trendybraincell
Well-Known Member
I would consider my horse to be pretty traffic proof, we used to be stabled next to a VERY busy road, he's been ridden along side the M4 and on a foot bridge over the M4, so he's pretty good when it comes to traffic.
Anyway, decided to go out for a hack, up to the bridleway for a canter. Leave the yard and head up the hill, lots of blind turns so expect to encounter speeding cars (although they should be slow round blind bends!) but get past the blind turns, road start to flatten, and its straight, there was a 4X4 with flat bed trailer loaded with wood coming towards us, he made no attempt to slow down, infact I'm sure I heard revs, he went past at such a speed with the trailer making a terrible noise. My horse went mental, 180 spin then across the road, lucky just as the trailer had past, but we where very close!
I want to make excuses for the driver, like there was a bend and he couldn't see me, sun in his eyes, me under shade of trees etc. But I had my hi-vis gear on me and horse, no trees, no sun, straight road! So why?
I try to thank EVERY car, that passes if I can take a hand off the reins, or at least nod, I stop if there is a little before blind corners for cars to pass, get on the bank when I can, I think I'm a very pleasant rider on the road. Why do some drivers make make no effort to slow down, its like they think its sport to speed past and scare horses!
I know its the minority of drivers, just like a minority of riders can be ignorant or potentially dangerous, but why do it, it would have taken him 10 seconds longer to drive past me slowly. I wish I'd had a chance to get his reg, but goes to show how quick he went past he was too far away to read it.
Anyway, decided to go out for a hack, up to the bridleway for a canter. Leave the yard and head up the hill, lots of blind turns so expect to encounter speeding cars (although they should be slow round blind bends!) but get past the blind turns, road start to flatten, and its straight, there was a 4X4 with flat bed trailer loaded with wood coming towards us, he made no attempt to slow down, infact I'm sure I heard revs, he went past at such a speed with the trailer making a terrible noise. My horse went mental, 180 spin then across the road, lucky just as the trailer had past, but we where very close!
I want to make excuses for the driver, like there was a bend and he couldn't see me, sun in his eyes, me under shade of trees etc. But I had my hi-vis gear on me and horse, no trees, no sun, straight road! So why?
I try to thank EVERY car, that passes if I can take a hand off the reins, or at least nod, I stop if there is a little before blind corners for cars to pass, get on the bank when I can, I think I'm a very pleasant rider on the road. Why do some drivers make make no effort to slow down, its like they think its sport to speed past and scare horses!
I know its the minority of drivers, just like a minority of riders can be ignorant or potentially dangerous, but why do it, it would have taken him 10 seconds longer to drive past me slowly. I wish I'd had a chance to get his reg, but goes to show how quick he went past he was too far away to read it.
