There's a BBC news item...The Highway Code already states that horse riders are some of the most vulnerable road users and that drivers should always pass wide and slowly, but the petition wants this to be made a legal requirement.
Petition backs specific horse law to slow drivers - BBC News
A rather better idea, I suggest, is to ban the riding of horses on public roads entirely. If a horse owner has to use a public road to take a horse from A to B it should either be in a horse box or led by hand. Riding a bike anywhere in a railway station is banned too, for exactly the same reason - it's unsafe for everybody.
A ridden horse has no more business being on a public road in this day and age than an unescorted tortoise. Pulling a cart or caravan, fine, but the only possible reason for riding a horse nowadays is recreational. Use a track.
At the very least, put a minimum 17 year age requirement on the riders and make them pass a government test. It's easily administered, you just add horse-riding to the existing driving licence as a category and have a relevant test to pass before its provisional status is upgraded.
Riding a horse on a public road
Riding a horse on a public road
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Riding a horse on a public road
There is a small snag, Mr. spot, there are not many instances where riding a horse can remain solely off main roads ! For instance in a suburb of Nottingham there is a riding school. It has a large field attached to it, but it is a nice alternative to ride along lanes and to also go to other country bridle paths. These can involve travelling on main roads, and is unavoidable. Would you have horse riders stay within the riding school field and just go round and round this field? How boring ! As it is most canal towpaths have a horse-riding ban simply because during wet weather the towpath can be severely 'potholed' by horses moving along it when the surface is muddy. Obviously, if this happens , it creates a danger to other towpath users, particularly when the towpath has dried out and is very 'rutty'. Motorbikes are also banned, but not pedal cycles (they do not cause anything like the damage).
Horse-riding is being deterred from many places for many different reasons, so where next? At this rate riding schools may as well close down, peoples' ownership of horses would not be worth it !
Motorised vehicle drivers will just have to be more considerate and sensible, it isn't too much to ask of them is it? Instances of horses being ridden on main roads are not all that common when all is said and done. It is more common to come across ridden horses on country lanes, but then there are all sorts of hazards on country lanes like herding cows from fields to the milking parlours twice a day, and back of course. Driving round a curve in the lane to be confronted by a flock of sheep being moved to different pastures ! These activities should have people at both the front of the herd and at the rear, to warn motorists in advance of the hazard - this is a legal requirement.
Riding horses is a lovely experience, and should be encouraged. As I have said already, it isn't too much to expect motor vehicle drivers to show a little bit of common sense and consideration when they see a horse being ridden at the side of the road and give it due clearance at a slow speed. All horses are trained to be traffic aware these days, and should not be startled by vehicles passing with consideration. However there will be the odd occasion when a horse could be spooked by something. I remember when I rode a particular horse, the animal just would not pass a small farm implement that had been left on the grass verge. I had to cover its eyes then walk it past ! Another horse was spooked by anything that was yellow, and no amount of training could get this 'phobia' out of the horse !
I think it would be a good idea to make it a legal requirement for motorised vehicle drivers to slow right down and give more room to the horse than they may do to another motorised vehicle. I believe this is a legal requirement in Canada, not sure about America or other countries. But, to me, it would be a sensible law and save many accidents. Unfortunately it is a fact that there are many people who will selfishly do just as they think fit until there is a law brought in to rein those people in ! (pun intended) . What you are suggesting, Mr. spot, would be unworkable IMO, for reasons as stated in my first paragraph in this post.
Horse-riding is being deterred from many places for many different reasons, so where next? At this rate riding schools may as well close down, peoples' ownership of horses would not be worth it !
Motorised vehicle drivers will just have to be more considerate and sensible, it isn't too much to ask of them is it? Instances of horses being ridden on main roads are not all that common when all is said and done. It is more common to come across ridden horses on country lanes, but then there are all sorts of hazards on country lanes like herding cows from fields to the milking parlours twice a day, and back of course. Driving round a curve in the lane to be confronted by a flock of sheep being moved to different pastures ! These activities should have people at both the front of the herd and at the rear, to warn motorists in advance of the hazard - this is a legal requirement.
