to expect horse (and rider) to reverse for me!

[AliBingo]

Genuinely puzzled here- I live down a single-track lane which is very narrow and windy so you have to drive slowly, anyway I met a horse-rider when I went out earlier.

Where we met, the rider was just past a field gateway passing place - the horse was about halfway past it, so its back legs and the saddle, and the rider herself, were still alongside the passing place. I stopped in plenty of time (couple of car lengths away) and waited for them to get into the passing place.

I waited and after about 30 seconds, rider did a hand gesture to indicate that I was to reverse! I duly reversed about 200 feet back down the lane and then sat waiting for about a minute while the rider proceeded to the passing place alongside me.

She looked a bit grumpy and didn't thank me, presumably because I hadn't reversed straightaway. But I had expected her to go into passing place!

So I am now wondering if it's not even possible to get a horse to back up/turn around/reverse etc - can you tell that I know nothing about horses!

WIBU to expect them to go into the passing place practically next to them, or does car etiquette not apply when the other vehicle is a horse!

Thanks!

I'm totally bemused by the people saying it's hard to make a horse reverse - no it isn't - it's a simple basic movement that all riders (and horses) should be taught early on.
Under the circumstances you describe, op, I think the rider was lucky you were so patient. Even if she was so inexperienced that she couldn't go back a couple of steps she could've easily turned a small circle to get into the gateway.

I've been riding 45 years now and it makes me really cross when riders are inconsiderate - gives the rest of us a bad name! Same for people with trailers and horse boxes who hold up the traffic - they should pull over every once in a while if the queue of traffic starts to build up behind them.

I draw the line at pickng up poo, though! In any case it's not a health hazard and someone will probably come out with a shovel and gather it up for their roses!

I suspect the toxoplasmosis risk from dogs and other carnivores is also down to the enzymes they secrete in order to break down flesh, and not just the meat itself, but I have no specific knowledge on the subject.

All I know is that I've never heard anyone suffer any harm from horse poo, and the smell is quite different and "less harmful" than dog poo.

I think at a minimum she ought to have said thank you.

But I am still reeling over the rudeness of plenty of horse riders that use the area around the school my kids go to. Some are ok others have dogs out of lead ride double horses on narrow roads and then send you poor looks (or fingers) when you drive safely .. sorry really get my goat.

I would have expected her to go back if the horse was that close and would have indicted so too.. However if I had backed up (I do if I am closets to a safe area) I 100% would expect a thank you wave and I think its rude of horse riders who doesn't..

"FYI, we often ride 2 abreast. Its not being inconsiderate"

Maybe a bit more hooting, not less is required?

Perhaps a few more bolts into the next shire may teach the more entitled horsey types a certain new respect for other road users?

(and bolts....)

Maybe a bit more hooting, not less is required?

Perhaps a few more bolts into the next shire may teach the more entitled horsey types a certain new respect for other road users?

(and bolts....)

If a horse bolts in to your car or the car of someone you love because you've been a total thundercunt and deliberately hooted to scare a horse, you won't have to worry about how much horse riders respect other users because chances are the car occupants will be dead.

We ride two abreast to deliberately slow vehicles down. When on my own, I ride more towards the middle of the road for the same reason. If a vehicle comes along, I always move out of the way as quickly as possible and thank the driver, sincerely if they have slowed down sarcastically if not

Hope the stable door didn't hit you on the arse as you bolted there, Lazyjane

If a horse bolts in to your car or the car of someone you love because you've been a total thundercunt and deliberately hooted to scare a horse, you won't have to worry about how much horse riders respect other users because chances are the car occupants will be dead

And if that doesn't work, perhaps her day in court and paying out millions in compensation for long term for someone no longer able to look after themselves might make her think.

I tend to leave policing the roads to the police.

op - I think you sound like a v. thoughtful driver and the rider should have thanked you!! I'm a rider (well I amble rather than ride nowadays) and I hate riders who don't acknowledge drivers (when humanly possible) who have slowed down/behaved courteously towards them - gives the rest of us a bad name!

Loads of useful information here regarding road use by both horse and rider and drivers.

Also rather sobering map of nasty incidents involving horses on the road (zoom in and it gets worse)

Site also provides details of locations where you can take the BHS riding &road safety exam which I'm fairly certain includes essential manoeuvering techniques such as reining back!

Finally, more info here about bridleways and protecting and improving rider access

Keep safe on the roads everyone!

The only thing you need to know about horses is that in the highway code they have right of way.

I know very little about horses, I know they are animals and I know animals can be unpredictable.

So I always slow down, and if possible stop giving horse and rider as much room as possible, I figure if someone is competent enough to ride a horse on the road then if I stay will they will work it out.

"The only thing you need to know about horses is that in the highway code they have right of way."

