Rude riders

Tbh Goldenstar I couldn't care less what they think. If I have been stuck in a line of cars for 10 minutes while a queue builds up behind on a busy road, the rider ignores passing places & on more than one occasion can't raise a smile or nod then their opinion really doesn't bother me. And if the result is that they recognise my car & move its all to the good. Not just for my sake but because all the other drivers who would otherwise be kept waiting behind me till there was room to pass safely won't be annoyed by them either. I don't care if people smile, nod or wave a hand really, but if smiling or nodding whilst you hack is beyond you then hacking alone is too. Its entirely different if someone is concentrating on the horse, even if its obvious they only have to concentrate cos they are very novice, but if you are slopping along with one hand on the buckle & a phone or fag in the other you can manage to acknowledge a driver.
 
Amaranta said:
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.
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Exactly this. There's enough resentment from a number of car drivers about horses on the road as it is. If another rider's selfish behaviour could result in a driver not bothering to be careful next time they see a horse (which could well be me, or you, Goldenstar, or Amaranta) then I fully reserve the right to pull them up on it.
 
We got stuck behind two riders on New Years Day - two abreast, wandering along on a loose rein, no hi-viz. They made no effort to move over whatsoever, so my partner crawled behind them for ages at a safe distance before we reached a suitable spot on the narrow road to safely overtake. They didn't thank us, or even crack a smile, despite making eye contact.

I fully appreciate that some horses may need a buddy between them and the traffic, but when I have been on one of those horses we have always moved off the road into a gateway (if the road was too narrow to overtake two horses safely) as soon as possible, and have thanked drivers profusely for their patience. It is nothing more than basic good manners to do so. I have also always maintained a rein contact on horses which may have been unpredictable with traffic - which to me is nothing more than basic common sense!

As my partner said at the time and others have said here, it is riders like them that lead to non-horsey drivers becoming frustrated and behaving dangerously. And the next rider that the driver meets will likely bear the brunt of that.
 
There's a woman near me who wears all the polite hi vis stuff - irony is she is anything but, I pass her at least once a week, slow down to at least 15mph (I think much slower is too slow if horse is being sensible, I know I find it annoying when drivers creep past a snails pace, but I thank them anyway) and I never get a thanks, or even a smile :rolleyes:
 
I just would never ever stop and have words with a stranger however I did once speak to a teenage son of a friend who overtook me going far to fast but I spoke to his mother first she agreed I should speak to him as she thought it would get though more if it was not her so I collared him him the local pub he was mortified but does not seem to hold it against me.
 
I ride out with 2 people who wear Hi-Viz......but are happy not to move into gateways and let traffic build up.....they also don't regularly thank drivers who have slowed down.

It really embarrasses me.....I'm the only one who thanks/nods and waves traffic one......

I don't know if go overboard on the thanks because I have young horses- both are now fine in traffic but some of that is thanks to courteous drivers who didn't scare them when they first started out on the roads. .....
 
Goldenstar...think you misinterpreting what people are saying. I would not suggest someone needs lessons, change stirrups etc etc either on or off the road BUT if someone is acting in a manner which is dangerous to other road users, then I will.

Though on a more positive note I actually think most riders display considerably horse road sense and are fully aware of what other users are doing..I did stop to tell a rider on a bright day that I had nearly hit her as she was on the road in the shadow on a dark horse. I was not rude, thought she would like to know and also told her that I too had a dark horse and had not realised I would also be hidden in the shadows on a really sunny day. She did thank me!
 
Hippona said:
I ride out with 2 people who wear Hi-Viz......but are happy not to move into gateways and let traffic build up.....they also don't regularly thank drivers who have slowed down.

It really embarrasses me.....I'm the only one who thanks/nods and waves traffic one......

I don't know if go overboard on the thanks because I have young horses- both are now fine in traffic but some of that is thanks to courteous drivers who didn't scare them when they first started out on the roads. .....
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Hmm when I was bringing on my 5yo who was an unconfident hacker I was set back loads when a double decker overtook me full of school kids. I had pulled in to let the bus past as is was a narrow road, the kids were all screaming and banging on the windows :mad: I was lucky to stay on I think, horse was not enjoying it. I should have complained to the school, but they did the same to an old guy who drives his pony round he village, and he went to the school and complained and it stopped.
 
