Bikes v Horses?

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The Spin Doctor

17/02/2008 at 18:53

<<just thinking of a year or so ago when i was green laning on the way home from work and having to slam the breaks on (gravel in the centre of the lane) due to six or seven horse riders, the youngest looking about 8...

naturally when you break hard on gravel you slide>>

Presumably your point is that you completely failed to anticipate or spot half a dozen horses in the kind of environment you're likely to come across them and then were going too quickly to stop on a loose surface, and nearly lost control of the bike as a result of your incompetence?

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"Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC :burnout:

niggle

17/02/2008 at 19:17

Pringle wrote (see)

just thinking of a year or so ago when i was green laning on the way home from work and having to slam the breaks on (gravel in the centre of the lane) due to six or seven horse riders, the youngest looking about 8...
naturally when you break hard on gravel you slide... which inturn scared the two older riders' (sited at the back of the pack) horses.. so i stopped, turned off the engine, and waited for five minutes... at which point they got to the top of the lane when i caught up, so i went the other way at the cross roads...
fcuking idiots were riding two by two, down a country lane with over hanging trees, close to dusk, with no safety equipment other than helmets...
conclusion: i pay my road tax, you dont, get off my road

It is a shame that you and your riding style will have left a much stronger impression on those horse riders than I and mine will have on the ones I passed the other day.

Edited: 17/02/2008 at 19:17

Bike Breaker

20/02/2008 at 12:59

The Spin Doctor wrote (see)

If the horse looks skittish, I'll turn the headlight off if it's on, and even kill the engine... as long as I've not slowed too much or it's uphill, it's usually possible to glide paste silently.

Then you turn the kill switch back on and watch the fun. Naughty Spin.

Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

The Spin Doctor

20/02/2008 at 14:04

<<Then you turn the kill switch back on and watch the fun. Naughty Spin.>>

Only do that with trainees who aren't paying attention

"Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC :burnout:

ZX6IE

20/02/2008 at 17:59

there are no rules on riding on roads. its up to the individual. if you know your horse isn't safe in traffic.....dont ride in traffic.

i ride on roads/tracks every day....i ALWAYS wear flouresent jacket. and hat band...my horse wears flouresent rug,and leg protectors.

this is just my preference,theres no rules. but i think its polite to wear it,giving other rooad users time to se you. and time to slow down a bit.

most horses that ride regular in traffic aren't bothered bout size or speed of vehicles.quite often its just a russle in the bush,or hedgerow that spooks them,not the traffic......but this can make them jump out into the road

theres a 'riding and rooad safety' course that riders can do,but its not compulsery.

and theres nothing to say horses have to have insurance....most dont.

in case of accident involving horse,not sure bout claiming??

Neil B

22/02/2008 at 04:50

Sssooooo

This years Grand National is going to be held at Donnington Park because horses prefer tarmac rather than nice soft grass to run around on.

If you own a Horse

Does it;

A- Live in a stable and eat hay.

B- Live in a garage and run on unleaded.

I like horses in the right environment but have never understood why people want to ride them on the roads in the first place, a nice trot around a field must be a nicer and SAFER option.

"NAUGHTY MONKEY GETS SPANKED"

http://www.daveclarkeracing.com/
FOR HUSKY IN THE NORTH www.ntbracing.co.uk/:burnout:

Bike Breaker

22/02/2008 at 06:10

Neil B wrote (see)

I like horses in the right environment but have never understood why people want to ride them on the roads in the first place, a nice trot around a field must be a nicer and SAFER option.

Do you ride a motorcycle on the road? Would it be nicer and SAFER to ride round an empty car park all the time? Would you want to do it?

I hate horses ( although I'm not averse to eating them ) but I wouldn't condemn riders to a boring lifetime going round and round the same circuit. That's only for racers.

Everyone is entitled to my opinion.

niggle

22/02/2008 at 07:55

Neil B wrote (see)

Sssooooo
This years Grand National is going to be held at Donnington Park because horses prefer tarmac rather than nice soft grass to run around on.
If you own a Horse
Does it;
A- Live in a stable and eat hay.
OR
B- Live in a garage and run on unleaded.
I like horses in the right environment but have never understood why people want to ride them on the roads in the first place, a nice trot around a field must be a nicer and SAFER option.

