| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
 Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 11:40:25 AM
|
I'm writing a story today for our paper about the two friends who nearly got totalled by a speeding driver last week (I mentioned it in the Hi Viz thread). The driver stopped when he saw my friend waving in anger and gave them a row for riding out while people were trying to get to work...
As part of the story I'm hoping to put in a side panel pointing out the things that drivers might not be aware could scare horses, e.g. wheels splashing through puddles, crunching through dry leaves etc.
I'd be very grateful for any ideas A Liners might be able to contribute. Drivers don't all ride horses but they do need to be educated!
Sorry there isn't a lot of time to do this - I'll add what I can to the story, but any late, good suggestions could be added in an 'update' report next week.
Many thanks in advance. 
|
Roseanne |
|
Report to moderator
|
|
|
SueB
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 11:51:40 AM
|
Roseanne, not really what you want I feel, but, please would you mention that riders must do their hardest to smile, wave or even nod to all drivers.
We have a chap who rides around our lanes and he rides talking into his mobile phone and never ever thanks us for slowing down or stopping.
Good luck. |
Report to Moderator  |
|
|
dormouse
Bronze Member
United Kingdom
203 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 12:22:59 PM
|
I'll second SueB's comment regarding riders remembering to say thank you. How can we encourage car drivers to slow down if we don't thank the ones who do. Good people will soon not bother if they aren't thanked. Other things though -
Clean cars are very good at proving a reflection of our horse and turning into a moving ogre.
If a car with an empty trailer kindly slows down and then speeds up once they have passed you can provide a few interesting momments as small empty trailers rattle when the speed increases.
Windscreen wippers moving.
Headlights on.
Also anther good reason for not leaving litter around - how many plastic bags, fizzy drink cans, take away rapper etc in hedgerows eat horses for a living......
Good Luck.
Suzy |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Waldo
Bronze Member
England
184 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 12:31:14 PM
|
Rubbish blowing by the side of the road. Other horses coming up to say hello when riding past them, is something that a driver will not see as a danger.Also,people mowing their lawns!!
Bev |
Don't get your knickers in a knot, it solves nothing; and makes you walk funny
http://www.freewebs.com/arabianpintabians/index.htm |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
geegee
Platinum Member
England
3682 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 12:56:43 PM
|
Bibbing their horn! By way of thanking me for giving way to a driver he waved and bibbed  Luckily my horse is very good on the roads, but this will probably encourage him to do it again as he may now think that all horses are good....
I think that drivers need to be aware that, at ANY time, it is possible for a horse to step sideways into their path for no apparant reason that would be obvious to the drivers. They might see something in the hedge that is not there, they might smell something. They might just be nosey and turn to look at something and swing their back end round before you get a chance to react.
That's my twopenny's worth.
Good luck with the piece, Roseanne. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 1:00:13 PM
|
Great contributions - many thanks all of you! These will be incorporated into the story.
Any others gratefully received! |
Roseanne |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Kirsty5278
Platinum Member
England
2682 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 1:10:37 PM
|
There is a very sweet old man who drives SO slowly past us everty time, it takes him a consideraly long time to pass - I know he is doing it with the very best intent but the slower he goes, the louder the rattles on his old car are! My boy gets a bit worried as he's thinking " whats he doing?" and then he starts dancing next to the very slow moving car!
Also, the little country lanes are quite busy at times with lorries, some of the lorries are very good and switch their engines off... as a halted ticking over lorry can be a lot noisier and scarier to pass than a slowly passing one!
It would be nice to remind drivers that oncoming cars are just as scary as passing cars!
...and to remind drivers that not all horses being ridden are bombproof and some are still learning the roads....!
xx
And got to second the litter!!!!!
PS thank you - good luck with the article! It'd be good to see the finished piece! |
       |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
nikki
Platinum Member
Wales
4384 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 1:12:26 PM
|
my gelding is a complete fairy-he spooks at leaves falling from tree's, a rock thats been in the same place since forever(which he is positive will grow legs and get him)
Dogs leaping behind gates desperatly trying to get at you(they can nearly get out now), barking and going nuts(we have a big problem with these-one day a serious accident will happen and the owners have ben warned by many people)
Bikes, can be major problem-me and my sister both fell of coz of a mountain biker/cyclist.
Rubbish/plastic bags
I always wear Hi-Viz, i always say thanks, if i'm on a narrow road, i will move into the middle to give drivers a clearer view of me(i'm not hidden by trees/bushes) if a car comes along towards my direction i ask them to stop and i will trot on to the nearest widening-if someone is behind me i trot on to the nearest widening after first making eye contact. I do this because a driver once drove into my horses hind legs and after that i got fed up people trying to squeeze their cars past us-Defensive road riding.