Being a rider it really annoys me when people like the above behave how they do it gives us all bad press - my worst one is a girl near me hacks with an ipod in and usually riding with her three dogs ( not having a go at people who ride with dogs by the way!) but they are all over the road, not only does she ride in the middle of the road she can't hear when your behind her and her dogs are leaping in and out the hedges - we have really narrow roads that link up to a road that people tend to put their foot down on and shes riding like shes in a field with no one around for miles - I followed her for nearly half a mile when i actually got out my car becuase i would hate to scare the horse (afterall not his fault his rider is in the middle of her latest download) and went and asked her to move over - she was rude and continued to walk very slowly to the next gateway - really annoyed me.
 
Luci07 said:
Goldenstar...think you misinterpreting what people are saying. I would not suggest someone needs lessons, change stirrups etc etc either on or off the road BUT if someone is acting in a manner which is dangerous to other road users, then I will.

Though on a more positive note I actually think most riders display considerably horse road sense and are fully aware of what other users are doing..I did stop to tell a rider on a bright day that I had nearly hit her as she was on the road in the shadow on a dark horse. I was not rude, thought she would like to know and also told her that I too had a dark horse and had not realised I would also be hidden in the shadows on a really sunny day. She did thank me!
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Well there's no difference these people are at far higher risk because of there riding than anything else I strikes me as incongruous that they dawdle alone covered in high viz riding like lemons seemingly completly complacent about their roll in all this there seem to be rider round here who think it the drivers job not to frighten them and their horses rather than ride and get in control .
I witness a complete display of incompetence recently when a horse got loose
Let go by it's rider while see was shutting a gate coming out of a field full of our neibours young lambs why the thought they should ride though a field if very young lambs is beyond me to start with ( not a bridle way).
I had stopped nearly fifty yards away as I came round a corner as the rider was on the ground shutting the gate while her horse jumped about she was ignoring the horse lack of attention the horse then broke away and bolted ( it has spotted my horse standing in his carriage )the other horse with it followed down a road luckily my horse although somewhat rattled behaved and I put my groom down to warn the traffic coming passed I did ask round to try to find out if they where ok but could not find out where they had come from but no one had heard there was an accident.
I would rather riders where on the ball than smiled .
 
I always acknowledge drivers who have slowed down, and thank them. I make a point of always being friendly and courteous, as I want drivers around the area to think well of riders and ensure they slow down etc!
As a car driver, and pillion passenger on my OHs motorbike, I've seen many ignorant riders, some stupid riders and some who are just plain rude!!
Many ride without hi-viz, which is silly but not the end of the world. But the worst are the riders who mosy along in the middle of the road, chatting away, paying no attention to the road. Then when you slow down, pass widely etc they don't even act like they've seen you! Would this behaviour be acceptable if done by a driver?! NO, so it shouldn't be acceptable for riders.
I've got 2 examples off the top of my head:
1st one, young girl (early teens) on a bloody great tb she obviously couldn't handle - but to top it off she was riding bareback!!! Country lanes, twisty bends, national speed limit. No hi-viz, no body protector. I saw her from quite a distance, and kept speed right down, when I got closer horse was slathered with sweat, dancing like a ballerina on speed and threatening to throw the girl off at any given moment. I pulled right in to the hedge, turned engine off and got out to ask if she needed a hand (and before anyone jumps in with 'its none of anyone else's business' etc, I couldn't live with myself if anything had ended up happening to her!). She was in floods of tears and I got a hold of the reins and asked her to dismount which she did. Turned out she had an argument with her mum, and had run off with the horse :o! I walked them both home, to a very grateful mother! I gave the girl a gentle lecture on safety and I expect she will never do something that stupid ever again!
2nd example:
Girl riding same roads, horse was tacked up to the eyeballs with every gadget imaginable, and was being ridden right in the middle of the road. Again, no hi-viz, couldn't understand for the life of me why she didn't move over so I could pass. Wound down my window to hear her yapping away and the sound of music. So I called out to her, no response. Horse then spooks and she ends up in the hedge. I leap out to check she's ok (grabbing horse who luckily just stood munching from the opposite verge) and guess what?! In one ear she has an iPod, turned to full volume. In the other she has her phone on hands free, taking a call!!! I ask if she's ok, and when she says she is I tell her perhaps it would be a whole lot safer for herself and the horse if she left the iPod at home and the gossip for another time...her reply - 'go f yourself you interfering bitch' whilst snatching her horses reins from me! If I wasn't so gobsmacked I would've probably smacked her in the gob!!