Riding horses is a lovely experience, and should be encouraged. As I have said already, it isn't too much to expect motor vehicle drivers to show a little bit of common sense and consideration when they see a horse being ridden at the side of the road and give it due clearance at a slow speed. All horses are trained to be traffic aware these days, and should not be startled by vehicles passing with consideration. However there will be the odd occasion when a horse could be spooked by something. I remember when I rode a particular horse, the animal just would not pass a small farm implement that had been left on the grass verge. I had to cover its eyes then walk it past ! Another horse was spooked by anything that was yellow, and no amount of training could get this 'phobia' out of the horse !
I think it would be a good idea to make it a legal requirement for motorised vehicle drivers to slow right down and give more room to the horse than they may do to another motorised vehicle. I believe this is a legal requirement in Canada, not sure about America or other countries. But, to me, it would be a sensible law and save many accidents. Unfortunately it is a fact that there are many people who will selfishly do just as they think fit until there is a law brought in to rein those people in ! (pun intended) . What you are suggesting, Mr. spot, would be unworkable IMO, for reasons as stated in my first paragraph in this post.
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Riding a horse on a public road
G#Gill;1493068 wrote: There is a small snag, Mr. spot, there are not many instances where riding a horse can remain solely off main roads ! For instance in a suburb of Nottingham there is a riding school. It has a large field attached to it, but it is a nice alternative to ride along lanes and to also go to other country bridle paths. These can involve travelling on main roads, and is unavoidable.I did say, Gill. If the horse has to go along a public road from A to B, lead it. A bit like if you have a bike in a railway station, push it. In neither case ride it, riding it in that location is a greater danger to everyone. If you have to cross a public road, lead the horse across. If you want to get to a field by way of a public road, lead the horse.
Obviously "it isn't too much to expect motor vehicle drivers to show a little bit of common sense and consideration when they see a horse being ridden at the side of the road and give it due clearance at a slow speed" - that's what the highway code says already, that's what drivers can and should be tested on before they pass their test. The question I put was whether horses should be ridden on public roads, and if they must be then most particularly not by under-17s or people with no licence to do so. Rather like car-drivers, in fact.
Obviously "it isn't too much to expect motor vehicle drivers to show a little bit of common sense and consideration when they see a horse being ridden at the side of the road and give it due clearance at a slow speed" - that's what the highway code says already, that's what drivers can and should be tested on before they pass their test. The question I put was whether horses should be ridden on public roads, and if they must be then most particularly not by under-17s or people with no licence to do so. Rather like car-drivers, in fact.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Riding a horse on a public road
The main problem for motorists when showing due consideration to horses and riders is bends in the road - country roads tend to have quite a lot of them.
Having three daughters who each, in their day, rode horses I always show consideration when passing a horse on the road - when I know it's there. When you round a bend and there's a horse in the middle of the road then there's very little that you can do about it.
Riders are sociable people, they often go out in pairs and they like to ride side by side so that they can chat. Country roads are narrow so two horses side by side take up fully half of the road.
Where we used to live in Hertfordshire there were several riders killed in just those circumstances - no lack of consideration by the driver but nothing they could do about it.
Having three daughters who each, in their day, rode horses I always show consideration when passing a horse on the road - when I know it's there. When you round a bend and there's a horse in the middle of the road then there's very little that you can do about it.
Riders are sociable people, they often go out in pairs and they like to ride side by side so that they can chat. Country roads are narrow so two horses side by side take up fully half of the road.
Where we used to live in Hertfordshire there were several riders killed in just those circumstances - no lack of consideration by the driver but nothing they could do about it.
Riding a horse on a public road
I'm really not sure if a person has more control over a horse they are leading than a person actually riding.
I do agree about the age limit though.
I do agree about the age limit though.
