Thanking Drivers

T

Toz

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Hi
After a couple of cars not slowing down for me today, I was wondering what others would do?
Do you thank drivers that speed past you when you are out with your horse?
I feel like I should thank them because I am representing other horsepeople and don't feel like I can be rude, but on the other hand we are thanking people for slowing down, which ultimately they aren't! What do you do?
Today I thanked them, just out of plain politeness! I generally would, but felt a bit cheated considering one of them seemed to go faster as they came past us.
But I have to say, when said pony was planting, one nice man with daughter in the back slowed down and wound down their window to ask if I was ok, which was very considerate so by no means am I saying all drivers are like this!
Just wondering what other people's take on it is!
Thanks all :)
 
For what it's worth we went past 5 horse riders today and they all thanked us- two weren't in hi-viz though (and I don't think green jumpers and brown breeches are a very effective substitute).

Getting back on topic, being polite to drivers does at least encourage them to treat you with respect
 
My way hardly anyone thanks drivers for slowing down it makes my blood boil , they all wear high viz asking you to slow down but never have the courtesy to thank you when you do!
If I wasn't horsey and did not know better I would not bother the next time I passed them.

With that in mind I suppose we should thank all drivers, although I must confess personally I only thank those that actually slow down however slight .
 
I pretty much thank everyone who hasn't aimed to park their car in my horses arse or head - regardless of their speed.
 
I have 3 levels

1) they made no effort, so no thanking

2) people who slow down slightly or pull out slightly, but have room to improve- they get a half hearted thanks

3) people who make a big effort (slow right down, pass really wide, or wait patiently whilst we go round a bend etc). They get a big thank you, if if close enough a nod and a smile. If they've got their window open then I say thanks.

For the 2nd category, I figure it's much better to give them some kind of acknowledgement rather than ignore, then they might do more next time.

There was also once category -1, which was the d*** head driver of the double decker bus of doom, who continued trying to overtake us on a very narrow bit of road even though we repeatedly asked him to stop. He got reported.
 
hnmisty said:
I have 3 levels

1) they made no effort, so no thanking

2) people who slow down slightly or pull out slightly, but have room to improve- they get a half hearted thanks

3) people who make a big effort (slow right down, pass really wide, or wait patiently whilst we go round a bend etc). They get a big thank you, if if close enough a nod and a smile. If they've got their window open then I say thanks.

For the 2nd category, I figure it's much better to give them some kind of acknowledgement rather than ignore, then they might do more next time.

There was also once category -1, which was the d*** head driver of the double decker bus of doom, who continued trying to overtake us on a very narrow bit of road even though we repeatedly asked him to stop. He got reported.
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Pretty much agree with this. Often wonder why I've bothered to thank someone who has barely slowed down but hope that they may slow down more next time if I'm polite.
 
hnmisty said:
I have 3 levels

1) they made no effort, so no thanking

2) people who slow down slightly or pull out slightly, but have room to improve- they get a half hearted thanks

3) people who make a big effort (slow right down, pass really wide, or wait patiently whilst we go round a bend etc). They get a big thank you, if if close enough a nod and a smile. If they've got their window open then I say thanks.

For the 2nd category, I figure it's much better to give them some kind of acknowledgement rather than ignore, then they might do more next time.

There was also once category -1, which was the d*** head driver of the double decker bus of doom, who continued trying to overtake us on a very narrow bit of road even though we repeatedly asked him to stop. He got reported.
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This sums it up for me nicely,I tend to also go by the above :)
 
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Well, I got a wave and a nice smile from two pretty girls on horses today.

I'll be slowing down again tomorrow for another look. Can't resist a pretty face, especially one with a nice smile!

(I was the one in the 110 Landrover;)).
 
I tend not to thank drivers who do not slow down. I think a lot of drivers fail to slow down because they are completely ignorant of the fact that a speeding car is potentially very dangerous to an unpredictable horse. If you thank an ignorant driver who has not slowed down you are simply encouraging them to think their practice is acceptable. On the other hand you get some people who know full well they should slow down and they do not!
 
I thank anyone and everyone and quite enthusiastically, hand off reins, smile and nod. Even the plonkers who hurtle past. Have had a few slow down as I thank them - seen them again (hacking around same lanes) and they've slowed down properly so I like to think thanking the idiots might make them think twice for the next horse they see.
 