Riders and drivers both use the road, some of do both. Which ever way you're using the road, please try and be polite and accommodating - you wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of rudeness so make sure you aren't contributing to the problem!

Kim
 
kimberleigh said:
I always acknowledge drivers who have slowed down, and thank them. I make a point of always being friendly and courteous, as I want drivers around the area to think well of riders and ensure they slow down etc!
As a car driver, and pillion passenger on my OHs motorbike, I've seen many ignorant riders, some stupid riders and some who are just plain rude!!
Many ride without hi-viz, which is silly but not the end of the world. But the worst are the riders who mosy along in the middle of the road, chatting away, paying no attention to the road. Then when you slow down, pass widely etc they don't even act like they've seen you! Would this behaviour be acceptable if done by a driver?! NO, so it shouldn't be acceptable for riders.
I've got 2 examples off the top of my head:
1st one, young girl (early teens) on a bloody great tb she obviously couldn't handle - but to top it off she was riding bareback!!! Country lanes, twisty bends, national speed limit. No hi-viz, no body protector. I saw her from quite a distance, and kept speed right down, when I got closer horse was slathered with sweat, dancing like a ballerina on speed and threatening to throw the girl off at any given moment. I pulled right in to the hedge, turned engine off and got out to ask if she needed a hand (and before anyone jumps in with 'its none of anyone else's business' etc, I couldn't live with myself if anything had ended up happening to her!). She was in floods of tears and I got a hold of the reins and asked her to dismount which she did. Turned out she had an argument with her mum, and had run off with the horse :o! I walked them both home, to a very grateful mother! I gave the girl a gentle lecture on safety and I expect she will never do something that stupid ever again!
2nd example:
Girl riding same roads, horse was tacked up to the eyeballs with every gadget imaginable, and was being ridden right in the middle of the road. Again, no hi-viz, couldn't understand for the life of me why she didn't move over so I could pass. Wound down my window to hear her yapping away and the sound of music. So I called out to her, no response. Horse then spooks and she ends up in the hedge. I leap out to check she's ok (grabbing horse who luckily just stood munching from the opposite verge) and guess what?! In one ear she has an iPod, turned to full volume. In the other she has her phone on hands free, taking a call!!! I ask if she's ok, and when she says she is I tell her perhaps it would be a whole lot safer for herself and the horse if she left the iPod at home and the gossip for another time...her reply - 'go f yourself you interfering bitch' whilst snatching her horses reins from me! If I wasn't so gobsmacked I would've probably smacked her in the gob!!

Riders and drivers both use the road, some of do both. Which ever way you're using the road, please try and be polite and accommodating - you wouldn't like to be on the receiving end of rudeness so make sure you aren't contributing to the problem!

Kim
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Ok hands up I would I have stopped for the rider in tears.
 
Stencilface said:
There's a woman near me who wears all the polite hi vis stuff - irony is she is anything but, I pass her at least once a week, slow down to at least 15mph (I think much slower is too slow if horse is being sensible, I know I find it annoying when drivers creep past a snails pace, but I thank them anyway) and I never get a thanks, or even a smile :rolleyes:
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Either we're closer than I expected (Guiseley!) or there's 2 of them in W Yorks. Also met her out while walking the dog, put the (big, bouncy) dog in a down as we were approcahing each other on a narrow bridleway and she made a point of looking in the other direction as she rode by :wtf: Bit my tongue (and cheek and lip) but it still makes me mad now. I will shout thank you sarcastically as I crawl by if my window is open [/passiveaggressive].

