Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
Seatbelts are a fairly recent idea too ...
They absolutely should not be using mobile phones for any reason whilst riding on the highway.
Went for a great hack around Hyde Park, London, yesterday.
- Thread starter PeterNatt
- Start date
They absolutely should not be using mobile phones for any reason whilst riding on the highway.
clinkerbuilt
Well-Known Member
a bit of internet stalking reveals that the ride leader does have BHS quals but also that horseback pictures on the road are not uncommon.
malwhit
Well-Known Member
I rode in Hyde Park over 35 years ago. I am pretty sure there were 2 riding schools that used the park then.
I was amazed at how the horses weren't fazed by anything. The mews where they were housed looked pretty and I loved cantering down Rotten Row. I hated riding through the traffic, even though the horses weren't bothered it.
I used to ride a brown Thoroughbred mare frequently. I can still picture her but can't remember her name.
It was expensive riding there, so we eventually went to Hanwell Riding School, with the odd in jaunt to others including the famous Suzanne's and the less famous Hanwell Riding School
I was amazed at how the horses weren't fazed by anything. The mews where they were housed looked pretty and I loved cantering down Rotten Row. I hated riding through the traffic, even though the horses weren't bothered it.
I used to ride a brown Thoroughbred mare frequently. I can still picture her but can't remember her name.
It was expensive riding there, so we eventually went to Hanwell Riding School, with the odd in jaunt to others including the famous Suzanne's and the less famous Hanwell Riding School
Aperchristmas
Well-Known Member
Tbh I think this is one of the few places where high viz wouldn't really do much - the road sections of the ride are on 20mph stretches and they are very visible, this isn't a bays & chestnuts blending into a country hedge situation.
Ceifer
Well-Known Member
Does this person really deserve to have random people stalk them to see who they are and what qualifications they have? I’d be mortified to have my picture put up on a public forum for all and sundry to see and judge.
criso
Coming over here & taking your jobs since 1900
If you look at the picture the riders blend into the background completely, the horses would too if they weren't grey/coloured.
As a pedestrian in London dodging cyclists, hi Viz makes a massive difference to spotting people, I wish more cyclists would wear it too.
Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
The fact that several people on a horse forum think that hiviz on and off road is not necessary and doesn't do much leaves me rather frustrated. It's there for the benefit of everyone, not least the horse. And if the riding school's insurance decrees that clients should be on a lead rein on the road, then the leaders should have both hands on the reins (not two reins and a rope in one hand) and should never be using their phones. Plenty of photo opportunities in the park I'd think.
Quigleyandme
Well-Known Member
The surface of Rotten Row and the other rides is very poor because Royal Parks refuses to maintain it. The park is also very well used by pedestrians and cyclists so cantering would be inadvisable.
Steerpike
Well-Known Member
I remember doing the Shetland grand national in Hyde Park when they used to have shows there, also went swimming in the serpentine which I wouldn't do now!
Skib
Well-Known Member
I wanted to ride there on Rotten Row for historical interest, thanks to Joyce Bellamy.
I rode in Hyde Park twice, once with OH, just part of the circuit with a gentle canter and once on my own when mowing machines near the track at Hyde Park courner prevented us cantering, so we just trotted. I rode from Ross Nye Stables on a horse called Quentin. I had a lovely time. But the last time was 2015. We were celebrating our Golden Wedding and it was an anniversary for the stables too. The YO kindly gave me an anniversary rosette which is still on show in our living room.
I rode in Hyde Park twice, once with OH, just part of the circuit with a gentle canter and once on my own when mowing machines near the track at Hyde Park courner prevented us cantering, so we just trotted. I rode from Ross Nye Stables on a horse called Quentin. I had a lovely time. But the last time was 2015. We were celebrating our Golden Wedding and it was an anniversary for the stables too. The YO kindly gave me an anniversary rosette which is still on show in our living room.
clinkerbuilt
Well-Known Member
I suppose it depends on whether they're bothered about it being suggested they have no qualifications (further up).
anguscat
Well-Known Member
Ross Nye other half being Ruth Nye. Extremely distinguished piano pedagogue.
Aperchristmas
Well-Known Member
That's unfair, I only argue that for this specific situation - it's pretty unusual being in central London! Having regularly seen these horses out, you honestly can't miss them for the short period of time they're on a road, and then they're on a riding track in the park - no cars or cyclists need to spot them then. It bears no relation to the kind of riding that 99% of us do. To be clear I never hack without high viz and I am a massive proponent of it.
Rowreach
Adjusting my sails
I disagree, I think that we have a duty of care to ourselves, our horses and every other road user, whether we are riding in central London or on the sort of quiet country lane that I now ride on, where I seldom see any vehicles at all, yet still adorn myself and my horse in full on hiviz every time I go out. There is absolutely no exemption for this imo.
And in the event that someone falls off and a horse ends up not on the hacking track (etc), having hiviz on it can make a huge difference to everyone's welfare, including the horse.
And returning to my seatbelt analogy, that would be like saying I don't need to put on my seatbelt to drive round the corner to the shop, but I do if I'm going all the way into town.
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snowangel5
Well-Known Member
Sounds like you and other half had a brilliant time have you had a chance to go back again
Skib
Well-Known Member
OH retired from riding after his fav. RS horse died and he (my OH) had a slight stroke.
I didnt go back to Hyde Park, due to Covid lock down and being offered my current share.
But, yes, I have been tempted to go back to Hyde Park after seeing pics of people from our yard riding there on our horses taken up in a lorry.
My share probably has about a dozen other sharers, all younger and fitter than I am, and it seems better to let them have the experience.
Tiddlypom
Carries on creakily
Where would you be able to park a horsebox to unload your own horses for a ride round Hyde Park?
Northern Hare
Well-Known Member
There was a car park off Bayswater Road, at the back of Kensington Palace Gardens, and I've seen horseboxes in there in the past. Presumably though it would be expensive to bring a horsebox into the LEZ/ULEZ etc.