Nice People Thread Part 9 - and so it continues

Spirit_2

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

How awful - people can drive very stupidly around horses. My sisters only ride on roads hi-vised up, and even so, there are a surprising number of people who decide to race around narrow, bendy roads at 60mph because the speed limit is that.

Hope friend isn't too badly hurt.

Collapsed lung, broken collar bone, broken ribs, broken pelvis.

I hope the sh ! t that was driving gets banned.

They probably won't and I know I am feeling vengeful.

This road is as you describe....national speed limit, it has a forestry commission entrance to the woods on it, a caravan club site entrance, lots of horses, cyclists, with blind bends, shade from a high wall, trees with branches overhead a bridleway crossing it and deer going from one side of the other.

Immediately out side our hous it is relatively clear, but at the end of a hill (this bit is xxxxx Hill) over the years we have heard the sickening clatter of hooves and rushed out to try to catch runaway horses who have usually been spooked by fast cars and unseated their riders.

On one occassion, near where the accident was yesterday it was our daughter out hacking with an adult friend, she was then about 10 or 11, a couple of chaps from Southern Water who were working nearby were brave and caught Pony as DD was still on board but Pony had bolted. :eek:

michaels

I think I have played wide games in those woods, they were pretty badly affected by the storms of 87 and 91....

And I have almost certainly driven too fast along that road

Spirit_2

michaels wrote: »

I think I have played wide games in those woods, they were pretty badly affected by the storms of 87 and 91....

And I have almost certainly driven too fast along that road

There is now a lovely childrens play ground in the woods. One area for older children with things to climb and a park for littlies with a tree house, williow tunnel and teepees.


Becasue the road goes up an down in places and was the road to school so regularly travelled a childhood friend of DD called it Tickle Tummy Lane.

neverdespairgirl

Spirit wrote: »

Collapsed lung, broken collar bone, broken ribs, broken pelvis.

I hope the sh ! t that was driving gets banned.

They probably won't and I know I am feeling vengeful.

This road is as you describe....national speed limit, it has a forestry commission entrance to the woods on it, a caravan club site entrance, lots of horses, cyclists, with blind bends, shade from a high wall, trees with branches overhead a bridleway crossing it and deer going from one side of the other.

Poor woman, that sounds extremely distressing and painful. Hope the police are involved?

The road near my parents' house in Kent is a minor A road, national speed limit - lots of farm vehicles crossing it. One way from the next village along, it's straight for more than a mile, and then near my parents' house there is a sudden, sharp, left-hand bend. About once a month, some idiot comes high-tailing along, and when the road goes left, the car goes straight through the hedge into a field with sheep who are now entirely used to large lumps of metal arriving suddenly. The electricity lot have even moved a couple of posts, as they were getting knocked over so often.

The other way, it's twisty and turny for a couple of miles, so people go much more slowly.

chewmylegoff

I once spooked a horse on a road. Given that I slowed down to 10mph to overtake it and gave it a wide berth (this wasnt a narrow lane single track either, I was over the other side of the central white line ). I didn't really think I had done anything wrong as surely if a horse cannot cope with a car passing it at that sort of speed the rider shouldn't have it out on the road in the first place - you can't really expect a car to just crawl behind you at a safe distance until you turn off. The rider appeared to disagree with me although I didn't bother to hang around to chat.

lostinrates

chewmylegoff wrote: »

I once spooked a horse on a road. Given that I slowed down to 10mph to overtake it and gave it a wide berth (this wasnt a narrow lane single track either, I was over the other side of the central white line ). I didn't really think I had done anything wrong as surely if a horse cannot cope with a car passing it at that sort of speed the rider shouldn't have it out on the road in the first place - you can't really expect a car to just crawl behind you at a safe distance until you turn off. The rider appeared to disagree with me although I didn't bother to hang around to chat.

We have to train them to be on the road.....there is only so much prior preparation most people with most facilities can do for that without getting them out on the roads.

Also, ghovering behind is actually often worse. Horses are like temperamental grumpy men, you did right to give it a very wide berth, but , before passing you need to keep well back till the horse is settled. A horse can kick most of the distance of a rural single track road.

Also please turn your radios right down or off if the horse is skipping about, that can be the cause of a problem. (Horses especially hate synthesisers in music, but also we can sometimes hear you and have had problems from your radios or engines from before we have sen you and been working on it before you get there) If your car has mechanical issues that makes odd noises that can be unsettling, as can silence....like hybrids or cyclists.... Its not for you to guess our timing or know horse behaviour but a poorly times rev or attempt to pass can cause problems, especially as insurers don't like us to signal you to pass!


Yes...you shouldn't have to, and we should all be totally perfect and never cause you a problem, but just like toddlers throw tantrums sometimes, so do young horses. .

I'm proud of turning out really great road safe horses, its a forte of mine, probably because I enjoy road work, but we ALL have issues sometimes. Regretfully.

I ALWAYS thank drivers, even if they have had to make no adjustment to speed just pass me. rude riders, make it harder for all of us, but rude drivers risk our lives sometimes, its not surprising we scowl a bit at you!

lemonjelly

lostinrates wrote: »

Btw is it just me or is Lydia looking YOUNGER? how does that work? Can I get some?

How does it work? I suppose I'd better not ask if I can get some though...;)

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

In relation to the amazing-ness of space, has anyone read any books by Carl Sagan? He communicates the sense of "wow" better than anyone else I've read.

No, but I've been meaning to for ages & have 2 of his books on my "must get" list.

lemonjelly

neverdespairgirl wrote: »

I have. But he still won't ever swim in the sea without a wetsuit (-:

They have weird conversations in Israel in the summer, such as, "it's too hot to go to the beach today", which sound like Greek to me. In Hebrew.

My Mama was showing Isaac a photo at the weekend, of me (aged about 6) and my sister (aged about 4) making a sand fort with my Dad - we were all dressed in swimming costumes and jumpers or cardigans, and my other sister was a blanket-wrapped newborn bundle in the background.

In Woolacombe last year I went properly into the sea for the first time in years. Properly as in not paddling, but neck deep (or almost drowning when a wave comes along!)

& I have to say it was the most ridiculous fun! I properly regressed into childhood and buzzed off being in the waves, and the moving ocean, & being temporarily drowned.:)

lemonjelly

I'm going to see David Tennant in Richard 2 at the RSC tonight...

lostinrates

I'm afraid I'm with NDG's oh on British beaches. I think they are beautiful, I'll swim if I'm there ( I love wild swimming and don't really mind that its cold so long as I can get warm afterwards) but......well...I've lived on beautiful sandy beaches with clear Caribbean seas. Its a hard comparison. And tbh......I wouldn't even live by them again. I love fresh water, and would live my a river or a lake in a heart beat, but the sea....meh...the salt and the sand wrecks your cars and causes damage and its always windy and messes up your hair.

I love the IDEA, but its one of those ideas I know is fr other people. I suppose I rate this as the same thing as a beautiful sibling NDG.