Is riding on roads dangerous these days?

[eskvalleystud]

the roads around us I feel scared to walk along the pavement never mind ride along, we have had one fatality a mile away involving a large hunter where the driver ploughed into the horse, I wouldn't dare ride on the roads as cars never stick to the speed limit and alot of drivers I have experienced do not slow down for anyone or anything, in general cars and drivers are driving far faster than they used to even 25 years ago, people are under so much pressure with this environment where everything has to be done yesterday

I would never ride on the road these days although did as a young teenager, as I have self preservation and it def has changed for the worse with faster cars and more speeding motorists

[morwenstowstud]

We live in a rural community, all country lanes. Some drivers are very aware that there are a lot of horses in this area, as well as other animals. Others are just bl**dy ignorant. Funnily enough the worst time for us is silage/hay time. The tractors are racing round trying to get everything in as fast as they can. Over all though I'd say it's a fairly safe place to hack out. I hack out and my daughter hacks out on her newly broken in WB. Yes I worry when she hacks out, but then she is very aware there are risks and I can't wrap her in cotton wool. My daughter wears reflective gear and a sensible hat. I want her to be able to experience the joys of hacking out that I did. She rides sensibly on the roads and that's all I can ask of her.

[nici]

I'm amazed at the number of riders I see around our village without a scrap of hi-viz in sight. On narrow lanes, with overhanging trees, it can be very difficult to see a rider wearing dark clothes on a dark horse!

When we go out for a hack, I'm sure we can be seen from space with all our hi-viz!

Be seen, be safe. Everytime!

[sarahp]

Round here we have a huge increase in traffic but many many more speed limits. When we moved here 27 yrs ago, on a quiet minor A road, I would hack down it to the village school leading daughter's pony and pick her up, have a hack and then hack home, now I wouldn't walk or ride along it as such a huge increase in the level of traffic, stopped riding on it about 10 years after we moved in. There always were some inconsiderate drivers, and I always carried a schooling whip to tap the cars with that came to close, just to make that point but it would be suicidal to ride on it now. For many years I used to trailer to hack out, possible but time consuming! Now too most of the parking places for a trailer, let alone a lorry, have now disappeared too with the advent of low poles across their access to deter travellers and give access for cars only.

[sarah00000]

Hacking on the roads is dangerous, YES. However, we all do it 2 or 3 times a week. I believe horses need to have variety in their training. Its good for hardening up legs and building stamina, as well as keeping them sweet.

Sadly, LIFE in general is dangerous and any of us could drop down dead, or be killed in an instant.

Therefore, only hack with your flourescent gear ON, plus hats and for kids or if riding youngsters, put a back protector on. Think about the time of day, ie rush hours, sunday pub time etc and plan your routes.

Cant stop enjoying life, because of what may happen. We would all be shut indoors all day and then a bloomin plane would proably come and land on your house !!!!

[nativeponies]

in summer we avoid as much as possible, everyone takes advantage of the national speed limit!!! is blooming dangerous on the one stretch of busy road that we have, once off it and into the village its ok, but we have hours and hours of off road riding, i take the ponies out in the day in winter on the roads and generally miss the worst of the traffic...but on a whole i think it has become dangerous...we know we can hack out through fields and woodland most of the year, but try and give the bridleways time to relax so not rutted for the summer...bus drivers and old men in jags are the worst!!!!!

[Splendid]

I have hacked out all my life as I don't like to do a lot of schooling as it just bores them and I also think it gives them more to see so things aren't as scary at shows but in around Feb time I was hacking my grey out with my mum on her hack and a car turned into me and the bonnet went into her stife area.. my grey didn't bothr in the slightest she just kind of stepped over the car as if to say what are you doing there. She didn't panic about cars or anything so a few weeks later we were hacking the same two out again and a fire engine came hurtling towards us overtaking a car in the process and has now scared the living daylights out of my grey and she jumps at almost every car now... she had never seen traffic when she came but nothing fased her so it's a real shame she's scarred now.. she's not been to worried about lorries at shows (touch wood)!!! So now we are a bit wary about hacking out on the main road with the babies but they need to see more so we are venturing out very early sunday mornings with my mum's old riding horse that is 500% in traffic.

