who's right of way the tractors or the horse ?

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Gryfiss

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I have a problem my horse doesn't like tractors which isn't great as our land is right opposite a tractor place although these are not an issue as my mare will go past if they stop and turn off the engine which they all do.

The problem is with an old farmer in the village i've asked him several times to stop and turn off the engine but he won't he just keeps coming slowly at the side of the road. I did try and ride in the middle of the road to stop him but he just goes in the middle of the road.

Any way I decide to go to the farm and ask him politely to turn off his engine when I was passing as the horse was fine when people did this.
I was greeted by his wife who had horses, she said I had annoyed him by riding in the middle of the road and that he always pulled in to the side of the road to let a horse past which I said was fine but could he please just turn off his engine. She also said I should take my horse somewhere where she would get use to tractors I said I planned to send her to micky gavin to try and solve the problem.

Cutting a long story short today he came past me he stopped (but didn't turn his engine off) I said thank you , He then said could he have a word and told me my horse would never get used to tractors and he didn't see why he should turn his engine off for the next five years . He ended up going off on one, I in the end said fine next time I would just report him to the police he said fine and drove off.

What should I do he is so unreasonable and I have been very polite as I didn't want to cause a rift.

where would I stand if I did contact the police? please help x x
 
For sure you will get nowhere with the police as the tractor guy is doing nothing illegal.

If it was my horse I would certainly try to get her used to the sound of tractors - sending her away seems a step in the right direction.
 
I tell you what I would do, I would eat humble pie, go up to the farm , apologise and ask if you could either leave your horse there for a few days so that he can see tractors around all the time, or go up there and practice, let the horse actually go up to one and sniff it, feed him by it, then introduce him to one that is idling, feed him by it, etc, etc, baby steps, it takes time but your horse will become accustomed in the end.

If you ride on the road then you simply cannot expect everyone to turn their engines off, it is unfortunate that your horse is scared, and yes I do understand and appreciate your concerns, but you need to make the effort (for the sake of your horse) to get this sorted.

I see that you are planning to send him away, the trainer will do exactly as I have described with your horse.

I think you and this farmer have just annoyed each other, life is too short to hold grudges. I certainly wouldn't be involving the police unless the farmer was actually chasing you or crowding you on purpose.

Sorry if this wasn't quite the answer you were looking for :(
 
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You need to get him used to tractors

I think calling the police is an over reaction on your part.

I would do as enfys suggests
 
agree with Enfys

tractors make the food
so tractors > horses for me always no matter how i might grumble at my tiny inconvenience of either being stuck behind one or having an upset horse.

look on it as a chance to make good neighbours :)
 
Agree with enfys.
Embarrassing as it may be, go to farm and apologise. Then in conversation ask to bring your horse to his farmyard and use it as a schooling opportunity. Farmers can be very useful to know, even stubborn and pig headed as they are. :)
 
Enfys said:
I tell you what I would do, I would eat humble pie, go up to the farm , apologise and ask if you could either leave your horse there for a few days so that he can see tractors around all the time, or go up there and practice.

If you ride on the road then you simply cannot expect everyone to turn their engines off, it is unfortunate that your horse is scared, and yes I do understand and appreciate your concerns, but you need to make the effort (for the sake of your horse) to get this sorted.

I think you and this farmer have just annoyed each other, life is too short to hold grudges. I certainly wouldn't be involving the police unless the farmer was actually chasing you or crowding you on purpose.

Sorry if you don't like the answer.
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this. ^^^

You are going to have to be around this guy for some time, no point in making it unpleasant

The 'old school' have a lot going for them when it comes to no nonsense animal handling and he was being very considerate in slowing and keeping to the edge of the road

I'd have thought the police have better things to do with their time. If anything I'd imagine they would tell you that riding down the middle of a road could invalidate your insurance
 
You would stand nowhere, the man has driven in a most considerate manner up to press. If you could manage to have a conversation with him, with the tractor engine running, then I do not see your problem. If you meet him on the road, can you not pop the mare into a gateway until the tractor is past? We really cannot expect people to stop and turn their engines off everytime we meet them. Obviously if a horse is having a meltdown, it is helpful if drivers do turn off their engines, but you really can't expect him to do it every time you meet him.
 
