Shocked by this...

[Baldybong]

Thanks Vipers. Just goes to show that some people just don't get it do they... The vast majority or horses will be on bridle paths and please remember that to get to these, quite often we HAVE to go on roads which are usually country lanes, so if someone is haring along there, you're more likely to encounter a tractor than a horse and farmers have very little patience with idiotic drivers. And horse riders just can't go into fields, that would be trespassing. So try and see the bigger picture, read all of the posts and remember that the roads are for everyone. Thanks ;-)

[deltashad]

My daughter got a new pony last week. She's loving it. There's absolutely no way I'd let her ride it on the road.

[RichB]

0a said:

For me it's a safety thing - 5 mph convoys are not safe on today's roads with real drivers.

What do you mean by 'real drivers'?

[Baldybong]

deltashad said:

My daughter got a new pony last week. She's loving it. There's absolutely no way I'd let her ride it on the road.

That's fantastic! My daughter rides through the lanes, however, I am on foot by her side with the horse on a lead rope and we are both wearing hi-viz. I will not let her ride on the road on her own until she has passed her driving test; it'll be a while yet as she's nearly 9

[0000]

I always slow for the horse, but threads like this leave me less sympathetic to the riders.

[beanbag]

Baldybong said:

Thanks Vipers. Just goes to show that some people just don't get it do they... The vast majority or horses will be on bridle paths and please remember that to get to these, quite often we HAVE to go on roads which are usually country lanes, so if someone is haring along there, you're more likely to encounter a tractor than a horse and farmers have very little patience with idiotic drivers. And horse riders just can't go into fields, that would be trespassing. So try and see the bigger picture, read all of the posts and remember that the roads are for everyone. Thanks ;-)

Playing devils advocate here but just like unregistered quad bikes are not allowed on public roads, why should horses be allowed to use busy roads to get to bridle paths?

Unregistered off-road bikes and quads must be trailered to their location so why can't horse owners do the same?

[Baldybong]

Seriously... 99% of bridle paths are not located on busy roads. They are on country lanes in the COUNTRYSIDE where plenty of animals are and farmers walk their livestock down the roads between fields.

Your suggestion is ridiculous. I am not going to transport my horse 200 yards down a quiet country lane to get to a bridle path. And have you seen the entrances to them? Where do you suggest I park a 7.5 tonne lorry, or a land rover and trailer?

People ride on country roads TO GET to bridle paths. The countryside and roads are for everyone to enjoy, drivers just have to adapt to other road users in the countryside, as we adapt to other road users. I know some farmers who would have some choice words to say to some of the city-dwellers who have no idea of the countryside code.

[beanbag]

Baldybong said:

Seriously... 99% of bridle paths are not located on busy roads. They are on country lanes in the COUNTRYSIDE where plenty of animals are and farmers walk their livestock down the roads between fields.

Farmers walk their livestock as this is their living and necessary for them to do and they DO NOT walk them down busy B roads. I lived in a village while I lived in the UK and only ever saw livestock on rural country lanes between fields.

Baldybong said:

Your suggestion is ridiculous. I am not going to transport my horse 200 yards down a quiet country lane to get to a bridle path. And have you seen the entrances to them? Where do you suggest I park a 7.5 tonne lorry, or a land rover and trailer?

It might only be 200 yards for you but you've also suggested it's sometimes necessary to walk a horse down a busy road to get to a bridle path and since when did you need a 7.5 tonne lorry for transporting horses?! You've given the most extreme type of horse transporting vehicle.

Here's a question for you. If you saw an unregistered quad bike or motorcycle doing the same, how would you react?

Baldybong said:

People ride on country roads TO GET to bridle paths. The countryside and roads are for everyone to enjoy, drivers just have to adapt to other road users in the countryside, as we adapt to other road users. I know some farmers who would have some choice words to say to some of the city-dwellers who have no idea of the countryside code.

The fact that you've chosen the phrase "city-dweller" says it all. I'll stand by my point that roads are there for cars. Not for horses and I don't think there should be horses on any A or B roads. You might be a shining example but I would put down a good bet that most horse owners do not have any sort of liability insurance to use their horse on the road. Many don't wear hi-viz vests and they all defecate on the road leaving a dangerous mess for motorcyclists and even drivers, yet you feel this is out of your control and not your responsibility.

[Vipers]

Bottom line. Roads are not for the use of the chosen few, they are there to be used by all those legally allowed to use them.

Drivers need to chill out, observe, anticipate, react and adjust to the road conditions, not blindly push on without a regard to other road users.

If they can't hack it, stay in.

I would reiterate the initial post concerned was an ignorant arrogant driver, nothing else.

[ClosedRoads]

Vipers said:

Bottom line. Roads are not for the use of the chosen few, they are there to be used by all those legally allowed to use them.

An there in lies the problem. Horses shouldn't be legally allowed on the road, the same way quads, off road bikes, mini moto's etc. aren't. I know that 'horses were there first' but people used to throw their faeces out the window from their chamber pot. The world moves on, and the laws should change to reflect that change. Simply stating that it's not practical or financially viable, or that you simply can't be ar**d to trailer your horse to the nearest bridle path isn't/shouldn't a valid excuse to not ban them.


That being said; whilst horses are still allowed on the road, drivers should slow down and pass slowly and safely, and old friend of mine recently lost a parent over a horse related road traffic incident.

[RichB]

Some pretty extreme views being expressed on this thread.

[beanbag]

RichB said:

Some pretty extreme views being expressed on this thread.

