Horses

Originally Posted by Aurora

sounds good to me

Saw some donkeys on cleethorpes beach couple of weeks ago with something similar on, it was basically a thick bag tied to the horses saddle that hung between it's legs and caught anything it should drop ought to be compulsary on road for horses to wear one IMO

Originally Posted by Stormspiel

Saw some donkeys on cleethorpes beach couple of weeks ago with something similar on, it was basically a thick bag tied to the horses saddle that hung between it's legs and caught anything it should drop ought to be compulsary on road for horses to wear one IMO

The army nobs in London would never go for... they'd look even more daft than usual!

Though tI'd add a bit to all the horsing around that's going on round here.

I agree that horses should be allowed on the road, (with owners using common sense etc.), after all roads are for getting from A to B, whether for fun or necessity (i.e getting to bridleways). I also think that some sort of proficiency test/training/CBT could be a good idea before adults/kids etc are let out on the open highway.

One of my main gripes though is the number of riders in green/brown/dull colours on brown/black/dull horses riding roun in the evening/dull winter light. I think all of them should be made to wear some sort of hi-vis / reflective gear at least, as separating a dull brown blob from some dull brown hedge can be tricky whatever vehicle you are in.

I even bought my sister (horse rider) a hi vis reflective vest, but pretty sure she doesn't use it much when she's out and about.

Headlights, or at least helmet lights could be an idea too.

As for horse muck on the road, kicking it to the side should be no real problem as you always know when your horse is pooping (it arches its tail, walks funny and is often accompanied by f$rting noise and a thud thud sounds or splatter depending on the horse's constitution). BUt is it more dangerous to have a rider off a horse kicking poo about and trying to keep control of the horse at the same time or having poo on the road?

Looking at the specifics of the original post the highway code (www.highwaycode.gov.uk) is, once again, your friend. Looking for Horse in the index leads to rules 34-41, which covers a lot of what's been said here including use of reflective vests and lights. Rule 40, in particular, states that is is illegal to use a footpath, and 41 recommends avoiding roundabouts at all costs, so the original poster is fine with regard to blame in the scenario as described (as far as I can see).

what I want to know is why, if a horse is scared of something, it jumps towards/onto it?? no wonder they're on the decline...

(I work with horses, running a riding school.)

It's like everything else. There are stupid horse riders, car drivers, and even bikers. The point is, the roads have to accommodate all of us. It's very easy to say get rid of something - ban horses from the roads. Everybody would like to ban something - but it's a fair bet someone would like to ban whatever you're doing. Have a little tolerance for other folks foibles, and maybe others will do the same.

In any case, bikers and horse riders are both despised minorities - hated by other road users. Horse riders suffer at the hands of Mr. Volvo just as much as we do. My wife lives on a horsy forum - they regularly have much the same debate as this. the general opinion is that bikers are far more considerate than car drivers, and riders are encouraged to wave thanks to bikes that show respect to horses.

Originally Posted by Ceri JC

I was approaching it at a legal speed when the horses came into view. I'm generally reasonably cautious and genuinely try to ride so I can stop in the distance I can see to be clear. In this instance I could have emergency stopped to stationary in the space that was clear, However: the last 10/15mph of so would have been on the roundabout: You shouldn't stop on roundabouts (anyone remember the SWS rideout? ), doing so here (or even slowing to 5-10mph as some suggested) would be highly dangerous as a large number of cars go round this roundabout at 50 and there's a fair chance one would come round the roundabout, not been able to stop in time and slammed into me.

Legal limit doesn't come into it. If I get your original post correct, you were going towards a horse, giving it no space, doing approximately 25-30 miles an hour. What did you expect to happen?

The rider was totally wrong in using the pathway instead of the road, but you were also in the wrong by passing so close to the horse at that speed.

The highway code clearly states:

Be particularly careful of horses and riders.

Always pass wide and slow

Treat all horses as a potential hazard and take great care

As anyone who has heard my bike knows, my bike is not at all quiet and yet I've managed to pass horses without spooking them.

I like horses...I think that they are a beautiful animal to look at and often their strength and intelligence is quite staggering. However having ridden in the past and thoroughly enjoyed it...I cannot let go of the fact that the horse is beneath it all a very unpredictable beast.
We have all read tales of horses leaping from fields and landing on top of cars etc. ok they were spooked but for christ's sake? We see internatinal competitions were supposedly highly trained horses often for no reason refuse to jump a fence? Which proves the point that they cannot be trusted.
For anytone to state the fact that they were on the roads before us quite frankly is ball*x.So what? The environment was a little different way back when,hello?
The only time that they should be allowed on the roads...if that is to continue....is for them to go through some specialised training akin to what the Police must do with their horses.....and only when it has proven itself should it be allowed on any road.It should be given a license and the rider should go through some education also.Not just plodding around in circles in a covered training bay at the local riding school.They should be examined by an unbiased individual from the authorities.

For God's sake what kind of sense of freedom can their be gained by hacking a horse along busy modern roads?

I agree that we should be able to share the road safely under most circumstances. In Scotland we are not lucky enough to have extensive bridleway networks so riding on the roads is unfortunately the only way to allow horses the required exercise… most horses are kept stabled in winter and need to get out and about… though I agree high vis and reflection should be worn but this is suggested to us bikers too but we don’t often do so…I am pretty sure that children have to pass a road safety test to ride on the road these days… adults are often the idiots riding on pavements ant two abreast tho..

...saying that they will often ride two abreast to shield a more nervous horse from traffic which is responsible...