This however doesn't mean it will work on a wide road as i once found out riding over a motorway bridge-in the middle as horse was a bit spooked -had a big argument with a lady who nearly killed us by being too impatient and sqeezed past us tapping my stirrup-her answer how was she to know it would scare the horse.
This is a subject that worries me greatly.
just to add.
all drivers need to do is pass us Slow and Wide(slow no more than 15mph-width a car's width would be heaven)
|
pagey |
Edited by - nikki on 29 Oct 2007 1:18:20 PM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Pauline
Platinum Member
England
3185 Posts |
|
|
Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 1:46:01 PM
|
| Theres a nice old man who drives past us at least once a week with a flag tied to his aerial. He always stops and waves but unfortunately we are going at a rate of knots by then and dont have time to explain that red flags are not especially horse friendly or indeed useful for anything that I can think of.. |
   
West Sussex |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
emma
Gold Member
816 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 2:09:44 PM
|
Ive not yet encountered it on the road but heard it from they yard. Our farm is located on a typical country lane and rather than slow down and drive with caution lots of drivers continue at speed while hooting their horn constantly to alert you of their presence.
I have to say that even another car coming in the opposite direction doesnt stand much of a chance against a fast moving oncoming car hooting, i dread to think what would happen if it were a cyclist or horse. And for those living on the lane its a big disturbance at unsociable hours. |
Emma
Fulmer House Arabians
   |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 2:19:03 PM
|
We have alot of high sided 'dug'out' type single track roads up here and you can quite often hear cars approaching (engine noise and those who beep becasue it's narrow but they don't want to slow down!) and you try to retreat to a safe gateway etc but those 20-somethings who speed along with the radio on are the ones we worry about meeting - we can hear them but they cannot hear the noise of a group of shod horses striding along on tarmac. We have had some very near misses. Will also echo comments on puddle noises, lawn mowers and kind people who stop and turn their engine off only to start it just as your young horse is breathing out after passing the bogey-man!! also, novice riders may not know enough to use the roadside leg to keep a horses quarters from swinging out - quite often they pull the head towards the verge in an attempt to steer but this causes the hind end to swing so drivers should leave extra room
Good luck with your article! |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Helen Newton
Gold Member
England
692 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 2:20:25 PM
|
Air brakes on lorries who's driver has kindly stopped but the air brakes go 'shoosh' just as you are half way past
Rattley trailers High vehicles hitting tree branches as they move closer the opposite side of the road to give you more room mountain bikes with squeaky brakes Workmen up ladders Prams, pushchairs, umbrellas, kids riding on parent's shoulders,squirrels leaping out of trees, tractors on other side of hedge Non horsey people have no idea what could set a horse off at any time, I'm glad I generally only ride on quiet country roads. I smile and wave at everyone who passes me in their vehicles, unless I have good cause not to. |
   |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 3:51:30 PM
|
Hi All,
Story written and I'll paste the draft below. It's being 'looked at' by the news editor so it may well change - for that read be shortened... I'll put a website link on if and when it goes on our website.
Please keep the ideas coming, since I can do an update next week, or they might want ideas for responses to the letters page. Many thanks to you all.
STORY
TWO horse owners have appealed to motorists to be considerate towards riders following a near miss on a country lane between North Newington and Shutford.
Mel Hambis of Banbury and Julie Simms of North Newington called for better education of drivers after a Toyota 4 x 4 sped past them at a speed he admitted to be 55mph.
“We were exercising our horses before work when a huge landcruiser came speeding past us. I signalled for him to slow but he just took his hands off the wheel and gave me the thumbs up!” said Miss Hambis, a veterinary nurse.
“He stopped behind a parked car and started chatting to the driver so I rode up to him to explain I was asking him to slow down because he could have scared the horses. He said he didn’t see us, but we were wearing flourescent tabards and he had gesticulated towards us, so clearly he had.
“The woman then got out of her car and started using abusive language. She said we shouldn’t be riding when people were trying to get to work. I had to tell her that we also worked, which which is why we were riding early.
“Drivers must take this serioiusly before someone gets hurt or even killed. I think people are generally unaware of how to pass a horse.”
Mrs Simms, a driving instructor, said: “He said he couldn’t see us but that is no excuse at all. The Highway Code says you should only travel at a speed that allows you to stop in the distance you can see to be clear. So if your visibility is reduced because of a bend your speed should also be reduced.
“This man admitted to doing 55mph but the point was he didn’t slow down at all as he passed us.”
The British Horse Society (BHS) advises riders to wear flourescent clothing so they can be seen easily.