Enfys said:
I tell you what I would do, I would eat humble pie, go up to the farm , apologise and ask if you could either leave your horse there for a few days so that he can see tractors around all the time, or go up there and practice, let the horse actually go up to one and sniff it, feed him by it, then introduce him to one that is idling, feed him by it, etc, etc, baby steps, it takes time but your horse will become accustomed in the end.

If you ride on the road then you simply cannot expect everyone to turn their engines off, it is unfortunate that your horse is scared, and yes I do understand and appreciate your concerns, but you need to make the effort (for the sake of your horse) to get this sorted.

I see that you are planning to send him away, the trainer will do exactly as I have described with your horse.

I think you and this farmer have just annoyed each other, life is too short to hold grudges. I certainly wouldn't be involving the police unless the farmer was actually chasing you or crowding you on purpose.

Sorry if this wasn't quite the answer you were looking for :(
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I did try and go and talk to him he wouldn't come out and left it to his wife to deal with it I was polite I said I was trying to solve the problem she sniffed at it and said good luck with that I'm not trying to be akward but he gets so hi rate he stopped another time to tell me that I had her on too much corn, I told him she didn't get fed any. Going down there last time only pissed him off.

I do agree the police is an extreem which I don't want to do and said it really because he annoyed me so much, I'm putting off sending her to micky for another month for the weather to change.
 
:) Okaaaaaaaaaay, so this farmer is a non-starter, I can see that, you tried :( Just smile sweetly and get yourself into a gateway when you see him for now.

Do you have any other farmers within riding distance that you can ask? Believe me, scary as they seem, most would try to help you because it is in their interest to do so, nothing worse than being in a tractor with a scared horse trying to leap under the wheels, in the bucket or whatever.

Failing a friendly farmer then yes, send the horse away for some traffic training.

I know it isn't always possible (because not everyone has tractors or the facilities) but in some ways I blame the producers of youngstock for not getting them used to machinery, it is a vital lifeskill for horses, they have to learn. My lot are a pita when it comes to the tractor, it is the bringer of food as far as they are concerned, they won't get out of the way. I am very fortunate in that I have fields on the side of the road, the babies spend all summer with machines the size of houses across the road from them, helicopters crop spraying and God only knows what else passing them by.

These were all taken by my house.

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I'd do as someone else suggests.
Find a farm who will let you use him and his tractor for a week or 2.
First few days, food near tractor.
Then food next to tractor.
Then food with tractor on.
Then food whilst tractor drives past.

Ponio won't care in the end :)
 
Sorry....not what you want to hear, but I think the farmer has been more thatn reasonable by pulling over and giving you space...it is totally unreasonable to expect him to turn off his engine....my horse is scared of motorbikes, I certainly wouldn't expect them to pull over and turn off their engines - It's my responsibility to ensure my horse is ok with the road traffic he may come across if I take him on the roads, anyone who slows or stops for me is thanked for their consideration. Time to swallow some humble pie IMO.
 
As with the others.

It's your problem not his, it is simply not realistic to expect an engine switch off to be a solution. Id be asking around for a friendly farmer for tractor training.

Ours are fed from tractor trailer, or tractor dropping large bales so are more likely to be full on than scared. I use the mini tractor to feed carrots off too. The digger driving didn't thank us for it last time though - the horses wanted to sit in the cab with him :D
 
Enfys said:
:) Okaaaaaaaaaay, so this farmer is a non-starter, I can see that, you tried :( Just smile sweetly and get yourself into a gateway when you see him for now.

Do you have any other farmers within riding distance that you can ask? Believe me, scary as they seem, most would try to help you because it is in their interest to do so, nothing worse than being in a tractor with a scared horse trying to leap under the wheels, in the bucket or whatever.

Failing a friendly farmer then yes, send the horse away for some traffic training.

