Why should horses be on the roads?

Lintel

Lintel

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 February 2012
Messages
3,067
Location
Scotland
Visit site
Long story short OH has posted on his business site about the under education of the public regarding passing horses on the road and has posted links to the BHS on advice on passing horses etc etc...

Someone has commented and said along the lines of.... "Why should horses even be on the roads/why do people ride on them?"

He is going to respond... but clearly this is his business page so can't go full steam ahead at this under educated *insert word*

Can anyone pop together a snappy reasonably polite response?... My back is up I'm very illiterate when angered!
 
Horse owners and riders are extremely committed to providing the very best care for their horses, and for the majority, it is a way of life as opposed to a hobby. Very few horse owners are lucky enough to have access to acres and acres of off road riding straight from their stable. Most of them have to use a road in order to access bridleways, so their decision to ride on the roads is forced upon them. Even the most laid back horses can be scared by something trivial - and it is vital that drivers are made aware of this risk, and what they can do to try and avoid it happening in the first place. It only takes a few minutes to slow down, which is not too much to ask to ensure the safety of everyone concerned.

Not sure if this is short and snappy enough!
 
To someone with no idea about horses the question is fair enough, they may see horses on tv riding off road, racing or even at one of the big events and have no clue about the reality and that many owners have little choice, many will be riding on the roads for a purpose, to get to off road hacking, to condition the horse or to exercise it if they have nowhere else, I would respond politely putting in the various scenarios that may never have occurred to them, rather than being annoyed take the opportunity to educate nicely and you may end up with a considerate driver who is more cautious next time they pass a horse.

Baywonder is on the right lines.
 
Horses have been using roads since roads were created.



Whilst there are some bridleways (tracks for horses to use off road), it is often necessary to take horses on the road to get to the bridleways or to get between different bridleways.



Few horse riders enjoy riding on the roads, and drivers that do not follow the legally binding Highway code requirements to show horses on the road due care and consideration, make riding on dangerous.



Half a tonne of horse can easily write off a car, if not given proper care and consideration.



Key is to all show each other sensible respect and awareness, and courtesy.
 
I don't think it's a troll question, or even a particularly inappropriate one. I think a neutral, non-snappy response like BW's is best, especially on a business page. If the poster returns with "yea but bloody entitled posh gits..." I'd just block and move on - but it may be a genuine question from someone who just isn't horsey and is a bit townie.

Off road riding is limited, so horse riders are often forced on the road to access other safer places to ride. It isn't good for horses to be ridden in small arenas constantly, so riders do need to take their horses out regularly. Most horse riders would far rather stay off the roads entirely too, but it isn't an option - therefore we all have a responsibility to slow down and take extra care while we share the roads. It only takes a minute to slow down and avoid an accident.
 
I would be very factual. Start by listing everyone who has a legal right to use the roads including pedestrians, farmers moving herd of livestock, cyclists, mobility scooters, motorbikes, cars, horses (ridden and pulling carriages) etc... I would link to the relevant parts of the highway code for each user. I would emphasise that we all need to look after each other and how each road user should always be courteous to other users.

ETA - I would then kindly suggest that the best way to understand why people like to ride horses is to have some riding lessons. :) I would also explain how horses help both disabled people and people with mental health issues (again link to more info) and anything else that you can think of that shows the positive benefits of horse/human interaction.
 
I had another thought. Some people don't understand that horse riders can't ride on any old farmland. It may be worth explaining that horse riders have to stick to the routes where they have permission to ride. This includes roads, bridleways, byways etc... Not every rider has access to a riding arena and even if they do it is sensible and healthier to ride out too. Or they may need to hack to an arena that they have hired.
 
A horse is a vehicle and has a legal right to be on the road when under proper control of someone leading or riding using correct tack. However the why question may be has more to it that that.
First good reason is for sport or exercise since our roads are used by and even blocked by groups of runners and racing cyclists.
Disabled athletes and disabled people in general also have rights to use the road, so the use of horses on roads for therapy and excercise also counts for something.
But for me the big thing is history. Just as enthusiasts run steam trains including sometimes using main line tracks, those of us who understand the historical importance of horses as means of transport for both people and for goods, would like to preserve the road skills of horses.