[apple123]

Our yard opens up to 60mph road and it's a rat run between 8am right through to 6.30pm, everyone thinks it's their road and the majority have no concern for walkers, cyclists or horses despite the fact the village is full of all 3! I haven't hacked out on the roads for about 4yrs. Luckily we have good off road hacking so will be sticking to that.
I have had so many near misses because of other road users it's just not worth it. The worst one being a massive lorry coming round tight bend coming into 30mph zone (but wasn't doing 30) on his mobile and I was very nearly flattened - was like the scene out of Horse Whisperer.

[ponymum]

We live in an area where we have best of both worlds, tracks and by lanes to hack along, and several busy roads, but to be honest its the drivers who put us, our children and the ponies at risk, so I only cross the busy roads, wouldnt dream of hacking my pride and joy along them...anymore..

[Hunter123]

totaly agree with you there pony mum, i want for a 3 hour ride around the irwell vale it was great loads of tracks and lanes.
We have places where are really busy and places which are really quiet.

[gtr121]

Our roads are dead quiet. If we meet 10 cars whilst out we have had a bad day however there is always one idiot amongst them.

[bowditchblobs]

My yards on a dead dead staight county race track- sorry road. It isnt hugely busy but you get lorries and farm traffic, you take your life in your hands riding on it. Luckily i pop out my drive and up my neighbours and im off road. Lorries are the best of the bunch though, the cars dont slow down at all. I dont hack like i used too, i worry if i fall off my ponies will come home shoot out the farmers drive to go up mine and get splattered.

[specialboy]

i have been in plenty of accidents when lorries/cars/busses have sped past in a rush giving me no room! some times where have hit the horse!

[armada]

The roads are far more dangerous these days, I used to hack out quite happily as a youngster, and when my event horse was stabled just outside Burnley, the yeard entrance opened right onto the Burnley to Padiham bypass - I'd hack down there, round the housing estates, and then back via the m65 roundabout, not a chance now! Although we have many little single track barely used lanes where I now live in Kent, my experience with the few cars I do meet, is one of absolute horror, I think some of them think they are in concorde taking off from London Heathrow. I felt safest when I used to exercise the polo ponies, absolutely nobody mucks with you when you have 6 abreast, they looked as evil as hell with their hogged manes and rawhide argentine headcollars on.

[bowditchblobs]

I was having a riding lesson tonight my instructor couldnt belive the speed they come down the road at id say most traffic does a ton down there. I have a huge leyandi hedge around the property, all you can hear is vroooooooooooooom!!! Lol!

[myhorselizzie]

nope, im totally unfazed by it all.. its dangerous to the average riding person... but im used to driving on the roads with a horse and cart... the abuse is 500 times worse and you get alot of disrepect, so riding... it all seems quite heavenly to me lol! x

[myhorselizzie]

Jun 4, 2009 19:04:38 GMT armada said:

The roads are far more dangerous these days, I used to hack out quite happily as a youngster, and when my event horse was stabled just outside Burnley, the yeard entrance opened right onto the Burnley to Padiham bypass - I'd hack down there, round the housing estates, and then back via the m65 roundabout, not a chance now! Although we have many little single track barely used lanes where I now live in Kent, my experience with the few cars I do meet, is one of absolute horror, I think some of them think they are in concorde taking off from London Heathrow. I felt safest when I used to exercise the polo ponies, absolutely nobody mucks with you when you have 6 abreast, they looked as evil as hell with their hogged manes and rawhide argentine headcollars on.

Same area as you, and i know that place well, i would agree, that is a very bad place to go.. but as i said, im not really over fussed anymore.. had enough driving accidents really, riding seems easy haha!