What speed

YorksG said:
The same speed as you should pass a car, i.e. not at all until the horse can get to a passing place!
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Well they won't do that. I want to get a hi viz done with "Please pass wide at x mph or less" on it to educate the imbeciles round here. But not sure what speed to put. Some of them slow down too much on the hill and then have to rev to get past. :rolleyes:
 
Telling then what speef to go could make you liable if there were an accident. surely the speed they need to pass you at will depends on various factors :confused:
 
3Beasties said:
Telling then what speef to go could make you liable if there were an accident. surely the speed they need to pass you at will depends on various factors :confused:
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No it wouldn't , any driver is liable for their own actions. If you wave someone past you into the path of an oncoming vehicle, it is their responsibility if they hit it. Even if a police officer waves you on into the path of another vehicle it is your fault if you hit them!
 
Not that many varying factors. I am walking on a 13.2. I'd like them to pass at less than 40mph :rolleyes:

If I was another car they would be down to 3 mph and into the verge but because they don't have to sqeeze past they often go very fast indeed. :(
 
Is it possible to ride more deffensively, so that you take up more of the road? I find that having Hi-Viz tail guard and/or exercise sheet tends to have some impact. Mind you we put sisters enormous horse at the back and she is the width of at least a mimi :eek: She certainly slows them down!
 
YorksG said:
Is it possible to ride more deffensively, so that you take up more of the road? I find that having Hi-Viz tail guard and/or exercise sheet tends to have some impact. Mind you we put sisters enormous horse at the back and she is the width of at least a mimi :eek: She certainly slows them down!
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This thread is making me wonder. I am hiding as close to the verge as possible maybe that encourages them to speed past?

I don't think most folk know how to pass tho.
 
YorksG said:
Is it possible to ride more deffensively, so that you take up more of the road? I find that having Hi-Viz tail guard and/or exercise sheet tends to have some impact. Mind you we put sisters enormous horse at the back and she is the width of at least a mimi :eek: She certainly slows them down!
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And if they rev their engines behind her, she goes increasingly slowly!

ETS
FW, you need to ride in the middle of the road, if it is a single track road. Atm, you are encouraging cars to try to pass you. When they have slowed, you can either move over to allow them to pass slowly or trot on to a passing place. I always like to have enough room on the lefthand side for the horse to spook into if necessary.
 
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On a narrow road, I generally ride in the middle of the road so they have no choice but to slow down, when they are at an acceptable speed I will thank them as they pass. I wear full hi viz kit and use country roads which are narrow, too narrow for two cars to pass. I prefer to face them if it is farm type traffic. I will trot on to a passing place.
Try to avoid busy roads.
 
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FfionWinnie said:
What speed should cars pass a walking horse on a country lane ie less than two cars wide. Thanks.
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As a non horse rider but an advanced driver ....

Slow to same speed as horse and remain about 3 horse lengths behind then wait for rider to wave me on and pass at what I regard as horse trotting speed followed by a gentle but progressive acceleration once a horses length in front
 
Agree, if a road is too narrow to overtake I position myself so I can't be. Also, if a driver is being a prat, I find lateral work puts them off as they tend to just see quiet walking horse suddenly going sideways & panic about their precious cars. At junctions if a car is too close behind I find reinback soon sees them backing off!
 
But but but - I actually don't often waive drivers on in case I have missed something and get blamed for a head on crash......oooooo it is complicated.

Still, I absolutely SWEAR by my polite vest - works better than my L plates did !
 
shysmum said:
But but but - I actually don't often waive drivers on in case I have missed something and get blamed for a head on crash......oooooo it is complicated.
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The 'wave on' ....

It is still up to the driver as to whether they consider it safe or not to pass so PLEASE do wave us on as we can take it that in your commanding position you consider it safe - that does not mean it is safe just that you consider it so
 
Sensible drivers will pass sensibly, idiot drivers won't. A tabard won't make a difference whatever it says its probably more likely to rile boy racers up and probably annoy others by implying they need your help to drive properly.
 
I think saying no one knows how to pass a horse is a massive generalisation and quite ridiculous 95% of drivers I come across are fine. I have come across more rude, ignorant and arrogant riders than I have seen drivers acting inappropriately. It's no wonder drivers get angry I'm ashamed to be a rider when I see them. We have to take accountability too, hi viz in ALL weather and plenty of, saying thanks to drivers, moving over when possible, not chatting away on mobiles or not paying attention to traffic etc until this happens drivers will generalise us as a nuisance just as you have generalised that NO drivers can pass horses properly
 
In my area they do not know how to pass horses demonstrated by their behaviour. I am wearing high viz and I am not on the phone. I am a courteous rider.

Nearly every car that has passed me in the last 3 weeks has done it in a dangerous manner. The exception being my neighbours who both over took gently with no revving at a reasonable speed.

I have to ride on this bit of road to get anywhere. I wish I didn't.

There are no other people riding in my area so car drivers do not see horses on the road and they do not know how to pass them.
 
According to the Highway Code you should be allowed as much room as a car. I used to ride in the gutter and as a result had idiot drivers (only some) speed past me. Now I ride out a little wider and if I see them coming up fast I deliberately move out. I am plastered in HI VIZ so they can clearly see me. I ride with my young daughter (10) and still they pass us at muppet speed -_-. I've also found that if I stop the horse, (which my boy is more comfortable with if something scary like a truck or motorbike is coming up) the drivers seem to slow down more (perhaps they think something's up?). Safe riding everyone - it's like Frogger out there!!! Everyone needs a refresher course on how to pass horses!:(
 
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