Would you give 'the finger' to a driver?

Has the opening post been deleted? I would never do that, who is to say a driver wouldn't then turn round and do something to really hurt your horse with their vehicle. Not worth the risk. And also puts other horse riders in the firing line too if they consider all of us to be the same.
 
Absolutely not. It is extremely rude and very rarely justified - the people who deserve are usually going so fast they wouldn't even notice you giving them the finger.
 
ISHmad said:
Has the opening post been deleted? I would never do that, who is to say a driver wouldn't then turn round and do something to really hurt your horse with their vehicle. Not worth the risk. And also puts other horse riders in the firing line too if they consider all of us to be the same.
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Original post still there
 
Not a good idea to antagonise a driver IMO. Horses are much more vulnerable than a person in a car ..
Saying that I may have shouted a word that starts with a w and sounds like planker when me and the pony ended up in a bush because of a car zooming past and using the horn. But it was in the middle of winter and they had the windows up so probably luckily didn't hear me!!! :p
 
When I had not been riding my horse out on the road for more than a month or two, we were passing some houses and dogs were barking through the fence, there were green recycling bags, and my horse was sort of walking sideways down the lane. This car passed us far too fast and I shouted "slow down you w*****!!!". Couldn't help myself - after all the work I'd done, leading him in hand and going with other quiet horses etc. it could have taken just this one idiot to wreck the whole thing!! Luckily it didn't. They guy heard me, wound the window down and said "I did slow down!" so I said "you didn't slow down enough!!".
I wasn't in a position to take my hand off the reins to make any rude gestures
 
I have done twice.
Once when I was crossing over a road with Foxy in-hand and 2 lads decided to turn their radio up really loud and rev and were both in hysterics. Que Foxy rearing and a passing man having to jump out of his car to help me. He gave them both an earful.

Another time was a driver of a white van who didn't even attempt to slow past us and came that close that if I'd had a whip in my hand he would have been touching it. I'd just pulled out of the gates of my house so my mum noted his reg, saw him later that day in the village and told him to read up on his highway code. However I don't think he ever saw my finger so it was a bit wasted :o

Another old-ish woman is terrible with passing horses so we've spoken to her a few times, although WITHOUT flipping the bird!
 
I have. There was big a hedge and a house with noisily barking dogs on the one side, and on the other side, some walkers desperately trying to get their excitable dog under control. Most of my focus was on the loose dog. Then a white van pulling a loudly rattling trailer came flying up behind us, probably doing 30-35, and pinned us into the hedge. My horse is normally unfazed by all types of traffic, but the van and rattley trailer within a hairsbreadth on one side (if I'd had my dressage whip on that side, it would have hit the van) and being squished into the hedge on the other was a lot to ask. She started jigging WHILE this cocktard was passing, but at least forward, not sideways. It took me a few seconds after the van had left to calm her down and once I could safely take a hand off the reins, I flipped the guy off in a fit of rage. I don't think he saw, however, as he was more than fifty meters up the road by then.

That said, I wouldn't do it in a more rational moment where I wasn't freaked out by a near miss.
 
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I have once when I was hacking my old cob - I wouldve only been 14 at the time wearing complete hi-viz on a quiet ish road, lorry went to over take on a sharp (for an arctic lorry) bend, and hadnt slowed atall with a moped coming the opposite way. Moped pulled over on the verge whilst said lorry continued to overtake (horse and I now parked on verge, otherwise the front of us woulve been hit with the back of lorry) Lorry then proceeded and gave him what he deserved.. Unfortunatly he must've been looking in his mirror at this point as he very quickly stopped and proceeded to come towards pony and I in an agressive manner... Needless to say pony and I made a quick exit and iv never done it again!
 
No, I wouldn't.

Better to report bad drivers than antagonise.

I try and stay out of harms way as mush as poss but if in a narrow lane, where low visibility around bends I do ride in the middle of the road. Once I got off the horse, and had a chat to a driver who had honked at us, very politely I might add, to explain what I was doing and that I would have let him pass at the next gateway had he had a few more seconds patience. I walked with my horse the 40 yards or so to get on at a gate where he apologised and went on his way.

I do sometimes feel as if increasingly, we need headlights and horns ourselves when riding. It is getting ridiculous the lack of respect we get as riders and cyclists. You can't enjoy yourself anymore no matter where you are.

If it isn't cars, it's cyclists and extremely ignorant dog walkers. When I am cycling, I find horse-riders also very ignorant and rude.

Mostly people ARE considerate of others no matter what they are doing but the few who are not make life very stressful.
 
When I rode I would never have done that.

As a driver though I have been on the receiving end more than once.

