What is the equine world coming to...

Irishcobs

Irishcobs

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On my trip to Wadswick today I passed 5 horses.
The first 2 were hacking along a very busy 60mph road. They were wearing tabards and thanked me for slowing down and passing wide.

The second 2 were hacking towards a roundabout in a town and didn't do anything when I passed wide and slow, no thankyou, nothing. And were wearing dark clothes on dark ponies.

The final horse was an arab trotting through a village. I slowed right down and stayed back from it and it suddenly spooked right across the road to the white lines in the middle. The rider, wearing a hi vi jacket, got them back to the side and carried on. It then spooked again going right across the road so I decided it wasn't safe to try to pass it and stayed behind, about 5/6 metres. A few minutes later the rider signalled that they were turning left, so I dropped back so more so I could have a look at the horse as they turned.
The horse was in a headcoller with reins on the side rings! Not one of these parelli ones but a normal nylon headcoller.
Their insurance would be void if they had an accident, thats if they are insured!
How stupid to ride on fairly busy road in a headcoller! They had a endurance saddle and hat on so I don't understand why someone would risk it.
What if it wasn't me following but someone non horses and it spooked in to their car, its not worth thinking about.
 
thats ridiculous. I occassionally ride my horse in her dually headcollar but I would never take her on the road with it on and that horse doesn't sound like it was calm enough to do it with just a normal headcollar
 
Not sure when it came in but my insurance company won't pay if I had an accident while on the road if not wearing a bridle. They say you are not in complete control.
 
I haven't heard of that law either - but what a stupid woman - Natural Horsemanship can be dangerous in the wrong hands
 
How silly are they, certainly makes me appreciate not having to ride on roads though. Allthough I think not every driver would be as considerate as you were what what this arab have done if you had overtaken!
 
I know a younger friend who will ride in headcollars down any road.. Any horse... totaly care free... bare back,...hatless etc.... why? She just the carefree sort person doesn't do it thinking there a risk. Just getting from 'a' to 'b'.
 
Hmmm not sure about that. There was never anything on my Petplan insurance which stated a horse had to be ridden or led in a bridle. I wonder what they classify as a bridle with your insurance company then? Would a sidepull, an English hackamore, a German hackamore, western bridle be allowed then? Sounds like a totally ridiculous rule and I think I would be changing my insurance company to be honest.....they could wriggle out of paying in the event of an accident purely by claiming that the horse didn't have the right sort of bit or the correct noseband on. Absolutely crazy if you ask me.

Anyway that aside - the point that the horse spooked out on to the road.....how could a bridle have stopped that? I can't see how it could have.
 
I think it's illegal to ride on the road without a bridle, I might be wrong though. But it's still stupid, as is not wearing reflectives IMO, and not thanking drivers who pass wide and slow is just rude and gives riders a bad name.
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It was the same for all of the insurance companies I have been with. I think the horse has to be bitted. I'm not sure.

I wasn't saying they would have more control with a bridle it was the fact if they had an accident they insurance companies wouldn't pay.
 
I think you do have more control in a bridle compared to a headcollar. Whenever you ride in a hackamore you never have any steering hardly and they are a lot better than a headcollar
 
The highway code says: Never ride a horse without a saddle or bridle.

Though I doubt most people have read it.
 
[ QUOTE ]
The highway code says: Never ride a horse without a saddle or bridle.

Though I doubt most people have read it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Hangs head in shame....read it about 17years ago to get through my driving test and that's it.
 
You have to have a bridle but it doesn't have to be bitted. I'm not entirely sure where insurance companies draw the distinction but I do know that a dr cooke's is fine
 
Yes that sounds more like it; that it's a suggestion of the Highway Code. Can't imagine the Govt would pass a law about it.
 
Must be a pretty recent change then. Does it actually say that in your policies? As it never mentioned it in any of my policies; not the personal equine one or on my livery yard policy.
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I dont think their insurance would be void. I was under the impression that actually there is no rule saying you have to ride in a bridle, but just that you have to have made every effort to be in control.

It is crazy though!
 
Despite whether you should or should not be in a bridle on your policy - I would like to say that Im sure most companies will try NOT to pay out so if they can wriggle out of it Im sure they will, and if that means that by not wearing a bridle you are not trying hard enough to control your horse - Im sure thats what they'll say.

Sorry I have a jaded view of insurance companies! i dont really know why! Must be cos its Saturday night and Im in doing nothing!! x
 
Just checked my policy and it says nothing about having to wear a bitted bridle.
I very rarely even lead along the road without a bridle, I like to have maximum control.
A l;ady local to us rides out in a parelli headcollar and no bridle, even worse, she has a foal following her and her horse...loose!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
I very rarely even lead along the road without a bridle, I like to have maximum control.

[/ QUOTE ]
Ditto, I just get paranoid that something will happen and I wouldnt have enough controll in a headcollor.

[ QUOTE ]
A l;ady local to us rides out in a parelli headcollar and no bridle, even worse, she has a foal following her and her horse...loose!!

[/ QUOTE ]
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Cant belive how stupid some people are, even the most bombproff horse can spook- whay take stupid risks???
 
Just refering to a post on page 1 - riding a horse on the road in a headcollar has nothing to do with natural horsemanship. Like any other approach, natural horsemanship should be about being in control and safe.
I ride one of mine in a rope hackamore (which is like the rope halter with more rope attached). That is because that horse was backed and trained to be ridden that way. She can also be ridden with a bit, but is controllable in either. Bit or not bit shouldn't make any difference if the horse is trained for it, but just setting off in a headcollar if you haven't put in the work required seems mad to me.
And I am covered by my NFU insurance, because I checked this when I took out the policy, and have a letter confirming it. This is because the letter confirms that I am riding a horse that is trained to be ridden with out a bit.
If you had to ride in a bitted bridle, where would that leave people who ride western with a bosal?
 
Firstly The Highway Code is not law, although some aspects of it are enshrined in law. The Highweay code is what it says 'a code' & it gives you a code of conduct which it hopes you will follow.

Regarding riding in a saddle & bridle, you will find that it will not be mentioned in any insurance you have because it doesn't need to be. Somewhere in your insurance it will say that you need to be in control of your animal. Should anything happen on the road, an accident or injury occur, & you have no saddle or bridle on, they will probably successfully argue that you are not in proper control of your animal & therefore your insurance will be void.

Horses are fright & flight animals & even 'bomb proof' horses can have their moments & do someything silly. I believe it is irresponsible to be out on a public road without saddle or bridle & just riding in a headcollar. If you think so little of your own & your horses welfare then continue doing it.
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Just a thought, but could it possibly have been a nylon scawbrig bridle? I used to ride my old Arab in one (he was an advanced endurance horse) and it does look pretty much like a headcollar. Libbys do them in loads of different colours.
 
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