No they do not. Aside from anything else there is no such thing as a universal "Right of way". Certain road users can have priority depending on the what, when and where but certainly not in the situation as described.

Oh once more I ask WHY SHOULDN'T SHE REVERSE? The only reason appears to be ego. It's not like she had to peddle is it?

The same applies to the rider in this case. She was right next to the wide spot in the road

And neither rule 214 or 215 of the Highway Code say anything about a horse having right of way. (which is something I thought they did have actually)

Mitchy thirty years of driving past/ slowing down/ deferring to horses. Too many of their riders are simply rude. Saying thanks doesn't cost anything. I always say thanks when a car reverses for me, or walkers make way.

Why should the Highway Code or anything other than courtesy and consideration come into it? Treat others like you want to be treated.
LazyJane read the reason WHY we ride 2 abreast. It isn't us being entitled or inconsiderate. If you have ever been hit by the wing mirror of a vehicle doing 30mph you would have some kind of clue.
And as I said above...
"Anyone who brings up road tax as an excuse for being inconsiderate to any ather road user is a TWAT."
Bolting isn't fun or funny. People die. Accidents happen.

Why should the Highway Code or anything other than courtesy and consideration come into it? Treat others like you want to be treated.

here here

I live in the country and there are stables in our village so horses are on the roads almost every day. Most of the village is single track lanes.

I always give right of way for the horse, I always slow down and always reverse for the horse if it safe to do so.

IMO it is unsafe to reverse around a blind bend in a car. The car driver doesn't know if something is coming around that corner, there could be anything from walkers, cyclists, or a huge lorry. You don't know as you can't see.

Several times I've had to get out of my car and point out that it would be far safer for the rider to manoeuvre her horse into the passing point, usually about 10 yards behind her, than it is for me to reverse around a corner, when I can't see what's coming round it. I don't understand why horse riders need this pointing out to them.

Most riders will do this once I've pointed out the obvious.

Oh fgs hear hear

"Why should the Highway Code or anything other than courtesy and consideration come into it?"

An understanding of The Highway Code is a pretty fundamental part of being able to operate your vehicle (be that a horse, car or bike) on the roads. If more people actually took time to read and understand it the roads would be a better place for it.

In terms of courtesy etc, I would have thought expecting another road user to reverse as in the OP when you're practically in a passing place is the complete opposite of that.

Yellowtip I agree riders (and drivers) should always say "thank you" where humanly possible but it's much easier to do so from the inside of a car or from the back of a solid plod like I ride but sometimes - if your horse is young or stressed it can be difficult - a rider can be reluctant to drop one rein to wave or may be very preoccupied when on the back of an unpredictable animal who is holding up traffic ... etc

I'm sorry to all the drivers who have encountered such rude riders though - as I said before - it gives the rest of us a bad name. I always try and say thank you when I can. I have also encountered lots of unsafe/impatient drivers (as well as lovely considerate ones!!)

A bit of understanding from both sides would not go amiss.

Beanie I agree and I did say the OP WBU.

This thread has made me think, there are a lot of people complaining about rude horse riders who do not say thanks. Are we expected to say thank you to every driver who does not behave like an idiot?

I always try to thank considerate drivers when I am riding, but there is one road I ride along where there is a car passing about once every couple of seconds. I cannot in all honesty say I thank them all. It is a wide straight 30mph road, with plenty of room for cars to pass unless there is something big coming the other way. I always thank anyone who has had to wait to pass me, but I would get RSI if I thanked everyone. So what is the correct etiquette in that situation? Should I be riding along with one hand permanently in the air and a smile fixed on my face?

Well for the record I ALWAYS say thank you a a big cheery wave and a big massive wide mouthed THANK YOU. Unless for some reason I need to keep both hands on reins, in which case I just do the 'big wide mouthed THANK YOU.'
However, sometimes, if the car is coming from behind, and the horse is looking at something deadly in the hedge so I have to keep my hands on the reins and eyes front, I am not sure that the driver always SEES the 'wide mouthed THANK YOU'.

I wonder if this is where a lot of the 'arrogant rider' stuff comes from. I always try to catch the drivers eye to say thanks, but from up where I am I can't always SEE the drivers face.

"Beanie I agree and I did say the OP WBU."

I may not have worded my last post very well. To be clear, while it is important to show care and consideration to riders, as the OP describes she was not being unreasonable in the slightest. Expecting another road user to reverse hundreds of feet when you are within spitting distance of a passing place is ridiculous. Horses do not have a "right of way". If a rider is unable to manoeuvre their horse to a location a few feet behind them then they shouldn't be on the road.

Willyoulisten, that as well. I am not convinced cars passing from behind always see me thanking them. I often find myself doing it twice to try and make sure.