The worst was getting abuse abf the finger for pulling in and stopping my engine as someone's horse threw a wobbly on a hump back bridge. I think these things are sometimes the rider showing embarrassment and frustration more than anything else. I couldn't have done more to stay quiet and unobtrusive - I couldn't turn round and couldn't pass as the road was narrow
 
If I drive past a rider who doesn't thank me for slowing down, I always stop and speak to them and say, do you know how rude you are? Do you know that it's the likes of you, who doesn't say thank you, who pee off drivers, who then think, well sod em all then, I won't slow down in future. I've had every kind of response from sorry, I will in future to open mouthed stares to eff off and the finger.

Would I flick the Vs at a driver? Absolutely, if they warranted it and bring on the fight that ensued. If they laid a finger on my horse, I'd rip them a new ar&@hole.
 
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The attitudes of some on that forum really are scary when you think that they have our lives and the lives of our animals under their throttle. :( I definitely do not condone any kinds of rude gestures by riders but we've all had that moment where we've seen our life flash before our eyes because some idiot has deliberately rushed past too close with his music up loud.

I own horses and I drive a modified, chipped up Scooby which is obviously pretty loud compared to other cars so I do have some understanding of their frustrations with being stuck behind horses, nobody wants to slow down when it's all going right and you're enjoying your drive, but do they really think it's ok to cause injury to people and animals because we're too slow? It'd take far longer to go on with their day if they ended up with a horse on their bonnet!

I think us riders need to help ourselves by being visible and getting out of the way wherever possible to prevent problems like this. Some of us have to ride on roads because there's no other access to bridleways but it's a really terrifying thought that people with so little regard for other human beings have our lives in their hands because we do have to use roads. Maybe those riders tempted to make rude gestures should think about whether it's worth winding up someone with that kind of power even more before they do it?
 
I have once, I was walking beside my youngest on his Shetland when a prat overtook on a bend around the wrong side of the traffic bollard, he wasn't even the car behind us but the one behind that. This was on a stretch of road with country parks on both sides and numerous crossing points so we could easily have been pedestrians crossing. I wasn't the only one to gesture with a hand signal either, the driver behind me and the one coming the other way who had to brake hard also used the same one.
 
I would never do so. I also think a slow headshake is more damning!

I would rather concentrate on taking the registration plate number into my brain to report the driver to the police if they are driving that badly. And if they are not, it doesnt justify the finger. Also there may be children in the car; its not their fault their parent is a tw^&.
 
No I wouldn't, like above a headshake is more daming!
When I was younger ill always remember a local rider stuck his finger up at a driver who sped past, the driver then reversed into the horse's backend -luckily horse and rider was fine. I can't remember what happened with the driver as I was about 8/9 Ill never forget that tho! Hence another reason why I would do that!l
 
I have done once when someone drove so close to me I had to physically lift my leg out the way of their wing mirror. He got out and shouted back.
Luckily where I keep my horse I only have a few hundred metres either way of road before I get onto the moor, if I had to do anymore on the road I simply wouldn't want to ride.
I personally think the issue is that no one has any patience at all.
Whether it's cars/vans/lorries/cyclists/horse riders.
 
I don't as a rule as it can antagonise and after that horrible case of the man reversing his van into a horse and rider it's always best to remind yourself that you don't what particular type of psycho you may be 'abusing'.

MysteriousMistletoe said:
shouted a word that starts with a w and sounds like planker
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this on one occasion (complete with gesture). We got caught out in a heavy rain storm, riding down a dark narrow lane. Luckily horse and I are always decked out in hiv vis boots, bridle kit, exercise sheet, with flashing led leg bands for the horse and a hi vis jacket with a flashing led sam brown for me. I heard a vehicle approaching at speed so stuck my arm out and asked him/her to slow down. A 'sixth sense' told me to retract my arm and it was a good job I did otherwise he/she would have taken my arm off! :eek: He/she swept past doing approx 30mph and so close my (short stick) hit the side of his/her rented van. The close proximity together with the hiss of the tyres on the wet road really unsettled my (usually very good with traffic) horse.

I always keep close to the left, pull in to gateways, trot on when I can, thank drivers with a smile and a nod.

Having owned sportier cars before I appreciate the issue with high revving, noisy vehicles but as long as they make an effort not to upset the horses, they always get a big thank you. Less considerate drivers usually get ignored. It was this person's blatant disregard for their own safety and the safety of others that really p*ssed me off and made me feel I needed to express my displeasure!!
 
I have shaken my head in dismay and I have 'asked' a car or two to slow down when I have seen them approacing at 50+mph. But as another stated a speeding motorist is unlikely to see you gesturing anyway.

I think very importantly thank every driver who shows an iota of consideration. I always thank them with a wave a nod and smile. It is definately the best way to gain continued consideration on the road imo. I pass (as a motorist) too many riders who give us the 'stuck up' label who do not acknowledge me slowing down.

I was passed at high speed by a gravel lorry the other day and it actually hit the kerb too with both sets of wheels breaking of branches from an overhanging tree. I telephoned the company for what it was worth and complained and said that I doubted the driver would ever get over the carnage he could create if a horse spooked into his path. The person who answered kept stating that they were often complimented on the courtesy of their drivers - I told him they had a rogue.
 