This is a typical mistake of the petrol head; you think that the road system was developed and is exclusively for the use of motorised transport. Well you are wrong on both counts, the road system predates the motor vehicle by centuries (though I will grant you that the system has been developed mainly with motor vehicles in mind since the sixties) and if you check legislation and the Highway Code you will find that pedestrians, horse riders and cyclists have every right to be there and you are duty bound to drive or ride accordingly. The only exception is the motorway system.

Edited: 22/02/2008 at 07:58

The Spin Doctor

22/02/2008 at 09:22

Sssooooo

This years Grand National is going to be held at Donnington Park because horses prefer tarmac rather than nice soft grass to run around on.

If you own a Horse

Does it;

A- Live in a stable and eat hay.

OR

B- Live in a garage and run on unleaded.

I like horses in the right environment but have never understood why people want to ride them on the roads in the first place, a nice trot around a field must be a nicer and SAFER option.

It never ceases to amaze me how blinkered [sic] and narrow-minded some motorcyclists can be on this issue.

It seems to have escaped your attention, but the network of bridleways that horseriders are entitled to use aren't alway contiguous and so short rides on roads are inevitable to get from one to another.

Personally I think we have quite enough tarmac to play with that given the few times we come into contact with horses on the road, it's hardly a major imposition on our time or good nature to slow down and pass carefully

And has it never occurred to you that your argument for a SAFER option is exactly the one that is used by all the various lobbies that want to get rid of any form of fringe activity they don't actively condone - usually because they participate?

I enjoy the occasional off-road jaunt on a PTW, yet because of exactly this kind of argument turned on its head "motorcycles should be confined to the tarmac" we have swinging legislation restricting access to historic rights of way.

On a far wider platform, the anti-motorcycle lobby uses the "safety" argument in an attempt to "rid the world of the hazard of motorcycles?"... "would motorcyclists be safer in a nice little car?"

I've only ever once that I can recall startled a horse badly and that was my fault - far too quick into a corner on a country lane I know well, one that I also knew horses were regularly to be found on. So if you think there is safety issue with horses, perhaps you should look at the way YOU approach the problem.

"Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC :burnout:

Neil B

22/02/2008 at 16:41

Do you ride a motorcycle on the road?

Yes, for the last 23years

Would it be nicer and SAFER to ride round an empty car park all the time?

Safer Yes

Would you want to do it?

How bigs the carpark, if it's race track size- Yes

I hate horses ( although I'm not averse to eating them ) but I wouldn't condemn riders to a boring lifetime going round and round the same circuit. That's only for racers.

I live on the edge of the North Yorkshire moors and there are a number of riding schools for horses. The closest one to me is very well run and has 15-20 horses that are ridden by kids (and mine ) and adults, the owners obviously have alot of land and money so it is self contained with a 4-5 acre field set up with jumps and training areas for the younger riders to gain control and learn how too groom their horses. This place NEVER takes their horses on the road because of the dangers involved.

I also see other very young (10-15 year olds) riding on the road unsupervised on horses that they cannot control or look after.

Trackdays are the only time i up the pace and i always ask myself afterwards why i bother having the expense of riding on the roads and the higher level of danger.

The SURVIVAL title should be renamed ASSES THE RISKS, i have never startled a horse and if the above thinks he is in a position to give advise when he knew there could be horses on the back road and he still used excessive speed.

We are all the best riders in the world, in our own opinion.

"NAUGHTY MONKEY GETS SPANKED"

http://www.daveclarkeracing.com/
FOR HUSKY IN THE NORTH www.ntbracing.co.uk/:burnout:

The Spin Doctor

22/02/2008 at 16:50

<<The SURVIVAL title should be renamed ASSES THE RISKS, i have never startled a horse and if the above thinks he is in a position to give advise when he knew there could be horses on the back road and he still used excessive speed.>>

I take it you mean me?

I give advice based on experience. I hope I'm honest enough to own up to mistakes, humble enough to admit them in public, and wise enough to learn from them.

I dare say tho, you've never used what turned out to be a poor choice of speed on the road...

"Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC :burnout:

Neil B

22/02/2008 at 17:16

The first 5 years after passing my test i would say now looking back that i was a complete idiot with very little thought for other road users.