Spokesman Alison Croft said: “Motorists and riders both have a right to use Britain’s roads. Riders prefer not to use roads but it is often necessary to reach other off road rides.
“It may not be obvious but there are usually good reasons for riding two-abreast. The inside horse may be young and nervous and need a steadier horse between them and the traffic. The inside rider may be a child or novice who needs escorting.”
The BHS advises
o drive slowly past horses; be ready to stop
o do not sound your horn or rev your engine
o expect the unexpected.
And the society asks riders to acknowledge drivers’ care and consideration with a wave or a nod.
A side panel next to the story and pictures of Mel and Julie says:
THE BHS estimates there are 3,000 accidents each year, half on minor roads. Horses themselves may be inexperienced and nervous of traffic.
“You should never think it is safe to drive fast on rural roads just because there is less traffic,” said Lorna Jackson of Brake, the road safety charity.
“The faster you go, the more unexpectedly hazards appear. Suddenly having to stop or swerve can result in a fatal crash.”
Horses are flight animals. Their sight is different to human sight.
Things that could ‘spook’ a horse include
o tyre noise splashing in puddles or rustling in dry leaves
o a dog at a garden gate
o anything being blown by the wind
o headlights, especially reflected on wet road
o washing flapping
o reflections of themselves in parked cars/wing mirrors
o large vehicles, noisy trailers or scary loads
o litter
o people mowing lawns
o pushchairs, disabiltiy scooters, bikes, umbrellas
o flags on vehicles
o air brakes
o dogs being walked off-lead.
|
Roseanne |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
SueB
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
3218 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 3:59:16 PM
|
Very good Roseanne.
Wish we could have that in our Western Morning News, we have a Friday Horses suppliment, can I suggest you write something for this newspaper too? I can contact them if you like. |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Roseanne
Moderator
United Kingdom
6708 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 4:07:24 PM
|
Thanks Sue. You're welcome to put them in contact, though they'd need some 'specimen' people like Mel and Julie! Sure they could find someone who's had a bad experience.
All that information's available on websites. I can post the links on here if anyone wants them.
Let's hope it makes at least a few people more aware! |
Roseanne |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Geena
Platinum Member
England
1510 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 4:15:51 PM
|
My I make a devilish suggestion  and ask that there be a section to suggest things to riders as well as drivers.
I always thank drivers for slowing down even if not by much. My view is that they have made the token gesture of slowing down and they may have never been told the appropriate speed to pass. I alway think that if I thank them they will be more likely to slow down once again for a rider. I never swear or shout at another road user if they do something incorrect I just advise them that it is unsafe or inappropriate to do what they have done (if they hang round long enough to tell them )
I have to admit when I was driving home from the yard this morning at 7am there was a radio advert advising on car and horse saftey. A bit like those think adverts for bike riders and I found this a very informative advert.
I second Rosaannes sugestion that the western morning news is a excellent paper for such a article.
Sorry to waffle as usual
|
  
Zebedee |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
nikki
Platinum Member
Wales
4384 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 4:18:20 PM
|
i think their should also be a road test for youngsters that is compulsory/bit like the cycle test.
they have no sense of danger. |
pagey |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Geena
Platinum Member
England
1510 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 4:22:58 PM
|
Tell me about it the youngest horse owner on our yard is 16, she hacks out with a skull cap hat on but no chin strap done up on her fizzy horse. We have all (3 BHS instructors and everyone on knowledgeable owners) made her aware that this type of hat is not suitable to wear with no chin strap done up. We always get hissed back that if in the show ring can were velvets with no chin strap then so can she. WE have all given up now. We have even informed her parents but she is a spoilt single child who rules the roost in her house, not her parents.
|
Zebedee |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Grey Girl
Platinum Member
England
1554 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 5:43:20 PM
|
And kiddies who rush out into the road shrieking: "Horsey Horsey!" Always a good one.
Actually I get mightily widdled off with riders who make no effort re visibility, thanking drivers etc. I meet loads all the time and one of these days I am going to leap out and harangue them in the middle of the road for the dopey bananas that they are, especially when they look snootily down their noses at drivers. Grrr!!!!
I find being festooned with hiviz stuff really works - and adding flashing lights is even better. I used to get drivers stopping and THANKING me for being visible. Mind you, not much use when someone shoots around a tight bend at 80mph.
In all fairness, I can see the point of drivers saying why be on the road at busy times - obviously no-one would do this unless they HAD to - but I do think that riders owe it to themselves and their horses to try and avoid busy times or bad times to ride eg heavy rain, failing light. Also, the general opinion Out There is that horse owners/riders are rich, snobby, privileged, foxhunting, Conservative-voting people... and as such are fair game.
