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Post by phill on Dec 7, 2006 20:47:38 GMT
Having had horses for many years one thing totally astounds me. Why do people ride out on country roads and lead at the same time it is dangerous beyond belief yet accomplishes nothing and surly it must be illegal. I passed a woman out today riding a hunter with no hat on whilst leading another in a head collar in blowing wind and rain waving her arms at on coming cars to slow
down. Are grooms in such short supply or is it another case of the greedy yard owner. Top that some poor client is paying for that horse to be exercised of a head collar and my guess is if it caused an accident they would not be insured. I have seen a loose horse rear up at an on comming car and put its feet through a windowscreen not only did it hurt the little girl in the car the horse was put down WHY DO IT. sorry peeps for the downer
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Post by little on Dec 7, 2006 21:01:33 GMT
Phill had it not occured to you that it is not a case of greed in many cases but the fact that the vast majority of us cannot afford grooms to ride out our horses for us?! Wouldn't you much rather exercise 2 horses together in the pouring rain than get a double soaking by riding both?? I for one have a few small ponies which I am breaking in and riding on just now and being an adult I feel it is unfair for me to ride them for more than half an hour at a time and lead them off another horse out on the road to get them fitter without having me on their back all the time! Sorry I just feel that you have not looked at the situation from all angles
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Post by WHAT on Dec 7, 2006 21:12:23 GMT
Little - i cant believe what you are saying - you would rather risk the life of a person or a child - that could be your own child in a car - on a country lane - you lriding and leading ''recently broken!!'' pony spooks you are leading and ends up ontop of the car - OMG - If you cant do the job properly - you should NOT be doing it - i cant believe peoples - poor me attitude - there is no insurance company in the land that would cover you - and if you are too big to be riding the ponies - why are you - i am amazed at your reasoning behind this  |
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Post by cake on Dec 7, 2006 21:20:21 GMT
I can only suggest that 'phill' has all day to exercise. I ride my horse and lead my daughters pony,I wear a hat ,the pony is lead from a bridle , I do not take my hands off the reins to wave at oncoming cars and I am not a greedy yard owner. Both animals are sensible and good in traffic. At this time of year daylight is precious and my daughter is not able to ride after school unless it is in the sand school , both my horse and pony needs to be kept fit so I see nothing wrong with riding and leading. I am sure that grooms are not in short supply but not everyone is able to fund such a luxury!
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Post by phill on Dec 7, 2006 21:31:45 GMT
Do i have all day to exercise No is the answer to that but the 7 i have are all kept fit and hacked out, not led as i would hate to think my( led)horse could kill your son or daughter. And leading it out does not get it fit unless you can tell me how to get a horse to engage of a head collar or bridle being led it would be fitter left in the field
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Post by Nikki on Dec 7, 2006 21:33:17 GMT
The BHS advises that the led horse should always be in a bridle which seems pretty sensible. I am sure that if it is properly done and by an experienced person, it should be as safe as two riders riding two abreast on the road.
I was in London the other day and witnessed the Queen's troops horses being exercised on very busy streets. These horses were three abreast with the rider leading a horse either side of him/her. Some of the riders (and horses!)looked very young but it was extremely well organised. I counted a total of 69 horses and it was the most amazing sight - it certainly brought the traffic to a standstill.
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Post by WHAT on Dec 7, 2006 21:39:00 GMT
Nikki i agree with you - but they are experienced riders - and the horses are hand picked for their temprements - the people i think Phill is refering to are the idots to ride down the road on horses that are clearly no suitable for this type of exercise - There is no excuse for not wearing a hat esp on the road - and there are too many accidents involving horses/ponies without promoting problems  |
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Post by interested on Dec 7, 2006 21:41:05 GMT
Riding whilst leading another was a useful habit for exercising hunters during the @1950s. Absolutely dangerous and unacceptable for the modern rider.
Beating this however is an incident which happened to me last week. Driving home from work, a van swirved at me and almost crashed into me - why? Because it was overtaking a rider, riding the the complete dark, no reflectors (not that they would have helped anyway). To top it all - rider had no hat on. How inconsiderate is this for other riders and downright dangerous for the horse, how it got home without being killed I don't know.
