Horse Riding on Major Roads

[milly143]

On my way home last night I was following one of these big trucks that carries scaffolding. It's pretty much all country side round here but most of the roads are wide with a 50 or 60 mph limit. Driving along what is one of the busiest roads connecting two towns, two horse riders suddenly appeared from a side road to join the main road we were on. The sound and speed (probably only about 40mph at that point) of the truck in front of me spooked the larger horse who began spinning round and stepping into other parts of the road. All vehicles came to a stop until the rider eventually managed to get the horse under control but it was very unnerving for a while. The other rider was just a child on a smaller horse and would have had no hope if something more had happened.

Do you think horse riders should be limited to where and when they take their horses out on public roads?

[rsvp]

difficult one milly - from a personal point of view I'd never take any of the horses I ride on a really busy fast road even though they are traffice proof. Horses a weird creatures and can be spooked by the strangest thing. Common sense should prevail but clearly doesn't sometimes - be difficult to implement without legislation but I agree, what you described above was very dangerous and with a child too? doesn't bear thinking about.

[TWR]

I have stated this before regards horses & the main roads, Yes the roads where there before the horses but there the amount of traffic was not about then, the people that take these horse onto a main road are not only putting their own life in jepordy but the horse & other people as well, with your comment you will now get the horse brigade coming in and condemning cars / lorries etc.

[milly143]

I'm open to opinions from both sides TWR, I don't suggest horses shouldn't be on roads at all but I'm in agreement with RSVP that common sense plays a big part and riders should maybe consider avoid 50/60mph roads during rush hour.

[Frank97]

Yes I think they should be restricted to which roads they can use and made to clear up their mess the same as a dog owner has to. Speaking as a motorcyclist what is left behind on the road by horses is down right dangerous.

[rsvp]

I'm in the horse brigade twr and am in no way condemning cars and lorries - there are faults on both sides, some horse riders are plain stupid and some drivers are inconsiderate.

[josaphine32]

Yes I do, There is a bridle path down one of the lanes were I live, But have never ever seen a Horse and rider use it, They are always two abreast on bends and never get in a line when holding up traffic, The horses crap all over the road and it never gets picked up, Have riders got any consideration for Bikers its so dangerous.

[josaphine32]

d97....I never saw your post, I got held up submitting mine, lol

[Squitty]

Its surprising Health and safety haven't visited this topic and banned all horses from the road based on the slightest risk a horse may spook in traffic.

[Frank97]

Great mind think alike josaphine32 :-)

[milly143]

Yes, the poop they leave behind does leave me disgruntled sometimes, although I must admit I had never really considered the dangers to bikers.

Eddie, that is just plain dumb! Are you sure it wasn't a ghost?? ;)

Squitty, I don't really understand your point. Maybe you could elaborate?

Another occurance has just come to my mind. My sister and her husband live in the middle of nowhere in Cornwall. They own a very loud sports car and upon taking it for a spin one day, shortly after they left the house they were confronted by two horses and riders in the road. Knowing the sound of the car would scare the horses they stopped and turned the engine off but it was too late, the horses bolted, straight into the car which was almost a wright off. Luckily nobody was hurt (other then their insurance premium) but that was more through luck than anything else.

[tamborine]

See here: http://www.direct.gov...Highwaycode/DG_069858

Other road users
214 & 215

Best to give way to horses as, like all animals, they are unpredictable.

[horselady]

I cannot believe the risks some horse riders take, anyone with an ounce of common sense would not be attempting to enter a busy main road at what was obviously rush hour and with a child rider, if the adult's horse had really spooked, the child's pony would most likely have followed suit and as rsvp says, it doesn't bear thinking about. Nice quiet lanes and bridleways for me thank you.

[ummmm]

Without reading the answers....NO

Who decided cars had right of way? Because they don't...they just think they do.

[milly143]

Horselady - it did surprise how still the smaller horse with the child stayed. It was quite a relief really.

Ummm, at certain times of day drivers are not chosing to be in certain places for leisure, they are there because they need to be somewhere, hence rush hour traffic. Wouldn't it be simple sense for a rider to say, well we want to go on the road but it's 5.30 so they'll be all sorts of juganauts (sp) down there, we'll give it an hour and then go. Like I said, I'm not suggesting horses be banned from roads but there are times when it is clearly not as safe for anybody for them to be in certain places.

[ummmm]

lol @ Triggs......you may have a point.