And I believe it was Cambridgeshire Council (but don't quote me on it) who, a few years ago, said they would no longer maintain bridlepaths etc because 'if you're rich enough to have a horse you're rich enough to have your own land to ride on.' Mmm, nice attitude.
Good article, Roseanne, let's get something like that out everywhere, together with a little panel for riders!!!
Grey Girl
PS And has anyone else ever met walkers on bridlepaths who hit the horses and generally try to scare them? All because they object to the presence of horses on Their Path.
PPS But it has to be said many people are very kind and interested and if it goes wrong it's generally from well-meaning ignorance rather than intentional nastiness.
|
 Said the little eohippus, "I´m going to be a HORSE"  |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Gail
Gold Member
993 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 7:53:41 PM
|
Hi Roseanne,
Well done, very good article and I am glad your friends and their horses are ok. I don't really have anything to add to what everyone else says but definately agree that riders must be polite and thank drivers if they are considerate.
Gail x |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
saraht
Silver Member
England
414 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 8:12:16 PM
|
| Well done on the article, After my daughter was involved, fortunately not seriously, in an accident with a horse trailer I asked the local supermarket if I could put fliers on the windscreen of the cars in their car park and also those at work too. I was told that no one would take any notice but if it made just one person think before zooming past then it served it's purpose. I know at one point our local RC was going to hand out leaflets at supermarkets town centres etc not sure what happened there though. |
 Bramble 'darli  Birdy  Zirrus  Poppy |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
NUTTER
Platinum Member
England
2452 Posts |
Posted - 29 Oct 2007 : 11:49:37 PM
|
[right]Originally posted by SueB
Roseanne, not really what you want I feel, but, please would you mention that riders must do their hardest to smile, wave or even nod to all drivers.
I will have to say also this is one thing that i have installed into my daughter to smile, put hand up, nod acknowledge the driver somehow, as i do myself as i think so many riders do not!!!!
My daughter used to ride with a girl on a regular basis and she had the most soured face at all times,never acknowledge a driver.
Another tip i will give is when a car clipped my stirrup iron and bellowed to me to get of the road in temper i whipped the roof of his car!!!!he stopped his car got out and was about to eat me for breckie but fortunatly villagers saw what happened and came to my defence,
he got back in his car and left, however i will now never retalliate back just in case.
|
  |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Honeyb060674
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
4301 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2007 : 06:55:27 AM
|
| Well done on the article, I think it hits the nail on the head. You've spurred me on now to contact my local paper. We have an 'Equine Corner' (I think its still there!) in our paper. And article such as yours in invaluable for educating the unknowledgable & hopefully the downright ignorant! |
      
Claire & Sunny x
http://sunnyandclaire.blogspot.com/ |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Zan
Platinum Member
Scotland
3213 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2007 : 09:29:30 AM
|
Great article Roseanne.
I am surprised so many of you are feeling the need to mention that riders must be smiley and friendly. I agree of course---I always smile and wave, whether or not the drivers slow down, but it didn't save me from a really horrible road rage experience that I wrote about on here a while ago. I am very lucky and by and large most of the people where I ride my horse are fine though, but when riding out nearby on busier roads with a friend I was shocked to find an incredible amount of drivers absolutely refuse to make eye contact and acknowledge our existence -----even as I was smiling right at them they sailed past without slowing at all with their eyes fixed ahead!
A couple of decades ago, when riding on all sorts of roads, most drivers were good around horses, and a few were bad. Now it seems to be the complete opposite---we really need to get through to drivers about the fragility and unpredictability of horses. Their bad behaviour can't be blamed on a few rude, ignorant horse riders who don't bother to smile. |
    |
Edited by - Zan on 30 Oct 2007 09:30:35 AM |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
arabic
Platinum Member
England
4562 Posts |
Posted - 30 Oct 2007 : 11:44:12 AM
|
This is a brilliant idea Roseanne and one I frequently have issues with. A couple that spring to mind (I dont think have been mentioned)
Well meaning drivers that switch off their engines and then restart them when you have passed, especially heavy vehicles.
Dogs in the car that as you pass lurch snarling and snapping at the windows.
People just dont seem to register that we are not 100% in control of "our engines" they have a mind of their own!!!! and as mentioned, a bird, a twig, a thought, a smell whilst trying to squeeze through a small gap can be fatal.
I also feel that there needs to be a lot bigger emphasis on our "right of way" and our rights when riding in general. Vehicles should give way to us and dog owners can be prosecuted! Think I may get something printed on my fluorescent - instead of "please pass wide and slow" "We have right of way" on the front "I have a mind of my own" on the back"!!
Sandie |
| Report to Moderator |
|
|
Topic |
|
Topic Locked 
