What happened to 'Slow Down For Horses'?

[bumblebee]

Just wondering what happened to the days when drivers would slow down to pass a horse on the roads? Have ridden out with my new boy twice this week and was quite horrified at the speeds which cars come past - only about one slowed down at all. I remember when I did my driving theory (only about 3 years ago) it was clearly stated then when passing horses you should slow down, be ready to stop, and give them plenty of space incase something was to spook them - apparently none of that applies anymore!! My boy is pretty much 100% bombproof, but some cars were coming so close that all it would have taken was for him to step even slightly sideways at something and they would have hit us. I love hacking, but unfortunately the small amount of roads that we have to use to reach the bridleway network are scaring me enough to make me want to stop going completely.

[icarus]

I agree! and when you turn to wave and say thankyou they dont even look at you!

[mosswood]

We have just started to lightly hack out my 3yo section A on the roads just to get him used to being ridden intraffic. As the cars were passing as stupid speeds for a narrow road I now walk in the middle of the road next to him so they have to slow down. Lots of reflective gear warn I hasten to add.

[bumblebee]

I've always been the type of rider to thank drivers who do slow down, in the hope that they will continue to do so, but I refuse to acknowledge the ones who don't....although I expect I'll be the one accused of being rude!!

[witchunter95]

it infuriates me when the boy racers go past revving.....they would be the first to put a claim in
I've been very fortunate as ALL the road users around us have been very caucious ;D thanx
I recently had a 'moment' with my youngster reacting very badly to a bus shelter.lol he went past it no problem but then trying to get him past it again proved a bit more difficult PMSL

[chocoholic]

I hate riding on the roads, and will do anything to avoid it.

There is no doubt that hi-viz makes it a lot easier to spot someone on a horse

[beachbum12]

I consider myself very lucky to have fab off road hacking , both here and in Wales, I hate riding on roads now for this very reason , years ago I hacked everywhere on roads , but these days don't as I have had a few near misses with people driving far too fast , not worth the risk and wouldnt put my horses in that position of risk again.. I only ever stable now on a yard that has off road riding .

[snooperdooper]

The people round our way have got better since some idiot went past my pony pretty fast and everyone ended up having to stop as he flipped and went right up in the middle of the road, I think people in the fens are now becoming aware that if you do drive past to fast, it DOES cause a problem.

[thecremellosociety]

I go out looking like a Xmas tree with TONNNS of High Viz on and always request them to slow down my signalling to them some ar just plain ignorant, but ALL horse riders should wear hi viz just passed someone i know on a newly broken 4 year old at dusk on a fast main road in dark, Stupidity, also those ignorant horse owners who do not thank motorists who do make the effort give us all a bad name

[Milliesmum]

I signal at drivers too!! Only probably not the same signals as you . . . . . .

I get equally fed up though when I slow down for riders and they don't even acknowledge you. So ignorant and unfair to other riders - most drivers probably would just think all riders are rude and ignorant and wouldn't bother to slow down next time.

[welshbyname]

I admit that speeding is a problem, but i think some people also panic when they see horses on the road, and go the total opposite. Those that slow right down and crawl closely behind you and end up revving as they ride and override their clutch, then see a point wide enough to pass and rev like a bat out of hell and go as fast as they can up the road, roaring in first gear, THOSE are the drivers that get me!

Drivers need to be taught to keep their speed consistant, drive smoothly and pass wide, I think 'slow' gives people the wrong idea, after all, a crawling car up a horses bum can be just as unnerving and a out of nowhere speeder, flying past.

[bumblebee]

Prehaps the message should be "please pass in a steady and WIDE manner!"

[lancs]

My viz bib reads "please pass wide and slow" but I think it is more of a description of me and pony !!!!

