switch onto the internal battery when the external is dead, but you'll either have a cable running up your neck and onto/around your hat, or the extra added weight of an external battery pack on your lid!

If I'm going for a longer hack I'll turn it on and off using the app to make sure there's enough battery if I need it, but for shorter rides it's not necessary.

 

[dreamcometrue]

I contacted a certain supermarket about their delivery drivers thundering past me very close and I suggested that they give them some training. I gave times dates and locations. They were horrified.
Every little helps ?

 

[Rowreach]

I quite understand how you feel - I sometimes get the churning feeling when tacking up and I can see large lorries etc driving past.
There are some good cctv gilets on eBay though they would be better with the cctv logo on the from front as well as on the back.

This looks like the one I got and for an extra 2 quid they will print it on the front as well as the back.

I've also got it on the tail flap of the exercise sheet.

Ridereye do quite a good fake camera hat strap, and they do a similar tabard but there's is about £30 and mine was under a tenner.

The prospect of being on camera definitely makes the speedmerchants wise up a bit.

 

[Rowreach]

I have always ridden on the roads including central London and my advice is to wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket so that other road users can clearly see your hand signals from a distance. Also ensure your horse is wearing Hi Viz around it's legs etc.
Also take the BHR Road Safety course as this will teach you a number of tools to use when riding on the roads.
As regards HS2 the BHS would have been in contact them them at both a national and local level at the planning stage to remind them to ensure that all contractors and delivery vehicles are aware that horses are ridden on the local roads and that they must take great care. Clearly this is not being done so as above contact the Considerate Construction Team and the Sight Manager of the local HS2 team.

I trained hundreds of riders to do their road safety tests and while I agree that hi viz on horse and rider and doing the training are brilliant and will definitely make you safer on the roads, there is simply no accounting for those utter ****ers who, whether from a complete lack of common sense or a complete lack of consideration, drive dangerously past horses. They don't care, they ignore or don't understand hand signals, and they have no respect for other road users whatsoever. And that's what this thread is about.

Cameras, head torches, or hi viz that has a camera on it and is clear enough that the drivers can see it clearly, ahead of time, are the only things that will slow the idiots down.

 

[TotalMadgeness]

I rate the Ghost X Drift camera - the battery life is brilliant (5 hours) and the video quality excellent. I've had no problem seeing registration numbers on these cameras. I also use the Boblov clip on cameras - usually clipped onto the back of my hat or tabard to capture drivers approaching from behind us. Again excellent battery life (2 hours?) and the video/stills quality is good too.

 

[Amun]

Practically all above plus it might help to get high vis similar to what police have. It says "polite" and it really looks like police at first sight. Everyone I know including me slows down even if speed limit is ok. Usually see it on motorbike drivers.

 

[TPO]

I contacted a certain supermarket about their delivery drivers thundering past me very close and I suggested that they give them some training. I gave times dates and locations. They were horrified.
Every little helps ?

I contacted tesco about one of their HGVs trying to run me off the road (I was in 3.5t lorry) including flashing lights and blaring horn, drawing level with horsebox then pulling in right up my backside.

Tesco couldnt care less despite having all the driver details and did zero about it.

I wasnt Twitter savvy enough to do anything about it at the time and replied in email and calls.

My horse was dripping in sweat and shaking he was so terrified and I wasnt much better. I hadnt done anything to provoke him and was in the slow lane of the motorway ad it was bad weather. I was overtaken by several other lorries so that easnt the issue. If I'd braked for any reason he would have killed Chip.

Im glad you got a better response. I have a phobia of all tesco lorries now!

 

[Flame_]

I also hate this now, but if I do find myself having to take on a stretch in heavy traffic my strategy is still to get out in the centre of the lane and belt on in trot. Make it awkward for everyone to negotiate you so they've little alternative but to either overtake wide if there's nothing oncoming or wait behind you until you pull over, by which time they're traveling at a sensible speed when they pass.

 

[PeterNatt]

There is a new initiative called 'Slow Pass' (Operation Vero) where the police will monitor drivers passing a ridden horse and those that are driving dangerously are stopped and talked to.