Telling people what to do with their own horse?!! Warning - rant!

Nudibranch

Nudibranch

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 April 2007
Messages
7,161
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
I won't go into too much detail in case it identifies anyone but last week I was walking my 13 month gelding out. The road is very, very quiet, only running to our house plus maybe 5 more. I walk him in either his control halter (headcollar underneath) or halter with part bridle and bit - he's literally only just been mouthed so the leadrope is attached to the halter. On this particular day we were in the halter and heading back home, when a 4x4 came haring around the bend behind us then proceeded to drive up quite fast, and very close behind. The baby got quite agitated so I turned him a couple of times, but the 4x4 kept coming closer so eventually I turned right round and started to walk back towards them. The window came down and it was a local former land owner. I explained he was young and inexperienced with cars so we would pass and walk behind. She then proceeded to lecture me about leading horses without a bit! I explained he was only 13 months and actually it's a control halter and perfectly safe, to which she scoffed and more or less rolled her eyes. She told me no horse is too young for a bit if it's properly fitted! I tried to stay polite and eventually moved off but I still can't believe how arrogant and rude she was - and how someone seemingly such a self proclaimed horse expert could drive in such an irresponsible manner. I suppose I could have argued the toss and told her that in 25 years I have never bitted anything less than 12 months old and all my horses are well behaved thank you, but I was just so surprised.

Sorry for the rant, it's just bugging me and now I feel like I don't want to go out and about in case we see her again!
 
got to just ignore it otherwise it will drive you insane lol, we all know the horseworld is full of 'experts';)
I had someone tell me to use my lower leg to bring my spurs into use when i was riding my big girl and she was dithering about passing him and his horse and trolley:rolleyes: bless him, i know how to use my spurs and i know when to use them on my horse who i've had for 5 years lol :D Plus i think i would prefer to take advice from someone who actually wears a hat when riding and can control the pace their horse is going at:rolleyes: I just smiled at him and went on my way:)
 
Sorry, where did she escape from?:D

OH and I lead Hippo about in a bog standard head collar and lead rope all the time! When she couldn't be ridden we used to hack her out in hand. Got her a change of scenery, and let us familiarise ourselves with the route. Walk, trot, OH even canters with her for short distances...after which, he always collapses, of course! :rolleyes: I've also handled her with just a lead rope looped around her neck, when turning out/bringing in - head collars had both disappeared thanks to Yard Gremlins! ;)

Woman sounds utterly bonkers...ignore her and her discourteous driving! Well done you for being polite and explaining the situation.:)
 
It's your decision but I'd check that your insurance covers you for leading on the road without a bridle, and expect that if you have an accident you may be expected to explain how you were in full control in just a headcollar. It's not law, but the highway code does state

52
Before you take a horse on to a road, you should
...
make sure you can control the horse
Click to expand...

:)
 
rhino said:
It's your decision but I'd check that your insurance covers you for leading on the road without a bridle, and expect that if you have an accident you may be expected to explain how you were in full control in just a headcollar. It's not law, but the highway code does state



:)
Click to expand...

Rhino has a point, your probably not insured but boo hiss :( so many experts!!
 
Pop over to the rude riders thread surprisingly a lots of posters sem to think its ok to stop and give advice to anyone whose behaviour they dislike.
But FWIW I would never lead a youngster on the road before Bitting and without an assistant but I would not of stopped and told you .
 
Goldenstar said:
Pop over to the rude riders thread surprisingly a lots of posters sem to think its ok to stop and give advice to anyone whose behaviour they dislike..
Click to expand...

Yes and we've explained exactly WHY we think it's justified (and to say it's just because we 'dislike' their behaviour is disingenuous): it's when the rude rider is putting drivers' backs up by riding inconsiderately by not acknowledging a driver's patience, distance given when passing or lowered speed; so the next time the driver sees a horse - mine or yours, for instance - they don't bother and put us in danger. Why should you find that level of self-preservation surprising?

Apologies for the tangent, OP. Please don't let this person stop you doing what you're doing with your youngster - sounds like you were most sensible to turn to face the 4x4 and follow on behind so 'chasing' it rather than 'running away'. Good luck with him!
 
Mine behaves better in a head collar than in a bridle when leading out, and there are two of us with her: one on either side on such occasions. So yes, I would say that we have full control - well, as full as you can with a large animal anyway:) Even in a bridle, they can still panic or simply swing their rear out into traffic unexpectedly after all.

As for my insurance, having read the fine print, I have begun to wonder if it actually covers me for anything anyway...seems designed to not ever have to pay out!

But yes, thank you Rhino - I appreciate the advice:) I will spend some time brushing up on my Highway Code. Oddly though, I feel I have more control of Hippo leading in a head collar than riding in a bridle, so when hacking out now still have OH accompanying us on foot to be safe.
 
