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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Who was BU, me driving or man on horse?

399 replies

EsmeraldaEllaBella · 20/03/2016 18:42

Sorry for another car thread! Name changed recently but am a regular poster

So today I was driving in the countryside, road is wide enough for 2 cars, 60mph road, very straight. There were 3 people in a line on horses coming towards me on the opposite side of the road. I was going about 40mph but slowed to 30mph when I saw them. The man on the front horse started waving his arms and looked really angry saying slow down slow down! Wtf? Angry horse people around here piss me off so much. Was I BU?!

OP posts:
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6
ElementaryMyDear · 20/03/2016 19:36

No need to keep telling OP she WBU, she got the message ages ago.

Zwellers · 20/03/2016 19:37

If horses are this easily spooked and pose such a danger is it not unreasonable to take them on roads were there is obviously going to be cars. Do you have to pass a licence to take a horse on a road be insured etc.

Redhound · 20/03/2016 19:37

The OP has taken it in good grace, I was appalled by Nobodys comments

LyndaNotLinda · 20/03/2016 19:38

Believe me, a 500kg horse can do a lot more than dent your car. If you hit it dead on, it's curtains for the horse, the car and you too probably.

Nobodyspecial - you shouldn't be on the road. You have a very limited understanding of the Highway Code

Redhound · 20/03/2016 19:39

Zwellers, others have explained that horses and pedestrians have right of way on the roads, cars can only be there by licence.
It is unreasonable and dangerous of car drivers to endanger vulnerable road users.

NewtoCornland · 20/03/2016 19:39

nobody you have just made yourself look like a total twat....good job.

hollinhurst84 · 20/03/2016 19:41

It's the same as a push bike. You don't have to have a license for them!
Although yes, I have done a riding and road safety certificate and I do have insurance
Seem to spend my life muttering under my breath that 40mph and 6 inches is not "pass wide and slow"

Arm out is to turn, arm out moving up and down is please slow down and hand out is stop

People often ignore the hand out "stop" but sometimes it's because I can see over a hedge and if you come past me you're going into a lorry head on. Or there's a cyclist, or I can see something you can't
Not because I'm being an arse!

Owllady · 20/03/2016 19:42

Whoever up thread thinks it's unreasonable to do 40 on 60 mph country lane, why? Hmm
Most parts of some lanes, especially on Sunday (horses, cyclist, walkers) should be driven on less slower than national speed limit.

Ilovewoowoos · 20/03/2016 19:42

You drove past or approached 3 horses on the road at 30mph?!! WTF?! Yes, YABU. You need to pass horses at 10mph tops.

I'm a horse owner and drivers like you are one of the reasons I don't hack out anymore. A spooking horse can move sideways at a rate of 52mph. It'll end up on your windscreen, so yes, in future, slow down to 10mph. If you like your car, and your life.

Redhound · 20/03/2016 19:43

Many hunters would weigh 700kg or more.

hollinhurst84 · 20/03/2016 19:43

Also if you're directly behind me or in front, my horse can't see you because of where their eyes are set
I have no idea how you teach a horse to be safe on the road without.. Taking it on the road
Obviously you can do spook training etc etc but if you come flying past in a car that's inches away, that sends gravel/water splashing up, yeah they get a little spooked

Ilovewoowoos · 20/03/2016 19:45

I see the OP has taken these comments on board so sorry for my earlier, arseier post, I hadn't RTFT

Zwellers · 20/03/2016 19:45

Crumbs didn't know pedestrians had right of way. Apologies for derail so does that mean if a pedestrian steps in front of your car it's your fault no matter what as they have right of way?

Ifailed · 20/03/2016 19:46

If a car isn't safe to be on the road, it shouldn't be on the road. If a horse isn't safe to be on the road, it shouldn't be on the road. Roads are for cars.
Utter bollocks. We all pay for roads whether we drive or not.

Good luck to OP, she's learnt her lesson and will be a better driver in future.
Flowers

Owllady · 20/03/2016 19:48

Err yes. You should always be able to do an emergency stop.
Really if you don't understand the dangers and risks of driving on country roads/lanes you shouldn't be driving on them.

CauliflowerBalti · 20/03/2016 19:51

OP was ignorant and took it on the chin.

