So what do we think of this . ?

[stormox]

I'm afraid that I'm dead against this now - with the best will in the world - you are asking for trouble. I have in excess of 30,000 hours saddle time much of it roadwork - admittedly ending in the mid 1990's but I would not have rode and led even then.

As someone who has worked with hunters and driving horses for many years I wouldnt have kept many jobs if Id refused to ride and lead. Often riding one horse and with one each side but more often leading one horse on my nearside. I wouldnt have had time to do any of the yard jobs if I had to ride every horse seperately for an hours excersise!!
In many ways you are more visible, and thetefore safer, with 2 horses than one.

 

[Alec Swan]

It's all largely a matter of common sense, consideration for other road users and simple courtesy, which has been demonstrated by most on here. I haven't a clue what the stated guide lines are for those who ride on the Public Highway, but it occurs to me that;

Young and possibly green horses should be ridden out in company with an experienced companion, or better still (imo) led in hand, then if they really do panic to the point of being unmanageable, it's only themselves that they're likely to kill.

Those riders who are fearful to the point of transferring their fears to their mount should either have a huge G&T before they set off or keep off the public roads. We've all seen youtube vids of car drivers behaving perfectly sensibly and in a thoughtful manner, only to witness the horse rider approaching the stage of needing a course in anger management and for no reason other than the fact that they were terrified. If we're so fearful of traffic, even the considerate, why on earth do we put ourselves through the torment?

When I've been leading horses in or out, and sometimes leading one whilst riding another, then if it appears to me that a vehicle is travelling too quickly, I simply put myself and mount in the middle of the road, working on the basis that if they want half a ton of horse sitting in their lap, then keep going. Once the vehicle is travelling at a safe and acceptable speed then I usually either pull over to let them by or trot on until I find a gateway or drive, and ALWAYS thanking the drivers, including the idiots.

To return to the excessively nervous riders, if you don't have the confidence to ride on Public Highways, and I accept that at some point most of us have to, perhaps you should consider retiring from an exercise which clearly appears to bring you such little pleasure. 'Most' horses become accustomed to traffic, it would be highly unusual that any horse has a fixated fear which focuses on red buses but not blue ones, and again those who put themselves, their horses and other road users at risk because they are given to panic, should think very carefully about whether riding is really for them.

Alec.

 

[Keith_Beef]

I haven't a clue what the stated guide lines are for those who ride on the Public Highway,

A good man doesn't need rules, and an idiot pays no attention to rules.

When I've been leading horses in or out, and sometimes leading one whilst riding another, then if it appears to me that a vehicle is travelling too quickly, I simply put myself and mount in the middle of the road, working on the basis that if they want half a ton of horse sitting in their lap, then keep going. Once the vehicle is travelling at a safe and acceptable speed then I usually either pull over to let them by or trot on until I find a gateway or drive, and ALWAYS thanking the drivers, including the idiots.

An attitude I've taken when on foot or bicycle, too. Put yourself where you are the most visible or even where you'll cause an obstruction, but only for just enough time to make the driver slow down.

Give an idiot just enough room to squeeze past, and that's what he'll do. Give him no room, and he will slow down.

The first thing my mother explained to me about being out in traffic was this:

Treat every driver around you as if he's an idiot.
If he turns out not to be one, no harm's done; if he is an idiot, then you've done what you could to minimize the risk of an accident.

 

[coss]

How about we post a comment on the driver's youtube video commending him for keeping his cool and showing that other horse riders are outraged at the lack of consideration! I also felt that the first set of riders were just giving the ok that he didn't need to slow down further/stop and they felt their horses were safe for him to pass rather than being irritated at him going too slow.

 

[OldFogie]

A good man doesn't need rules, and an idiot pays no attention to rules.

There are old pilots and there are bold pilots. Old bold pilots do not exist.

... Put yourself where you are the most visible or even where you'll cause an obstruction,

Thing is though - did you ever ask your horse what it thought about being used a roadblock?
Jamming the road up, like that and deliberately riding wide two abrest used to be the best action as recommended by the Pony Club / BHS which I though ludicrous when they came out with it - anyone who wishes to follow it should be shown the not just the dead horses I've seen but the couple with half severed off hind legs.

The day after I appeared on telly - driving to the yard around a blind bend which I always take dead slow - there was a new girl on the outside of a pair chatting to her mate in the middle of the damn road. Later I said to her that if she continued to take that corner so carelessly she likely wind up dead or injured - "you're such a snob!" she exclaimed.

 

[Alec Swan]

……..

Thing is though - did you ever ask your horse what it thought about being used a roadblock?
Jamming the road up, like that and deliberately riding wide two abrest used to be the best action as recommended by the Pony Club / BHS which I though ludicrous when they came out with it - anyone who wishes to follow it should be shown the not just the dead horses I've seen but the couple with half severed off hind legs.

……..

Whilst I'm sort of happy to support a bloke in a blokey sort of a way, that is total bullocks as I hope that you realise. A: I've never asked the opinion of a horse, and B: The idea of placing oneself and horse in the centre of the road is to slow down any driver until he or she are travelling at a safe speed, then we move over and let him/her past.

Come on OF — is it that difficult to grasp?

Alec.