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!

We ride two abreast to deliberately slow vehicles down. When on my own, I ride more towards the middle of the road

I hate to use this word but that really is such entitled behaviour.

I used to live in a village so not unusual to see a horse and rider on the road and not painting myself out to be a martyr but I would always slow right down and wait until I had enough space to safely go around them.

I also never witnessed any other car user being inconsiderate (driving too fast or close) to a horse either.

I am arguing that the ability for a rider to mount and dismount a horse at will (though not necessarily easily) is an important part of controlling one on a public highway. If you're not able to do this because the horse is too big then you shouldn't be riding it on the roads.

So no disabled person should ever ride on the roads. That's direct disability discrimination.

It's indirect discrimination against women and some ethnic minorities due to size.

It is indirect discrimination against Sikh men who have a few lessons and then rides a horse round the corner to the gurdwarra on his wedding day, usually with someone else leading the horse on foot.

You are an Arse.

I'm not suprised you are a plod

not painting myself out to be a martyr but I would always slow right down and wait until I had enough space to safely go around them

This statement, and many others like it in this thread show the problem with a lot of drivers. The assumption that they are doing a massive favour to other road users, when in fact slowing down or stopping, is what car drivers should be doing as a matter of both law and common sense, or even human decency.

You're in control of a potentially lethal weapon. Of course you put the safety of those more vulnerable than you first.

My dog walks backwards regularly! HTH

I live in a place where horse riders are almost the norm and I quite like the etiquette of always giving way to horses for the fun of collecting the gracious waves of (nearly all) the riders as they go past, so your rider was just not playing the game iyam!

I recall a time though when a couple of riders were riding down what passes for the high street here when their horses were mildly spooked by a couple of children carrying balloons. The riders shouted (in a very arrogant way!) to the mothers to get rid of the balloons. Entitled much?? Here's an idea: why not avoid riding down the high street very close to the school at 3.45 on the day they break up the holidays and you may just avoid the hazard, the world doesn't stop for you and your bloody horse. Apart from anything else, I'm not too sure quite how the mothers were to supposed to get rid of them, other than popping them which would surely have been worse?

Btw I live a couple of sack of manure's throw from Princess Anne's gaff, but I don't think it was her!

Golly I'm sorry I've just realised how long this thread is! I thought I was adding my comment at the bottom of the only page! A million apologies if the thread has moved on or if I'm repeating something very similar!

Beanie I think you've made a lot of sense. don't get sucked into the old Internet game of having to do tons of spurious research, the asker will still nitpick from here to doomsday no matter what you do.

And sashh, being disabled or a Sikh groom does not trump the need to ensure everyone's safety on a public road.

Fortyplus so you think horses are not included in the need to comply with the Highway Code? Do you think just because they are not machines they can do what they like on public roads?

I know that's how quite a few of the horsey types on this thread seem to think, but I strongly suggest you don't put to the test, for yourvsafety and everyone else's.

This thread is increasingly convincing me that no one should be allowed on a public road without some form of licensing and insurance.

Lazyjaney the vast majority of responsible riders have public liability insurance and many, especially children, take their BHS road safety exam.

This thread is increasingly convincing me that people really enjoy giving out silly and condescending labels to other people that go some way towards excusing their own inconsiderate behaviour.

Sashh did you mean to be so rude about police officers?

Perhaps you didn't realise that calling someone else an arse and then saying you're not surprised they're a 'plod' was not just rude to the 'arse' in question but any other 'plods' out there, as it implies that's one of the job requirements.

Or perhaps you did.

DearJohn if you read the thread, you'll see that many riders have experienced cars driving too close to their horses. Including one person who had a car driven past so fast and so close that her foot broke the wing mirror off.

The lack of consideration for other road users by some of the drivers on this thread has really shocked me.

Horse riders are often on the roads because it's the only way to get to safer riding. Next time you see one, please bear this sort of thing in mind:
www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=563846&highlight=horse+fatality (Notice that it wasn't just the horse that died).
www.horseandhound.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=537865&highlight=horse+fatality

We ride two abreast to deliberately slow vehicles down. When on my own, I ride more towards the middle of the road

I hate to use this word but that really is such entitled behaviour.

