To be FED UP of inconsiderate drivers towards horses

[SaltAndVinegarIsTheBest]

I know this thread has been done to death, but I just needed to rant sorry

I’m sick of drivers who just don’t give a shit about horses on the road. Most people are lovely and try their best to give space and drive slowly and it is so much appreciated unfortunately there’s a minority who don’t. I’ve had cars go right up to about a foot away from my horse. I’ve had cars speed past without slowing or giving any space. I’ve been shouted at and called every name under the sun for daring to be out on the road with my horse. I think most riders have experienced similar and try to avoid hacking where possible.

Why can’t people appreciate the dangers involved in horse riding and that if you spook the horse it could have disastrous consequences? My horse is 16.3 and if he rears and I end up crushed, I’d be lucky to even survive.

I’ve been there. I’ve been stuck behind a tractor or cyclist whilst late to work. I know how frustrating it is! But ultimately if a 5 minute delay was enough to make me late, then the problem lies with my timekeeping more than anything else.

And before anyone says anything, horses have every right to be on the road. I avoid it where possible as the risks are too great, but sometimes it is necessary and at the end of the day it is allowed. Blaming horse riders is victim blaming as we should be able to safely hack out without fearing ending up in hospital.

Thanks to everyone who is considerate around horses on the road. To those who aren’t, remember that horse riders want to get themselves and their horse home safely- don’t be the reason that doesn’t happen.

I'm not a rider, but I have witnessed a horse being hit by a car - it was horrific. I was walking nearby, but I wouldn't even say the car was going especially fast - the horse just seemed to get spooked. I think the rider and the car driver were okay after the accident, albeit shaken, but not the poor horse.

I always give horse a wide, wide berth and drive slowly past. I think they can naturally be quite nervous creatures so it's not fair to risk scaring them - and even if you don't do anything all that bad, they can still panic so you need to allow space for the rider to get them back under control.

YANBU. I make a big effort to thank every driver who slows down and gives me space, and if possible I stop and move to the side or verge so that they can pass, or will trot if they're stuck behind me and can't pass immediately so they don't have to wait long. 90% of drivers are considerate I find, but then I live fairly rurally and think most locals know how to drive near horses. My horse is also big and quite "flashy" so I think a lot of drivers rightly view him with some trepidation!

Cyclists, on the other hand, never pull in to let cars past, seem to love riding deliberately slowly in the middle of the road so you can't pass and never say thank you. They also whizz past my horse without warning and although he's generally sensible for a five year old, a cyclist whizzing past him with no warning makes him panic and become dangerous.

I had someone come around a corner, instinctively brake, then deliberately accelerate and steer towards one of my mares on a very narrow road a few weeks ago. He passed her at speed only inches away from her I've met an awful lot of dicks on the road but he took the pissy bloody biscuit. Fortunately that mare is an absolute legend and didn't move a muscle.

I presume these utter fuckwits don't realise that my best-part-of-a-tonne horse coming through their windscreen will kill them too.

A school friend had her horse killed literally from underneath her as she rode along a country lane.She recovered from her severe physical injuries but suffers from PTSD and was simply never the same.

YANBU - however, the people that drive like that act the same way to cyclists and other cars that aren't driving fast enough for their liking. They act like that because they're dicks, it's usually not limited to just horse riders

For balance, though, 99% of the cyclists around here are awesome with the horses.

Thank you @coronabeer for being considerate. Horses are unpredictable but a lot of people don't realise quite how much. My horse will walk past a tractor or big lorry with no problem but if he sees a crisp packet or an open drain he thinks its a fire-breathing dragon and will leap into the middle of the road. He's only young so will learn, but all horses can be unpredictable, even the solid dependable types.

YANBU at all. There was a horrible incident in my village about 6 years ago - old village, deep road (houses up banks on either side), twat driver going far too fast. He went straight into the back of a horse and his rider. The poor horse was done for, and the rider paralysed. I still remember the fire brigade cleaning up the blood, the road was covered.

Too many people think because they're in a car / van / lorry that they can barge their way past (or through) other road users.

YANBU.

I'm always very careful to keep my distance then overtake slowly leaving lots of room.

Once I was behind a horse, waiting for a good bit of road to overtake when an arse overtook us both at high speed. Fortunately by overtaking me he was on the opposite side of the road and the horse was fine.

Bloody stupid though.

@MerryPoppings

Thank you *@coronabeer* for being considerate. Horses are unpredictable but a lot of people don't realise quite how much. My horse will walk past a tractor or big lorry with no problem but if he sees a crisp packet or an open drain he thinks its a fire-breathing dragon and will leap into the middle of the road. He's only young so will learn, but all horses can be unpredictable, even the solid dependable types.

Sounds like my welshie I had when I was a child. Amazing with cars, tractors, lorries and buses, but would have an absolute meltdown at the sight of a puddle!

@Frazzled50yrold

A school friend had her horse killed literally from underneath her as she rode along a country lane.She recovered from her severe physical injuries but suffers from PTSD and was simply never the same.

That is absolutely horrific, I’m so sorry that happened to your friend. Some drivers just can’t seem to understand how serious an accident involving a horse can be x

YANBU. Sadly, there are a lot of inconsiderate, ignorant and aggressive drivers out there.

I love seeing horses and riders on a road, and of course slow right down and give them plenty of space. Very sorry to hear of horrible accidents and aggressive, intimidating drivers.

YANBU
I’m a non rider but horrified at the attitude of some drivers towards horses .
I would rather be hours late than put riders in danger and pass very slowly with plenty of space .

