Rude riders

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Hi it's Charlotte White on the newsdesk asking for your help again.
Have any of you recently been on the receiving end of rude riders whilst driving?
Could you drop me a line at charlotte_white@ipcmedia.com, a call on 0203 1484 553 or reply to this thread.
Many thanks Charlotte
 
I slowed down to pass two horses the other week - no hiviz, riders wearing dark clothing riding bay horses. They didn't acknowledge my existence, much less thank me, so I stopped and suggested politely that they would make the roads a lot safer if they treated drivers with respect like I had treated them. Got told to F off! People like that endanger other riders who obey the highway code and are polite - a driver they annoy could easily kill me and my horse another time. Makes me MAD!! They obviously don't care about their horses, much less themselves!
 
Where I ride, there are as many badly behaved horse riders as there are rude dog walkers - as well as idiotic cyclists and also car drivers.

Most are lovely from each 'group' but there are a few in each which really are appalling & give such a bad impression to others
 
Yes today on the Lower Sunbury Road, two ladies riding two abreast in pink tabbards, neither were paying any attention to the cars that had slowed to pass, neither had the manners to smile/nod/raise a hand or acknowledge in anyway the drivers who were all being very courteous and passing wide and slow. Lady on outside (on a bay) was riding with only one hand on the reins, deep in conversation with her mate and gesturing at her mate as she talked - thus no bloody excuse for not putting her hand up to thank the drivers.

Riders like this annoy me so much and do nothing to encourage drivers to slow.:mad:
 
I've had a whole gaggle of racehorses come blistering past me at a spanking trot along the roads with no warning whatsoever. Despite the fact that my boy is an angel they clearly upset him by doing this and there was no acknowledgment at all that we were even there. I was lucky I didn't end up in the stream at the side of the lane!

This used to be a regular occurrence where we are but seems to have tailed off recently I'm pleased to say, no idea why though! So rude! :(
 
Yup - sadly - but thankfully more good than bad. But I do see:

  • riders who slop along chatting together, or on a mobile with no eye or care for traffic building up behind them, then when said cars carefully manoeuvre past, don't even acknowledge with a wave or a nod.
  • or those who ride strung out along the road so you have to overtake 5 or 6 in a line: catch each other up or wait for the one at the back!
  • or those who insist on hacking at dusk with no high vis.

Sorry - bit of a bugbear of mine having spent nearly 40 years waving 'thank you' to drivers until my right hand has an aversion to being on the reins!

But to balance things out, I have the above 3 negative points about riders - don't even start me on drivers :mad: :rolleyes:
 
Not rude as such but down right daft! Lately we've had one person on the main road- national speed limit area with lots of bends- wearing no hat not decent shoes never mind any hi-vis! Luckily the pony is grey. She rides either close into the side of the road so you can hardly see, or some inexperienced drivers just overtake at speed.
 
Not me but my sister was stuck behind two riders chatting away whilst riding down a fairly twisty road and not dropping into single file or pulling into a gateway to let traffic past.
The horses were sane and sensible. They never thanked oncoming traffic that slowed.
When my sister did get past them she stopped and told them exactly what she thought of their inconsideration and how they were setting a bad example for all riders.
As she got back into the car one said to the other "How dare she?"
The other quickly replied "Thank heavens it was her and not her sister because if it had been we both would have been in tears!"

I haven't been in the area for well over thirty years!
 
Yes, lady I meet at least once a fortnight either riding myself or out driving. Rides down the middle of the road on the buckle end of the reins & often either on the phone, or with the reins over her wrist while she texts or whatever she's doing. Completely ignores any safe passing places on narrow roads. I have tried speaking to her nicely about it but got an explanation that the cars can ****ing well wait. If we see her when riding we trot past quickly so nobody mistakes us as being together. Did pull over in my car one day last year after she & her rude friends had blocked the road for half a mile before I got past & pointed out turning round to make rude hand gestures at cars driving slowly because you have blocked the road isn't the way to do things. Plus shared my opinion of her non too politely. She does tend to recognise my car & sort herself out now but otherwise the same. I am regularly asked by non horsey locals if I know 'the arrogant cow on the dark horse'
 
I do worry that people think I am rude when I can't take a hand off the rein as trying to manage a sharp horse. I always acknowledge with a nod of the head but I must say I look for that in other riders on apparently quiet horses and don't see it. They don't help our cause
 
Foxhunter49 said:
Not me but my sister was stuck behind two riders chatting away whilst riding down a fairly twisty road and not dropping into single file or pulling into a gateway to let traffic past.
The horses were sane and sensible. They never thanked oncoming traffic that slowed.
When my sister did get past them she stopped and told them exactly what she thought of their inconsideration and how they were setting a bad example for all riders.
As she got back into the car one said to the other "How dare she?"
The other quickly replied "Thank heavens it was her and not her sister because if it had been we both would have been in tears!"