I know it isn't always possible (because not everyone has tractors or the facilities) but in some ways I blame the producers of youngstock for not getting them used to machinery, it is a vital lifeskill for horses, they have to learn. My lot are a pita when it comes to the tractor, it is the bringer of food as far as they are concerned, they won't get out of the way. I am very fortunate in that I have fields on the side of the road, the babies spend all summer with machines the size of houses across the road from them, helicopters crop spraying and God only knows what else passing them by.

These were all taken by my house.

DSCF2407.jpg


9acad24d.jpg


527096_345131418898636_64487361_n_zpse9b2fe92.jpg
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Thanks for you reply.

When I've put her in a gate way she try to bolt over the gate.

I will try a friendly farmer approach but she has had tractors right out side her stable delivering hay on a weekly basis before I had her I think I will just end up sending her away and hope she gets desensitised x
 
:) You have tractors on your yard?! :D

No need to travel then.:D

Speak nicely to the tractor driver and ask him if he can spare you some of his time. Has your horse ever eaten the hay from the tractor? Let her do that :D
 
BLIMEY, when the lads are on a harvest mission round here, the horses have to be used to tractors or else !!! The lads are always very considerate, but they have a job to do, to do on time, and I personally try and stay out of their way and let them get on with it.

You HAVE to find a way to get your horse tolerant of tractors, as they will always be there. And stay on the side of a good tractor man - many are so good, and you want them to stay that way - I always wave and say hello, and THANK YOU !!! Oh, and wear hi viz, they can easily see you along the lanes.
 
I think you are asking alot for the tractor to be turned off.
When we was silaging a horse started to play up as I approached it, even though we were busy I decided to turn engine off and wait which I was thanked for.
If I met that horse day after day and he played up, there's no way I would keep turning my tractor off.
If the horse can't be controlled when a cyclist/ car/ tractor comes towards it, it shouldn't be on the road.
 
That said, and Shy is 150% good with tractors, one day when I was leading him out after box rest, a tractor came towards and a lorry crept up behind, and Shy went BESERK. Bless him, the tractor driver reversed round a corner to hide and turned his engine off, but the bloomin lorry carried on creeping, with Shy literaly being like Tigger.... I was so grateful that Mr Tractor was so curteous.

Try and keep a good relationship with drivers, and they will help you out.
 
OP - get a grip, I think you have been fortunate all these farmers turning their engines off four you, I wouldnt do the same at harvest time, people like you give us a bad name. Take your horse around to the farmers and let the animal get used to it, all of ours have. Absolutely silly to let them be scared of a tractor.
 
Just as important for him to be desensitised, is for you to be desensitised...by that, I mean you have to be able to ride as if you trust him around the next tractor you meet, when he comes back.

I came off my pony, who has always been great in traffic, last month, when he was scared by a lorry coming too fast towards him along a narrowish bendy road. I suspect the limiting factor to his future confidence around lorries will be the tension that I feel, now, whenever I see a lorry (even though I'm nowhere near a pony!). Not sure yet how we'll get round that, once I can get back on. But I certainly won't expect all drivers to turn off their engines. Try to get some advice on how you can make yourself relax and ride forward confidently, in the presence of tractors, so that you can fool the horse into thinking that you trust him to be ok! :)

...if a horse is freaking out on the road, I think a sensible driver shuts off his engine. But this should be an extraordinary circumstance: if this continually happens to the same horse, the rider needs to solve the problem, either by training the horse, or by avoiding the type of situation.

I will combine both: I will work with my pony in-hand and under saddle to restore our confidence...and I won't ride along that particular road again, as it appears to be a too-fast-lorry-ratrun. I'll have to lead, which is fine.
 
Agree with others. Hack with somebody else who has a horse who is fine with tractors & can stay on the outside of yours, or don't hack until she goes away. I can also understand why the farmer is less than sympathetic if its been going on a while & you've been blocking the road etc.
 
Shysmum said:
Someone I used to ride with would shout "OMG TRACTOR - can we get into the side road !!". Pony bombproof. I no longer ride with her. :rolleyes:
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mad isn't it? I'm particularly unamused tonight as OH has been screamed at for driving past horse and rider at speed (20kmph) with beacons on. It was 6.30pm, the woman was in dark clothes and short of brain cells.

