RSPCA - Not all that bad actually

4leggedfurries

4leggedfurries

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For once I am giving them some praise, only a little mind you. I have to give my thanks to a lovely lady who was outside my local today (along with a couple of guys) who after having another sucessful hack, until the last leg, came to my aid when I got stuck at a junction with the horse freaking out. No one would give way to let me get out and carry on, they were thrundering past way over the speed limit, some with noisy trailers. Cars and motorbikes with very loud exhausts etc, but did anyone care that my horse was spinning, napping, practically sitting on the bonnet of the car behind? No they didnt!! I had to throw myself off the horse right on the junction, and quickly drag him up the road to the pub, just to get him out the way and there were still people driving right up his @ss!!! Freaking idiots!!! So while I was getting the horse to calm down, she stopped the traffic and one of the guys gave me a leg up back on the horse, once I got him moving again, they made sure the traffic stayed slow until I reached my lane, and the RSPCA lady followed in her van up the road then down my lane to make sure we got home safe. I went back to the pub later to say thanks and discovered she was so helpful as she comes from a really horsey family and hates seeing drivers not giving a fig when they see a horse. So a big thanks to her!
 
Inconsiderate drivers really nark me off to be honest, it doesn't take much to slow down and give a horse & rider a wide berth, particuarly when it's obvious that the horse isn't happy! Glad someone was there to help you!
 
While I agree that some drivers are very inconsiderate, as a horse rider and a car driver, I do get really annoyed when I drive very slowly pass riders and I don't get a thank you or even a smile from them. The more we thank drivers, the more they are likely to slow down for the next horse - even a nod and a smile if you can't take your hand off the reins would better than nothing. Plus the wearing of fluorescent clothing gives the drivers more chance of seeing the horse from a distance.
 
I always stop and pull as far into the hedge as possible and always smile and wave to say thank you even if the b*ggers have nearly knocked me off my horse, it infuriates me when I'm in the car if people dont thank me, so its second nature to me to do it. As for hi viz I always at least have my hi viz waist coat on and leg bands on the horse, if its grey and miserable I have his waterproof hi viz exercise sheet too.

ETA - I live in a very horsey village, where people are out literally every day on their horses, so there is no excuse for the drivers to say they didnt know horses hack out on these roads.
 
Im glad to hear you came across one helpful person from the RSPCA and that your story has a happy ending - every time Ive come into contact with them, they have been worse than useless.
 
this is so refreshing to hear :)


i've met some serious heroes too recently. firstly, week before last, i had a go at a driver for trying to overtake even though i was signalling left, on an incredibly narrow lane. he was apologetic and acknowleged he'd made a mistake. restored my faith in humanity, though i was incredibly mean to him. then shortly afterwards, pulled over into a layby on the right, my mum who was riding with me at the time went back to the one on the left, my TB went all silly and i lost my stirrup and got launched into the road, opposite a tractor, and dumped. the man in the tractor stopped, turned off his engine, checked me over (just a bruised elbow) and legged me back up. :)

then, last week, about 4 women galloped up to me (on my own, the ground doing a gate), walked about 20 meters past me and continued galloping. my TB reared and snapped her rein and ran onto the road as the gate to the road was open for a farmer. i **** myself, ran onto the road and flagged down a jeep which happened to be a farmer who keeps sheep next door to me...they drove me down the green lane which i rode up and gave me bailing twine to help lead my girl, then shaperoned me down the main road which she was inches away from and back up the hill to my field.

i really am quite lucky.
 
asmp said:
While I agree that some drivers are very inconsiderate, as a horse rider and a car driver, I do get really annoyed when I drive very slowly pass riders and I don't get a thank you or even a smile from them. The more we thank drivers, the more they are likely to slow down for the next horse - even a nod and a smile if you can't take your hand off the reins would better than nothing. Plus the wearing of fluorescent clothing gives the drivers more chance of seeing the horse from a distance.
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On a slightly separate not, yes I totally agree with this, I slow down ofcourse being a horsey person but do feel infuriated at the massive lack of thanks, its shocking, I say thank you to everyone.

Thank goodness you had such a lovely lady come to your rescue and that you got home safe, sounded like it could have gone very badly
 
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