Should age 15 and under be accompanied by and adult out hacking?

[DragonSlayer]

I think kids on bikes are worse than the kids that ride ponies round here. They leap off pavements without looking into the road, and last year, a kid was weaving in and out the white lines in the middle of the road, I couldn't get past, and got a mouthful of abuse when I suggested that what he was doing was dangerous...however, I saw what house he went into and went to have a word with his dad who was very apologetic and said he would highlight how dangerous what he did was.

...don't think it worked, he still leaps off pavements into the path of oncoming cars once in a while....

 

[hcm88]

Short of it yes I think they should be accompanied. At 14yrs or younger it should be the parent's responsibility to make sure their children are safe on the roads- at the least kit them out with high viz if you aren't going to accompany them. They're still children no matter how mature they may be, it only takes one small thing to go wrong.

 

[The mad TB]

I'm 15 and have been hacking put for a few years now but I avoid the road if I'm on my own and don't have any hi-viz on, I'd die if I caused an injury to Conn! Also when I hack with friends We go single file, can't see the point of having to keep ducking in and out?!

 

[YorksG]

The hazards children can meet when out on a pony include all those that they could meet when out on foot, as well as the extra ones a pony can create. I would only allow a child out on his/her own at an age when I would allow them on foot or bike and for the same length of time. It would also depend on the childs riding ability and the temprement of the pony. I do think it is important that all safety issues are insisted on by the parents. Back in the distant past when I was a teenager hacking on my own, the only safety equipment was a hat, I was expected to wear mine and my parents bought sis and I the latest safety standard hats when they became available (to replace the cork and knicker elastic jobs ) and God help me if either of them had found me without it!

 

[Starzaan]

I don't think it's an age thing, I think it depends entirely on the child.
My parents let me ride out by myself from the age of eleven, with a mobile phone and a vague idea of where I was going.
I've seen adults out on the roads being rude and irresponsible - it just depends on the person, not their age.

I would like to say though that I get very irritated by drivers expecting me to stop and pull in for them. If I can, I will, but one of my horses is blind in his right eye, and if I stop for a car, he starts pratting about and invariably leaps in front of it. I also had similar problems when I was working in racing. Please don't always assume riders are rude because they haven't stopped for you - they may just be trying to do the safest thing for everyone.

 

[trottingon]

Oh how times have changed, I hacked out on my own on the roads and dare I say it footpaths from the age of 9 before hi vis and mobile phones were invented!
I did have my bike road safety cert and my pony club r&rs, and seem to remember enjoying using hand signals etc. I'd be out for hours, or me and my friends would take picnics in hand held plastic bags and be out all day exploring on our ponies. Wouldn't dream of letting kids do that now, it's a damn shame!!!

 

[Moomin1]

I used to hack my pony out alone from the age of 12 - and either wore bright clothing or hi viz stuff. That was many moons ago now, but I still don't see any huge problem in under 15's riding out alone if they are sensible and the parent's ensure they are wearing hi viz.

..And that was before the time of mobile phones!

 

[Shantara]

There's a very young girl who hacks her tank of a haffie out alone, if she was my daughter, I think I'd let her. She's very sensible and has good control of her horse.
However, there are some girls at the yard older than her, that I wouldn't let out without an adult, on a well behaved pony.

 

[zaminda]

I always hacked out on my own, and don't see the problem. Most of the people who I want to shout at when they are riding for talking on the phone, not wearing hi viz etc are substantially older than 15, so don't think its an age thing, just a matter of upbringing, training, and common sense.

 

[MerrySherryRider]

From the age of 12, I was taking strings of adults pony trekking around the mountains and adjoining roads. Some of the adults were pretty stupid and even though I was a child, I told them to behave, as the horses were my responsibility.
Hi viz and mobile phones hadn't been invented and I didn't wear a hat for hacking in those days. Riding seemed a lot simpler then.

 

[camilla4]

Oh how times have changed, I hacked out on my own on the roads and dare I say it footpaths from the age of 9 before hi vis and mobile phones were invented!
I did have my bike road safety cert and my pony club r&rs, and seem to remember enjoying using hand signals etc. I'd be out for hours, or me and my friends would take picnics in hand held plastic bags and be out all day exploring on our ponies. Wouldn't dream of letting kids do that now, it's a damn shame!!!

This was me, absolutely!! Hacked out alone from the age of 9 but, having said that, we did live in a very remote area and traffic was much less of an issue then that in seems to be now. In addition, I do remember that almost all drivers were considerate when passing horses - that does seem to be a much rarer characteristic now!

 

[claribella]

I was out driving on one of the main busy roads on the moors a while a go and I was pretty shocked to see two young girls riding Sid by side on it. Now unless these girls were small for there age then I'd guess the youngest was about five and the eldest seven by the size of the ponies and them. One was on a Shetland so they must have been young. I was so shocked that they would be able to ride out be themselves that young! No matter how predictable the ponies were, you can't predict the idiots on the road and a child that young surely would not know what to do in the event of an accident etc

 

[Shysmum]

I rode on my own all the time, but things were probably much laxer (?) in the dark ages. And no hi vis then, or mobile phones

I see kids out behaving badly - last month, TWO girls on ONE lively TB horse, NO saddle, NO hi viz, on a main A road. I was horrified. I totally blame the parents - why aren't they doing anything FGS ?

On the other hand, there are some very sensible kids round here too, and they are having as much fun as I used to.

This is going to sound snobby, but it depends on how the kids are brought up to be sensible, respect horses, and have safety in mind.

 

[tinap]

^^ agree , but the only reason I won't let my daughter out on her own is because of other drivers. Even with us both wearing hi viz they won't slow down, so I won't take the,risk letting her out on her own. Only last week we both nearly got splattered when a bloke decided he could fit in the tiniest gap that was left between us & a car that had kindly pulled up to let us through as we were overtaking some parked cars when she came across us. The poor woman in the pulled up car looked white as a sheet it was that close

 

[competitiondiva]

I used to ride with friends at 14/15 etc. But as said previously I don't think it has anything to do with age, just sense and awareness. I did my bhs riding and road safety fairly young, but again wasn't anything other than common sense. Something alot of people young and old seem to lack.

 

[Kaylum]

The kids at our yard are more capable that most adults, they have done their riding and road safety and are often hacking out with the adults to nurse maid them.

I hacked out when I was 9 no saddle and sometimes just a head collar. Up to the big park to jump the logs on friends welsh mountain.
Mum never knew, kids are more dangerous on their bikes around here. Little ones out on the road.

 

[MagicMelon]

No, I dont think kids should be accompanied. I do think they should be taught how dangerous roads are though and ride accordingly. I used to hack out my first pony aged 9 on my own and meet friends! Funnily enough though, (on the same road) I no longer hack because its too dangerous nowadays and I find it terrifying (aged 29)!

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I agree. I do think that many riders should be far more aware of other road users than they are and of their own and their horses' vulnerability. I am often appalled by the selfish way that riders take no notice of their own companions when they are out.
Apparently I have a reputation for being a stickler for good road manners when out with RC groups on our social rides. I got very cross one day when a teenager who was at the front of the group rode past a full skip as a car came towards us on an awkward narrow road, causing the group to have to split up around the skip and some parked cars, instead of pulling in before them. Fortunately none of the horses was bothered but the potential was there!
I was one of those RC members who voted that all members MUST wear hi-viz on our rides, some weren't too impressed but it's only common-sense IMO.

 

[Dizzy socks]

I am 12, and hack alone, although not along roads. (We don't live near any.)