I haven't been in the area for well over thirty years![/QUOTE)


What on earth makes people think they have the right to stop and tell off people who they don't know and have no connection to .
No wonder they said how dare she who's made your sister the manners police.
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If you take a minute to read the Gloucestershire Horse Riders Facebook page, there are a large number of sanctimonious baggages who seem to think shouting at drivers to slow down when they already have, and taking a 'horses were here firsts' attitude is the most sensible option... *rollseyes* as a driver they annoy me, and as a rider they make me ashamed to be associated with them.
 
AprilBlossom said:
If you take a minute to read the Gloucestershire Horse Riders Facebook page, there are a large number of sanctimonious baggages who seem to think shouting at drivers to slow down when they already have, and taking a 'horses were here firsts' attitude is the most sensible option... *rollseyes* as a driver they annoy me, and as a rider they make me ashamed to be associated with them.
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Really? I haven't seen anyone on there who shouts at drivers who've already slowed down? :confused:
 
Sorry, but I for one will and have said something to riders when they are rude, or doing something dangerous, like leaving to go out on their hack at dusk with no hi viz, or being blatently rude to car drivers. If we don't then more drivers will just gun past us. I am always polite though.
 
Well I just don't think just because I ride and some else rides I have any right to go about questioning their behaviour I would no more do that than make a comment about how people are bringing up their children I might not like what you do but I keep my mouth shut unless asked that's exactly why livery yards are stuffed with people bickering..
 
Perhaps not overtly rude, but dangerously rude I do see riders out with out a stitch of hi-vis and not a care in the world. While they're not gesticulating or pulling faces, it's rude I think to not think of the safety of other road users by making themselves more visible on the roads.

On a few occasions I have passed an older gentleman who drives his trotter at dawn on a fast road and will wave his arm for you to slow down - but he's usually dressed in very dark clothing and on a dark morning it's very difficult to see them! If you pass him there is no acknowledgement for having passed him carefully. I don't mind that much but other drivers certainly might!

Have also passed a rider on an extremely fast road on a blind bend riding out - again with no hi-vis - and by the time I passed her I could only manage to get down to about 40mph (having been doing 60 before I saw her). Why can't riders consider their horse or others on the road even if they don't care for their own safety?
 
The Fuzzy Furry said:
Where I ride, there are as many badly behaved horse riders as there are rude dog walkers - as well as idiotic cyclists and also car drivers.

Most are lovely from each 'group' but there are a few in each which really are appalling & give such a bad impression to others
Click to expand...

Same here!!
Must be a "South" thing!
Oz :)
 
I must admit if I see someone who is potentially putting themselves/horse in danger I do say something - esp if they are young.

I passed a girl the other day at dusk who had no hi-viz on and literally didnt see her till I was almost up the horses bum (and I was only doing 20) I stopped, said hello and explained that she was very very hard to see - she was extremely polite and apologised saying she realised and it was a mistake as she normally wore hi-viz - hopefully it will just jog her memory next time she goes out to stick some hi-viz on.
 
Goldenstar said:
Well I just don't think just because I ride and some else rides I have any right to go about questioning their behaviour I would no more do that than make a comment about how people are bringing up their children I might not like what you do but I keep my mouth shut unless asked that's exactly why livery yards are stuffed with people bickering..
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I think it's different on the road. I won't interfere at our yard unless asked by the owner but on the road, I do take the view that the driver that rider has just annoyed may well be the less tolerant driver I meet when I am out riding. At the yard, unless clearly causing pain, it's up to the owners and how they choose to work, rug or keep their horse. On the road they could be causing danger to third innocent parties.

And yes I did meet two the other day. Yes they were wearing hi viz but no acknowledgement or even looking to see what was behind. Well it was me. With a trailer and 2 young horses on board. Blooming nightmare trying to pass as they would not move over.. plus I was concerned about overtaking 2 horses with a loaded trailer as most horses are not that keen on trailers coming close..one commented they were surprised I was overtaking ( sun roof was open) and I did shout back how would they know? They had never looked to see what was behind or for how long!
 
Luci07 said:
I think it's different on the road. I won't interfere at our yard unless asked by the owner but on the road, I do take the view that the driver that rider has just annoyed may well be the less tolerant driver I meet when I am out riding. At the yard, unless clearly causing pain, it's up to the owners and how they choose to work, rug or keep their horse. On the road they could be causing danger to third innocent parties.