I feel that if you require other road users to turn off their engine for you to remain safe you are not safe to be out on the road, you may cause an accident. Horses are unpredictable enough without their riders expecting traffic to stop in the road ( which imo is dangerous) and turn their engine off.

Farmers are having a crap time, everything that didn't get drilled in autumn needs to be drilled now. Good luck getting someone to turn their tractor off around here. We are flat out. Honestly, words fail me.
 
I am so sorry but I rarely post I even had to find my password to post this. I think you are totally in the wrong. Any rider that goes on a public road and acknowledges that their horse cannot cope with any vehicle that is on there is taking the p!!s. Not only are you demanding road users conform to what you demand, you are causing issues for a man trying to earn his living, who you have stated is being courteous and threatening this man with the police may also see you in trouble for wasting police time, you may also be invalidating any insurance that you may be carrying
 
You certainly don't have any rights and in fact I would go as far to say you are a danger to others riding this horse on the roads. You are lucky the other tractor men are humouring you. Solve the problem by training the horse or stay off the road.
 
The only problem i can see with desensitising an already scared horse to tractors is the environment you do it in , all mine are used to tractors, OH will harrow and top with them in the field, no problem they just go back to eating after a look and a bit of showing off, they are used to tractors being right up close going past the stables, and even dont pay much attention to the bale wrapper any more. But some of them still have a little panic when one comes towards them on the narrow lanes. When they are in the field or yard they are in their own safe place they seem to know they could escape if they needed to, on a narrow road they may feel a little trapped as the monster is funnelled down towards them, so maybe bear this in mind when working on his/your fears!
 
I have a friend who has a horse that I helped her when she first started riding it. He was fine with all traffic. Now, he is terrified of all vehicles because his owner is expecting him to react. For 4 months she has only ridden him in the arena. He is bored, he is playing up so, I said I would help her.
walked with her riding down a very quiet narrow lane to a farm where I could use their tractor - they also have several HGV vehicles so all a good experience.
Rider very nervous, horse on his toes but doing nothing other than a bouncy walk. By the time we got to the farm the rider was saying she couldn't ride him in the yard and wanted me to get on him. I refused and told her she had caused the problem and she could cure it.
I know it was mean but, I also knew his reaction would be nothing with me and then if he reacted when she got on she would be even more undermined.

We walked about the yards, lots of spooky things, I had her on a lunge and then let her off, the horse was on his toes fresh but didn't do anything untoward. Started tractor up and the horse never did anything after I had walked between him and it to start.

We ended up with riding back the long way with the horse following the ATV, passed a few cars with little reaction and what there was happened because the rider tensed right up.
I give her her due, she had to face her fear, never easy, but the grin on her face after she trotted past the stables and to the top of a steep hill with no reaction to any vehicles at all - even when he was buzzed by the ATV (I was walking with him when we did,

It went from pure fear with refusing to ride him out, to wanting to ride out with me tomorrow on a lead. I will do this though odds on by the time we get half way she will be on her own!

This is what your horse needs and most farmers are only to pleased to help ride around a standing tractor gradually getting closer. Then have it running. It doesn't take much as long as you think positive and believe that she is not going to react.
 
OP I am shocked by your attiude that you thought even for a moment that you had the right to expect someone to turn off his engine every time you take to the road and he is there.
You must either train your horse to accept tractors or refrain from riding on the road .
There is loads for good advice in the thread on how to approach solving what is after all your problem not the tractor drivers.
 
Well, my boy, cooper, was terrified of tractors, so hacking where I live was a nightmare, coupled with the fact that a guy that used to drive for a contractor, didnt really like me.... He used to rev the tractor as much as he could and drive at me... Poor horse used to nearly wet himself. My neighbour had a big tractor, and we practiced with that. He eventually got over it. The last time I passed that a***ole on a tractor, with my boy, we were on the ditch, but we went passed. Unfortunately, he was pts shortly afterwards, but I'm glad I bet the as*. Some people are gobsh***s, I would def work with someone that has a tractor. It really does work. xx
 
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