[sabrina]

Yesterday my grandaughter and her friend ( both are 12 ) wanted to go for a hack on the ponies. Now I never let them on the road by themselves and they think I am just being a fuss pot but they had there eyes opened to what can happen. Teka is what you would call bomb proof but Rory is just a 4 year old learning the ropes. I had him on a lead rein just in case he took fright at something which was just as well. Our roads are narrow and most people do drive with care, we met a few cars and a van who all slowed right down to pass us but one driver was going so fast that he almost had us all in the ditch. not only did I not get time to see who was driving but never got the number plate or make of the car. Rory got such a fright but Chole stayed calm and sat on which was so good. We have lots of horses and ponies in our area that use  the road which at the weekend, is usually safe and it was very clear to any driver that the 2 riders were children. Who ever this person was, when I find out will hear just what I think of them.

[Hermit]

My riding instructor always advised us to carry whips with large knobs on the end and holding them by the tail end with the knobs to the cars. If you wave them about when a car is passing they soon learn to keep their distance.

[omnipeasant]

If you hit them with the end of the whip the sos and so's who had no time to slow down will reverse and give you a mouthful for abusing their car!! been there.

[Herdygirl]

Poor you Sabrina, it's always scary when out on the road, well done Chloe!

I have been walking my young cob out on the lanes near me for 3 years prior to breaking him at 4.  everything was going well until one day last year we were walking down the lane and a bloody new age travellers mercedes mobile shed came right up behind him.... old engine growling, shouts of 'get out of the @***ing way'! poor little man, he  tried so hard to be brave but his nerve broke after a quarter of a mile and i just managed to get him into a neighbours car park rather than on the A58!  will start again with him, we always do.

[Brijjy]

I totally agree with the above comments. Being a rider myself I have been on the receiving end of bad, inconsiderate drivers. However on the flip side, when I'm driving my car and I slowly and responsibly pass a horse rider who doesn't even acknowledge me, that really boils my piss.  I always slow down no matter what. But if a horserider doesn't say thanks, smile or even acknowledge a car driver who slows down then that driver will more than likely pass the next rider at speed. So always remember to at least smile at car drivers who slow down. Or wear a tabard that says 'Thanks' on it.

[jinglejoys]

Brijjy your riders not thanking comment always worries me.
   I always do what car drivers would be prosecuted for (Take hand of the "steering" and nod and wave like an idiot to all reoad users,even cycists who seem to have laws of their own and no manners)however I always worry I will be classed as one of those inconsiderat riders.Its O.k if the vhicles are comming towards you but if they are a;pproaching and overtaking from behind do they see your response at all?

[Brijjy]

If you, as a car driver, have slowed down enough to pass a horse responsibly then you should be able to see some form of acknowledgement from the rider. Even if it's in the rear view mirror. You don't have to take your hands off the reins, a big cheesy grin and a nod will do or even the 'thank you for slowing down' tabbard. It's the riders who are totally oblivious or think that they are invincible sat up that high who annoy me. From what you've said jinglejoys, I don't think you are an inconsiderate rider as you do make the effort.

[sabrina]

When we moved here 16 years ago I was still riding, I learnt very quickly not to put Sabrina onto the grass verge as drivers just did not slow down. By moving into the road they did. Sabrina was built like a tank so made any driver think. I found mothers on the school run the worst. Rembrant was my young horse all 18 hands of him. strawberry roan not something you could miss. he jumped a fence one day when a car flew past. there were lose chippings on the road and he got sprayed with the little stones. never was traffic prof again. I gave up driving Sabrina as there was no where around me safe. I  have shouted to a passing car in the past . you can only kill me once.  I always  made a point of thanking any driver for slowing down and as a driver myself if I know its a young horse I stop altogether after all its not only horse and rider that are in danger if an animal takes fright.