Would you stop?

WOULD YOU STOP

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Dollysox said:
I will stop if the road is a quiet one and it is safe to do so. I remember very clearly when I was that child and how much of a thrill it gave me, and reinforced my determination to learn to ride and have a horse one day.
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I remember being that child too! I think it is positive PR for riders and it gives me a chance to have a little chat about how big and dangerous horses can be so that it is important to be quiet etc. My boy is not brilliant with strangers but far more tolerant of children than adults and meeting them with their parents is doing me a favour as he now understands that not everyone new is going to smack him round the head.
Obviously it depends on the horse and the road conditions but if it is not possible, I would always try to explain why. I also wave madly to kids who run to the window or wave as they come past in the car. Maybe I'm just soft...
 
Yes I would, because I have always had well behaved horses, I am confident on the road and the roads I would be on are quiet country roads.

And I have been and am that person that just loves to stroke a horse as it passes, when I was a child and perhaps even more so now. If you can grant someone a minute of your time to make them happy, I don't see why anyone wouldn't.
 
I have done. At a couple of previous yards I've had to hack through quite busy housing areas and I won't stop there for kids to pat the horse, as there are usually loads of them and always cars coming. Current yard is on a dead end road so there is very little traffic so I have stopped if asked. Most recently people who live near the yard were walking with their parents and child, and the child asked to stroke the pony. Horse is good with people and loves attention and fuss, so saw no problem. Parent held child's hand the entire time, and the child was absolutely beaming. Why not?! I was that child at the same age, desperate for any interaction with horses, so what's the harm if it's safe to do so?
 
I'm happy to stop and let people pat him - and don't really get a choice anyway. Alf is an attention junkie and will put the brakes on himself if he thinks he might get a cuddle! He likes frisking people for treats so I have to keep an eye on him in case he grabs their pockets!
 
Depends on the situation i.e. is it safe to stop or would it endanger horse, rider and pedestrian? I try and be as abiding as possible with other road users. I detest the view that horse riders are snobs and ignorant so try and combat this by being amenable if appropriate.
 
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