I always thank everyone who passes...... Next time it may make that person who went past to fast slow down a bit more!

I always try to make eye contact to....even if I have to look behind me. I think it makes you seem a bit more human and 'accessible'.... Plus head nod, hand 'thanks' and a smile always seem to get a smile and thanks in return!!!
 
Unless the car driver is a complete k**b in which he gets the full works, i say thank you and hello to everyone, car drivers, cyclists, walkers...it doesn't take anything to be polite.

A nod and a smile is all it takes and you don't even have to stop your conversation with your fellow rider
 
I usually thank them, but don't feel guilty if I don't as passing vulnerable road users (cyclists and horses) wide and with care is a legal requirement.

In fact when driving, if I let another vehicle through an awkward narrow gap, I get a annoyed if they do wave and smile at me. I'd rather they paid attention as they manoeuvre past me than doing it 1 handed and looking sideways!
 
We thank everybody tbh. I think some car drivers think that horse riders are a stuck up lot so if they get thanked it makes them think again.
If they are dangerous then they do get told but that is rare .
 
hnmisty said:
I have 3 levels

1) they made no effort, so no thanking

2) people who slow down slightly or pull out slightly, but have room to improve- they get a half hearted thanks

3) people who make a big effort (slow right down, pass really wide, or wait patiently whilst we go round a bend etc). They get a big thank you, if if close enough a nod and a smile. If they've got their window open then I say thanks.

For the 2nd category, I figure it's much better to give them some kind of acknowledgement rather than ignore, then they might do more next time.
Click to expand...

Summed up nicely! This :)
 
Darremi said:
I tend not to thank drivers who do not slow down. I think a lot of drivers fail to slow down because they are completely ignorant of the fact that a speeding car is potentially very dangerous to an unpredictable horse. If you thank an ignorant driver who has not slowed down you are simply encouraging them to think their practice is acceptable. On the other hand you get some people who know full well they should slow down and they do not!
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this
 
amymay said:
I pretty much thank everyone who hasn't aimed to park their car in my horses arse or head - regardless of their speed.
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HaffiesRock said:
I thank everyone, and any drivers who speed past etc get a very over the top and friendly thank you :D
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This.

I have mastered the art of the massively over exaggerated thank you gesture and am now working on including an element of sarcasm but it's hard to work that into an arm movement.
 
Fortunately my road work isn't as bad as some - but we do get a lot of through traffic. Majority of drivers are great and used to the horses, slow down, pass wide, or stop and they get a cheery smile - if they are lucky and boyo isn't being a muppet - a cheery wave.

Those who make no effort will get little more than an evil stare - unfortunately most of the offenders are mums and dads dropping off or collecting their kids from a riding lesson - sure they wouldn't be so happy if it was their kid on the pony and the 'I'm running late for the lesson so sod that horse' person came zooming by ... I'm waiting for a delivery of leaflets from BHS to put up at the riding school.

Main problem around our way is the number of arrogant riders who fail to wear even light clothing, let alone hi-viz (even after dusk) and don't thank drivers who slow down for them - those of us who make the effort and take time to do a bit of horsey PR are being thwarted - it's damn frustrating!
 
I have a 5 level system:

Level 1 - above the call of duty consideration - wave, nod and smile
Level 2 - due consideration - full nod
Level 3 - just about done enough - half hearted nod
Level 4 - inconsiderate - thumbs down
Level 5 - dangerously inconsiderate - wild gesticulating and screeching (if they're endangering me and my horse, I feel justified in loosing the plot). Report to Police if I can get the details.
 
suzi said:
This.

I have mastered the art of the massively over exaggerated thank you gesture and am now working on including an element of sarcasm but it's hard to work that into an arm movement.
Click to expand...

Ditto. It's the big cheeser grin that works wonders. My theory is then they have no reason to complain about my attitude, and it might guilt them into realising how stupid they are...

