Road Rage...

[FirenLady]

I was just wondering if anyone had ever had any problems with drivers when on the road?

We've been hacking on the road for a couple of years now and have only had two problems and both of these have been with old 70+ men. Oh always comes out on foot with us when we hack on the road, and if people aren't slowing down he tends to hand around the middle of the road until they slow up a bit. (Theses roads aren't very busy really).

First time the man kept up his speed despite oh hanging over the road a bit and finally slowed down and wound down the window and told him he ought to watch that he doesn't get ran over.

The second time we were on a tiny little narrow road. Another old man, who left braking till the last second. We got onto the side to let him past and he past slowly then revved his engine as loud as he could when he pulled level with Fire. (luckily Fire is used to noisy tracotrs and farm machinery from the 70's so didn't care). Oh was so angry though, he banged his window and gave him a mouth full of curse words. surprised the old man didn't have a heart attack. Its odd you'd think that both being pensioners, they'd have plenty of time!

Generally though we find 4x4's are the most polite to horses. the odd motorbike and scooter have been very polite too. Once people have slowed a bit we always get on the verge and let them past and I think they like this.

I was just wondering what everyone else finds with roads?

[brigadier]

Bit mixed really, a friend had a nasty fall the other day when a 4 x4 ran into the back of her horse- he jumped sideways just in time and jumped the ditch but she came off. He is quite an old horse and fairly savvy so I think he saved her. It was a local car so it is being dealt with, just think he took his eye off the road. Generally people slow down, school mums are the worst I find (despite being one!!) as they are too busy concentrating on the kids!

[fimacg]

BMW drivers are the worst! motorbikes round here are generally very good.

worst situation I have ever had was when leading Dexter and Chompy up teh road when one idiot decided to attempt to squueze past whilst Chomps spooked at something and was trotting sideways up the road and pushed Dexter right out he missed dexter by about 5mm.

other problem I have is when riding Brave and a poorly maintained car comes past he tends to go backwards - he did walk backwards into one car but fortunately all ok

[kitcat]

The local vicar is one of the worst offenders near us. Perhaps he thinks that God is on his side. We get a lot of young blokes leaning out of windows shouting abuse or sportscar drivers who come so close you could touch the wing mirrors and then rev the engine. However, the bus drivers are really good as are the majority of motorbikes.

[zara]

We have occasional problems around us. We have a few notorious locals who just hate horses and have caused many "near misses"; 3 or 4 of theses are neighbouring farmers! We also have an ex policeman and an old bloke who think it is acceptable to run you off the road, shout abuse and be generally dangerous. Most bikers are curtious and polite. The roads are all so dangerous now and I wish I didn't have to go them at all but just not possible x

[rainbow]

The drivers round us are quite bad at not slowing down and squeezing by. But do get the occasional good person. We had an incident with a push cyclist. I was up front with 2 next too each other behind and one was very spooky on the inside. He went past us mouthing abuse that we shouldnt be riding 2 abreast, so friend shouted back that we are allowed to be, and have as much right as a car and that cyclists do it too, in which he showed us his fingers! Thats gotta be the first cyclist ive had react like that, there usually polite people. but the funny thing is that 2 cyclists were behind him riding next to each other!

[racaille]

Funny that you should mention the old blokes, FL.

I was once on solo rando and going through the village of Bonnieux. I had to go over a roundabout but it's not a big road, just a little village road. In France a horse is considered like a car so I walked (so lucky I was on foot) Paco round it, following the highway code. Just then a really old man came screaming round and over took us, but the exit road had a concrete barrier in the middle and there wasn't enough room for the car and me and Paco all at the same time.

The old fool steamed into the concrete and bounced off it towards us. He was obviously shocked and his reflexes were not fast enough to cope with the speed that he was going - I remember seeing his face, white with terror, and his mouth open, the shape of an egg. I don't know how he missed me but he then bounced off the kerb and powered away.......

More sheer incompetence than rage, I suppose, but a very near miss.

I've encountered very few instances of rage, apart from one when a young bloke was wild at having to wait behind a line of 12 horses and went by, far too close obviously, shouting and hollering.

Mostly it's just sheer stupidity - too fast, too close, that sort of thing.