Why do we (have to) wave to drivers

Jesstickle said:
If I am walking with no pavement and someone gives me a really wide berth I do tend to smile and raise a hand.

Just like I do if I am driving and someone lets me out at a junction or whatever.

I have had plenty of cyclists give me a wave for waiting behind them to go round a corner or whatever

You would thank someone for waiting and holding a door open for you would you not? What's the difference. It's just manners isn't it?
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Spot on. There really is nothing more to say on this subject although perhaps worth a quote from William of Wykeham (1324-1404),
"It is by politeness, etiquette and charity that society is saved from falling into a heap of savagery."
 
At no point did I say it was illegal to take a hand off the reins. All I said was a nod would have to suffice as I choose not to take my hands off the reins. I explain this further in this thread relating it to driving a car. You may be fine going around with one hand on the reins... That is your call, I prefer to be in full control at all times.
 
bonny said:
Amazing lot of polite riders on here ! Everybody says they smile and wave whereas in the real world hardly any riders do.
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Honestly that is not my experiance at all round here.
However I strongly think that no one should go one handed it not happy to for ANY reason ,a nod and a big smile will have to do them or raise your right hand with it still on the rein.
 
BSL said:
I drive cars ride bikes and horses. I say thank you and smile when people are considerate. It makes the world a nicer place...for me anyway.
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Me too :) And you tend to feel nicer about the world after you've thanked someone and smiled than you do if you just press on regardless. So everybody gets a prize - I feel good, the driver feels appreciated, why not?

I know I don't have to, but I like doing it :)
 
Goldenstar said:
When my grooms are riding they are working for a living, it matters not one jot why you are using the road every one would treat everyone with consideration and politeness .
Your attiude that your use of your car trumps other people right to use the road to for whatever purpose illustrates exactly why some drivers are such idiots and I don't think waving will cure thoughts like that.
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I think you missed the spirit of Spudlet's post TBF.
Yes, of course every road user is equally valid and deserving of consideration, but your grooms will have factored in their journey time as will car drivers.

If most of their road work is done at walk and some trot, the time lost by pausing to allow traffic to pass will make little difference. A driver travelling at 30 mph is therefore more inconvenienced by stopping/pausing for a slow moving hazard (horses) on the road.

I also doubt that your grooms are journeying to treat a sick animal/human being or get the harvest in before night.. or an important meeting.

Your grooms although doing a job, are simply exercising horses at a comparatively slow pace.

Courtesy isn't affected by rights. Being polite makes the roads safer the riders that follow. For some drivers, meeting horses on the road is a big deal and they aren't sure how the horse will react. A smile and a wave reassures them that they did good and its appreciated.
 
horserider said:
I think you missed the spirit of Spudlet's post TBF.
Yes, of course every road user is equally valid and deserving of consideration, but your grooms will have factored in their journey time as will car drivers.

If most of their road work is done at walk and some trot, the time lost by pausing to allow traffic to pass will make little difference. A driver travelling at 30 mph is therefore more inconvenienced by stopping/pausing for a slow moving hazard (horses) on the road.

I also doubt that your grooms are journeying to treat a sick animal/human being or get the harvest in before night.. or an important meeting.

Your grooms although doing a job, are simply exercising horses at a comparatively slow pace.

Courtesy isn't affected by rights. Being polite makes the roads safer the riders that follow. For some drivers, meeting horses on the road is a big deal and they aren't sure how the horse will react. A smile and a wave reassures them that they did good and its appreciated.
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I don't no where any one got the idea that we don't thank drivers on this yard because we do.
My grooms are working to keep a roof over their heads just like everybody esle it matter little why you are on the road or what you are doing a farmer does not trump someone trying to make ends meet by delivering furniture or a mum walking to meet friends with a toddler in a buggy it entirely irrelevant excepting of course emergency services on a blue light .
You all should behave in such a way that protects the most vulnerable road user no matter what you are doing because it's the right thing to do
Spudlet posted that when she was in her car she was going somewhere not riding for leisure that what she wrote that's what I was responding to.
 
