Your Thoughts On Horses On The Road?

P.POWER · 23-07-2009, 09:09

I know there was a post like this a while ago on here but that got too out of control. As a horse rider i would like to know peoples thoughts on horses on the roads and would like to make people aware of how to pass horses on the road as quite a few people seem to have either forgot or just dont care. You should always pas a horse wide and slow when it is safe to do so. If this rule is not followed it could cause injury death to both horse, rider and motorists. Fire away

mrsv · 23-07-2009, 09:13

In my experience, most drivers are considerate of riders and drive carefully around them. I have, however, been unfortunate enough to encounter drivers who seem to have no regard for horses and have nearly been thrown when drivers have spookd horses. Way back when I did know of a rider who was very seriously injured when a driver hit her, the horse had to be destroyed.

P.POWER · 23-07-2009, 09:22

Yes most drivers are considerate but there a few that realy are rude and agressive. I also know someone who was thrown and the horse had to be destroyed and all because of an ignorant driver. I have had people that stop either behind you or infront of you and peep the horn or rev the engine to spook the horses! Although most drivers are considerate.

pattricia · 23-07-2009, 09:24

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.POWER

I know there was a post like this a while ago on here but that got too out of control. As a horse rider i would like to know peoples thoughts on horses on the roads and would like to make people aware of how to pass horses on the road as quite a few people seem to have either forgot or just dont care. You should always pas a horse wide and slow when it is safe to do so. If this rule is not followed it could cause injury death to both horse, rider and motorists. Fire away

Ive always found horse riders to be very polite and considerate.

carbooter10 · 23-07-2009, 09:29

Imo Horses In fields ,Tracks and countryside Love em' no problems at all and a pleasure to see

On the Road the SUCK and have NO PLACE what so ever , they think they have right of way and you HAVE to pander to there needs ? EVEN THOUGH they dont have Insurance or pay ROAD TAX

ALso if a dog messes on a footpath or road its ILLEGAL even if its a very small amount i.e a handfull, when horse's mess footpaths and roads its Not ILLEGAL what a j.k . it still stinks and the amount is much greater

so to summerize in there own enviroment ie fields great stuff
on the roads BAN EM .......

Goon · 23-07-2009, 09:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbooter10

Imo Horses In fields ,Tracks and countryside Love em' no problems at all and a pleasure to see

On the Road the SUCK and have NO PLACE what so ever , they think they have right of way and you HAVE to pander to there needs ? EVEN THOUGH they dont have Insurance or pay ROAD TAX

ALso if a dog messes on a footpath or road its ILLEGAL even if its a very small amount i.e a handfull, when horse's mess footpaths and roads its Not ILLEGAL what a j.k . it still stinks and the amount is much greater

so to summerize in there own enviroment ie fields great stuff
on the roads BAN EM .......

Here we go again. Be prepared for an onslaught from horse owners about how healthy horse poo is and how they have a right to let their animals crap all over the public highway.

Dozy · 23-07-2009, 09:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by pattricia

Ive always found horse riders to be very polite and considerate.

Which is a lot more than can be said for people who object to horses being on the road!! Despite the fact that it's perfectly legal for them to be there and it only takes a little consideration and common sense from the driver to prevent any problems.

I can't imagine that many drivers come across horses on the road that often - unless they live near a riding school or in the country - so I can't work out why some of them seem to hate horses so much. But they're probably the type who object to cyclists on the road - and probably other car drivers as well, as most of them seem to think that the roads were built solely for their convenience and everybody else should get off them!!

carbooter10 · 23-07-2009, 09:46

why should you have "little consideration and common sense from the driver " ?
imo this statement proves that horses have NO place on road , you say "prevent any problems." these problems arrise from horses being Skitty or nervous and thats why imo they shouldnt be on a road
|as for objecting "to cyclists on the road" erm YES i do , again NO insurance or road tax

millions of ppl pay millions in ROAD TAX in order to use the road why should other forms of transport be exempt?

Dozy · 23-07-2009, 09:54

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbooter10

why should you have "little consideration and common sense from the driver " ?
imo this statement proves that horses have NO place on road , you say "prevent any problems." these problems arrise from horses being Skitty or nervous and thats why imo they shouldnt be on a road
|as for objecting "to cyclists on the road" erm YES i do , again NO insurance or road tax

millions of ppl pay millions in ROAD TAX in order to use the road why should other forms of transport be exempt?

