Horses on the roads - AIBU to think its just not safe anymore - who is at fault?

[Heliom]

I am a rider, I consider myself a sensible and safe rider. I've been riding for over 25 years and feel the roads are becoming increasingly dangerous, drivers increasingly inconsiderate and quite literally now forcing riders off the road. I've worked really hard with my horse to make sure she is completely as road safe as possible, trained her to be calm around bikes, motobikes, tractors, buses, lorries etc and thank god I have after today...
this is the list of what I encountered today on a 'quiet' hack on country lanes.

1. Three motorbikes speeding down the road who saw us some way off and didn't even slow down, came thundering past.
2. A car speeding around a blind bend on a single track lane nearly took us and had to mount the verge to avoid us before speeding off
3. a HUGE tractor which took up most of the road which went straight passed a pull over spot and just stopped on the road. He expected us to pass inbetween him and the plough he was towing where we had less than 6inches either side and he refused to switch off his engine. Our horses are extremely good on the road and did pass but this was at their limit!
4. A massive group of cyclists who just came charging pass
5. A car who refused to pull off the road at all (there was room) forcing us to basically ake the horses down a ditch
6. Being beeped at (yes someone actually through it was sensible to beep their horn loudly at us) when they were behind us and we were going round a blind bend trotting as we knew we could pull in just a little way up and let the car pass. This was without doubt a particularly bad hack and probably one of the worst I've had but other roads users behaviours made it a horrid and quite frankly dangerous experience for us. If I had been on a younger or more inexperienced horse I have no doubt today would have ended very badly! Of course there are lots of very courteous drivers on the road, and we always make sure we move over when can, let people pass, say thanks, wear fluorescent clothing, etc. But I do feel it is becoming increasingly dangerous to ride on the road and the attitude seems to be that its my fault for taking on my horse on the road. Sadly I have few places left to ride and all bridleways need some road work inbetween. So AIBU to ride on the road, AIBU to expect drivers to take care of horses or am I being reasonable in thinking some/ many (not all) drivers are increasingly not caring about horses and other on the road....

" Personally think if you don't pay road tax, you shouldn't be on the roads "

what utter nonsense. In that case, lets not have cyclists or pedestrians either...
how silly.

road tax isn't even a thing!

Studying I do pay road tax..... regardless pointless point.... but I pay road tax like everyone else

I think the ignorance people have about horses is frightening. People thundering past horses on narrow country roads is insane. Even worse when you consider that a lot of horse riders are young children. I doubt people realise that if they hit a horse at high speed, they will most likely die as well.

On a lighter note though OP, get a mule, those fuckers are not scared of anything or anyone .

I love horses and think there should be massive fines for driving like a twat near a horse.

Why? There are penalties for driving like a twat around other road users, including horses.

If I was a rider or cyclist I'd prefer it if drivers didn't hit me in the first place, not rejoice in their big fine in the event of my dead horse or my dead person. It's not bloody hard.

If you are 'shit scared' of horses and drive somewhere you are likely to meet them, then maybe you should think about getting the bus.

The roads are just too busy now for horses IMHO. A while ago we passed somebody on a horse with a dog on a long lead. How crazy is that. And not a very quiet country road either.

" A while ago we passed somebody on a horse with a dog on a long lead. How crazy is that. "

oh lol that was what I did the last time I rode....:)

It's not called road tax. It's VED. It's based on emissions so even if horses paid it, their emissions are so low it would be a tiny amount.

A while ago we passed somebody on a horse with a dog on a long lead.

And I once encountered someone on a moped doing 30mph in the outside lane of the M11. You can legislate against twats but they still abound.

Anyway, I missed him. I guess you missed the rider with the dog too. Most moped riders and horse riders don't behave like that, do they?

What Shadow said. "Road tax* is all about how much your "vehicle" is polluting the planet. When I had my lovely little Corsa my tax was tiny.

The only emissions horses, bicycles and pedestrians give off is the odd fart so their tax is so tiny that it isn't worth collecting.

YANBU OP - unfortunately there are far too many idiots on our roads (using all modes of transport)

If you live in the countryside then it is completely normal and appropriate to share road space with cars, riders, cyclists, runners, pedestrians, tractors etc etc. Respect, common sense, patience and knowledge of the Highway Code is all that is needed but sadly lacking in many (including some of the posters on this thread!)

