why do horse owners think they own the road ?

Mr_Lahey

Coffee_bean wrote: »

Well I have insurance so nerr.

Thought I would be wasting my time. *rolls eyes*

Why take it on the road? SO SHE CAN LEARN. Children learn from experience, how is it any differnet for horses? When did I say we don't move over? Often there is enough room to pass two horses on the other side of the road. If we were blocking the road, of course we would either trot to a layby, or move over.

Anyway, I seem to be a little dense, the way you have edited my post completely twists what I have said. Well I just hope I don't meet you out on the roads.

Also, perhaps just think? Courtesy costs nothing, show a little consideration.

You are definitely blonde and from Essex - Either that or you are just plain thick.

CongenialMiss

Oh boy, where to begin... I've been a lurker here for a while but had to register and post having read this.

As my avatar shows, I have a horse. I also have a nice car, which I pay tax on and have insurance. My horse also has insurance, most notably 3rd party liability.

Where I stable my horse (I am not lucky enough to be able to afford my own land, I pay to keep her at a livery yard) we are able to ride straight out onto a path that has for years been accepted as a bridlepath. However recently it has been changed to a right of way for anything non-motorised, and we now receive abuse from people for riding along it (OFF THE ROAD). Half way along this path splits into two parallel paths, one for horses and one for bikes, pedestrians, etc, so goodness knows how we're supposed to get to it, my horse for one doens't have wings.

To be able to go on other routes I HAVE to use the roads, no way around it. My horse, although young, is very good in traffic, however even she will be worried by a vehicle passing unecessarily very close and fast. I would much rather ride only in fields and bridlepaths, but it is simply not possible. Fields are being built on left right and centre, and if we do not have permission from the landowner we respect that we are not allowed in the fields and won't go in them. As already stated, bridlepaths are being taken away at a rate of knots and turned into cyclepaths/footpaths/etc. One LOVELY path near me is woodchipped, but the people that own the land it is on have been told they have to take the woodchip up and put stone down because you could not get a wheelchair along it, never mind that this path ends by going up an extremely steep and rocky hill that no wheelchair would ever manage.

When I am riding on the roads I ALWAYS say thankyou to drivers when they pass me, even to those who are not as courteous as I would like. When asked by others why I still say thankyou, I tell them it's because many drivers use the fact that horseriders do not say thankyou as an excuse to not slow down. I have also pulled over into a suitable gap before to allow drivers past, and am astounded by the number that do not acknowledge me, even when I'm sat there thanking them for waiting. I ALWAYS wear hi viz, both on myself and the horse, so that drivers have as much time as possible to see us.

Regarding drivers who insist on speeding past horses (and the sickening minority who find it fun to do so, sometimes beeping their horns as well) my response is to simply note their car reg and report them to the police, and our local police will always go round to the house for a word. Fortunately for me, when drivers beep their horns, I have the satisfaction of my horse not batting an eyelid, but this behaviour could potentially be the direct cause of a very nasty accident.

I lost a horse in a road accident and it was horrific. Fortunately nobody else was involved or hurt, and as harsh as it sounds I would rather it was the horse than a person, but it was deeply upsetting to everyone who saw. However if somebody were to pass me quickly and cause my horse to kick their car I know that they would not have a leg to stand on legally, having sought legal advice on this from specialist lawyers, as the damage to the car would have been caused directly by their driving.

Please don't tar all riders with the same brush. Many of us are courteous and would like to receive the same courtesy from other road users whether they be car drivers, motorbike riders, cyclists, or spacehopper users!

Mr_Lahey

Amazing how many 'new' users have suddenly taken an opinion on this thread

Deary me.

weezylamb

Not a newbie, but new computer and damn it, I cannot remember my password!

Anyway, if a rider doesn't thank you, or rides 2 abreast through a corner, you have my absolute blessing to be peed off and get cross - those two things are just not acceptable in my book.

I am a rider BTW, but even I get incredibly angry if riders do not pull over to let traffic pass, do not thank drivers, and ride abreast round corners, which is something that is actually NOT acceptable according to the Highway Code.

