Why do you horse riders insist on riding on the roads??

[lauraanddolly]

The road I have to use to get to the bridleways has double white lines down the middle of it, I know drivers are allowed to cross them to pass slow moving traffic etc, but the key wording in the highway code regarding these lines is 'if it is safe to do so' yet I frequently get overtaken by drivers on blind bends and they aren't going slowly when they do. The road in question has no quick escape routes to the side I hate riding on it. Because of this I only go hacking on sunday mornings, it's just not safe any other time!
I find that round my way the drivers are generally rude and dangerous where horses are concerned, and don't even get me started on the tourists!
Attitudes towards horse riders on the road are only getting worse I feel, I really don't think there is much we can do about it. Especially if you are already thanking drivers and moving out of the way were possible to let traffic past.
All of us at my yard are currently trying to get a footpath changed to a bridleway, as this would mean completely off road hacking for us - it's not going well at the moment, but we will keep trying.

 

[Forget_Me_Not]

I am a rider at a showjumping yard, me and the other rider ride out everything from the liverys to the boss's best jumpers and the complete babies.... which means often the one thats on the quitetest (not normaly that quiet!!) horse will ride aside the baby so we are a compete pain taking up most the narrow country road. However we thank all the drivers that don't speed past and give a though for us... and swear and put are fingers up to those that don't...

and if we see them again we have been known to stand in the road and stop them before telling them whats what

 

[PeterNatt]

My hairdresser said something similar to me so I put her on one of my horses so that she could appreciate "why you can't just ride in fields and keep off the roads".

She now appreciates the problems we have and continues to ride out with me on one of my horses.

Now she can tell all her clients about her horse riding and why they should take care when passing us on the roads...........

 

[RLF]

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And this is why I avoid conversation at the hair dressers, they talk such utter mince!

[/ QUOTE ]
at least its a change from the usual drivel of "are you going anywhere nice on your holidays"

 

[Allykat]

I say its a good job that my hairdresser is also a horse owner and stabled at the same yard as me

It was a very good answer to her very non horsey persons question. Sadly people just don't realise what horses are capable of. My yard is right on a main road and we ride on the path along with the walkers and the cyclists. Only the walkers have the true right to be there but its wide enough for everyone. While I was out one morning my TB who is exceptional in traffic suddenly almost sat down before leaping off down the path. When he stopped and I looked behind I saw a cyclist. I couldn't hear him whizzing along over the traffic noise

He did apologise several times and said he didn't want to ride past in case he startled the horse so he sat behind instead

I stated that it would be better in future to ring his bell of call out then we can move over out the way.....The man looked totally shocked and said that thought had never crossed his mind

He thanked me and we both carried on our way

People just have no idea.

I do make an effort to thank everyone.....even those that aren't quite so generous with their space or speed reduction but I aim to make them think again for next time. Its possibly a wasted effort but it makes me feel better

It is one of my major gripes as a rider when I don't get a thanks from other riders that I have followed in my car and sadly that happens round here quite a bit