Nobody, however is a bit of a dick.

rattling · 20/03/2016 19:51

Just returned to riding after a few years, and on a horse which is pretty good on the roads, but not perfect. Can I just say that there was one occasion recently when a driver was very much due a wave as a thank you from me, but I was too busy with both reins trying to keep the silly pony straight as we passed a terrifying post box (think it had a new sticker on it) to manage that. Hopefully they saw me nod and smile, but no wave doesn't always mean rude rider.

PoshPenny · 20/03/2016 19:52

Highway Code rule 215:
Horse riders and horse drawn vehicles.
Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider * Look out for horse riders' and horse drivers' signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard.

  • riders will often go two abreast if the road is not a single track road so that vehicles over take like they would for a car rather than the vehicle whizzing past with 4 inches to spare and no reduction in speed 😡

Well done and thank you OP for acknowledging your mistake earlier in the thread.

CatchIt · 20/03/2016 19:53

YABVVVVVU.

30 is not slow. Your child is on a bike and someone drives past at 30, it's not that slow is it? Now imagine that your child is on a pony when a driver goes past at 30, frightens the pony who spins into the car and your child ends up on the back seat and the pony in the window. Not so slow then is it?

Please, please really slow down past horses, 20 or preferably 15. It will take no time at all off your journey but will make a massive difference to the horse and rider

As a rider, I thank you.

ADishBestEatenCold · 20/03/2016 19:55

Esmeralda, on behalf of ... well ... me, really, can I say a huge big Thank You for taking on board what has been explained about horses on the road, and agreeing to adjust your driving accordingly.

Thank you!

Feawen · 20/03/2016 20:00

Yes, good on the op for taking time to ask and think this through.

For anyone who stumbles on this thread thinking that horses shouldn't be on the roads: regardless of your opinion, if a spooked horse comes through your windscreen, you will be very dead. Petition and protest if you feel strongly but don't put your own life and those of others at risk by driving dangerously.

ABitSensible · 20/03/2016 20:00

Zwellers
Crumbs didn't know pedestrians had right of way. Apologies for derail so does that mean if a pedestrian steps in front of your car it's your fault no matter what as they have right of way?

No it doesnt. Go read the Highway Code to learn what Right of Way means, and how to drive around livestock.

PurpleDaisies · 20/03/2016 20:02

catchit yabvvvvvvu for not reading the thread. The op admitted she was unreasonable ages ago.

Op I'd suggest hiding the thread to avoid the kicking from people who can't be bothered to even read the posts from you.

CatchIt · 20/03/2016 20:03

Nobody that is a truly wanky statement. Shall I come and ride in your garden seeing as there are hardly any bridle paths anymore?

Biscuit
turdfairynomore · 20/03/2016 20:06

I'm very wary of horses on the road... and for good reason!! I live close to the entrance of an estate (in the landed gentry sense, not the housing development sense!!). There are very often horses on the road (which is long, straight and a reasonable width) on their way to or from the land. If approaching them head on, I slow right down into first gear. But...coming from behind is as dangerous, if not more so!! A few years ago I was walking my dog along this same road, I could see the horse....and the car......coming from behind! The horse was yards from the break in the wall to allow it into the estate....but the driver saw the long, straight, clear road.....and didn't slow down, he revved, sped up and overtook! The horse reared and the rider was thrown off! Thankfully there was no other traffic to hit her or the horse!! She broke her collarbone and dislocated her elbow!!! I'll never forget the noise of her hitting the ground!! The horse was amazing!!! He was terrified, skittish, ran around a bit, but didn't trample rider or take off! I'm no horse woman. Far from it...truth be told, they scare me, but the rider couldn't get him!! I got her up onto the pavement.... I have no idea how she managed it, i think shock over rode pain for a while, and I was then able to get hold of the horse.....who stood beside us like a big Labrador while I called ambulance!!!! Fortunately, this happened a few hundred yards from an animal rescue centre... I could see their sign and called them! They came out and dealt with her horse and my dog to get them out of way before ambulance came! They were great! And the driver......to the best of my knowledge, was never caught! They probably didn't see the carnage they caused and it was only covered in very small, local paper! It was a horrible experience... but it could have been a blood bath! The rider could have been hit by another car, the horse could have trampled her, or it could have run off and that road runs parallel to a busy dual carriageway!!! It doesn't bear thinking about!!!! Scary!!!

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