I used to live in a village so not unusual to see a horse and rider on the road and not painting myself out to be a martyr but I would always slow right down and wait until I had enough space to safely go around them.

I also never witnessed any other car user being inconsiderate (driving too fast or close) to a horse either.

Nope, it's not only a sensible way to not only slow drivers down but it also allows them to see me sooner than they would if I was tucked in to the hedge. I'm genuinely grateful to you for always slowing down but believe me, a lot of drivers do not. You may never have witnessed it but I have and may have smacked a car or two with my whip when they were too fast/close.

I notice that you failed to quote me saying that I always move out of the way quickly or trot on and then thank the driver

This thread is increasingly convincing me that no one should be allowed on a public road without some form of licensing and insurance.

I have taken and passed the BHS Riding & Road Safety test, the only one that comes anywhere near to an official road riding test. I also have public liability for upwards of £3million each, third party, vetinary treatment and personal injury insurance on both of my horses. Most riders I know have this sort of insurance. I wonder if a lot of people who cycle or run on the road have similar? Liabilty, third party and personal injury, I mean, not vetinary for their pushbikes

This thread has kicked off nicely. Very interesting both topic wise, legally and psychologically. That was just to mark my place btw.

gizza Your post made me feel nauseous. Sitting there waiting for the impact with nowhere to go.

I am another with full insurance and the bhs test under my belt. Still doesn't make me feel safe on the road

Two abreast IS safest, a car cannot get by unlike single file riding, when the most idiotic (and usually worst) drivers attempt to squeeze past in the most ridiculous of situations. We are also taught that this is safest, I too have passed my BHS RRS test, and it never ceases to shock me just how much ignorance, and aggression is shown towards riders.

Maybe it should be included more in the driving test.

We live v close to the Mounted Branch training establishment in Surrey. They ALWAYS ride two abreast, so I'm assuming it is the safest way, and legal.

Two abreast is by far the safest - same with cycling.

When overtaking ANY road user, you should move right across into the oncoming lane - just as you would when overtaking a slow-moving lorry or tractor.

Unfortunately, lots of car drivers overtake cyclists and riders in situations where they would never consider overtaking a vehicle - and riding two abreast prevents this extremely dangerous behaviour.

If you wouldn't overtake a tractor moving at 10mph, you shouldn't overtake a horse moving at the same speed.

I think it is quite sad how this thread has kicked off, as any threads about horses on roads always seem to. Surely everyone on the roads just wants to get from A to B safely, whatever their reason for travelling?

I think it would be a struggle to find a horse rider who hadn't experienced inconsiderate, and dangerous driving, just as I am sure there are also a lot of car drivers who have come across idiots on horseback. Unfortunately there will always be people like that, and even the most reasonable rider or driver can have an off day! Despite that I think most car drivers, and horse riders are reasonable people, which is why generally horses and cars both use the road without major problems.

Exactly Smartieaddict!!! And do add to those wise word most people are not exclusively one thing or another but change roles becoming more or less vulnerable road users. Even if a driver does not cycle, ride or walk it's worth thinking whether she is the kind of driver she would want her kids to meet while riding/cycling/walking.

I have a horse. She can go backwards, but not very willingly! Especially not if she is frightened. They are unpredictable and dangerous. My advice would be to give as much room as you can for horses, slow right down and be patient. Its pretty scary being on my horse and an inconsiderate driver frightens her. Most people drive much too fast and dont anticipate meeting a horse and rider on the road. You should almost expect it on country roads. Dont accelerate away once you are past the horse either! Thank you ............much appreciated!

Country roads are the worst, drivers turn into maniacs, I swear some of them think they are in computer games as they swerve around the blind corners! I've had some scary near misses on country roads, in my car as well as on my horse.
I actually find it safer now I have to ride in the town. Drivers are already on the lookout for pedestrians/cyclists etc (hopefully!), they are more resigned to going at a steadier pace with lots of stops for traffic lights, roadworks and anything else in the way, and I think lots of them enjoy the novelty of seeing a horse, especially if they have children in the car. I've only met a couple of idiot drivers in the town (yes impatient 4x4 man and recycling lorry man, I'm looking at you), most people are patient and friendly, at least around here. The cyclists however are a real pain!