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 always slow down, lower my music and give a wide berth near horses. I'd hate to spook one due to the danger, not only to the rider and horse, but I'd assume a frightened horse could actually cause damage to other pedestrians if any are around. On country roads I generally dislike the irritating drivers who speed round them so fast and try to get others to speed up by tailgating. Not fussed about seeing horses and I quite like it when I do.

People who work with horses - who may also be hacking out on the roads as part of their job - are often spectacularly badly paid and by no means wealthy.

Most people make sacrifices to own horses - holidays, cars, socialising, alcohol, etc. Some of those sacrifices are equivalent in magnitude to the cost of horse ownership, some definitely aren't, but horse riders aren't any more entitled than people who go overseas on holidays every summer or buy new cars every few years. Despite what TV will suggest, most horse riders keep their horses on a budget and are a bit feral - up to their knees in mud, covered in hay - because they're busy doing as much of the work themselves as possible around their own jobs. Anybody who thinks horse riders are posh and stuck up should spend an hour on a DIY livery yard. You'll soon see how wrong you are

Ahhh the old 'you have horses, you must be rich' chestnut. We have 2, must be bloody loaded! We absolutely aren't, obviously not on the breadline but we go without other things to afford them. On the yard we are on, everyone works in normal jobs to be be to afford them. Call centres, a warehouse, a carer, uni student with a pt job etc. Most have a dp to help with living costs, or a couple of the younger ones have parents that help. But I would assume most people are working working class. I'm usually asked how I afford them by someone who drives a HP car, or regularly hhas expensive beauty treatments or is out out every weekend.

With regards to the original post, OP yanbu. But unfortunately things will never change. I am lucky enough to livery where we don't need to do any roadwork to hack out. But even the tracks and trails are getting busier, dogs can be a nightmare as can off road cyclists who whizz about. Plus the illegal off roaders. It's all a bit hair raising hacking anywhere these days.

I voted YABU but only because I don't believe horses should be allowed to use a public road for the reasons you've listed yourself. An inconvenience for drivers and potentially disastrously dangerous for everyone including the horse.

Why is personal wealth relevant anyway? Is it ok to put someone in a dangerous position or cause them or their horse injury, so long as they are wealthy?? What a ridiculous argument.

An inconvenience for drivers and potentially disastrously dangerous for everyone including the horse.

But the same is also true of other drivers, cyclists and walkers in the road, and I don't suppose you're suggesting we ban all of those too? Cars are the most dangerous things on the road by a very long way, after all.

I cannot understand why these drivers who do not want horses on the road are so apathetic that they won't back or support campaigns for more off road facilities/bridleways.

I’ve had horses all of my life and I’m way richer now I am currently horseless

In the past 10 years I’ve seen a massive increase in terrible drivers and attitudes to horses. My youngster was nearly hit by a young boy speeding around a blind bend to get to McDonald’s
He was literally inches from my horses legs and it wasn’t an isolated incident either.

I must admit it put the fear of god into me and I never wanted to ride any of my horses near a road ever again. I would do the odd country lane but hated every second!
It was one of the reasons I sold up, nowhere safe to enjoy them

People hate horseboxes just as much so I can’t imagine people would be any happier if we started driving horses to places to hack either!

Cars are the most dangerous things on the road by a very long way, after all. I'd consider buses and lorries more dangerous - by a very long way.

What would you do if a car driver drove through your field where your horses were and they damaged the drivers car? Horses pay no tax for roads keep them in fields

My dd failed her driving test because she hesitated at the junction - her actions did not directly put anyone in danger but they lead to other road users becoming frustrated and potentially doing something stupid - hence she failed - I consider horses on the road cause the same amount of frustration - they shouldn't be on the road, but while they are I'll treat them with the due care and attention I do with any hazzard.

@Loveisthere

What would you do if a car driver drove through your field where your horses were and they damaged the drivers car? Horses pay no tax for roads keep them in fields

Drivers pay no tax for roads either. My fields are private property, roads are not.

If you're going to have an opinion, it should at least having some passing acquaintance with reality.

@Loveisthere

What would you do if a car driver drove through your field where your horses were and they damaged the drivers car? Horses pay no tax for roads keep them in fields

Oh god this is almost unbelievable sorry.

the crucial difference is that horses are legally allowed on the roads as they are public and for everyone to use. Unsurprisingly if you drove your car into my field I would call the police. And if your car was damaged from driving into a field with horses I really couldn’t care less about it being damaged- that’s why cars legally can’t go in fields.