[bowditchblobs]

Is it me though or are drivers more looney all round, we have alot of immagrants here and the roads in peterborough are getting like death traps. I have had people over take me when im turning in to my drive, and even just when im turning right, people over take in 30 limits, on hills, one even over took me on a bend the other week, i was towing too, god did i swear. It's putting me off, as for riding on the roads here it's a no no, unless you want to die!!!!

[cayo]

I gave up hacking years ago and rarely venture out as its just not safe at all it makes me so mad not to be able to do it. i am very confident rider and have been riding 40yrs but it just isnt safe anymore sadley

[poniesrus]

The thing with all the hi viz is that some insurance companies don't like it, some of them have small print about the insurance being invalid if it's worn .... more especially the ones that have the writing on, such as 'pass slow and wide' or 'young horse in training, please slow'. So be careful ladies and gents !

The same as bitless bridles .... I didn't realise until a friend had a problem recently that a lot of the insurances will say that riding out on the road in a bitless bridle renders your policy nil and void for claims. Don't ask me why, but she's been fighting a claim for 8 months now, after her horse spooked at a loud motorbike coming up behind her and both the horse and bike rider were injured.

Admittedly we live on quite small, very quiet roads here, so still enjoy hacking out. But my girls don't wear hi viz .... I do ! But I'm either on foot or am on the big quad that's taxed etc. Either way I have the proper motorway fluorescent troo's and jackets and, not being a little person lol, they don't get much option but to stop with me .... I tend to walk/ride out in the middle and they WILL stop and slow down, otherwise they quite simply don't get past until I feel it's safe for them to do so. Some of them don't like it, but they are the ones that would usually hare-butt past us, so it's teaching them some manners I feel LOL.

[thecremellosociety]

I agree about liabilty young horse and stroppy mare are not the best to wear, wide and slow ok but better blank or just horse and rider on xxx

[sageandonion]

Why would you need to have 'Horse and Rider'?

I think the main problem is drivers have become fed up with ill mannered and inconsiderate riders. Where I live we have direct access to the Common so would someone please explain to me why people in the livery yard next door go on the road instead? They ride two abreast on a single lane semi rural road having a chat, totally oblivious to the person behind in the car trying to get to the station for a train or the hospital for an appointment.

It makes me mad and I give them a piece of my mind. For a non horsey person it must be infuriating.

[poniesrus]

Exactly S&O, as a fellow rider I get very cheesed of when I slow down for another rider and they don't bother to acknowledge.

My instructor, when I was a kid used to say ''if they cannot take a hand of the reins to say thankyou, then the horse isn't safe enouigh to be on the road''.

[ruftytuftyrider]

I have to say around by me 98% of the traffic we meet slow down and/or give us plenty of space. I always say thank you even if they only slow down a little or only give us a slightly wider berth because I remember the lady who took us for our riding and road safety test saying that it only takes one rider not saying thank you to make drivers decide not to bother slowing down or giving you space in the future.

I agree, when I am driving I find it really annoying if a rider doesn't bother to say thanks when I have slowed down and given them space.

Hi Viz is a priority and I cannot believe how many people go out in dark clothing with no hi viz on them or the horse - riders choose to put their lives at risk by not making themselves visible but horses don't and at the end of the day it is likely to be the horse that comes off worse.

When daughter hacks out on road I walk with her (both wearing hi-viz) and often we both thank the driver. Plus side of this is that for a car to get past me they have to give our pony space.

Plus I have stopped or slowed down traffic coming to quickly or driving dangerously and if questioned by the driver have been able to explain why it would have been dangerous if I had not stopped or slowed them down.

My old riding instructor used to say that it isn't the bus or car that is passing the horse that is going to spook them it is the bird in the bush - think there is a lot of truth in that.

[fleurymare]

Rude, rude, rude riders by me absolutley awful, slow down for them and they act like you are a bad smell under their nose, those are the ones that do aknowledge you, a nod is very easy to give even if you dont feel confident enough to wave. It infuriates me, its got to a point when I dont want to slow down.
I rarely hack out on the roads anymore.