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Post by Gobsmacked on Dec 7, 2006 22:05:35 GMT
I totally agree with Phill and Interested. Riding and leading was fine twenty years ago when traffic levels were much lower and drivers more considerate. The trouble is that there are too many inconsiderate, or ignorant riders out there these days who give sensible ones a bad name. I am sure that leading a quiet pony in a bridle from a sensible horse with reflective gear is not an irresponsible act, but how many times do we see things like Phill did - stupid people giving other riders a bad name.
A few years ago, I was working at a saddlery/feed merchants which is situated on a very sharp blind bend. I was loading a customers car when I witnessed the most stupid thing I have ever seen. A local woman had put her childs pony in a field at the other end of the village, and to lead it home, she had it in a headcollar and rope being led out of her car window as she drove around the blind bend with the pony on the wrong side of the road. I was so gobsmacked I couldn't believe what I was seeing!! A short time later, I witnessed the said same lady trotting her hunter, leading her childs pony again around the same bend with three dogs running loose in the road. No wonder non-horsey drivers look at us with distain!!
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Post by armada on Dec 7, 2006 22:35:55 GMT
Fulminate 'til it comes out your ears, but for some people, me included its neccesary, especially when you have 10+ to exercise. I did it with my polo pony string, who were good in traffic and the word 'file' meant tighten up and move over, we regularly rode 4 abreast and traffic HAd to slow down, (I have also regularly ridden 1 and led 7 through West Wycombe from the polo yard to the pitch) no bad idea what with the speeds people drive along - or think they have the right to drive along quiet lanes these days, and you actually learn to listen for traffic and you know where your danger area's and gateways are, it stopped a lot of rat runners in our area. Politeness and consideration count for a lot with car drivers. If you have steady horses and are sensible there is no reason why you should not be able to do it. Dogs running loose, however I agree is not a good idea, we dont own the roads, but with careful consideration can share them.
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Post by cake on Dec 7, 2006 23:22:15 GMT
I will be riding and leading tomorrow morning, whilst I am out I may meet riders without hats, on mobile phones or with dogs running loose and I would consider them far more dangerous than me. I have considered Phill suggestion that my pony would be fitter if left in the field but I have decided that an hours roadwork will be more benificial than standing up to it's fetlocks in water in the paddock . Only my opinion.
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Post by my opinion on Dec 8, 2006 0:23:52 GMT
Hi, I hack my horse out everyday and as it is winter my childs 12 h.h. pony comes with us mainly for two reasons, number one the pony only goes out for an hour in the paddock in winter is and gets very very fat if he does not get exercised enough. He thoroughly enjoys coming out with us. He always nearly walks on the kerb, while I am on the road
However, there are no thin and winding country roads were I hack out, it goes straight on to main road, the roads are wide enough for cars to pass me and for cars to come the other way.
The problem arises when there are parked cars on the side of the road.
I am shocked horsey people seem to be putting the blame on riders and not looked at it from another angle and thought car drivers should have more respect!
I am sorry to hear about that accident phil, thankfully they aare few and far between.
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Post by girly on Dec 8, 2006 7:50:58 GMT
I am very happy to ride and lead. I wear a hat and my lead horse has a bridle with a long lead attached. My led animal will happily pop behind my ridden horse if the road is narrow. Phill I think your outburst should be aimed at inconiderate riders who are a a danger to those around them rather than than those who ride and lead in a responsible way.
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Post by phill on Dec 8, 2006 8:12:48 GMT
hey it was not an outburst don't know how you come to that point . My point was for example the yard i pass everyday has 16 + hunter livery's in, they have fei School lots of stables and (a horse walker) yet they still lead on the road. My point is,is there are too many people who think they are experienced horseman leading on the roads NO hats, NO reflective wear, No bridle i don't care if both horses have been led everyday for 5yrs it only takes one boy racer, or lawn mower behind a hedge and there off and then its who suffers most horse or person
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Post by What rubbish on Dec 8, 2006 8:55:31 GMT
Phill I absoutly agree with you.