OTOH there's another lady who rides a horse with a docked tail, always in high vis, ALWAYS waves a thank you with the biggest grin on her face. It cheers me up to see her. One day I'll stop and tell her.

We have a police officer(!!) on our yard who rips the p1ss out of me for riding in high vis ('if you can't see a horse, you shouldn't be driving') - out of all people surely she should know. :sigh: and another livery who when out on a hack with her asked if I knew all the people I was waving at? Pointed out I was thanking them for slowing down and she asked why - people had to do it?

I don't hack with them now...
 
HHnewsdesk said:
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
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A categoric 'never'.

It's noticeable (when I'm driving) how polite riders are, and how appreciative of any effort made whatsoever by drivers.
 
yes - but only very occasionally - and as a rider who has to ride the same roads i do stop and say something as i do not want a rider to take offence and not bother slowing down for me.
saying that the drivers round here a pretty good - i always say thank you, smile and wave and they usually are pretty happy.
 
yes, two riders, riding aacross the road when we were riding towards them - made no effort to pull over and let us go past. both on mature horses, as were we but they continued talking and we had to pull up onto the verge for them to go past. Thank goodness our horses (3 of them) didn't kick. There was no thank you from either of them. Have seen them out whilst in car too and no sign of thank you when you drive past. Grrrrr!
 
The rudest of all riders, IMO, are those who think (and in some cases even demand) that the whole world stops what it's doing whilst they're out riding their horse, be it drivers, cyclists, dog walkers or other riders.

The world does not revolve around you and your horse. All horses should learn to accept things that go on in the big wide world, should accept meeting other horses whilst out hacking and on fun rides, etc, and if you cannot cope with your horse in these situations you should find a horse you can cope with, stick to riding on your own property or give up altogether.
 
Think a nod or even eye contact is enough: there can after all be physical reasons someone can't smile, or they might be having a bad day. I myself often come across as glowering if I try to smile:(
 
kimberleigh said:
2nd example:
Girl riding same roads, horse was tacked up to the eyeballs with every gadget imaginable, and was being ridden right in the middle of the road. Again, no hi-viz, couldn't understand for the life of me why she didn't move over so I could pass. Wound down my window to hear her yapping away and the sound of music. So I called out to her, no response. Horse then spooks and she ends up in the hedge. I leap out to check she's ok (grabbing horse who luckily just stood munching from the opposite verge) and guess what?! In one ear she has an iPod, turned to full volume. In the other she has her phone on hands free, taking a call!!! I ask if she's ok, and when she says she is I tell her perhaps it would be a whole lot safer for herself and the horse if she left the iPod at home and the gossip for another time...her reply - 'go f yourself you interfering bitch' whilst snatching her horses reins from me! If I wasn't so gobsmacked I would've probably smacked her in the gob!!
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Oh my word, how rude was that! Sounds like she needed to be shoved (hard!) back in the bush she fell into!:mad:
 
marmalade76 said:
The rudest of all riders, IMO, are those who think (and in some cases even demand) that the whole world stops what it's doing whilst they're out riding their horse, be it drivers, cyclists, dog walkers or other riders.

The world does not revolve around you and your horse. All horses should learn to accept things that go on in the big wide world, should accept meeting other horses whilst out hacking and on fun rides, etc, and if you cannot cope with your horse in these situations you should find a horse you can cope with, stick to riding on your own property or give up altogether.
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I agree in part and don't expect non-horsey people to understand how horses react but if everyone was considerate of each other then wouldn't the world be a nicer place?

I ride in the woods and we have mountain bike rides, running races, bluebell walks, dog walkers, horse riders etc. etc. and my horse is generally ok with all those but on an increasingly windy day the other day in the woods with where my horse was very tense I met a couple of walkers and they had a massive umbrella and I could feel that there could be a bit of a nasty reaction and I did politely ask if they wouldn't mind putting it down -which they did and I thanked them profusely.

