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

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jen1

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Went to the hair dressers last week and she got talking about all the horses in the area, she said "you have a horse don't you? why do you lot all keep riding on the roads round here and most of all down the high street?"

Errrr because we have to go on the roads to get to the off road places? Because all the bridle paths round here are used by ramblers, dog walkers, mountain bikers and even motocross riders, Because we have to get the horses used to traffic so when we are out we have a better chance of staying alive when the Wa*%er drivers round here go past us at 60mph in a 30mph speed limit (like you in your Porsche, (didn't actually say that bit!))

And she said, "so why don't most riders say thanks when I slow down? if they don't it makes me not want to do it again as I suppose they don't need me to?"

Well actually I do and I wear high viz I always say thanks to drivers that take the time to slow down, it only takes a split second for a horse to spook and end up through your windscreen, but yes I agree more riders should say thanks and then more drivers may realise that we do really appreciate it and it makes the roads safer for all. Then again if the horse is having a paddy or is hot headed then it's not always convenient to take our hand off the reins but a nod of the head is often used!

Did I say the right things do you think she really understands now?? I doubt it!

Discuss!!!
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Even though I have been riding for 20 years (and I'm 28) my Dad has obnly just realised that a speeding car might cause a horse to spook. not just that he might not be able to stop in time if the horse spooked

Arrghhhh!
 
They don't want us on the grass- they don't want us on the road, they don't want us on the pavement, they don't want us on the beach.
God almighty is there anywhere we're welcome????
 
Sadly, I'm guessing by the multitude of MISERABLE drivers that have faces like smacked arses even when I DO thank them for slowing down, I've a feeling your hairdressers attitude is wide spread :-(

Fortunately for me my horse is spot on on the road but not everyone is so lucky. There appears to be a 'food chain' for road users, and unfortunately horse and rider are at the bottom (even below cyclists - my own pet hate!!)

I think all we can do is spread the word....................... :-)
 
Perfect answer. Exactly what I would have said
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. We don't have any bridleways, just loads of footpaths with styles to keep the horse riders out.
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i am always very warey to be polite to the drivers around where my horse is stabled, but my god you get some plebs that drive around here!!!! i have had cars skidding behind me when they have come around a corner at 50mph then proceed to tell me off for riding on the road!!! now excuse me, but i wear hi-vis (my horse doesnt as she is terrified of it but she wears white bandages and a white numnah - shes black btw) and i make sure i keep as far over as possible. i always ride single file and am never on the phone. but some poeple are so inconsiderate its unbelieable!

where i kept my old horse, i had a police car cut me up and miss my leg by an inch, im not kidding you, i was so angry i hit the top of his patrol car with my whip (which he broke btw) and he proceeded to stop and tell me off!!!! i had a go at him aswell saying i was within my right to ring his department and make an official complaint...

though on the other hand, i know riders who over take over riders at a trot, not giving warning, when they are out hacking (happened to me) and my skitish youngster proceeded to rear and buck on the road, almost having me off. they were fully aware of what they had done, no sorry they just yelled back 'fittness work'. no offence, but they were the runiest most worm ridden horses i have ever seen in my life! what were they getting fit for exactly? hardly endurance or anintree material!!! i have seen other riders riding 3 abreast completely oblivious to the traffic que behind them, riders on phone, riders SMOKING!!!! on horse back etc...
 
what I dont get is the national trust blocking having snotty signs up that say NO HORSES. what exactly are WE going to do to the land? they drive their poxy 4x4's on it churning it up, others walk their dogs, letting them sh!t where they want and not pick it up and then there's the cyclists and motocross riders....dont even get me started!!!
 
Tbh, if I was there, I probably would have agreed with everything she said - I am a bit nervous when people are brandishing scissors near my head/ears!!!

There are some roads near me that are quite horrid to ride on, country lanes that are used as commuter highways.
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But, I HAVE to keep riding on them, as if everyone gives up they will all be terrible drivers and will never get used to seeing horses out and about and having to deal with them.

Having said that, I am always thinking up an escape route if I can hear a car coming round the corner, over the wall/hedge/fence. I'd tackle anything to avoid a car
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I don't mind cyclists, at least its someone else to campaign to keep bridleways, as they aren't allowed on footpaths either (although obviously it would be easier to lift a bike over a stile rather than a horse
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Maybe someone needs to make that girl aware that just about everyone who CAN use a road has HIGHER priority over car drivers. I had to attend a course about driving and road use in July. Cars and the like are next to the bottom of priority. Top is pedestrians (yes, even on roads, not just pavements!), next is horses/riders, and it goes down past cyclists etc, until you get to cars. So tell her to shove that in her pipe and shove her pipe up her ass.
 
You said exactly the right thing but I seriously doubt it will change her opinion!

Driving is an incredibly selfish activity, and how many of the drivers on here find themselves getting irritated when they give way to another car and the driver fails to say thank you? I know I do
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As such, I can see where they are coming from but most drivers fail to appreciate the safety aspect when slowing down (or not) for horses, just like they do when they rush through as the light turns red or speed across a zebra crossing when they see someone waiting to cross.
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I ride on the roads as probably like most people who do, I dont have a choice. I am always kitted out in high vis as is my pony. I always thank everyone and most drivers are considerate. Yesterday however a car raced past me almost clipping my foot in the stirrup. My pony is brilliant on the road but that could have been a horrible accident.
 