What really annoys me, beyond the obvious dangers of riding and leading, is peoples ''ignorant' belief that because you are ''EXPERIENCED'' nothing happens to you!
How many times do you read about one off freak accidents where for example the rider didnt wear a hat and was on their safe reliable horse they have ridden for 10 years..........and end up in Hospital.................. accidents can and will always happen.
No horse is 100% and i think anyone who even considers riding and leading on the road are bloody idiots!!!!!
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Post by anna on Dec 8, 2006 10:29:51 GMT
I think it is called live and let live.
If you dont agree with riding and leading dont do it, but dont try and stop people who do.
I have often rode and led one it is actually great fun and as someone said earlier a lot less dangerous than having a dog roaming lose, but if they want to take their dog with them it is up to them.
As for the comment about the Queens troops and them being hand picked. Did you not see the programme on the tellie? Most of them had never seen a horse before the day they started.
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Post by Hacker on Dec 8, 2006 11:20:20 GMT
I am not against ride and lead provided that both horses are sensible and the lead horse is wearing a bridge and a suitable lead rope. However, I have come across a girl wearing just a baseball cap doing ride and lead with the lead horse on the outside wearing just a headcollar. What sort of message does that give out to non-horsey road users. She did not even acknowldge me when I slowed down and passed in a safe place at a wide angle. It also annoys me when I see people on road excersice without a propler hat on. "My horse is safe", yeah, and so are all the other people on the road, yeah right! Rant over!  |
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woof
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Post by woof on Dec 8, 2006 11:27:36 GMT
I agree with Gertrude Live and Let Live. Everybody has different circumstances, I have 3 kids and 3 ponies, smallest pony 11.2 and the biggest 12.2, I have no horse myself, not enough in th, e kitty, and I have no yard we rent a field and the ponies live out. At this time of year i cannot lunge so ponies have to be hacked out, I am a small person but no way would i ride my 11.2 so he is led from one of the 12.2 ponies, these are kids ponies and very well mannered, I wear a hat, reflective jackets and am considerate to all other road users at all times. I do not see a problem with this and don't see how else I can keep the ponies fit enough for the kids to use at weekends, but Phil would love any other suggestions you may have.
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Post by phill on Dec 8, 2006 18:29:33 GMT
gert i am not against anything done correct but all i will say to you is have you ever seen a dog let off the lead and go through the window screen of a car putting driver and passenger in hospital. And wait for the vet and the police to arrive to put the dog down  ?? it just astounds me that anyone thinks its safe how can we expect car drivers to respect horse owners on the road and pass with care when they see people in baseball hats or no hats |
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Post by Live and Let Live on Dec 8, 2006 19:24:56 GMT
Of course Live and let Live!!! that's why this thread was started because a fellow guest and seen something that might have caused a family to be without a member at Christmas! No animal is 100% safe and if we are riding on the roads, whilst leading then all precautions need to be taken
Hat and Bridle are a must along with common sense!
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Post by teddybear on Dec 8, 2006 22:01:48 GMT
Twenty three years ago I took my BHS AI instructors exam. Ride and lead was part of it. Last weekend my fifteen year old son took our ID gelding and highland gelding out as RIDE AND LEAD and did a great job.He wore a hat and had a body protector,the lead pony wore a bridle.
I would not have let him do this if I did not feel I had I had confidence in the horses. The ID we have had for fifteen years and the highland three years.
Twenty years ago the only way to exercise hunt horses was ride and lead,menages were still a luxury of the future.Sadly the old school is starting to die out .But I rest with the fact that my son can be classed as a rider and not just as a jockey.
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Post by Safety on Dec 8, 2006 22:23:01 GMT
Whilst riding as in driving we are always trying to think ahead, trying to guess the next move the person at the roundabout will make or whether the horse will shy at that paper in the bush! Is a person that is in "control" of two horses really in a position to second guess the car drivers next move!