After 20 years, i like to think that i have become a thinking biker that trys to aviod roads that have horses on or weekend lunatics on bikes. I dont ride like a old woman but i do think alot about what i am doing and where i am doing it.

"NAUGHTY MONKEY GETS SPANKED"

http://www.daveclarkeracing.com/
FOR HUSKY IN THE NORTH www.ntbracing.co.uk/:burnout:

Cervosa

22/02/2008 at 18:45

There are loads of horses around the New Forest. I try and slow down, and if possible pull in the clutch and coast. I always find that the riders are always very grateful, particularly as bikes are more alien to them than cars on back roads where one is less likely to expect a bike.

I have no problem sharing the road with them, and certainly enjoy the view as other have commented . What I don't understand is the need when there is more than one horse and rider together, and conditions are not safe for it, they will still ride two abreast. Surely it is safer for all parties concerned, particularly if there are vehicles approaching the horses from the front and behind, to travel single file? (Decent) cyclists move to single file and move closer to the road edge when traffic appears. Two abreast makes horses more visibile granted, but surely it is better for the horse rider to apply a sensible biking suggestion not to compromiseposition for safety.

The Spin Doctor

22/02/2008 at 19:27

<<What I don't understand is the need when there is more than one horse and rider together, and conditions are not safe for it, they will still ride two abreast. Surely it is safer for all parties concerned, particularly if there are vehicles approaching the horses from the front and behind, to travel single file? (Decent) cyclists move to single file and move closer to the road edge when traffic appears. Two abreast makes horses more visibile granted, but surely it is better for the horse rider to apply a sensible biking suggestion not to compromiseposition for safety.>>

Boxing in and protecting a younger horse?

"Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC :burnout:

Cousin Jack

22/02/2008 at 19:37

<<Boxing in and protecting a younger horse?>>

And an experienced rider can help control a nervous horse if he is alongside it, but not if he is ahead or behind. Just having a calm horse alongside helps a lot.

Cousin Jack

(a member of an oppressed minority whose legitimate aspirations to nationhood have been brutally suppressed by the Anglo Saxon invaders. Remember An Gof !)

Cervosa

22/02/2008 at 19:45

That would make sense in some cases, but they can't all be young horses. If the inside horse was more skittish would totally agree, in which case I would try to make further allowances is possible incase the rider had problems, but they are usually as steady and as well ridden as the outside.

The Spin Doctor

22/02/2008 at 22:41

<<That would make sense in some cases, but they can't all be young horses. If the inside horse was more skittish would totally agree, in which case I would try to make further allowances is possible incase the rider had problems, but they are usually as steady and as well ridden as the outside.>>

Right up to the moment they freak out...

"Force has no place where there is need of skill" Herodotus 450BC :burnout:

dayglo jim

24/02/2008 at 08:58

Having witnessed a spooked horse colliding with a milk tanker it gives you an appreciation of how quick they can unseat a rider and how much distance they can cover quickly. Even with a shattered leg and a damaged hoof it was still trying to get up and go (thankfully I was in a car at the time)

brilec

27/02/2008 at 21:42

Cervosa wrote (see)

What I don't understand is the need when there is more than one horse and rider together, and conditions are not safe for it, they will still ride two abreast.

It is done specifically to force other traffic to avoid them. Ever seen mounted police on the road, they do just the same thing.

If the riders go in single file, you can bet your bottom dollar that some idiot will try to force his/her way past when it is not safe to do so. If they ride two abreast, the traffic HAS to stop and wait to pass, which is safer for all concerned.

barneydinosaur

28/02/2008 at 08:31

brilec wrote (see)

Cervosa wrote (see)
What I don't understand is the need when there is more than one horse and rider together, and conditions are not safe for it, they will still ride two abreast.

It is done specifically to force other traffic to avoid them. Ever seen mounted police on the road, they do just the same thing.
If the riders go in single file, you can bet your bottom dollar that some idiot will try to force his/her way past when it is not safe to do so. If they ride two abreast, the traffic HAS to stop and wait to pass, which is safer for all concerned.

Quite right too. Either overtake properly or wait. Same applies to push bikes.

"Most motorcycle problems are caused by the nut that connects the handlebars to the saddle."