The only time I don't thank is if I'm haven to hold onto my horse, and even then I try to nod. In the summer, riding back from a show one day, Geoff decided to have a bronco for a half mile along the road (there were loads of pedestrians that aren't normally there and he was panicking a bit), and I'll admit not many drivers got a thank you - I was busy trying to hang on and stop him leaping into oncoming traffic!!! He did settle down eventually, and then I thanked everyone!
 
amymay said:
I pretty much thank everyone who hasn't aimed to park their car in my horses arse or head - regardless of their speed.
Click to expand...

HaffiesRock said:
I thank everyone, and any drivers who speed past etc get a very over the top and friendly thank you :D
Click to expand...

TandD said:
I always thank everyone who passes...... Next time it may make that person who went past to fast slow down a bit more!

I always try to make eye contact to....even if I have to look behind me. I think it makes you seem a bit more human and 'accessible'.... Plus head nod, hand 'thanks' and a smile always seem to get a smile and thanks in return!!!
Click to expand...

maree t said:
We thank everybody tbh. I think some car drivers think that horse riders are a stuck up lot so if they get thanked it makes them think again.
If they are dangerous then they do get told but that is rare .
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suzi said:
This.

I have mastered the art of the massively over exaggerated thank you gesture and am now working on including an element of sarcasm but it's hard to work that into an arm movement.
Click to expand...

All of the above really.
I try to thank everyone, be it a nod, wave, mouthed "thanks", or whatever. I'm a firm believer in eye contact too.
I'm from the school of hoping that thanking the ones that don't slow down might persuade them to do it next time, and my sarcasm knows no bounds, so ironically, the worse the driver, the bigger the thankyou sometimes is.

The other week, I slowed down and went wide past a teenager who was slopping along on the buckle, chatting on mobile, in dark clothing, at dusk, and got glared at for my troubles. I was absolutely bleddy fuming, so I can only imagine how a "non sympathetic" driver would react to that. Some people do nothing to help our cause.
 
I do get cross when riders don't thank me as I pass them slow and wide, especially if I'm holding back a queue of traffic as well but actually our local riders seem to be wearing more hi-viz and becoming more polite recently. The work we've been doing for years through the RC must be beginning to pay off. I have taken to lowering my window and calling loudly 'Thank you!' to those who take absolutely no notice of what is going on around them.
I thank every-one who doesn't actually knock us over but have been known to shake my head at the muppets who start to accelerate just before the 40 (from 30) sign when we are still at the far side of it.
I'm quite happy to remonstrate with any complete idiots that we meet and if they object, I set the horse on them - even the local 'hard man' backs off from her!
 
amymay said:
I pretty much thank everyone who hasn't aimed to park their car in my horses arse or head - regardless of their speed.
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Ditto this. I don't mind how fast they go as long as they're not too close as I find that horses tend to be more bothered by cars when they crawl past.

Riders who don't thank annoy me no end. I couple of weeks ago I was towing my trailer up a hill (therefore was giving it a bit of gas), rounded a bend to find a pair of horses coming the other way. I slowed right down as soon as I saw them yet they still scowled at me and didn't say thank you! WTF??
 
I often worry that drivers cant see me thank them, I usually ride out with two reins and a whip, and not always sure that a nod is noticed?

Flip side nothing pee's me off more than when I do make the effort whilst driving to pull off out the way and get nothing- not even acknowledgement from riders- almost want to get out of car and say they give riders a bad name!
 
amymay said:
I pretty much thank everyone who hasn't aimed to park their car in my horses arse or head - regardless of their speed.
Click to expand...

I do this.

hnmisty said:
I have 3 levels

1) they made no effort, so no thanking

2) people who slow down slightly or pull out slightly, but have room to improve- they get a half hearted thanks

3) people who make a big effort (slow right down, pass really wide, or wait patiently whilst we go round a bend etc). They get a big thank you, if if close enough a nod and a smile. If they've got their window open then I say thanks.

For the 2nd category, I figure it's much better to give them some kind of acknowledgement rather than ignore, then they might do more next time.
Click to expand...

I really dislike this way of thinking, I suppose it is why so many drivers don't bother slowing down. Your "category 2" has made an effort to accommodate you on the road, and you give some half arsed nod, do you think this might be where we get our "snotty" tag from?

At the end of the day you're the minority on the road sat on probably the most important thing you have - I for one am thankful to anyone who doesn't injure us.
 
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