Miss_Mills_2

If you are referring to my weight on the horse then yes it will be a shade off a ton with the horse, myself (9.5 stone 5"8 size 8) and the tack (the equipment we use to ride i understand that you will not be aware what that is)
I have several horses as previously stated i am a professional rider, but as a uk tax payer, and road tax payer i am perfectly entiteld to use the road whether it be on a horse/car/bike/motorcyle/foot etc
All vechiles on the road must obey to the highway code but as you previously stated you speed past horses rather closely then you obviously do not, horses must obey the code as well
As to your audi there is no accounting for taste
CMJ Mills

BAY_2

mr lahey

first of all "1. My car cost £36,000 and i consider it to be decent. I could have bought just about any car i wanted " i doubt that very much or you wouldnt be on a money saving expert forum so really you've prob put yourself in a bit of debt trying to pay off that not so flash car that really is a shame

however you seem to have a real anger towards horse riders and you seem to be a real danger towards horses and riders why not just be a considerate driver and just pass wide and slow and stop getting yourself so wound up about things like that i mean you must have a very boring life! Anyway say one of those horses you dont care about whizzing past, not only thinking of your health what about the riders would you not care if you injured or killed one, yes there are some rude riders that do not say thank you but then there is rude drivers aswel !

lucylooby123

Mr lahey,

I too have a five year old daughter. She adores ponies and as way of getting her out and about we bought her a small pony. It didnt cost much, but gives her endless hours of fun and learning.
Unfortunetly our yard backs onto a railway line and to get to the fields we have to go down the road. daughter is adorned with Hi Viz to let road users know she's there, but pillocks still think it;s funny to drive close up to her and her pony. Actually it's quite disgusting that grown men choose to try and injure small children...
Taking her and her pony on the roads might be irrisponsible in your eyes but so is driving round with kids in a car which has bald tyres (highly dangerous).


The last chavtastic boy racer who crept up behind my daughter, myself and the pony and honked his horn got a terrible shock. Not many expect a pony owning toff to have an overprotective daddy with access to the DVLA database. That one didnt, and paled a bit when he got a knock on his door and his actions (endangering the life of a child) explained to his wife... mind you, she was a right biffa, no wonder the poor guy took to other ways of expressing his frustration. I bet he had to poke her from behind and close his eyes to stop himself thinking he was sleeping with a gorilla. Do you happen to have that problem sir?? Or small penis syndrome? Can't think of one other reason why a full grown man would choose to try and hurt kiddies...
and for what it's worth, I taught my daughter to hold her reins in one hand, steer the pony over with her legs and to give a big smile, a wave and to shout THANKYOU to all drivers. As soon as she's old enough I'll teach her to waggle her little finger at Audi drivers...

misshermitage

There seems to be some stereotyping going on here as well - do people think that people that ride have endless acres to ride in, a trailer/lorry to transport a horse 5 mins up the road just to avoid having to ride on the roads (mind you this would probably annoy mr a4 even more as generally they travel slower than 70 mph,that we all have 4 x 4 's - I could go on . As many horse riders do I work hard to keep my horses healthy and in work and much as I would love not to be on the road (trust me dealing with people on a daily basis who think just because the speed limit is 60mph they should drive at it is not my idea of good fun) I have to in order to access further hacking . Iam lucky in that my horse is good in traffic (he lived on the site of a quarry for many years) so I can safely take my hand off the reins to say thank you and I will if necessary give hand signals to drivers to warn them on oncoming traffic or to let them know its safe to pass(amazing how many drivers have no idea what some of the hand signals mean - highway code anyone ??) I take rides out for a local riding school as well so I have to be very aware of other road user as it is not only my safety at stake but also other peoples children and again the amount of driver sthat think its ok to sit 2 inches from the back of a child's pony is untrue - luckily our ponies are agin traffic safe and we do not take anything off the yard that isn't. I also have my riding and road safety certificate and encourage all my students when they are the right age to take the test as well.Every child I teach is taught to say thank you ,we always try and get to the nearest layby as quickly as possible and all my kids know how to give the correct hand signals.We are also all decked out like christams trees in our hi-viz. We have reported drivers in the past for careless driving - its very easy to do and we have a good relationship with our local police station so they are always happy to follow up any issues we have had .My horse is insured - 3rd party liabilty up to £5 million amongst other things but you would not have a leg to stand on regarding sueing me if it was down to your careless driving. I have a duty of care to other road users like you have to me - I guess cyclists,tractors and dog walkers are also on your hitlist. This is taken from the BHS website


The statistics below are taken from road accidents reported to The British Horse Society up to 31 January 2008, but there are many more accidents which go unreported.

