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....

"Total self indulgence by rich people."

And that attitude towards horse owners and riders I'm afraid is the root of the problem. It's the fucking ridiculous stereotype that to own or ride a horse you're a stuck up snob, and somehow therefore deserve to have your life put at risk because someone has a skewed view of owning an animal.

Of course I slow down for them, and I'm always courteous. Doesn't mean I agree with them being on the roads.

"And that attitude towards horse owners and riders I'm afraid is the root of the problem. It's the fucking ridiculous stereotype that to own or ride a horse you're a stuck up snob, and somehow therefore deserve to have your life put at risk because someone has a skewed view of owning an animal."

Indeed. Most people I know that have a horse(s) have hardly any money left after horsing costs are catered for :D

If you're using a public road you have a responsibility to share it considerately with other road users, regardless of what mode of transport it is - pedestrians, cyclists, horses, lorries, tractors. Everything and everyone.

If you're think you're more entitled to be on the road than any of the above (and any I missed) then you're a grade A bellend.
That goes for inconsiderate (dangerous) drivers, self-rightous lycra warriors, white van men, audi/bmw/range rover drivers, boy racers in shit corsas and whatever other stereotypes you care to think of.

I use the roads in various ways:
Drive a car, ride a bike, occasionally brave riding a horse.

I treat other road users how I'd like to be treated - so for horses I slow down, pass wide and slow, wave back at the acknowledgement I (usually) get, swear at the ones I don't, quietly after I've passed

If I'm on a horse, I've been lucky - never had someone fly past me - roads aren't wide enough, though I did get one farmer (probably a contractor) with his hedge murdering machine refuse to turn it off when he could clearly see my horse was not a fan of the racket it was making.

Most of the time any problems with horses being startled are sodding pheasants flapping out of hedges just in front. Who knew horses could leap about 6' in the air from a standing start?

On my bike, I don't ride in the gutter, but I don't sit in the middle of the lane like some self-rightous prick either. I will avoid potholes (of which there are bazillions) because my bike doesn't have suspension and my arse doesn't appreciate it, also I don't want to knacker my wheels/tyres. But I won't swerve around like a nobber either. Shoulder checks and signalling are a good thing.

I wave drivers past if they've patiently sat behind me and I can see over the brow of a hill/round a corner that it's safe for them to pass. If they pass "too close" then they might get a sarcastic wave, but there's sod all point being confrontational about it. I'm on a bike, they're in a metal killing machine. I'm not going to win.

I pass cyclists how I like to be passed if I'm on my bike. I thank groups of cyclists for waving me passed, or moving back into single file if it's a narrow road to let me past. I'll get annoyed at groups of riders that don't.

TL;DR - don't be a dick about other people taking up precious space on "your" road.

I'd much rather have horses on the roads than the majority of drivers.

I'm disappointed, but not surprised, by the attitudes on this thread.

I always give them a wide berth in the car and on her bike. I will quite often give them a heads up when cycling as we can be too quiet sometimes! Loads of people with horses and bikes on he roads up here in North Yorkshire so I think most people are courteous.

I'd much rather have horses on the roads than the majority of drivers.

Same here, thinking about it.

I do slow down for horses and wouldn't dream of treating you how you've been treated today m but one point I would make is that near where I live there are frequently horse trials. The inconsiderate driving of some of those with their lorries and horse boxes annoys a lot of people. The same people that want consideration. It does work both ways.

And in addition to my earlier post, by the logic that horses shouldn't be on the road, should people not be on bridleways then? Often come across ppl walking on my local bridleway, I slow down if I'm going faster than a walk, move over and am courteous of the other users because it's not my bridleway, it's there for anyone permitted to use.
So if I wanted to have a canter, would it be OK to blast past people on a bridleway without due care and attention? Of course not! Whether I agree with them being there is immaterial, they are allowed to be, and as a responsible adult I treat them with respect.

My sat nav took us on a magical mystery tour around winding country lanes yesterday.
We came across 3 lads riding 2 bikes in the middle of the road who kept swooping from one side to the other. Next was a family of 4 with very small boy wobbling from side to side also right in the middle of the road. Lastly were 3 riders in a 2 and 1 formation.
Each of these groups caused me to stop, because there was no room to get past. No big deal, I wasn't driving fast and wasn't in a hurry. Mother of the small boy thanked me. Nobody else did. I did wonder about their own sense of personal responsibility as each group acted as if nobody else was likely to come along.
I'm always aware of potential hazards because I rode a motorbike for years and my father told me to assume everyone else on the road is a complete idiot. It has stood me in good stead.

Cyclists fine, providing the stay in single file. Police horses are doing a job of work not trotting around admiring the view. As I said before horses should be in a field or something, not on the roads. Pedestrians as they're less likely to panic when a car passes , no problem.

Oh Trevor, do fuck off darling.

Why are cyclists fine? They're not even insured. Both myself and my horse were when I rode out, and I wasn't pretending I was Bradley Wiggins on a time trial either. View wasn't bad though.

Actually, most of the cyclists I know are insured Polly. If you see any wearing club gear they definitely will be.

I've ridden horses my whole life my husband isn't horsey at all andhe thinks horses should be banned from roads and anyone who takes them in them is a idiot

I've had so many conversations with him about Highway Code and slowing done for horses etc and how they are allowed on road but in his eyes they are dangerous and not only put rider in danger but other road users and I feel his views are shared by many others

I sold my horses 2 years ago as now have kids but if and when Ivey back into it I don't take them on the roads anymore it isn't safe to do so in this day and age - unfortunately

I'm sure you all seen the footage of the coloured horse being hit on Facebook and thrown into the air but the driver coming round the bend, it was awful but I think it's a reflection of our roads today

Not safe for horses , not even really safe for cyclists

Cars & bikes are vehicles. Horses are animals.

Actually, most of the cyclists I know are insured Polly. If you see any wearing club gear they definitely will be.

I stand corrected then

Cars & bikes are vehicles. Horses are animals.

A horse is a vehicle. The original mode of transport.

PollytheDolly I'm not insured to cross the road. I do it several times a day though, as I guess you probably do too. Do you think it would be okay for an insured road user to mow us down?

Much as I don't understand the hostility from some drivers towards horse riders, I find the hostility towards cyclists as bad. They are vulnerable road users, as am I as a pedestrian. We are all entitled to use the road and we should do it considerately.

Trevorthebikethief would you trouble me with your definitive list of people who should be allowed to use the road?

I imagine Trevor's list is pretty short in truth limited

As were a donkey and cart and you don't see many of them on the roads anymore.

I enjoy seeing horses on our local road and given we're minutes from a stakes I'm surprised we don't see more. I always slow down, get an appreciative wave and do as I assume a scared horse could do a lot of damage to my car and I'd feel awful if the horse was hurt.

What made me less happy was the rider who laughed at my puppy when she was scared of the horses I'd moved her to the side to avoid getting under their feet.

As were a donkey and cart and you don't see many of them on the roads anymore.

True Trevor . But people are allowed to walk in most roads along with motorised vehicles all the time. They aren't even insured. What would you do with them?

Often come across ppl walking on my local bridleway, I slow down if I'm going faster than a walk, move over and am courteous of the other users because it's not my bridleway, it's there for anyone permitted to use. So if I wanted to have a canter, would it be OK to blast past people on a bridleway without due care and attention? Of course not! Whether I agree with them being there is immaterial, they are allowed to be, and as a responsible adult I treat them with respect.

Thanks for this headache. That's exactly what I think.