I politely asked, they courteously responded, I thanked and we all went about our business safely and happily. No need for anyone to be aggressive or defensive just mindful of each others needs. Part of being in a supposedly advanced society.
 
Very well said Marmalade, couldn't agree more.
I see where you're coming from onmybreak but in that situation some riders would be slagging off the walkers for being out with the umbrella in the first place. They're the type that annoy me. Did have to laugh once when an adult woman had a go because her horse pranced past daughter & I. It's pretty rude to expect I should move as an adult but when you start demanding a 7yr old on an 11.1 should halt off the track while you pass then you have issues imo.
 
onmybreak said:
I agree in part and don't expect non-horsey people to understand how horses react but if everyone was considerate of each other then wouldn't the world be a nicer place?

I ride in the woods and we have mountain bike rides, running races, bluebell walks, dog walkers, horse riders etc. etc. and my horse is generally ok with all those but on an increasingly windy day the other day in the woods with where my horse was very tense I met a couple of walkers and they had a massive umbrella and I could feel that there could be a bit of a nasty reaction and I did politely ask if they wouldn't mind putting it down -which they did and I thanked them profusely.

I politely asked, they courteously responded, I thanked and we all went about our business safely and happily. No need for anyone to be aggressive or defensive just mindful of each others needs. Part of being in a supposedly advanced society.
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But you didn't demand that they put their brolly down, you asked nicely, which was not really what I was getting at!

There is a woman who lives near where I keep my ponies who a few years ago used to annoy me greatly because she never acknowledged me for slowing down when I passed her when driving, despite the fact that she knows me (infact she is married to my husband's cousin). So one day, when I saw her coming the other way on her school master, I didn't bother (I must have been having a bad day!). Guess what? She could take her hand off the rein to wave at me crossly for not slowing down! She then she rode straight to my yard to complain about me (I knew darn well that she would do this, partly 'cause she has a friend/ relly through marriage who also keeps her horse there). YO quite rightly told her that what I do when not on her property was none of hers. When I next saw the friend /relly I told her to tell that woman that if she can take her hand off the rein to 'tell me off' for not slowing down then she can darn well take it off to thank me when I do! She has always thanked me since.

My point is, you can't have it all ways, you cannot ignor consideration then get arsey when you then get none. Nor can you demand that random people do what you want, but you can ask nicely and you should be appreciative of any consideration shown towards you, whether you requested it or not.
 
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marmalade76 said:
The rudest of all riders, IMO, are those who think (and in some cases even demand) that the whole world stops what it's doing whilst they're out riding their horse, be it drivers, cyclists, dog walkers or other riders.

The world does not revolve around you and your horse. All horses should learn to accept things that go on in the big wide world, should accept meeting other horses whilst out hacking and on fun rides, etc, and if you cannot cope with your horse in these situations you should find a horse you can cope with, stick to riding on your own property or give up altogether.
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Yes exactly but some really people do think this.
 
A young girl riding her pony bareback in just a head collar and lead rein down a short stretch of dual carriage way. No hat, no hi viz and it was getting on for dusk. The pony was as good as gold but she was completely oblivious to the traffic and potential danger. I didn't know whether to be annoyed or scared for her - but disappointed she didn't have a responsible adult to help her stay safe.
 
Certainly get very annoyed by riders who do not thank drivers as I am very obsessive about thanking them! I am of the mindset that the next time that driver who they did not thank is passing a horse it could be me!

Came up behind a rider walking her horse very very slowly down a one track lane the other day and when she eventually pulled over she had the gall to have a go at me for driving too close (I was not!!) so I pointed out to her in no uncertain terms that she should have either trotted on or pulled into one of the other two passing places that she had walked straight past! I assume it was because these were narrow whilst the one she eventually went into was a driveway but if her horse is that bad in traffic that she cannot pull over and let me pass at 5mph she shouldn't be on the bloody road!!
 
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