If im on a main road and a car slows down and passes me, wide and slow I thank either with a great big nod of the head If I cant take my hands off the reins or a hand up as they pass so they see me Oh and always accompanied with a smile!!

I passed 2 lots of 2 horses and riders last week riding along side each other, I slowed down passed wide and slow ( I have a sticker in my car which says I do too) and did I get a thanks? NO not even a nod of the head or a smile. So alot of riders dont help themselves really!!
 
I've told people off for not saying thank you - especially once which was someone out hunting and did have a face like thunder. Most people look fairly shocked when you tell them off!

I always say thank you, with a big grin!
 
It is shocking. I live in Lambourn. Now it has signs everywhere saying ''valley of the racehorse'' horses, please slow down'' and you still get moaned at by the people useing it as a rat run. Durrr it's the last place you should go if you don't want to meet horses.
 
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And this is why I avoid conversation at the hair dressers, they talk such utter mince!

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LOL, My hairdresser comes to my house and she is one of my close friends (she isn't in to horses)
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With the not saying thank you thing, I think a lot of the time the riders do say thank you but drivers don't spot it.
After all you only hold your hand up for a few seconds and if the driver isn't look at the right moment they don't see it.
AFter all the driver should be looking at where they're going !
 
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It is shocking. I live in Lambourn. Now it has signs everywhere saying ''valley of the racehorse'' horses, please slow down'' and you still get moaned at by the people useing it as a rat run. Durrr it's the last place you should go if you don't want to meet horses.

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LOl I agree! we are in Newmarket and have no off road only the village lanes MOST people are good and I always say 'thanks', but last W/end a stud truck (mentioning no names
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) came past our 2 in a lane at 50mph!!!! Of all people he/she (it was a blur) should bloomin well know better!!!!
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Don't get me started on people not saying thankyou, as its a major bug bear of mine, but it works both ways. WHen we pull in to a layby or onto a grass verge to let drivers past, how many of them thank us! Not many, most rev up and tear past.

But then some riders don;t help either, I was stuck in an almighty cue on the road through the village a couple of weeks ago, which is not unusual as its a very busy road and they are in the process of building a by-pass. I expected to see a bus at the end, but oh no, two kids riding two abreast on their horses one on a mobile phone the other having a fag, with her feet out of the stirrups! Drove me up the wall and I felt like giving them a mouthful as they really don;t do the rest of us any favours!
 
I always say thankyou to drivers, even if they are arseholes (apart from a very rare occassion), as I know that many use the excuse 'horse riders never say thankyou, so why should I slow down?'. A lot of people on my yard actually tell me off for saying thankyou! If baby pony is being silly then I'll simply nod my head as I want to keep both hands firmly on the reins!

Last week I had two idiots overtake me, terrifying baby pony. The first was a tractor that sounded like it was electric (!) that came past us very fast and close. Fortunately there was a verge for Genie to leap onto in terror. My tabard says 'Caution Young Horse', but people seem to not even notice that I am on a HORSE, let alone a young one! (and yes, I wear Hi-Vis) This was followed not long after by a landrover going past us at 60mph, so close that I could have (and would have) hit them with my whip if they had not gone past in such a blur! Again baby pony was terrified.

Anybody else want a tabard that says 'Pass Wide And Slow Or I'll Sit On Your Bonnet'?
 
I always wave, if i can, mouth thanks and nod and smile. I would rather overdo it than anyone think i was rude or ungrateful. Most people do round our way if i have passed them, i know most of them tho'.
We don't need to be on the roads a great deal but most drivers have been ok. Of course there is always going to be the odd prat.

I liked the answer 'because we can, read the highway code'
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Always remember, horses have right of way over motorised vehicles on the road. That does not give horse riders any excuse not to thank drivers, not sometimes, but, as far as they can, every time.
 
I want a tabard that says - If you get too close I WILL kick your fcuking windows out.
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Ride with a schooling whip that has a strip of fluorescent material tied to the end and hold it out at arm's length when cars pass from behind.

A horse which is plodding quietly along doesn't back cars off half so much as a lunatic.
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Most of the cars that pass us are pretty good, however last w/e I waved down a Landy and trailer as I knew he was going to hit the gratings on the road right next to my sisters mare, who can be a bit odd about noise. The trailer had land equipment in it. The pratt ignored me, was going over the speed limit, the trailer hit the grating, bounced, bounced it's load, cue one jumping about mare
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. I also get cross with horse riders who don't thank drivers, and have started lowering my window and saying "Thank me" loudly as I go past
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With the not saying thank you thing, I think a lot of the time the riders do say thank you but drivers don't spot it.
After all you only hold your hand up for a few seconds and if the driver isn't look at the right moment they don't see it.
AFter all the driver should be looking at where they're going !

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How I agree with you.
 
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A horse which is plodding quietly along doesn't back cars off half so much as a lunatic.
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'Tis true that. I used to go everywhere on my pony sideways. It was embarrassing and we got used to abusive comments, but didn't have any near misses and drivers always gave us A LOT of room. I felt much safer on her than on the ones that walk quietly unless there's a balloon in the hedge and then they're under the nearest bus.
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