Horses/cyclists on the road

[sconeorscone]

Do you feel nervous on the roads too, or do you just get on with it and don’t feel anxious about it?

im really fortunate that in the area I’m in most people are fantastic at driving past my horse, as it’s quite a rural area and most people are used to waiting for horses, trackers, kids etc. I always pull in to the side, or trot to a passing place so they can get past. Unfortunately some people are so fucking selfish and speed past, or rev the engine deliberately, leave no space behind or to the side of me and don’t wait 2 seconds for me to pull into the side when I’m clearly indicating I will. I imagine cyclists have similar issues with some selfish drivers.

some of my friends are nervous going on the roads and others are not that bothered, I suppose it depends how many dickhead drivers you’ve come across and if you’ve had a bad experience but it made me realise I’m actually quite nervous about it although still do it because my horse loves it and it’s good for him. But if it were up to me we would never ride on the road because the few dickheads spoil it for everyone.

how do you feel about it?

And if you’re one of the arseholes that speeds past/tailgates/breaks the law around horses and bikes on the road, how do you sleep at night knowing you could have caused an accident?

Well, sometimes it's not really about who's at fault, it's about whether or not you want to be seriously injured/killed, because there will always be people who drive like knobs. Even without a cyclist in front I still see a lot of dodgy overtakes by impatient drivers, and despite them being at fault I still slow down to give them space to pull back in.

There is almost always a passing place that cyclists can pull into. They're supposed to avoid impeding the traffic and if I can manage on most country roads in a truck in excess of 30ft long then there's not really any excuse.

I live in a village where horse riding is very popular and when I’m driving I’m always so careful around them but they shouldn’t be on the roads. It’s ridiculous. It’s dangerous for them,the riders and people in cars. They come out with crap like “they were here first” which is pathetic. They should be kept in fields and ridden there.

Everyday I wake up and I’m glad none of my friends and family are this ignorant 👍

No, I didn't miss that bit. That was specifically what I was replying to. You're not supposed to deliberately impede the flow of traffic, although if there's genuinely not enough room for them to overtake then I believe it's actually recommended - I often have to straddle lanes in urban areas while turning to avoid people in the right lane trying to squeeze past.

However, if there's genuinely not enough room for cars to pass it's sensible to occasionally let them past when convenient to do so. Like tractors you're not obligated to, but it's you that's most at risk from a massive tailback of cars behind you.

@sconeorscone excuse me?! What the hell makes you think I’m ignorant?!

The fact that you’re on a thread with multiple explanations and reasons for why horses might need to be on the road yet you still came out with your comment.

I ride nearly every day on the roads. With my children. We all have full hi viz, in pink and yellow, reflective and lights. Our horses are well behaved. I’m not worried; I know accidents happen, I’ve seen them first hand. But I am not an anxious person by nature- I have minimised risk appropriately and am happy with my decisions.

It definitely wasn’t. I rode horses on the roads in the 80s in West Lancs and felt perfectly safe. We had some fantastic pathways alongside fields, but there was a little roadwork to get to them. I also rode my bike as a kid on B roads and felt fine.

I no longer live in England, but recently returned and went for a bike ride with my kids on the roads. Never again. People barely give you room and bomb past at 60mph. And this was in the Cotswolds, where I assumed rural = safer.

@sconeorscone there is not one valid reason for horses being on the road. Maybe you’re the one who’s ignorant

No, it's definitely you. The OP and lots of other knowledgeable posters have given detailed responses as to why field exercise often isn't feasible or appropriate.

Maybe you should live somewhere less rural if it's such a sore spot for you.

I don't understand why you think there is one valid reason they shouldn't be?

I hope if your horses leaves piles of shit on village/residential roads you go back and clear it up after your ride

Riders don’t have to give reasons, and you don’t get to decide whether those reasons are valid or not.

Horses are legally entitled to be on the road, and as a car driver, you are required to behave appropriately around them.

@alloalloallo i drive incredibly appropriately around them as I said in my first post and yes they are legally entitled to be on the road but they shouldn’t be

The words you're writing are a bit of a clue.

Why deprive the local gardeners of some fresh manure?

Why on earth not? They are the only transport with a natural right to be on the public road (legal fact, check it out if you want). Horses need exercise and education and for many road work is the only option they have, due to the urbanisation of the countryside. Believe me, riders would not choose to use public roads any more than they have to. We should all be able to get on with each other and show respect for each other. I always do everything I can to not be a pain when riding on roads.

I drive appropriately too - but I think cyclists should have their own lane - and horses should not be allowed on the road - they should be exercised in fields and bridleways.

You are not the one in charge of the definition of a "valid reason", @Dita73, which is just as well given your determined ignorance. There is no less reason for horses to be on the road than any non-essential car use - why is someone driving to the shop for cigarettes more valid than someone hacking to a bridlepath?

Cars are more dangerous and more polluting than horses or bikes, so perhaps we'd be better to focus on removing them from the road, other than for pre-determined valid reasons. Not commuting, you could just move closer to work. Not socialising, or attending a gym or hobby - that's not essential...

If you don't like that idea, maybe you should consider why horse riders and cyclists defend their legal right to access the road network, and that we all have to share for everybody's benefit.

Why exactly would people do that?

You're not legally required to do so and around here, the local gardeners and farmers will take it off the roads for free anyway!

No one lifts it - think you might be overvaluing a pile of poo, like farmers or gardenders walk around with a shovel hoping to come across a piece of horse shit on a country lane - get a grip - it is a disgrace that it doesn't get lifted.

They do here.

There are horses and stables everywhere and you never, ever see horse poo on the roads or pavements. Farmers will come and collect it within hours.

Probably should be a legal requirement though. If it’s a legal requirement to clean up after your dog in public I don’t see why it should be different for a horse, given the mess is much worse.

Sigh. We have this literally every time there's a horse thread on here. There is a perfectly good reason why you don't have to pick up horse poo, which is that (unlike dog poo) horse manure is literally just pre-digested grass, it carries no toxins that are harmful to humans, other animals or plant life. In fact it's an excellent natural fertilizer which is why do you actually see keen gardeners running out with a shovel when the horses have been past (not farmers perhaps as they'd need a much bigger quantity). But even if no-one picks it up, all that will happen to a horse poo in the road is that it will wash to the side in the next rain storm where it will quickly and happily break down into mulch doing no harm to anyone. Out of politeness I personally try very hard to avoid letting my horse poo on bridleways because I know some people are squeamish about getting it on their boots or buggy wheels (I try and direct my horse's bum to the side of the path if I can) - but really that's all that a considerate horse rider needs to do....

There was a time when they were considering it - London was overflowing with stinking horse shit, it was a big problem but it was back before the motorised vehehicles replaced the horse for most tasks.