I don't think there's anything particularly extreme being said. However people need to face the fact that horses are a luxury and unfortunately owners believe they should be treated in the same way they were back in the 19th century.

A summary of this thread from horse owners claims:

- Horses should be allowed on A and B roads.
- Insurance is recommended but not legally required.
- No training is necessary to take a horse on the road.
- Horse owners should not be responsible for their horses defecating on the road.

Whereas common sense would dictate:

- Horses should not be allowed on A roads at all and only designated B roads and country lanes (perhaps dictated by speed limit)
- If an owner wishes to take their horse to a bridal path along a busy road, they should do so in a horse box. (Just like quad biker and off-road bikers do).
- Insurance and training should be mandatory for all horse owners taking their animals on any public highway.
- Horse owners should be legally responsible for any thing deposited on the road by their animals. (Just like dog owners have to do).

I don't think there is anything extreme about that.

[RichB]

beanbag said:

RichB said:

Some pretty extreme views being expressed on this thread.

I don't think there's anything particularly extreme being said.

I disagree. It's pretty extreme to suggest that it be made illegal to ride a horse on the road. Just my view but I'm sticking to it!

[Hatchoo]

Baldybong said:

Thanks Vipers. Just goes to show that some people just don't get it do they... The vast majority or horses will be on bridle paths and please remember that to get to these, quite often we HAVE to go on roads which are usually country lanes, so if someone is haring along there, you're more likely to encounter a tractor than a horse and farmers have very little patience with idiotic drivers. And horse riders just can't go into fields, that would be trespassing. So try and see the bigger picture, read all of the posts and remember that the roads are for everyone. Thanks ;-)

There has to be some quid pro quo in this. I rode a great deal when I was a kid and if a car ever came along a narrow road we would always trot (get into second gear and accelerate for non-horse people) to the nearest passing place in order to minimise the inconvenience we were causing to the driver. We'd also always say thank you to someone who passed sensibly. There was a common sense realisation that cars were quicker than we were, and were potentially lethal to us. Just from a risk mitigation standpoint we were keen to get out of their way. We were also aware that our pastime should inconvenience someone's working day as little as possible. This was drummed into us.

On the single lane road I now live on I routinely crawl along behind stone-faced, middle aged ladies on out of condition horses who never. ever. feel the need to either get a bit of a move on or to say thank you for my driving well back from them. They behave as though I am trespassing on a private road that has been specifically provided for them to walk slowly along.

Drivers should certainly be aware that poor driving around horses can easily result in a catastrophic accident but riders should also be aware that the courtesy they require to safely enjoy the roads is to some degree shaped by their own behaviour.

[Baldybong]

Oh dear oh dear oh dear...

I wish some posters would actually read what I have written in previous posts before getting on their soapboxes. Just like car drivers, you get good and bad and a few idiots spoil it for the majority - and by Christ have I seen it on this post.

A 7.5tonne horsebox is not an extreme vehicle for transporting horses, clearly Beanbag you have absolutely no idea how much a horse weighs, or have any concept of how much space these vehicles take up, let alone how long a trailer with a land rover (or any other suitable towing vehicle is). I said previously that common sense dictates that I would not personally take my horse onto a busy A or B road, however, it is not against the law if I chose to do so.

I personally have public liability insurance, I'm a member of the BHS (British Horse Society), I am considering training to be a rural mounted special police officer, and it's been said countless times that horse muck does not post a threat to humans and therefore legally, does not require to be picked up by law. Another poster mentioned that wet manhole/drain covers also pose a big risk to motorcyclists, these and a pile of horsemuck can be avoided if going at an appropriate speed. There are plenty of motorists who drive around without insurance, MOT's, tax, make fraudulent claims etc. so don't see how you can have a go about that.

Quite frankly, it seems you are here just to have a row and to ban horses from the roads; that will never happen and yes, they may be a luxury but (as has been said before which you clearly haven't read all of the posts), so are cars. There's plenty of public transport about so why not use that instead? I'm not going to tell you how to spend your money just as you aren't going to tell me how to spend mine and I choose to have a horse as a hobby. I am by no means rich or elitist, I'm a normal hardworking person who has respect for EVERYONE who uses the roads, whether they be cyclists (do they have insurance, don't see you having a pop at them), pedestrians, other cars, lorries etc.

It doesn't take a minute to slow down for a horse and pass safely, just as it doesn't take a minute for me to thank the driver for being courteous. I suggest you pop up to Appleby and see what reaction you get up there with your views Beanbag... you might be surprised.

[Vipers]

Baldybong said:

It doesn't take a minute to slow down for a horse and pass safely, just as it doesn't take a minute for me to thank the driver for being courteous.

That's the bones of it, just be curtious to other road users.

[RichB]

Vipers said:

Baldybong said:

It doesn't take a minute to slow down for a horse and pass safely, just as it doesn't take a minute for me to thank the driver for being courteous.

That's the bones of it, just be curtious to other road users.

that, or burn all horse riders at the stake.

[eldar]

RichB said:

that, or burn all horse riders at the stake.

Use cyclists as kindling......

[Vipers]

eldar said:

RichB said:

that, or burn all horse riders at the stake.

Use cyclists as kindling......

And all the horse st some motorists seem to come out with

Oh hang on a min, I am a cyclists/motorists, delete reference to cyclists please.

[0000]

Baldybong said:

I wish some posters would actually read what I have written in previous posts before getting on their soapboxes.

Can't... take... the... irony... must... breathe...