AIBU - Horse riders pick up poo?

[kaz2810]

First time asking on here so here it goes!

I'm bloody fuming, we live in a fairly large town but are lucky enough to live by a lovely canal. First 1/4 mile or so is a concrete path wide enough for 2 people to walk side by side. I'm walking along this afternoon and in the distance there are some horses & a women with a buggy feeding ducks. One of the horses poo's and as normal keeps going leaving a steaming pile all over the path meaning that anyone with a pram, wheelchair etc cannot get past unless they lift over or roll straight through it. ( bushes one side & water the other side of path) this is a daily occurance and I'm totally fed up of dodging it. Surely when on a concrete pathway the riders could show some consideration to others?

Janey, I'd love to be able to afford a 4x4 to tow a trailer for the horse I used to ride (not mine)

But even if I could, none of the bridleways around there had a car park. Most were tracks coming off paths or roads straight into fields or woods.

No need for wings, at our local beach there's often these marvellous inventions called trailers that transport horses. Riders take their horses for a gallop on the beach, no precarious riding down narrow paths required. I presume the same thing would be possible to take them to the woods or bridleways. Horses shouldn't be on pavements or narrow paths that pedestrians use.

Totally agree that horses shouldn't be on pavements. However it depends how the 'narrow path' is classified. If it's a footpath then no, but if it's permitted for horses then why not? If the shit causes a problem, then address it.

As for the wonderful invention.

For me personally, as I don't drive (believe me I've tried!) Then a trailer can be as wonderful as it likes, I can't use it. Then there's the cost. Yes, yes I realise that there's the belief that all horse owners are minted but no matter how loud you shout it, or how many derogatory words you use to describe them, it's not true. Trailers and boxes are expensive, I could afford one, if I didn't have the horse to go in it! There's also the issue of parking and then loading/unloading - you need space to do so. Many people do box up and go somewhere, but not everyone can. There's also a minority of horses that cannot or will not travel safely due to bad experiences etc.

Yy beer Not to mention that riders are like everyone else. They work, have kids, houses etc. Even with a trailer most wouldn't have time to ride if they had to load up and drive just for a short hack.

Plus not every child or teenager is glued to a screen 24/7. Some do sports, including riding. And they don't all own or drive on roads however much the professionally entitled want them to.

I can honestly say I have never read such total shit on here.

And how times have changed.

These threads used to end in good humour and in support of the horse rider.

I still think this needs to go in classics.

Yabu. Very.

what bollocks about the trailer..do you really think horse riders are loaded people of leisure?
How silly.
I did not even have a trailer licence in the years my dd had a pony, would have cost about 1000.

Oh my Janey. I'm not even a horse rider and can see how adding in a trailer turns a nice afternoon hack, akin to an afternoon stroll or bike ride, into a major military exercise 😅

Sorry, the trailer suggestion is hilarious, I can just picture it now!!

JaneyEJones When you want to go for a walk do you get a massive lorry out to transport yourself where you want to go? That’s what your suggesting. Ignoring the fact that you need a massive car to pull a horse box or spend a fortune on a totally separate vehicle and get a hgv license. I part loan a horse and there’s no way I could do that.

what bollocks about the trailer..do you really think horse riders are loaded people of leisure?

@DullandOld

Yes, that's exactly what a lot of people think, judging by some of the comments on here! It's sad that the stereotypes are still so prevalent really, a lot of organisations have put money, time and effort into making horse riding more accessible for all. The RDA are a good example, as are a few establishments that offer 'work for rides' to children who otherwise couldn't afford it.
I'd venture as far as to say for at least the majority of 'anti-horse' posters on here, it's not the shit that's the actual problem, it's that it's come out of a horse with a person sat on top, and the misconceptions held about that.

Near us horses don't go on narrow footpaths where people walk, they go on bridleways

Um, you do realise people are allowed to walk on bridleways? And paths can be shared use, so allow horses and people (and bikes)? Like canal towpaths are, as evidenced by multiple links posted in this thread

Are you suggesting actual segregation of paths so people are banned from bridleways and vice versa?

We have one of those, were there is a small fence between the horse bit and the walking bit.

