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Discuss horse riding and ownership on our Horse forum.

Original poster

horse riders that don't acknowledge cars pulling over for them drive me mad

52 replies

NellyJob · 31/08/2012 00:20

so I am driving along a narrow lane and see two horses approaching and so slow right down and come to a halt as they pass, and one of them gives me this kind of tiny smirk, and the other sticks her nose in the air and blanks me completely! and they clip clop off!! HOW RUDE! It's people like them that give horseriders a bad name! Like they think they are too posh to say thanks or perhaps just wiggle a finger at me! Another rider who I encounter regularly who is genuinely posh couldn't be more charming. My daughter rides her pony up and down there every day and I would be ashamed if she behaved like that...
rant rant,moan moan.

OP posts:
ItsAPileOfBalls · 31/08/2012 00:24

Lots of riders where I live and I must say I have never come across any who were impolite (I always slow down/stop for them). I'd like to think the ones you encountered today were very much in the minority - very bad form on their part!

Original poster
NellyJob · 31/08/2012 00:28

indeed bad form...I did say HOW RUDE quite loudly before realising the sun roof was open..Grin

OP posts:
janji · 31/08/2012 00:28

My dd aged 6 goes riding every week and as part of the lesson will occasionally go on the road. Her indtructor (quite rightly) always insists the group thanks motorists who act responsibly and politely. Unfortunately, not all motorists seem to have been taught similar manners!

workshy · 31/08/2012 00:31

happens all the time near me

we often get horses 2 abreast on the road

without fail I slow to a crawl or stop depeding on on coming traffic, give them as wide bith as possible and they either just glare at you or ignore you completely

I actuallt don't mind the learns not acknowledging me, I would much rather they concentrate on their riding, but the instructors at least should aknowledge

Original poster
NellyJob · 31/08/2012 00:36

not all motorists seem to have been taught similar manners!
well that is true as well.....plenty of horror stories there.
I would much rather they concentrate on their riding
well these two did look as though they were clutching their reins for dear life.....but a nod and a smile goes a long way.

OP posts:
NoComet · 31/08/2012 01:04

Loads of horses round here. Their riders are all incredibly polite, pull over and say thank you when you go past.

Much better than some of our cyclists.

alwaysinthebackground · 31/08/2012 07:54

Some riders where i am are nice and polite always say thank you.
Some are quite rude, there is a pair who actually ride on the wrong side of the road (i kid you not.) Ive told them, everyones told them, they are going to end up in a nasty accident, but still they continue to do this..

fivegomadindorset · 31/08/2012 07:56

Most are rude round here. Drives me nuts. I used to ride and would always, always say thank you.

ithaka · 31/08/2012 08:02

Maybe they couldn't lift a hand off their reins at that point as they could sense their horse was a bit fizzy?

I do try to acknowledge cars, but if my mare it being a tit it would be irresponsible of me to take a hand off the reins. Perhaps what you call a 'smirk' was a smile of acknowledgement?

Do you expect cyclists to similarly acknowledge you? I have never once had an acknowledgement from a cyclist, even when I have crawled behind them for ages until I could find a safe place to pass wide. I assume that is because it is not safe for them to raise a hand. But then, I am not looking to be offended by them.

Callisto · 31/08/2012 09:45

I've ridden some proper nutters on the road and haven't been able to take a hand off the reins to wave to any drivers that slow down, but it has never stopped me from nodding and yelling 'thank you'. Hmm And if I slowed to pass your misbehaving horse Ithaka, I would still expect you to at least nod in my general direction. Most motorists think that riders are beyond snooty, it would be nice if all riders tried to prove them wrong.

I find cyclists immensly annoying at times as they seem to think the road is there for them and sod anyone else, however a bicycle is unlikely to shy into the path of an oncoming car, so you can't really compare the two.

JRsandCoffee · 31/08/2012 11:00

Hmm, with Callisto have ridden many a nutter on the road, ridden and led two etc, etc, a nod and a smile goes a long way, particularly if you are threatening to land 16 hands of eventer on their car if it goes any more wrong!!! No excuse for not thanking folk.

It seems that some riders are indeed just rude or in the case of some of the teenagers around us I fear just utterly stupid when it comes to the road safety and interacting with other road users thing. I've also been ignored a few times by people riding along with their ipods in - which seems to me to be just asking for trouble and not only that desperately irresponsible in terms of being conscious of what is going on around you so that you can look after your precious horse/ pony, surely??