People should be made to do a 'driving on country roads' test. It's different to any other kind of driving and requires more patience, flexibility and courtesy. And if you can't demonstrate the ability to be aware that any corner might hide an unexpected obstruction or slower road user, you fail the fucking test and never drive again!

I love horses but am far too scared to drive them, and never cycle after an incident with a bike, half a bottle of gin and a recalcitrant kerb (ahem) but I am a runner and a dog walker and it pissed me off that there are roads in my area that I have to navigate to avoid as they allow car drivers to use them like a race track without giving a stuff about anyone else.

Horses do not belong on the roads unless it's absolutely necessary. Sorry but every time I see one being ridden along the road it annoys the hell out of me.

Totally agree OP. I live in a tiny village, we ride on nice rural lanes to the nearby villages. The horse I ride is bombproof and her field is on a main road so she sees every kind of vehicle every day, doesn't bat an eyelid.

Tractors and lorries are fairly courteous around here, but vans and cars are not. It's not just young drivers either, the worst are middle aged men who rev their engines at us. We regularly have cars speeding past us at upwards of 60mph. At least most motorcyclists round here are fairly calm!

To better explain, we're on a national cycle route and also have a riverside pub that seems to be a half way point for gangs of cyclists on summer evenings. They assume complete control of the roads, and ride completely across it in gangs of 15 - 20 men - all wearing skin tight lycra. Not a pleasant sight either. They refuse to pull in or give way to anyone or anything! I've been shouted at to get out of the way walking my dog. Arrogant feckers. It's not considerate cyclists I have issues with . And never horse riders.

KateDaniels2, my GC go to a smaller school so not the same one but the scenario sounds very familiar. The two ladies who ride side by side chatting and causing a huge tailback also annoy me. Tiny children riding on main roads terrify me.

Trevor - why? Do you feel the same way about cyclists and pedestrians? How should horses move about?

Studying

Roads are paid for through council tax, apart from motorways - which excludes many road users.

So are you saying if you don't pay council tax you shouldn't be using the highways? Will this include children using the highways ( which does include the pavement)

Would people who get assistance with paying council tax be effected? Students who don't pay council tax - how would they be effected?

jane - I had a similar situation on saturday. Was running along the canal and was nearly hit by a cyclist under a canal bridge - no apology at all and he was followed by approx 30 others all riding hell for leather who seemed to be able to ignore my presence entirely. I just stood there waiting till they went by and enjoyed silent fantasies of seeing them all driving off the edge and ending wheels up in the water.....

I have ridden all my life and I agree it's getting worse. However I mostly only encounter polite and careful drivers. I ride in a rural horsey area on tiny country roads to get to fields and bridle paths etc.
I think meeting tractors and cyclists etc is just part of using a country road so accept that and just have to get on with it.
I am genuinely shocked by some of the comments on this thread tho
We often get people walking multiple dogs or little kids on bikes or people in wheelchairs looking at countryside... would you consider revving up behind them???
I think if you drive on country roads then you are likely to encounter horses or any of the above. I just don't see why you would be an arse about it??!

I was walking on a footpath the other week when a horde of cyclists came past. There were 1,000 of them altogether and only about 4 (including the only woman) thanked up for standing aside as they thundered past. Rude fuckers

My mare is now retired. Have to say, if I was still riding her I categorically would no longer take her on the road. Just not worth it.

"Personally think if you don't pay road tax, you shouldn't be on the roads"

I knew some ignorant twat would bring up road tax, and about horse riders being rich. everyone knows the fastest way to become a millionaire is to start off as a billionaire and buy horses!

Op, YANBU, I have a rising 4 year old horse who luckily is fairly brave, but still a baby. In order to get her super brave on the road I have to take her out on the road. I can't only ride in the school as she's a clever little mare and would get bored and behave appallingly.

We have 2 bridleways near our yard and that's it. When I was a child, we had about 20, they've been downgraded to footpaths.

It's depressing to think that some of the attitudes on this thread are likely to be those very drivers.

Horses do not belong on the roads unless it's absolutely necessary. Sorry but every time I see one being ridden along the road it annoys the hell out of me.

And because of attitudes like this.

My Mum doesn't pay 'road tax'. Her car is exempt. I must tell her she mustn't go out on the road in it.