would you crosss a busy A road on a hack?

G

Gorgeous George

Well-Known Member
Joined
2 April 2007
Messages
6,268
Location
Essex
Visit site
As per title really, the road is a busy 60mph trunk road (not dual carriageway though), and it would be a case of crossing straight over, the road is dead straight at that point and visibility is good. It is though a very fast road, would I be an idiot to try and cross it? There is good hacking on 'my' side of the road, but my friend is moving to a yard on the other side of the road and we'd like to meet up.
 
I used to cross a road like that everyday. It was usually quiet enough that if you waited long enough there would be a big break in the traffic. I always trotted over, and never had any problems.
 
I crossed the A22 a few months ago so myself and a friend could ride on the Cuckoo Trail.
Its a duel carriage way on the bit where we crossed with a big grass verge in the middle so we thought it would be ok. We crossed the first bit with no problem but as we were standing on the central reservation it suddenly got really busy both ways and loads of cars a big lorries were rushing past us. It was horrible.
My friends horse is not very good with lorries but they both just stood there luckily for us and we waited for a gap in the traffic and trotted over the road. I was shaking like a leaf, but so pleased with the horses.
On the way back we had to cross again and friends horse freaked out so she got off her and lead her across, Axey was fine so I stayed on him, but I hated it and would never do it again.

I think you would be fine as its only single carriageway and you wouldn't be stuck in the middle of the road like we were.
 
If your horse is safe in traffic then yes, have hacked mine down A roads before and no problem with the busy traffic!
 
Yes, for a couple of rides here I cross a busy highway; same as you though, straight across and then onto the trail over the road. My horses aren't fazed by any sort of traffic though.
 
It depends on the road - there are some I would and some I wouldn't......and Twiglet is excellent in traffic. Some roads are just too bloody dangerous to risk it though.

Do you know the A414 - Chelmsford to Harlow? That is an awful A road to have to cross, I used to keep Twiglet very close to it, but the amount of accidents that happened there all the time totally put me off riding anywhere near it in the end.

Saying that, some country lanes are worse than A roads, with blind bends and bad surface........just depends really.
 
Oh dear Twiglet it is actually the A414 that I am looking to cross! It is just after the 2nd Writtle roundabout and it is quite straight there, but perhaps i'd better not then.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Oh dear Twiglet it is actually the A414 that I am looking to cross! It is just after the 2nd Writtle roundabout and it is quite straight there, but perhaps i'd better not then.

[/ QUOTE ]

Oh dear. I suppose that's a better place to have to cross than where I was (which was down by Norton Heath EC) but it's still a very dodgy road. So fast, and people overtaking and speeding constantly.......there is also quite a few lorries etc using as a cut through (and horseboxes going to NH!!).

If it's only a matter of crossing it and not having to ride along it at all, then it should be ok, just obviously be really careful!!
And watch out for random deer - a stag jumped over my bonnet when I was doing about 50mph on that road before!!

Whereabouts have you moved George to? I used to love the area round there, it was just a bit too far for me to travel - was taking over 1/2 hour in rush hour
frown.gif

Oh hang on, I think I know where you've gone - you mentioned it before didn't you?
wink.gif

If so, don't you dare hack on the A414, you have fab hacking onsite, and should never need to leave
smile.gif
 
We do it quite often with Thug, but he is absolutely traffic proof and we make sure we are at a sensible place to cross.
 
Just re-read all the posts & realised you've mentioned the road!!!
I think I'm near to you & cross over the A414 to get to other bridleways. I cross at the dog & duck pub & the road that leads to the cukoo pub. Both are straight across & I've never had a problem. We also do cross at NH, but only if someone comes on foot to see us accross from the willingale side (it's fine coming back)
As long as your horse is happy to stand & wait while the traffic goes past & then will calmly trot over when there is a big enough gap, i've never had a problem.
 
I used to with flint who wasnt 100% but never ad a problem. Used to come to the end of the road, have a main road leading upto the M6 motorway!! Across the road was farm land and great hacking! if i thought it was a danger I wouldnt of done it
 
I have to if I want to go off road...you just have to be patient and wait for a gap in the traffic..it helps if pony will stand patiently and then go off straight into trot...not crazy at all
 
I regularly hack a couple of miles down a busy A road that's a short cut to the motorway junction.

Never had a problem as my horses are good on the road. We cross the M6 along this route too, again no problems.

I don't find passing cars a problem as they tend to pass wider as it's a wider road. Lorries, tankers, tractors and allsorts drive along it. Doesn't faze me or my neds.
 
Is there a bridleway on either side of the road?

If there is then there are govenments grants available to build equine bridges to re-link bridleways which have been bi-sected by busy roads.

Alternatively if there is evidence of sufficient equine usage then it may be possible to persuade the local highway authority to install a controlled equine crossing (Pelican Crossing).
 
Am I a nutter then? I ride straight up A38 and over the Mway bridge with Mway underneath and A38 and A370 next to me. Just do not stress about it when lorrys fly by at 60mph just sit there because if you are nervous horse picks up on it. I have had horses who are a nightmare in traffic still do the same they just get used to it. A month ago I hacked down A38 with no stirrups as took them off to improve my lower leg!!
 
I am another one, I live on an A road (A506) which joins the A570 and on all but a couple of hacks we have to go over the M58 motorway, and to date none of our ponies or horses have been bothered by this (we always take them out in company a couple of times) the only one that was a pain was our old driving pony???? If George is OK in traffic then you will be fine, perhaps get someone to walk with you the first time?
 
Don't think I would - mare isn't that good in traffic. We sometimes use a short stretch of A road, but it is actually very quiet for an A road. Worst is going past the garage where there's a very whooshy car wash thing - the hand held sort. She does not like that.
 
Yep - I used to cross a dual carriageway when I was younger. I used to wait until one side was clear then wait in the central reservation until it was clear to cross the other side. I was rather annoyed that they didn't build a bridge for the bridleway when they built the dual carriageway! I wasn't gonna let that stop me going on one of my favourite rides.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top