*@(&%$~# Horse riders!

When I come across horses I always slow down or stop and kill the engine to idle or off (as I have a loudish can). That doesn't mean I think horses should be on the road, I don't but that is my opinion I don't see how that makes me a .
Horses used to be transport but times change and move on, you don't see many people keeping cattle in their back gardens anymore now do you (except Sarah and EvilTwin).

I've been given grief by horse riders before, even once when I stopped and turned off the engine they told me "bikes shouldn't be allowed on OUR roads" I just laughed and asked where they display their tax discs. I agree that putting the riders in danger by revving or passing quick is not something I would do but I still believe they have no place on our roads.

Of course you get arrogant toffs on horses who think, because they're higher up (literally, some large animals out there! ) they own the road and in these circumstances they need a stern talking to - after you've slowed down for the animal so as not to risk a life.

Emergency services will slow down and turn off sirens, it would be extremely ironic for them to go blasting past and endanger a life while on route to saving another, I would have thought that was obvious.

Anyway Berlin it would seem the issue that's sparked off this whole debate is your personal issue with the numpties riding at the time. But letting your temper get the better of you, well it's just not worth it. They don't deserve to end up with a broken back and paralysis just because you were pi$$ed off. But when you see red that's it. Except it shouldn't get to that point...

Originally Posted by Berlin

You aren't seriously suggesting that a crew on their way to save someone life, where every second counts, should slow down and turn their sirens off so it can pass?

Now that is the most selfish thing I've ever heard.

IMO, it's more selfish to expect emergency services to take a risk (with their own life or someone elses) just so they arrive on scene a few seconds earlier.

My brother used to be a paramedic, and now teaches advanced driving amongst other things. He was taught, and teaches others that horses are to be treated as red lights when on a blue light run. ie, proceed but only with extreme caution.

Haven't you seen emergency services run a red light? They do indeed slow down, and with good reason.

Originally Posted by DanAbnormal

move on, you don't see many people keeping cattle in their back gardens anymore now do you (except Sarah and EvilTwin).

My neighbour has a sheep thats rented out to everyone in the area. It's a cheap lawnmower & fertiliser in one.

Originally Posted by Baph

My neighbour has a sheep thats rented out to everyone in the area. It's a cheap lawnmower & fertiliser in one.

Lol! That's a great idea, like it

[rowdy]

I was having a horse/bike discussion with a friend of mine who owns a couple of gixer 750's and also happens to be a farrier by trade, so knows a thing or two about both, his wife also owns a horse and works at a stable. It was only a brief chat but he was basically saying that when his clients find out that he rides bikes but won't ride horses they can not believe it and maybe sometimes treat him with a little contempt. He just tells them he has control over a motorcycle but a horse has a mind of it's own so how can you gaurranty(sp) that the horse will not decide to just go off uncontrollably.
My wife was taking horseriding lessons until the person teaching her suggested she tried his own horse out. My wife was apprehensive about riding his horse but he assured her he would be fine and that he had never done anything silly, so my wife agreed. On the lesson, without warning and for no apparent reason the horse just flipped out and started charging at a fence. My wife was then thrown off the horse head first gaining concusion and injuring her back. She was very lucky to escape serious injury. It later transpired that the horse was young,inexperienced and never ridden by anyone other than it's owner, some horse owners proving themselves to be f****** idiots.
To be honest I don't think I would be very happy had I slowed to near walking pace and let the bike run on tick over only to be abused for trying to be considerate. I know it's been said that maybe the rider wanted berlin to stop but how can a horse rider expect every motorist to stop and let them pass, and if that were the case why was noone a couple of hundred yards further up the road on a push bike or something flagging traffic down.
I know that horses were here before cars/bikes and this gives the owners the god given right to say they have more right to be on the road than everyone else but sometimes they make a rod for their own back. Treat people how you wish to be treated.
I can not condone revving the t!ts off your bike (although it would probably have crossed my mind) as this could have put people in danger but I can understand why their actions annoyed you.
If the horse were not used to traffic would it not be more safe to find paths/bridleways that run close or next to roads rather than let them on the road in the first place. I have seen horses on the road that are out of control (through no fault of traffic) and it is frightening and to be honest I probably wouldn't want to be stationary on a bike next to one when this happened, I have seen the damage they can make when they fall on a car.