And yes I did meet two the other day. Yes they were wearing hi viz but no acknowledgement or even looking to see what was behind. Well it was me. With a trailer and 2 young horses on board. Blooming nightmare trying to pass as they would not move over.. plus I was concerned about overtaking 2 horses with a loaded trailer as most horses are not that keen on trailers coming close..one commented they were surprised I was overtaking ( sun roof was open) and I did shout back how would they know? They had never looked to see what was behind or for how long!
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Well if they made a comment to me I would of course reply but I would never expect someone who I did not know to comment on my behaviour I think it's frankly incredible that people on here think they have the right to to stop someone on the road and make give advice to strangers .
If I stopped every rider I saw riding like a bag of spuds unaware they are half out of control of their horse stirrups to long with weak positions looking like they need six months being yelled at in the school before venturing on the roads on a living animal with potentialy quick reactions contact either vice like or non existent It would take me an age to get any where and make myself very unpopular.
There's people round here who look as if they think Hi zi is some sort of talisman that will keep them safe while riding in the most incredibly inept way.
But I keep my mouth shut because it would be rude and I would look Like a grumpy old snob.
 
There is a roundabout in the middle of some lanes in the area where my OH lives, the limit there is 60 so lots of fast moving cars. You can't see the roads leading off from the roundabout until you pull up to it due to hedges.
We were driving towards the roundabout when a woman trotted the wrong way round the round about, onto the pavement then had to pull her horse up quickly as she was about to trot in front of us and had to stop at the last minute. OH turned his radio off as it was quite loud then stopped to let her past and she glared at him the whole way across the road.
 
Goldenstar said:
Well if they made a comment to me I would of course reply but I would never expect someone who I did not know to comment on my behaviour I think it's frankly incredible that people on here think they have the right to to stop someone on the road and make give advice to strangers .
If I stopped every rider I saw riding like a bag of spuds unaware they are half out of control of their horse stirrups to long with weak positions looking like they need six months being yelled at in the school before venturing on the roads on a living animal with potentialy quick reactions contact either vice like or non existent It would take me an age to get any where and make myself very unpopular.
There's people round here who look as if they think Hi zi is some sort of talisman that will keep them safe while riding in the most incredibly inept way.
But I keep my mouth shut because it would be rude and I would look Like a grumpy old snob.
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Lol Goldenstar, whilst I agree with some of your comments, I have and do say something to rude riders, purely because I have to ride the same roads with the same drivers and I don't want anyone they have peed off to meet me and my horses on another day.
 
I have no issues telling rude riders what I think. If I can explain nicely why being rude isn't on I will, but I also will wind down my window & shout 'smile' if the same person blanks me twice. They might not be bothered about annoying drivers, but the more rude riders there are the more drivers will resent horses on the road. Whether its right or not, a driver who is on the receiving end is likely to tar us all with the same brush. So when the result of being rude could have a knock on effect when I hack with my 7yr old, or on a green horse myself I do consider it my business.
 
littlelegs said:
I have no issues telling rude riders what I think. If I can explain nicely why being rude isn't on I will, but I also will wind down my window & shout 'smile' if the same person blanks me twice. They might not be bothered about annoying drivers, but the more rude riders there are the more drivers will resent horses on the road. Whether its right or not, a driver who is on the receiving end is likely to tar us all with the same brush. So when the result of being rude could have a knock on effect when I hack with my 7yr old, or on a green horse myself I do consider it my business.
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It's not rude not to smile at people, have you ever been to London ? It is rude however rude to wind down your window and shout at people no perhaps Its not just rude it's rude and and a little mad , no wonder they don't smile at you they think OMG theres that mad women from up the road and are desperately looking for a field they can escape into.
 
Personally, I differentiate myself from rude riders by not being rude. I always nod/wave/smile at any driver (or cyclist or pedestrian) who has been courteous to me, and I make myself aware of traffic around me at all times. I'll pull over if I can to let drivers past. I can't say I've ever taken a rude rider to task, although I appreciate many other road users tar us all with the same brush...I just think it's more effective to demonstrate to others that we're not all rude. Much in the same way I don't accost other drivers if they're rude/arrogant/dangerous (other than gesticulating :p) I wouldn't stop to tell another rider I don't approve of them.
 
pookie said:
Personally, I differentiate myself from rude riders by not being rude. I always nod/wave/smile at any driver (or cyclist or pedestrian) who has been courteous to me, and I make myself aware of traffic around me at all times. I'll pull over if I can to let drivers past. I can't say I've ever taken a rude rider to task, although I appreciate many other road users tar us all with the same brush...I just think it's more effective to demonstrate to others that we're not all rude. Much in the same way I don't accost other drivers if they're rude/arrogant/dangerous (other than gesticulating :p) I wouldn't stop to tell another rider I don't approve of them.
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Yes that's me too, that least someone's understands where I am coming from.
 
Goldenstar said:
If I stopped every rider I saw riding like a bag of spuds unaware they are half out of control of their horse stirrups to long with weak positions looking like they need six months being yelled at in the school before venturing on the roads on a living animal with potentialy quick reactions contact either vice like or non existent It would take me an age to get any where and make myself very unpopular.
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No one is saying that they stop people to tell them that they need to work on their position. They stop people who are being dangerous (eg. wearing dark clothes on a dark horse at dusk with no Hi-viz) or inconsiderate (blocking the road when there's plenty of room to pull in or move single-file and a large queue of cars building up behind them).
 
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