Riders are unlikely to take a horse that's skitty and nervous onto a public road - but any horse, no matter how sound, is going to react to some moron revving his engine, sounding his horn and belting past a few inches from it! I wonder if they behave like that when the horses in question are being ridden by the Police? I doubt it!

As it stands, it's perfectly legal for horses (and cyclists) to be on the road, even though they don't pay road tax, if you object so strongly, why don't you take it up with your local MP?

carbooter10 · 23-07-2009, 09:57

because mp's and the council are more than useless thats why ... as for police riders Ive noted there horses are much better behaved and seem more if not alot more stable in temperment than some of the ponys and horses round here with very small children on .

sccsux · 23-07-2009, 09:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by carbooter10

why should other forms of transport be exempt?

Because they are not motorised vehicles?

BoroughGal · 23-07-2009, 10:00

I'm not a horse rider, and there is no comparison between dog mess (which is dangerous and disgusting - mainly from being fed a meat diet) and horse mess (which is basically just hay). As for minding horses on the road, like Dozy says, I don't chance upon them very often, and when I do, it doesn't take much out of my day to just slow down a bit.

MuteWitness · 23-07-2009, 10:01

Think alot of horse riders don't understand how dangerous horse mess is on the road, especially for motorbikes.

Beanfeast · 23-07-2009, 10:01

Horses aren't a particularly effective form of transport, they're no longer used for work purposes because they are too slow and costly to maintain. Therefore the only reason they are on the road is to cater for someomes hobby. Well how about enjoying your hobby on fields and bridle paths instead? You don't find me playing chess in the middle of the road and not clearing up after myself when I've finished...

They are dangerous and always pose a risk to others when on the road, never mind passing slowly and quietly (which I always do) as they can't be under complete control all the time unlike vehicles. The mess they leave behind is also dangerous, making the road slippy - especially when the weather turns wet. Think about the motorbike riders instead, they have enough to do watching out for careless car drivers who don't look where they're going without having to keep an eye on the road surface for horse poo too!

AYBABTU · 23-07-2009, 10:07

I am never sure why horses are on the road?
How is this fun for either the rider or the other road users?

Why cant they stick to fields or bridleways near the stables?

It annoys me they ride 2 abreast as well.

If I crash into a horse - are they even insured?

BoroughGal · 23-07-2009, 10:09

If you crashed into a horse, wouldn't it all rely on your insurance?

Fair point about horse mess/motorbikes, btw. Not something I had thought of.

Captain_Scarlet · 23-07-2009, 10:13

Quote:

Originally Posted by P.POWER

I know there was a post like this a while ago on here but that got too out of control. As a horse rider i would like to know peoples thoughts on horses on the roads and would like to make people aware of how to pass horses on the road as quite a few people seem to have either forgot or just dont care. You should always pas a horse wide and slow when it is safe to do so. If this rule is not followed it could cause injury death to both horse, rider and motorists. Fire away

I am a car driver and I have no problems with horses on the road; so long as they are ridden of course

Horse riders take great care in their animals and care about the animals' safety and I have no issues with people who respect the highway code.

I deplore car drivers who take little care when driving around horses, especially when most horse riders will signal drivers when it is ok to overtake if they are in a bend or something.

Riding abreast however: no, behind each other if you please (same for motorcyclists and cyclists).

SILLY · 23-07-2009, 10:26

As horses were on roads long before cars I should think they have a right to be there and as long as the riders are not ridding 2 abreast I have no problem with it. It is usually on narrow lanes in the countryside that I come across them and always wait behind until a safe place to pass usually the rider turns and waves me pass no problems. I can however see how some people might get annoyed when they are talking riding 2 abreast and not even bothering to see who they are holding up but even then I would not think of spooking one by revving my car engine or driving past close to them.

geek_andy · 23-07-2009, 10:42

What I don't get is that you see old footage of horses used for chasing in gun fights, jumping through fire and what-have-you, but now they're just like muscley cowards.

Come on horses, what happened to you?

laineyiow · 23-07-2009, 10:44

Living on a rural island I come across horses on the roads regularly but surprisingly not very often on the main roads they are usually just on the narrow country lanes. There is a horse and carriage though that rides regularly on the main road - it is quite nice actually to see.

I think because the Isle of Wight has so much countryside and bridle paths horses don't really cause a problem but I can understand how they could cause a problem in Sheffield.

I remember when I lived in Chapeltown horses would very often go up Station Road and I used to cringe sometimes at how close some drivers used to get to the horses when overtaking.