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Riding a horse on a public road
We shall await Val's comment on that, she's the expert and I'd take her word unequivocally.
Underlying my disapproval of horse-riding as a recreation is the abhorrent though presently popular idea that a person can legally own an animal. Slavery was an analogous popular idea in its day too. The disapproval explains my starting the thread, though the issue of public road safety isn't associated with ownership.
Underlying my disapproval of horse-riding as a recreation is the abhorrent though presently popular idea that a person can legally own an animal. Slavery was an analogous popular idea in its day too. The disapproval explains my starting the thread, though the issue of public road safety isn't associated with ownership.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Riding a horse on a public road
spot;1493077 wrote: We shall await Val's comment on that, she's the expert and I'd take her word unequivocally.
Underlying my disapproval of horse-riding as a recreation is the abhorrent though presently popular idea that a person can legally own an animal. Slavery was an analogous popular idea in its day too. The disapproval explains my starting the thread, though the issue of public road safety isn't associated with ownership.
So you disapprove of people owning an animal ? So how do you feel about farmers who own cows, bullocks, sheep, chickens and any other animals ?
How about the police department owning horses and dogs ? etc. How about old ladies, living on their own having a little dog for a companion ? What is abhorrent about a blind person having a trained guide dog ? Oh come, come Mr. spot, I do declare you are a trifle mixed up about animal ownership ! However, I could agree with you if you were referring to animals like snakes, monkeys, stick insects, birds - their place is in the wild in their own environments. I am rather saddened by the increasing desire of some people to own 'exotic' creatures, there again these should be free in their own environments.
Underlying my disapproval of horse-riding as a recreation is the abhorrent though presently popular idea that a person can legally own an animal. Slavery was an analogous popular idea in its day too. The disapproval explains my starting the thread, though the issue of public road safety isn't associated with ownership.
So you disapprove of people owning an animal ? So how do you feel about farmers who own cows, bullocks, sheep, chickens and any other animals ?
How about the police department owning horses and dogs ? etc. How about old ladies, living on their own having a little dog for a companion ? What is abhorrent about a blind person having a trained guide dog ? Oh come, come Mr. spot, I do declare you are a trifle mixed up about animal ownership ! However, I could agree with you if you were referring to animals like snakes, monkeys, stick insects, birds - their place is in the wild in their own environments. I am rather saddened by the increasing desire of some people to own 'exotic' creatures, there again these should be free in their own environments.
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Riding a horse on a public road
There are three aspects, all related to consent.
What is done to domesticated animals in the context of farming, for example, is done without the consent of the animals involved. That one's easy to test, you do a thought experiment. You ask yourself whether, if you retained your present ability to form an informed position and took on the form of a cow, bullock, sheep or chicken, but aware of your destiny, you would consent to the farmer having that right of ownership and control of your fate. Then you can ask a thousand other people. And when you get a poll overwhelmingly against assent, you can extrapolate that into an ethical position on the farming of domesticated animals and be pretty sure you've got a supportable opinion based on ethical evidence. It's a philosophical subset of choosing an outcome while not knowing which group you belong to until after the outcome is decided, it makes for fairer decisions.
You may well get a different outcome as far as domesticated but unfarmed animals is concerned. Who'd be a cossetted cat or dog, or jump at the chance to work honestly for a living as a guide or sniffer dog living at home with a handler? Maybe many people would say yes. The unethical part, I would suggest, is in the domestication process which took the ancestral line out of the wild and into the human setting in the first place.It has created an ignoble parody of an animal which evolved very differently and became enslaved. Whether the animal is pampered or eaten is all the same to me, it's still enslavement without consent. You recoil from doing it now to snakes, monkeys, stick insects, birds. I recoil from it having been done in the past too.
The third issue is whether slavery can be acceptable to society if it's given informed consent by the slave, an underlying question which is some distance from where we started. How would you feel if people were legally allowed to sign contracts accepting the conditions of slavery in exchange for a present benefit. Education for their children, for example, or healthcare. I suggest it's at best a slippery slope, and very likely an abominable abuse.