The information below covers the major issues reported, but it is important to note that not all information has been included in this summary and that not all of the questions on the BHS Accident Report form are answered on reports submitted.

2003

2004

2005

2006

2007

2008

Accidents Reported to the BHS

114

91

78

89

107

67

Horses Involved:

Ridden

86

66

53

68

85

40

Being Led

4

2

6

4

8

5

Loose

15

18

8

5

6

19

In harness

2

3

3

7

1

2

Riders Injured

40

30

31

20

45

12

Riders Killed

7

3

3

5

0

0

Other Road Users Injured

14

6

5

6

8

7

Other Road Users Killed

1

1

1

1

0

3

Horses Injured

37

30

32

28

35

22

Horses Killed or Destroyed

24

23

12

19

16

23

Riders:

Under 12

3

2

0

3

3

0

12-18

8

3

12

6

12

3

19-30

23

16

17

50

46

0

31-64

29

23

12

12

24

4

65 and over

2

0

4

0

0

0

Male Riders

4

3

7

7

2

2

Female Riders

83

60

50

61

84

44

Reported accidents in:

Countryside

55

37

34

45

34

38

Villages

25

30

9

4

32

3

Suburbs

17

9

13

7

20

14

Towns

13

4

5

0

2

2

Minor roads

70

59

40

58

72

30

Main roads

23

16

16

11

21

30

Dual Carriageways (usually involving loose horses)

5

1

2

2

0

2

I personally think it incorrect that an accident where a horse is injured or put down does not need to be reported so this report probably only tells half the story but I think it does make for some interesting reading.

myspottydog

squack wrote: »

I am scared of horses. they are animals and therefore unpredictable.

The horse rider is never 100% in control.

Any more than having a rat driving a powerful car or a lizard on a moped.

As a cyclist if one got startled when i went past it could kick me in the face.

With an uninsured horse there would be no payout for the damage to my face and bicycle.

The riders around here are always courteous but I have seen one get spooked and out of control before.

I know they have been around a long time but we live in a different culture these days where risk and accountability are taken more seriously.

If we allow horses on the roads then we should permit drink driving and talking on mobile phones

With respect, you are not the brightest. The only way you could get kicked by the animal you have spooked with you're bike would be if you were, against recommendation cycling too close. It is hardly the same as drink driving. The roads are there for the use of everybody. A large percentage of riders are a member of groups such as the BHS which provides third party insurance cover.

myspottydog

Mr_Lahey wrote: »

It is not possible to despise horse riders more than i do. I live out in the country side and the roads are riddled with them.
It was only last week i had a 13 year old doing hand signals telling me to slow down or whatever. And they never thank you, you could drive at 1/2mph and 15 mile wide and you wouldn't get a single thank you.
As for them selfish bstards who ride 2 wide on a corner as though to say "yeah, wait for us" i just tear !!!! past them close and fast.

I can't believe how many horse riders are fat, it just goes to show what people horse riders can be, they don't care about cars on the road, don't care about their horses curling one out wherever they are yet probably whinge at dog owners who do the same and they don't care that their 20 stone fat !!!! is breaking the horses back.

In my opinion, there are millions of bridleways where i live, if your horse is too scared to walk on the road - get off the f'ing road then.

I sincerely hope that you are trying to be funny. Otherwise you are a complete moron. It is idiots like you who cause accidents by scaring the horses in the first place. If you live in the countryside then you expect to find certain things on the road- horses, dogs, flocks of sheep, tractors etc and should therefore be driving at a suitable speed. Just because the speed limit is 60 doesn't mean you shouldn't use your own judgement. In fact maybe YOU shouldn't use your judgement as from your idiotic comments you have proven yourself incapable. I'm sure there must be a way to limiting your ridiculous wannabe car to driving at 30mph everywhere. If you want to drive fast drive on a motorway. If you want to live in the country accept that life is slightly slower paced and generally much more enjoyable.