However, the good their riding ability - Horses are flight animals and in a fright that's what they do and they don't think about there actions.....!
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Post by How odd on Dec 9, 2006 7:23:11 GMT
I for one ride and lead often. I have 3 hunters to exercise every day and a full time job. My lunch hour (extended!)is often spent exercising and swapping them in and out of the fields and whilst they spend time in the school being schooled and lunged, when the weather's nice it's a good opportunity to get thm up the hills! They are lead of bridles with half length lunge reins, I wear a hat, gloves and flouescent tabards etc.. and have them paired up sensibly, one of the older boys is very strong to ride and is actually the best one to lead as he doesn't get het up, so in the long run he works harder under less stressfull conditions!
The traffic can be tricky but again I pick the routes that don't get me caught on tricky bends! It's not always ideal but I am confident that I do a good job with them, I to was taught to ride and lead whilst doing my AI, but had grown up in a riding school and it was not unheard of all those years go to fetch the ponies back from the field 3 abreast. All the hunters and liveries where ridden and lead, and every year the yard owner qualified for HOYS and olympia! SO she wasn't a muppet!
I think what I am trying to say is that like everything with horses, if you do things thoughtfully and sensibly you will be ok, it's just there are some very stupid horse people out there who are not horse people at all and give the rest of us a bad name! At the end of the day the choice is always yours and to keep my horses I have to work very hard so have adapted a system that works for me. Sorry.
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Post by Moan over on Dec 9, 2006 10:07:08 GMT
What rubbish I think you should go back to bed under your duvet and be safe.
Life is for living, if it ends early doing the things you enjoy so what.
You stay warm under your duvet - I want to explore the world and live MY life the way I want to the full.
Moan over.
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Post by Safety on Dec 9, 2006 11:30:25 GMT
What rubbish I think you should go back to bed under your duvet and be safe. Life is for living, if it ends early doing the things you enjoy so what. You stay warm under your duvet - I want to explore the world and live MY life the way I want to the full. Moan over. The above paragraph has really offended me! In my opinion I do live life to the full! I lost a main family member in a car accident at the age of 49 years old (No it wasn't his fault) that's my point cars kill and I for one love life so much that I would rather ride one at a time for less time than trying too exercise 2 at once! |
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Post by Hoodie1 on Dec 9, 2006 11:44:43 GMT
Moan over I hope you never have cause to moan because your horse or yourself have been injured/killed in an accident. Life is for living yes, but do remember your family, friends and the unsuspecting general public who may not want to live in the same style as you! You will find you spend a long time under the duvet should you be unlucky enough to sustain a spinal or head injury. |
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Post by Moan over on Dec 9, 2006 12:07:08 GMT
If you are offended it was not intentional, but why am I not entitled to have an opinion.
I lost someone very close to me in tragic circumstance and that is why every minute of my life is important and to do the things I want to do. If I want to take a risk that is up to me and I will take the consequences of my actions.
So in my opinion if I ended up under a duvet doing it then that would be my choice and I and offended by your comments if that is how you feel.
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hmm
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Post by hmm on Dec 9, 2006 12:50:36 GMT
Does anyone else think the OP is replying to him/herself?
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Post by hoodie1 on Dec 9, 2006 17:13:11 GMT
Moan over, yes it would be your choice, but unfortunaley not the choice of your family/friends or people who had to look after you whilst you were under the duvet. Unfortunately the NHS cannot choose who they will look after and who they can leave to get on with it, so why not think of a suitable new years resolution to think before you act? I do realise this may be contrary to the way you may usually behave but perhaps some of your family and friends would be very impressed.  |
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Post by Moan over on Dec 9, 2006 19:24:46 GMT
Hoodie1
I will not be bullied by you. It is my god given right to do what I like with my life.
Sorry if my comment offends but I stick by my guns.
LIVE AND LET LIVE
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?? it just astounds me that anyone thinks its safe how can we expect car drivers to respect horse owners on the road and pass with care when they see people in baseball hats or no hats 