horserider said:
If most of their road work is done at walk and some trot, the time lost by pausing to allow traffic to pass will make little difference. A driver travelling at 30 mph is therefore more inconvenienced by stopping/pausing for a slow moving hazard (horses) on the road.
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What rubbish, the driver will not be inconvenienced timewise if they have factored in being slowed down by some slow moving vehicles such as tractors which are common on roads that riders use. Just because they can drive at 30mph doesn't mean they will be able to or that they are somehow more inconvenienced than the rider having to pull in at every gateway to allow traffic to pass. Who is more inconvenienced is not the point as that creates a hierarchy of who is more important and so more inconvenienced. YES all riders should be polite and thank people (I always do), but so should all road users be polite and respect each other and the rules.
 
Clava said:
What rubbish, the driver will not be inconvenienced timewise if they have factored in being slowed down by some slow moving vehicles such as tractors which are common on roads that riders use. Just because they can drive at 30mph doesn't mean they will be able to or that they are somehow more inconvenienced than the rider having to pull in at every gateway to allow traffic to pass. Who is more inconvenienced is not the point as that creates a hierarchy of who is more important and so more inconvenienced. YES all riders should be polite and thank people (I always do), but so should all road users be polite and respect each other and the rules.
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Isn't that slightly pedantic ? Car drivers these days can and generally do, factor in delays on roads as a matter of course.
Drivers who slow down for horses are being responsible and should be thanked for that.
 
Alphamare said:
At no point did I say it was illegal to take a hand off the reins. All I said was a nod would have to suffice as I choose not to take my hands off the reins. I explain this further in this thread relating it to driving a car. You may be fine going around with one hand on the reins... That is your call, I prefer to be in full control at all times.
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Lol I am predominantly a western rider these days and I always ride one-handed (actually I normally do with my English horses too) on them. Just to quash your incorrect assumption, I can assure you I am in full control at all times :smile3:
 
Spring Feather said:
Lol I am predominantly a western rider these days and I always ride one-handed (actually I normally do with my English horses too) on them. Just to quash your incorrect assumption, I can assure you I am in full control at all times :smile3:
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In full control at all times that does not sound like fun !!!
 
Alphamare said:
I responded to the hacking thread but have had no replies so I thought I would start this as I am genuinely interested in the response.

Just playing devils advocate here but why should they thank road users for something that they should be doing legally anyway? Other vulnerable road users like cyclist or walkers etc don't, so I was just wondering where the need that riders feel to wave comes from?

Personally I am a nodder, even if I am on a good horse much like when I drive my car I believe in having full control so two hands on reins (or the wheel) at all time!

This is not so much about the people who take all the room or ride double or don't pull over for traffic but the rest who move out the way, trot on or go single file. Why the need for the waving? Isn't it in the high way code that drivers should pass wide and slow. Why do we have to thank them for following the law.

Lokia did add this: The highway code says (last time I looked, and all us drivers are supposed to have a copy!) that horse riders can ride two abreast for safety reasons and that car drivers should not expect horse riders to wave a thank you as they need both hands on the reins.
And said she waves so that people don't think horse riders are toffs or arrogant etc. personally if this is the only reason as an anti social person I wouldn't go around waving at strangers so that they think I friendly or what ever.
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Well as a driver if I see a group of horses, I take extra care going past and go extra slow. I like the riders to say thankyou appreciating my taking the time. When I past a group and they totally ignore me and continue to chat etc, I think well blow you I wont bother next time.

The same goes for when I ride I say thanx to those who go wide slow and smile.


" It cost nothing to say thankyou to a car"
" It could cost the lives of your horse if you don't "




..
 
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Fourlegsgood said:
Spot on. There really is nothing more to say on this subject although perhaps worth a quote from William of Wykeham (1324-1404),
"It is by politeness, etiquette and charity that society is saved from falling into a heap of savagery."
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Alternatively...

"An armed society is a polite society. Manners are good when one may have to back up his acts with his life."
Robert Heinlein

People were certainly polite whenever I visited Texas. :thumbup:
 
Because if you don't smile and thank the driver you are regarded as a snotty toff on a horse looking down on the rest of humanity, and they probably won't bother to slow down next time.
 
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