[ophic]

Originally Posted by rowdy

how can a horse rider expect every motorist to stop and let them pass

I'd say that on some roads, its dangerous to stop, especially on a bike. Nowt like a big collision to spook some horses.

So we all agree that some horse riders are idiots but that responding in kind is wrong. Although to be fair, i'm sure we've all done stupid and dangerous things when angry.

i always slow down for them and try to keep the zorst a bit hushed up them letting them **** all over the roads is damn annoying though they should clean it up.

Originally Posted by Berlin

I was out for a ride today and finally lost patience with horse riders.

I was coming into Leyburn from Hawes (for thise that know the road) around a long sweeping left hander with good visibility which then goes over a two lane bridge.

I was enjoying myself and was using a fair bit of the edge of the tyres as I rounded the bend. As I got to the bridge there were two horse riders on the other side about 200 away so I instantly pulled in the clutch, put the brakes on and slowed down. I pulled over to the far left of the road to give them as much space as possible as I passed.

Of *course* they were riding two abreast in the middle of their lane with a long line of cars behind them.

When I was about 30 yards from passing them they went mental and started waving me to slow down, shouting at me and patting their horses.

I was doing 15 miles an hour on the far side of the road with the clutch pulled in and the bike on tickover and they STILL wanted more!

So I bloody well gave it to them!

I can't exactly remember which swearwords I used, probably all of them... several times.

Needless to say it fell of deaf self-rightious ears. I might scare their poor Horsey Worsey thats out on a public highway mid afternoon.

The rev limiter kicking in had more effect as I left them to it.

Now I'm usually very patient with them but not today. (Girlfriends says I have to be)

I can't stand horses, I can't stand the crap they leave perfectly on the line through a blind bend (that the NEVER clean up) and I can't stand their justification for taking a wild animal on the road that their not (ever) in control of.

So to Horseriders: Get your stupid, unpredictable, stinking,crapping animals OFF the road! Or pay £500 road tax.

Rant over.

And relax, two, three, four. Breath, two, three, four.

C

I agree with you totaly, I have had the same situation, riding on a ts50 with standard exhaust, I drove past at 15 mph as far away from them as possible without riding into the hedge - (I think that a person on a bicycle would make more noise!)

Pulled over futher up the road to take a little break and about 10 mins later the riders came past and the women started having a go at me telling me how it had been dangerous driving past that fast!! At first I thought she was joking!!

They deserved what they got from you - at the end of the day they are on a horse on a public road, which last time I checked were designed for motor vehicles (at least for the last 100 years).

If they want to ride out there is plenty of nice bridleways to truly enjoy horseriding - not a public road.

Originally Posted by zsv650

i always slow down for them and try to keep the zorst a bit hushed up them letting them **** all over the roads is damn annoying though they should clean it up.

This is something that I too don't agree with, when you consider the dangers of manure on the road for motorists it only seems fair the rider should contribute. Or train the horse to walk to the side of the road/on grass when it wants to poop, like my dog does (Although I should imagine that's far easier said than done ). Then not only is it kept off the road, it's fertilising the roadside and pretty flowers will thrive

Originally Posted by Berlin

Why should I stop? I was riding as cautiously and courteously as possible. If the horse is still spooked, it shouldn't have been there. Full stop!

I sometimes get spooked by bikes when Im in the car, they sometimes appear from nowhere (well I know they dont, but sometimes Im not fully paying attention), but difference is my car will not throw me off.

To take a horse that is known to be a risk, is completely unpredictable and cannot be controlled onto the road is blatant stupidity and irresponsible.
If a horse has been through full police training, then it can go on the road. If it hasn't it is a liability that shouldn't be allowed.

same could be said about some bikers

C

Originally Posted by Berlin

If you are not 100% in control of the method of transport you are on, then you shouldn't be on the road regardless of what that method of transport is. c

once again this could apply to many riders and drivers

I dont particularly think horses on the road is a great idea. they should be forced to pick up their poo (not the horse the rider should pick up horses poo). my daughter who loves bikes also loves horses. she passed her road training on horse yesterday this training should be compulsory before being allowed on road. one thing she was told was never to be rude or aggressive to any of the innevitable ****s she will come across whilst on a horse on the road