And you don’t pay road tax because this isn’t a thing, unless you’re commenting from pre 1937? There is a tax for vehicle emissions. That’s why some people don’t pay road tax in their cars either. Based on your logic, only the most eco-unfriendly cars should be allowed on the roads since they pay tax.

most horse riders have cars so they pay exactly the same as any other driver

@Cluckingtell

My dd failed her driving test because she hesitated at the junction - her actions did not directly put anyone in danger but they lead to other road users becoming frustrated and potentially doing something stupid - hence she failed - I consider horses on the road cause the same amount of frustration - they shouldn't be on the road, but while they are I'll treat them with the due care and attention I do with any hazzard.

That's not why you fail a driving test for hesitating.

Hesitation indicates a lack of confidence, observation and forward planning, and slow reaction times.

It is nothing to do with other road users becoming frustrated.

If other drivers become frustrated and do something stupid, they are poor and unsafe drivers.

@Lockheart impressed you know better than her driving examiner.😂

The crucial point is whether slower traffic causes traffic travelling at the normal speed for a particular road to be delayed. Last time I was in Scotland I frequently saw these signs saying "Frustration causes accidents. Please allow overtaking." Whether you're a pedestrian, horse rider, cyclist, tractor driver, invalid carriage driver or whatever else, if you're not able to keep a decent speed up - usually you can tell this by there being a queue of cars behind - pull over and let them pass.

Whilst a driver who causes a horse to get spooked by driving too close will be judged predominantly at fault, the rider has to share some of the blame.

@MorningStarling

The crucial point is whether slower traffic causes traffic travelling at the normal speed for a particular road to be delayed. Last time I was in Scotland I frequently saw these signs saying "Frustration causes accidents. Please allow overtaking." Whether you're a pedestrian, horse rider, cyclist, tractor driver, invalid carriage driver or whatever else, if you're not able to keep a decent speed up - usually you can tell this by there being a queue of cars behind - pull over and let them pass.

Whilst a driver who causes a horse to get spooked by driving too close will be judged predominantly at fault, the rider has to share some of the blame.

Only if the rider has passed place(s) where they can safely pull over and allow traffic to over take, or it's safe to overtake and the rider has hindered that in some way that could be avoided. Driving up a horses arse, beeping and engine revving isn't suddenly going to make a safe place to pull in available, no matter how frustrated the driver behind may be. And further it's possible that it will cause further delays if the horse is unsettled by being revved, beeped and driven at, and no, horses shouldn't be expected to deal with those things, drivers should be expected not to do them. I've had drivers squeeze between me and oncoming traffic, and behave like that when I'm indicating by putting my arm out and trotting on to get to a passing place that will take me about 20-30 seconds to get to and allow the car behind to overtake. That said, unfortunately there are riders who don't pull in to suitable places and allow cars to pass, but you can't make one suddenly appear at will because the person behind you doesn't want to be held up for a minute, and the balance really IME, is more on the side of impatient drivers not giving enough time for the horse to get out of their way than riders not getting out of their way at all.

@Bloodybridget

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.

Me too - I love to see the horses out and fwiw I also love the little waves of thanks the riders give me. I dunno why, but it just cheers me up.

I think it's the knowledge that we are both strangers yet both working together in that moment, to keep everyone safe and comfortable.

This thread has reminded me of the time I saw 20-30 horses being walked down a main road to the Defence Army Regiment in Melton Mobray.

They were a slow moving and rather wonderful sight and despite the 20+ minute traffic hold up, I note that no motorist took visible umbridge with the soldiers riding/leading them.

I suspect much of the ire to smaller numbers of riders is because the driver suspect those on top of the horse is 'just' a women or young girl, so easy pickings.

@ButterMeTimbers

This thread has reminded me of the time I saw 20-30 horses being walked down a main road to the Defence Army Regiment in Melton Mobray.

They were a slow moving and rather wonderful sight and despite the 20+ minute traffic hold up, I note that no motorist took visible umbridge with the soldiers riding/leading them.

I suspect much of the ire to smaller numbers of riders is because the driver suspect those on top of the horse is 'just' a women or young girl, so easy pickings.

Very true. We are just spoilt toff women therefore irrelevant

You are not being unreasonable at all OP - I can’t believe anyone would say otherwise! There are clearly some very messed up people out there - worrying really.

@Rosieposie101

I voted YABU but only because I don't believe horses should be allowed to use a public road for the reasons you've listed yourself. An inconvenience for drivers and potentially disastrously dangerous for everyone including the horse.

Motor cars are an inconvenience for other road users and potentially disastrously dangerous for everyone, including the driver. Perhaps they shouldn't be allowed on the road.