Cyclists........ don't start me, and I am one......grrrrrrrrr.

Original poster
NellyJob · 31/08/2012 11:44

Ithaka trust me these two plods were not 'fizzy', I am quite aware that it might not be possible for a novice rider to take their hands off the reins, but some acknowledgement would be courteous. And I am not some chippy anti horse person as you suggest with your
But then, I am not looking to be offended by them
I rode for years and so does my daughter.

OP posts:
Alameda · 31/08/2012 13:56

I exaggerate a nod and smile as far as possible but sometimes you can't catch the driver's attention, if I'm on my horse I can raise a hand in thanks too but it's not a good idea on the pony, he has a thing about cantering on roads, only main roads/the high st, so you can't let go or at very best he will start eating the verge.

My sharer is awful though, I have to remind her every time to acknowledge the courtesy of drivers, she's not rude but she daydreams and has the sort of face that's grumpy in repose. Everyone else I have ever ridden out with has great road manners, as do most drivers I think.

Pixel · 31/08/2012 14:16

We have to do most of our riding on the roads and if anything I tend to go a bit over the top with thanking drivers as I want to keep them on my side! My sister rode out with a girl from our yard and was embarrassed that she rode along in the middle of the road, gave no hand signals and never thanked anyone. She never went out with her again as it spoilt the ride for her. This girl was a car driver too so she should have had more idea of how to behave on a public road but obviously thought it didn't apply to her.
We are lucky round here. I've only met a few thoughtless drivers (most noticably the idiot recycling lorry driver who put dhorse and I on a car bonnet, thankfully it was parked and undamaged), most of them are very friendly and shout "you're welcome" and give a smile and a wave. The cyclists are much worse, one of them was lucky not to get his head kicked in as he actually touched dhorse's tail as he sped round behind him with no warning. If one slows down I make a big thing of thanking him as hopefully he will remember and pass on to his mates. I've seen this happen with cyclists calling out to their companions to slow down for the horse when they wouldn't have done so otherwise so a few of them are getting the message.

fivegomadindorset · 31/08/2012 15:01

And yes I still expect cyclists to acknowledge me for slowing down, crawling behind them until it is suitable to overtake, especially on narrow lanes.

Alameda · 31/08/2012 15:21

I've just seen something horrific on FB, don't know the circumstances but anyone who is lax with hi vis should look before riding on a road again

NoComet · 31/08/2012 15:29

Yes please please wear hi vis, once our high hedges loose their leaves chestnut horses vanish.

Gold star of the week goes to three very slow traditional green gypsy caravans for hanging a hi vis jacket on their back corner.

Very much appreciated on a fast A road where you're not expecting anything that slow.

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 31/08/2012 15:33

I think it is pretty rare to not be acknowledged by a rider. I don't assume they are scared, rather they are riding a skittish horse. I don't mind really tbh. To be honest slowing down that much is in the highway code, you shouldn't need to be thanked for keeping to the law.

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 31/08/2012 15:34

I don't assume they are rude I mean to say.

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 31/08/2012 15:34

I don't assume they are rude I mean to say.

monsterchild · 31/08/2012 15:37

I'm guessing the smirk was a poorly done smile, the other may have been too anxious to do anything.

But it is rude, I always exaggerate my smile if I can't wave, just so there's no misunderstanding like this!

Original poster
NellyJob · 31/08/2012 15:43

you shouldn't need to be thanked for keeping to the law
well, true, gotta keep a sense of perspective I suppose....
the other may have been too anxious to do anything
perhaps a kinder interpretation than mine....
(reminds self to chill out a bit)

OP posts:
CalamityKate · 31/08/2012 15:47

What Callista said.

I too have ridden plenty of young/silly horses and have ALWAYS without fail thanked considerate drivers. Even if it's a quick shove of reins into one hand to give them a wave before hastily retaking said reins. Even if it means a yelled and ever more faint "Thankyooouuuuu......." before disappearing over the horizon.

No excuse for it.

Alameda · 31/08/2012 15:58

yeah, think is generally a nice thing to do - but I also smile and say hello to anyone I see anyway,

GetOrfAKAMrsUsainBolt · 31/08/2012 16:08

That post of mine made me sound like a sanctimonious cah.

It wasn't meant. I always feel disproportionately cheered up when a rider smiles at me for slowing down tbh.

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