I know it is a rare treat but to ride in HydePark London, and to get to the Park itself horses calmly cross major roads with double deck buses and heavy traffic, is a taste of the past. It is a wonder that horses are still taught to do it and still do it so well.
The Police horses and military too are trained to use roads and deal with traffic lights. Drivers of vehicles in London need to co-operate with horseriders and it should surely be the same in the country?

The big difference here is that most horses on roads are ridden by police or the military. Would your OH feel differently if the riders he met were in uniform?
 
I think some drivers have been getting the message that horses can spook suddenly but are questioning why something that's that unpredictable and potentially lethal can be allowed on the highway. Got to be all down to signage and following highway code. There are potentially lots of 'unpredictable ' things a driver may meet that needs appropriate driving. Deer, wild horses, rockfalls, school children, ducks crossing even !
 
Faracat said:
I would be very factual. Start by listing everyone who has a legal right to use the roads including pedestrians, farmers moving herd of livestock, cyclists, mobility scooters, motorbikes, cars, horses (ridden and pulling carriages) etc... I would link to the relevant parts of the highway code for each user. I would emphasise that we all need to look after each other and how each road user should always be courteous to other users.
Click to expand...

This, the roads are for general use without discrimination.
 
I wouldn't get into justifying it. There are many reasons but the crux is that we are legally allowed to be and our reasons are our own. And they don't even have to be what some random other road users might consider valid. The law considers our reasons valid.
 
PapaverFollis said:
I wouldn't get into justifying it. There are many reasons but the crux is that we are legally allowed to be and our reasons are our own. And they don't even have to be what some random other road users might consider valid. The law considers our reasons valid.
Click to expand...

Sounds like good logic, but "why? because we can" rarely gets the other side to change its opinion.
 
Roads are for everyone, work or leisure, and we need to share. If car drivers want to travel as fast as physically possible with no interference they should go to a race-track, otherwise slow down and consider other road users.
It's also worth remembering that in a just few years petrol and diesel engines will be as obsolete as horses are now - will people who want to drive those noisy, smelly old vehicles be allowed on the roads when modern cars are all electric?
 
a jokey but definitely response ....


Because roads are for meant for all is us (and that goes for dogs, horses, cyclists, kids and grandkids, pedestrians and runners as well as people careering along in tin boxes)? Remember x sharing is caring and good for the soul😁
 
Keith_Beef said:
Sounds like good logic, but "why? because we can" rarely gets the other side to change its opinion.
Click to expand...

Opinions don't really matter here though. Permission to be on the road is already granted. I'm not asking car drivers why they are driving down the road and implying they should only be doing so if I deem their reasoning to be acceptable to me. I don't decide I'm going to try and kill them if they can't defend their reasons for being on the road. Which is essentially what is happening when someone drives past a horse dangerously because they think we shouldn't be on the roads. "You're in my way, I don't think you should be here. So I'm going to endanger your life" I don't think "It is important that I exercise my horse properly" is going to hold much water as an argument against that attitude anyway!

I understand what you are saying. Subsidiary information about why horses are on roads could be offered to try and garner some understanding but the basic premise of any discussion on the topic needs to be the legal rights of the rider and the responsibility of the car driver to not endanger life. Doesn't matter why someone is there. Fact is they are and car driver has to deal and act responsibly.
 
Opinions can help with the understanding, it is all very well saying we have permission to be there but for some people it makes no sense that we would be there by choice, most of us would ride off road if we had the option, it is also helpful if they understand that a horse can overreact, does do things totally unexpectedly and that if they see a rider 'messing about' in the middle of the road it is not intentional.
The driver should not 'endanger life' but if they really have no understanding of how the horses mind works a little polite education will do no harm and will usually get a better response than 'because I am entitled to be there'.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top