Rude riders

I passed some riders on a lane the other morning when it was a bit dark and gloomy, no high viz on but i slowed right down and passed carefully, smiled at them and they both scowled at me, didn't say thanks or anything!
 
How many car drivers that you have pulled over for while riding thank you for doing so?
I will always pull over or trot to the nearest pull in or even turn round on the narrow lanes if I've just passed a pull in but 90% of car drivers will not thank me for doing this. Most glare at me for making them wait 10 secs! I always thank drivers that slow down/stop/pull over etc.

I've never stopped to say anything to to a rider but I have felt that their actions could result in other car drivers not being as patient the next time they meet a horse.
I drive a fairly quiet car and have on many occasions had to follow horses riders for some distance before they have realised I am there. It worries me that non horsey drivers may beep their horn or rev the engine in this situation.
I know I don't look behind me as often as I probably should, Riding and Road Safety test says every 10 secs, but I will always listen out for cars and do check behind often as we get alot of cyclists.
 
Do you tell other people driving cars/bikes etc. off for not smiling/nodding to acknoweldge you obeying the rules of the road? If some driver is driving fast past you note down the reg and report them-that is the only way to combat inconsiderate driving. I don't think half the drivers notice that I nod and smile at them when out on the sharp warmblood-who looks very docile because i have two hands on the reins controlling!
Manners become people, but it is not up to strangers to try and ram them into others.
 
And since when did we decide that not thanking drivers will make them honk etc. next time? It's more likely that the drivers who are dangerous are going to be dangerous regardless. Not thanking someone is no reason for them to be a dangerous driver..
 
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.
Click to expand...

Couldn't agree more....ahem, favourite posters...?! Haha but seriously, I do 100% agree, well put.
 
I agree its not acceptable to drive dangerously because you weren't thanked. But unfortunately some drivers do just lump us all together & not bother going out of their way next time. It's no consolation to be able to prove the driver was breaking the law after you've been in an rta. Idiot drivers will always be idiots but I believe the average non horsey person who regularly goes out of their way for riders & doesn't get acknowledged may well decide not to bother in future. I've certainly met a few that think like that. I'm not bothered by whether drivers, cyclists etc do because it doesn't have a knock on effect on me.
 
Have a equestrian centre/livery near where I keep my horses and not one rider from there has ever said thank you to any driver (people from there pass my field daily and I've passed them in my car), if you pull them up about it you get a mouthful and get quoted the BHS manual.... How you should only take a hand off the reins to thank drivers if it's safe to do so.... They ride along, one hand on the buckle of the reins, feet out of the stirrups chatting away riding 2 abreast.
Many from the other local yards are just as rude.
 
I always ride in the day light and wear bright colours, red jacket normally. I always thank every one who slows down for me. I will move over if there is a gap to allow traffic to pass etc and I would never dream of shouting at a driver who didn't slow down. But I don't wear high viz. I would be quite annoyed if someone stopped me to have a go at me!!
 
I was driving past with my mum, 3 horses and riders taking the whole road, didn't stop in the nearby layby, one on phone, took no notice of the trail of cars behing until the car behind us stopped, got out and told them to bloody get single file or she would make them! Quite funny, but so inconsiderate!
 
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