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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

What is the best way to pass a horse & rider in a car?

26 replies

Wallace · 15/05/2011 20:57

Obviously not too fast and give plenty of space. But I'm sure I read somewhere that too slow is not too good either because it can spook some horses.

How do you like to be passed? I like to be a considerate driver :)

OP posts:
Mirage · 15/05/2011 21:05

Wide and slow,with no revving up or picking up speed until you are well away from the horse and rider.Thankyou for asking.Smile

onadietcokebreak · 15/05/2011 21:09

Wide and slow....turning any radio down

Original poster
Wallace · 15/05/2011 21:19

Thanks :) How slow? 20mph? Slower?

OP posts:
annieapple7 · 15/05/2011 21:26

Yes slower please!

bilblio · 15/05/2011 21:28

I was always taught wide, slow and in as high a gear as possible as it makes the engine quieter. The engine is more likely to rev in 1st or 2nd gear.

Original poster
Wallace · 15/05/2011 21:41

Ok :) Good point about the revs

OP posts:
Pixel · 15/05/2011 21:52

Thanks Wallace Smile

And if any cyclists are reading this, please give a shout or something to let us know you are coming past. We can't always hear you approach and it can be nerve-wracking when you suddenly appear out of nowhere and whizz away!

Booboostoo · 15/05/2011 22:15

And please if you notice a rider waving a straight arm up and down this means "slow down", if they put a hand up, palm towards you it means "stop".

bitofthisandthat · 16/05/2011 11:19

Wide, slooow and no revving please!

marge2 · 16/05/2011 12:24

yup wide and slow..but not too slow. drives me mad. My horse is perfectly used to cars going past at say max of 20mph, but sometimes drivers are too 'considerate' refusing to go past even when there's loads of space. It freaks my horse out a bit. I think she thinks she is being stalked.

..second the 'cyclist' thing. Actually my girl, is fine with whizzing cyclists appearing out of nowhere, but it hasn't always been the case. One even whizzed between me and another rider when we were 2 abreast on a lane. we did yell to give him some verbals once we had regained control, but he was long gone by then.

..and please remember we are not always beig rude if we dont give a wave to say thanks for slowing down. We might very well need two hands on the reins.

scattercushion · 16/05/2011 12:27

this reminds me of the driving test written exam where there was a multiple choice question on this subject. It was
Do you
a) rev the engine and speed past
b) sound the horn
c) drive past slowly and quietly

I love the idea of people chewing their pens and fretting over a or b.

Debs75 · 16/05/2011 12:30

Wide and slow. I always pull into the other lane and usually go into 3rd and pass at about 15 mph. If there is a bend after I flash other drivers coming towards us to give them warning

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 16/05/2011 12:44

Just because you as the driver have passed the horse, dont speed up or change gear. Your vehicle is long, and takes time to pass. Its amazing the number of people who do this.
Also, if there is a bend ahead, wait. You may take extra time, but overtaking is a bad idea. Think, 2 cars and a horse all meeting on one blind bend. The result isnt going to be pretty!

ManateeEquineOhara · 16/05/2011 17:42

Haha, I remember that theory test question! I think I got that one right :)

Very considerate of you to ask Wallace. Basically, what everyone else says. If you are on a two lane road, and a car is coming the other way, do not try and squeeze past - wait! My horse is now stables on a really busy road, lot of cars come past without slowing down and far too close. It is not that cars scare my horse, but that she actually sometimes spooks at things at the side of the road, so nice and wide around please! :)

Pixel · 16/05/2011 19:56

We took dshetland out for a walk a few weeks ago and a car was creeping along behind us, which after a while started to get a bit irritating. Suddenly the car stopped and a woman got out. She rushed across the road shouting "I'm sorry, but I've just got to say hello to that pony!". Dshetland is very cute but that was a first. Smile

tribpot · 16/05/2011 20:01

If in doubt about the safety of passing, I will wait a reasonable distance behind the horse and rider, to be given the signal by the rider it's safe to pass.

LOL at the driving test question.

Donki · 16/05/2011 20:18

BUT if you have made a mistake, don't suddenly slam on the brakes, lose control, and spin your vehicle into the middle of a ride of ponies.....
(years ago now, but I still have nightmares, I was the intructor, on foot, taking them up a quiet country road. Heaven be praised, no one was hurt!)

OddBoots · 16/05/2011 20:24

I'd firstly worry why there was a "horse & rider in a car" Wink

Original poster
Wallace · 16/05/2011 20:34

OddBoots Grin

Donki Shock

OP posts:
Fenouille · 16/05/2011 20:51

Good grief, surely no-one gets that theory test wrong? Confused

I was taught by my DDad to pass wide (as in, in the other lane) and with the clutch depressed in second or third, then slowly accelerate once well clear.

frostyfingers · 17/05/2011 14:25

I agree with all of these, but you MUST say thank you, if you really can't take your hands of the reins (Marge) you should try and give an exaggerated nod, or lift one hand with the rein it it, or a big cheesy smile. As a rider I always acknowledge the effort a driver makes to slow down (and I do for the ones that don't too, in the hope they might notice....) and as a driver it hacks me off no end if a rider doesn't say thankyou somehow.

I stopped and reminded a pair girls who were too busy yakking on their mobiles to say thank you - they were rather taken aback when I said they would give responsible riders a bad name! Also wear hi viz - no need to go over the top, but at least a bib or cross belt, to catch the driver's eye.

Donki · 17/05/2011 19:31

I agree with frosty fingers - always wear high vis of some kind, and if humanly possible please acknowledge drivers who slow down. If they feel unnapreciated they may not slow down the next time....

Saggyoldclothcatpuss · 18/05/2011 00:45

When encountering a rider in difficulty with their mount, dont just carry on regardless. A horse shaped imprint on your bonnet is not a good look. Sometimes its necessary to just wait!

And to the mad old trout in the yellow car who bipped her horn at me (3 times) and LR DCs in an enclosed country lane because we couldnt get out of her way fast enough, I say "I PAY ROAD TAX TOO, SO GET STUFFED"!
Dont be suprised if you get abuse from riders, if you dont treat them with respect, they have as much right to be on the road as you have!

GetOrfMoiCase · 18/05/2011 00:55

I pass horses near enough every day, as my route to work takes me through country lanes near a stable/stud.

I always go past at a steady 10 mph, and slow down some way back and don't accelerate until I am well past the horse. I am usually driving with my radio blaring and the window open so mute that as well.

Most people say thanks very graciuously but I look at that as a bonus, if they don't thank me I in no way get offended, firstly it is in the highway code that you slow for horses, they have as much right to be on the road as I do, and secondly it may be a skittish horse, or a nervous rider.

Mind you, the amount of people I see hurtling past at speeds really shocks and angers me. I am not a horsey person, have only ridden a couple of times in my life, but even I know that some horses could be distressed by speeding cars and in a possible collision the horse and the rider is going to come off worse.

I have had people glare at me in my rear view mirrors and flash me for slowing down for horses. I think if you use country lanes you should expect horses on them and respect it.

GetOrfMoiCase · 18/05/2011 00:57

Oh the grammar in that post is awful, apols.