And horses are not allowed on the towpaths.

The majority of bridlepaths would not be accessible to people in wheelchairs and would be hard work with a buggy. A bit of horse shit would be nothing in comparison to the mud.

Horses should not be ridden on the pavement.

I never new to dung was a verb.

Horses should not be ridden on the pavement

Why?

The pavements are for pedestrians.

Rule 54
You must not take a horse onto a footpath or pavement and you should not take a horse onto a cycle track. Use a bridleway where possible.

HTH

wine for the same reason cars shouldn't be driven on them. Assuming you mean pedestrian pavements rather than a concrete path like in the op which is open to horses.

I'm wondering where janeys imaginary place is, where people all own or share expensive vehicles with anyone who happens to enjoy the same hobby, and there are so many quiet beaches and bridle ways that they can avoid the public. If it exists outside her head I'm moving there.

Chucking your tack on and popping round the block for half an hour would take all bloody day if you had to hitch up, bandage up, load up, pack your shit clearing equipment in your ruck sack.......

My eyes are rolling so far back I can barely see.

Horses aren't allowed on pavements. The same as bikes. Pavements are for pedestrians.

I must admit it would make life a lot easier for horse riders if we were allowed on pavements. A lot safer for us. But it would put pedestrians at risk.

Horses are allowed on roads, bridleways and shared use paths and tracks. The Trans Pennine Way for instance. They aren't allowed on Footpaths if it is just for people.

On privately owned land it is down to the land owner unless there is a bridleways through it. And then they must stick to the bridleways.

On council owned land it is down to the individual council. Where mine are kept they have blocked access to the massive council fields we used to ride on due to off road motorbikes using it.

A trailer is fine if you have one and want to box up and go hacking. But a massive PITA if you just want a quick hack.

Boxing uo involves hitching your trailer on (which might take 2 people), getting your horse ready to travel which may involve rugs, protective leg wear and a tail guard, loading your horse which might take 2 mins or 2 hours, driving to where you need to be, unloading and then undressing your horse, tacking up, securing your trailer and vehicle, go for your ride then reverse the process.

It's not like chucking your dog in the back of the car.

It is a hobby for most. The same as many other hobbies that may have an impact on other people. Football on a sunday morning takes up loads of fields and parking around here as does rugby on a saturday afternoon. Cycling can cause issues on roads. Swimming takes up council pools. Walkers use the countryside and can cause issues to paths. Keeping animals as pets can cause issues to others.

A bit of horse poo isn't really the issue. It's how intolerable some people find others enjoying themselves. No one owns the world, no one using that tow path owns it. They are probably there because either a charity or the council maintains it. Some people need to live and let live and be thankful that even in a large town there are green spaces that people can use freely.

It smells nicer than their wee on rubber matting on a hot day...

That's now my 'go to' compliment. "You smell nicer than horse wee on rubber matting on a hot day!"

JaneyEJones When you want to go for a walk do you get a massive lorry out to transport yourself where you want to go? That’s what your suggesting. Ignoring the fact that you need a massive car to pull a horse box or spend a fortune on a totally separate vehicle and get a hgv license. I part loan a horse and there’s no way I could do that.

I dont know what horsey circles you turn in but have you never seen a single box? what is this talk of massive lorries and HGV licenses?

But even if I could afford a trailer, or a small horse box which doesn't require a HGV licence, where would I park round where I've ridden? The bridleways near there are tracks leading off roads or paths, there are no car parks especially for horse riders.

I'd need to park dangerously on a road, unload and tack up in traffic, or block a pathway which would be illegal.

Certainly wouldn't be able to be able to exercise at 4-5am as I often would before work as would need to have borrowed a 4x4 and trailer, or horsebox, before parking on a busy road to unload and get on (not as busy at that time, but hypothetical anyway as a white line so couldn't really park there)

Instead of getting on in the yard and riding for 8 minutes on the road to get to a lovely bridleway.

Horse shit is larger but a lot less offensive than dog shit.

Of course it’s not practical for everyone Iiits, I was just correcting the assertion that you need lorries and HGV licenses to transport horses. You also don’t need a 4x4 to tow smaller trailers.