Not the point of this thread but I always look at the riders and pray they get home safely … there’s lots of green space around here and wish they would stay in the fields - that’s just the mum in me though …
Riders are free to go where they wish !

I would always slow down and give a wide berth for horses, cyclists etc. What I don't agree with, is a slow moving vehicle- such as a horse walking along the road (2 a breast sometimes) or a tractor which has a trail of 20+ cars snaking behind and the horse/tractor doesn't pull over to let some pass at any point.

But ultimately if a 5 minute delay was enough to make me late, then the problem lies with my timekeeping more than anything else

I recently had to drive DH to A&E. Not enough for an ambulance, but still a concerning injury needing urgent attention. I was stuck in that trail of cars behind 2 horses for 20mins, on a road where I had no option to get there via another route!!!

I'm sure that most riders would indeed pull over from time to time, or at least I would hope they do? I would also hope that drivers that beep or speed past are in the vast majority too.

Who are the fucking clowns voting YABU?! Unbelievable. Actually, that’s not true, it’s completely believable, every single rider I know, myself included, has a list of dangerous encounters with cars as long as their arm.

• minority I mean in that last line !!!

YABU. Unless they're working horses, they're an archaic luxury that you're imposing on the rest of us. A tractor is different, they're participating in agriculture, not a hobby.

Cars shouldn't behave recklessly, However, complaining that they may "spook" your horse -- if you are putting a massive animal that spooks easily onto a public road, you're putting others in danger. Then wanting to blame others for imposing a safety hazard on the rest of us!

Oh to be middle class. Chantelle wouldn’t be allowed to ride a large dog down the road.

Tell your husband to put his bike away too. Just no need.

@Hairyfriend

I would always slow down and give a wide berth for horses, cyclists etc. What I don't agree with, is a slow moving vehicle- such as a horse walking along the road (2 a breast sometimes) or a tractor which has a trail of 20+ cars snaking behind and the horse/tractor doesn't pull over to let some pass at any point.

But ultimately if a 5 minute delay was enough to make me late, then the problem lies with my timekeeping more than anything else

I recently had to drive DH to A&E. Not enough for an ambulance, but still a concerning injury needing urgent attention. I was stuck in that trail of cars behind 2 horses for 20mins, on a road where I had no option to get there via another route!!!

I'm sure that most riders would indeed pull over from time to time, or at least I would hope they do? I would also hope that drivers that beep or speed past are in the vast majority too.

Ah sorry to hear about your DH, that must have been very stressful. Hope he was alright after going to the hospital.

Yeah I always try to pull over as often as I can although in certain roads there aren’t any ditches or passing places and there’s nowhere safe to tuck into the side. On grassy verges there can be hidden ditches and verges and it’s often safer to stay on the road itself. If there’s a pavement it is more awkward still as riding on the pavement isn’t allowed.

We often walk 2 abreast when out with young or inexperienced horses (or riders) to help build confidence.

Obviously I’m not sure if there was any passing places on the road you were on and it’s possible the riders were just being ignorant! Unfortunately ignorant horse riders exist too! Just trying to shed some light on why they might not have tucked into the side and why they possibly were riding 2 abreast.

I usually try to wave or thank people when they go past as I understand it must be frustrating but ultimately their frustration could have fatal consequences for both horse and rider x

So it's just fine to take young, inexperienced riders on a road where you can't pull to the side safely even if there's an emergency.

Again, you're creating a public safety hazard for the sake of your hobby. Really unreasonable.

@LewittDee

YABU. Unless they're working horses, they're an archaic luxury that you're imposing on the rest of us. A tractor is different, they're participating in agriculture, not a hobby.

Cars shouldn't behave recklessly, However, complaining that they may "spook" your horse -- if you are putting a massive animal that spooks easily onto a public road, you're putting others in danger. Then wanting to blame others for imposing a safety hazard on the rest of us!

Genuine question and not trying to be difficult, but how do you expect horses go to bridle paths if not on the road? Often stables are located a mile (sometimes more!) from rideable paths and there’s literally no way to get to them I hate being on the road and avoid where possible but I know of people without access to arenas, or who’s horses dislike schooling and much prefer to be out hacking and it’s impossible to get to trails/bridle paths without going on the road unfortunately.

Cars don’t spook my horse if they are driving sensibly. But this post is about the drivers who deliberately beep their horn, or roll down the window and shout curse words at us, or deliberately speed up and drive recklessly. That’s irresponsible driving whether it’s towards a cyclist, horse or pedestrian.

If people drive safely and maintain a safe distance, then nobody will be in danger.

@SaltAndVinegarIsTheBest- thank you for the perspective. DH ended up being ok thank you.

Ever considered that other road users are being inconvenienced by nuisance hobbyists? No need to deliberately spook horses but horse riders don’t have some sort of special entitlement to inconvenience horse riders. Unpopular opinion I’m sure. But everyone else who voted yabu clearly thinks the same.

[quote Hairyfriend]@SaltAndVinegarIsTheBest- thank you for the perspective. DH ended up being ok thank you.[/quote]
Good glad to hear it!

Hope I didn’t sound like I was arguing with you on your post. I wasn’t trying to, just trying to shed a bit of light about why it might have seemed like they weren’t doing anything. Although it has to be said that unfortunately there are some riders that are completely ignorant too and it’s possible they were just ignorant. I always try to pull over where possible because it’s a 2 way thing, if we ask drivers to go past us considerately then it’s only good manners to help and pull over where we can!