Arizahn said:
But yes, thank you Rhino - I appreciate the advice:) I will spend some time brushing up on my Highway Code. Oddly though, I feel I have more control of Hippo leading in a head collar than riding in a bridle, so when hacking out now still have OH accompanying us on foot to be safe.
Click to expand...

http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/TravelAndTransport/Highwaycode/DG_069853

Here's the animal bit of the HC, I had to look it up after a thread last year, didn't realise it had changed since I passed my driving test :eek: :o
 
Um, he wasn't in a headcollar? It was a control halter (headcollar underneath)... and he is very responsive to any command in any direction; I would not take a horse on any road unless I trusted them. I could have understood it more if he was playing up, but getting a bit twitchy because there's a 4x4 right up his bum hardly constitutes being out of control.

I thought the insurance issue had been brought up on here quite a few times, and from memory there's nothing in the highway code to state horses must wear either a bridle or a bit - does that mean bitless bridles void insurance?

Fwiw I believe a control halter gives as much control as a bit, and if he is going to pull or throw his head around I'd rather he did it in a halter than against a bit and ruin his mouth. Just my opinion though!
 
I can not see a problem with what you were doing, but I can see a problem with the way the motorist was driving and if she ever drove in a bad manner again I would have no hesitation in reporting her to the police.
 
I dread to think what 'experts' would say about my friend who rides and leads her yearling off her mare. Wears a halter and has her attached to her western saddle. The yearling is already bomb proof to tractors, lorries, cars, cyclists:rolleyes::D
 
I kind of did this the other day :o Single country lanes by work and riders two abreast on a blind dip. OH pulled over and stopped for them to pass but we said that it was very last minute to notice on a 60mph and perhaps not the road to be two abreast on. It wasn't a lecture though, it was pointing out from a car point of view that although they could see/hear us, we had not been able to spot them.

I wouldn't have problems with your scenario unless the horse flew out into the road. If it was a controlled situation like you described I'd have told her bluntly where to shove it!

Pan
 
Nudibranch said:
I thought the insurance issue had been brought up on here quite a few times, and from memory there's nothing in the highway code to state horses must wear either a bridle or a bit - does that mean bitless bridles void insurance?

Fwiw I believe a control halter gives as much control as a bit, and if he is going to pull or throw his head around I'd rather he did it in a halter than against a bit and ruin his mouth. Just my opinion though!
Click to expand...

There is no hard and fast rule. The Gov site only actually addresses riding a horse, not leading as far as I can find. Problem is with insurance, it doesn't necessarily have to be law, often it's things that aren't a legal requirement, but are an insurance requirement as it cuts the likelihood of paying out, or the accident occuring in the first place (in insurers eyes).

So do not go on what other people say, double and triple check your insurance as everyone is with different companies and different policies.

Personally it depends on a horse, there are many that I feel I have more control in a headcollar than bridle and others who I'd never lead out in one. But always check your insurance!

Pan
 
Boo hate all the 'experts' its really annoying, makes me really self concious if people make snippy comments bout what I do with my horses :S don't think u can win in the horse world.....someone else is always right :S
would be interesting to find out what insurance says about bitless bridles tho, had never thought about that. There are so many horses that go a lot better in bitless.
 
Up till she was 3 daughters pony was often mistaken as my ponies foal, not just through being tiny but actually looking like one. We used to regularly walk her in hand & had more than one horsey person say not to keep her from her mum too long or when leading her from mine that we should wait till foal was weaned before hacking. But always politely & I could understand why, plus they always apologised after so it never bothered me.
Check insurance re being out without a bit for control. Afaik the law is that if an accident could have been prevented, or the damage less if you had used a bit then you are liable for anything that could have been prevented. Same goes for bareback.
 
I believe that certain/most companies stipulate a bit in the horses mouth when on the highway, there are those that do not, but the topic has come up before on hho, check your insurance, halter or 'control halter' may not be good enough,
 
I lead my 2yr old out in a head collar with a bit and bridle but I have the lead rope attached to the head collar as the one time i tried with the bit he wasn't best impressed! I used to use a contoller halter but he started rearing with that on, so have gone back to a normal head collar!

I always make sure he has high vis on though so people can't say they didnt see him!

some people are just idiots
 
A frightened horse isn't going to take any notice of anything in his mouth - even if its barbed wire so it isn't really going to stop one taking off with a handler if they feel like it. I only say something if I think whatever is going on is blatently cruel or dangerous. The other day I passed two riders coming towards me and I wound the window down and told them that if I were them I'd put something fluorescent on as I could barely see them. Is that the same thing? Harsh though it may seem, I'm not particularly interested in the rider's safety, its their choice, but to risk the health of a horse (or any other animal) is a big no-no with me.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top