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Never. The most I have done is NOT smile and shaken my head. Occasionally I mutter under my breath to myself or my hoss.

What's the point in winding them up even further? A lot of these people think - as shown on the other forum - that horses shouldn't even be on the road. I'd rather them just get past me and carry on their own miserable way and leave me to my hack with no repercussions (either to me OR the next rider they meet!)!

On the other hand I have met riders when I'm driving who ride three abreast, chatting away, or headphones stuffed in their ears, on their phones, having a fag, drink whatever who neither give me any indication whether to go past or not or thank me when I have passed safely!! :rolleyes: some people give us a very bad name and tbh, I think drivers and riders can be as bad as each other.
K x
 
Yes I have. I was at a t-junction, about to turn left. A moron in a transit van turned right into the road I was waiting to exit. He turned in completely on the wrong side of the road, I managed to get my right leg up infront of the saddleflaps, however he was so close the stirrup iron still scratched all down the side of his van, even though both horse & I were completely still. More worryingly, that junction has low hedges & visibility, so whilst he would have seen my hiviz hat band & tabard, if I'd been in a car, let alone on a small pony or bike, he would have gone straight into me, given he was speeding round a corner on the wrong side of the road. And thank god my mare is truly unflappable, even an extra inch he would have hit her. Gave him the fingers as he drove off, & made a hand gesture to convey a word starting with w. Was going too fast though to actually see, & tbh I doubt drivers like that regularly check wing mirrors.
Not the fingers, but gave a driver a mouthful once. Daughter & I were at a junction, some old fool decided to do a u turn in it. He tried to squeeze his car between daughters 11.1 & the pavement, despite there not physically being room. So he tried using his car to shove a small child out into the road. I quickly moved between them, & he immediately stopped. Clearly he thought a tiny pony & child wouldn't do much damage to his car but a large one would. I did reinback so he had to reverse. He opened his window, we exchanged a few words (although not swearing) during which he said my child's safety wasn't his problem, cars would stop if she got shoved forwards into traffic. So I whipped out my phone & said I was filming him in order to charge him, when he then decided to shut up & stay at a safe distance.
On the whole though, its just not worth antagonising drivers. Both incidences I was very angry, & in the second one he started the verbal exchange, & I wasn't about to stand there & agree that forcing my child onto a busy road was ok.
 
I have done and would again if need be. I also have a loud voice which I will use if needed.
If the driver speeds past me, they have already shown that they show no intention of any kind of respect so I can do the same back.
The lovely drivers get a smile, wave, whatever depending on what's easiest.
 
Would never do it and I think people who do think it is acceptable have no idea how vunerable they are on a horse on the road.

I would never put my horse in a position of increased danger which is what you are doing if you antagonise drivers.

I smile and say thank you to EVERY car that passes me- even if they haven't slowed down this time, I hope that by me being polite and aware, they might slow down for the next horse they pass.
 
I've given the w4nk3r gesture, does that count?

Yes I have given the finger as well - to drivers who I have waved to slow down and have not done so. However generally I thank all drivers. I ride considerately - I expect drivers to drive past me considerately.

I now have a new trick when drivers go past me too fast on our narrow lanes (which isn't often to be honest - the vast majority are great) - I always have my phone easy to get hold of, so I take it out of my pocket and either take or pretend to take a photo of their car as they've gone past.
 
Having ridden on the roads for abou 50 years now I have come to the conclusion
that drivers can be divided in to 3 distinct groups:

Courtious drivers.
Daft drivers.
Evil drivers.

I like to keep my hands on the reigns and try to restrain myself from making any gestures towards bad drivers so as to avoid any retaliation by them. I smile and nod my head as a thank you to coutrious drivers if circumstances avoid me giving a friendly thank you hand signal.

I always wear a long sleeved Hi-Viz jacket so that other road users can clearly see my hand signals.
 
I have once when riding in a 30, signalling that I was about to turn off down an off road lane & some idiot came past me at about 50 despite me asking him to slow down. My horse doesn't mind traffic but can spook at other things & I always worry it would happen when someone like this comes past. That was the only time though on the whole I go for the head shake but I think I was generally having a bad day that day.

I also don't understand those of you who say thank you to every person who drives past even if they don't slow down. I always thank those who slow down & pass sensibly or at a normal speed but those who show no consideration & whizz past may think that you're thank you's mean that the way they pass is acceptable. Sarcasm is often hard enough for people to get when spoken let alone through hand signals.
 
I have emailed the BHS with the link to that thread on the other forum. It proves to me that a very high profile advertising campaign is needed to show drivers (and some riders) the correct way to behave on roads and the devastating consequences of getting it wrong

Luckily where my horse is kept the majority of the drivers pass by slow and wide
 
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