Beyond those three topics lies the question of what constitutes slavery. This thread's always here if you want to discuss the question.
What is done to domesticated animals in the context of farming, for example, is done without the consent of the animals involved. That one's easy to test, you do a thought experiment. You ask yourself whether, if you retained your present ability to form an informed position and took on the form of a cow, bullock, sheep or chicken, but aware of your destiny, you would consent to the farmer having that right of ownership and control of your fate. Then you can ask a thousand other people. And when you get a poll overwhelmingly against assent, you can extrapolate that into an ethical position on the farming of domesticated animals and be pretty sure you've got a supportable opinion based on ethical evidence. It's a philosophical subset of choosing an outcome while not knowing which group you belong to until after the outcome is decided, it makes for fairer decisions.
You may well get a different outcome as far as domesticated but unfarmed animals is concerned. Who'd be a cossetted cat or dog, or jump at the chance to work honestly for a living as a guide or sniffer dog living at home with a handler? Maybe many people would say yes. The unethical part, I would suggest, is in the domestication process which took the ancestral line out of the wild and into the human setting in the first place.It has created an ignoble parody of an animal which evolved very differently and became enslaved. Whether the animal is pampered or eaten is all the same to me, it's still enslavement without consent. You recoil from doing it now to snakes, monkeys, stick insects, birds. I recoil from it having been done in the past too.
The third issue is whether slavery can be acceptable to society if it's given informed consent by the slave, an underlying question which is some distance from where we started. How would you feel if people were legally allowed to sign contracts accepting the conditions of slavery in exchange for a present benefit. Education for their children, for example, or healthcare. I suggest it's at best a slippery slope, and very likely an abominable abuse.
Beyond those three topics lies the question of what constitutes slavery. This thread's always here if you want to discuss the question.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Riding a horse on a public road
spot;1493084 wrote: How would you feel if people were legally allowed to sign contracts accepting the conditions of slavery in exchange for a present benefit. Education for their children, for example, or healthcare. I suggest it's at best a slippery slope, and very likely an abominable abuse.
How about wage slavery ?
You Spot,are several decades ahead of us mere mortals.
How about wage slavery ?
You Spot,are several decades ahead of us mere mortals.
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Riding a horse on a public road
Bruv;1493093 wrote: How about wage slavery ?
You saw me coming, as the actress said to the Bishop. I might mention prison eventually too. Maybe a second thread would keep things tidier.
You Spot,are several decades ahead of us mere mortals.
Narrowing the gap is a good idea.
You saw me coming, as the actress said to the Bishop. I might mention prison eventually too. Maybe a second thread would keep things tidier.
You Spot,are several decades ahead of us mere mortals.
Narrowing the gap is a good idea.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Riding a horse on a public road
spot;1493095 wrote: You saw me coming, as the actress said to the Bishop. I might mention prison eventually too. Maybe a second thread would keep things tidier.
..........................................................Narrowing the gap is a good idea.
We are all selling our 'freedom' to live in modern society to a certain extent, we call it being 'good neighbours',by not having bonfires on washing days for instance.
We all enslave ourselves by selling our time for money to either our employer or customer.
Narrowing what gap ? The gap between higher intelligence beings and the others ?
..........................................................Narrowing the gap is a good idea.
We are all selling our 'freedom' to live in modern society to a certain extent, we call it being 'good neighbours',by not having bonfires on washing days for instance.
We all enslave ourselves by selling our time for money to either our employer or customer.
Narrowing what gap ? The gap between higher intelligence beings and the others ?
I thought I knew more than this until I opened my mouth
Riding a horse on a public road
Bruv;1493099 wrote: Narrowing what gap ? The gap between higher intelligence beings and the others ?I was agreeing that I should become more immediately relevant and tolerable.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Riding a horse on a public road
Wouldn't make any difference those who don't slow down still won't do so - anyone who doesn't have the intelligence to make allowances for a half ton animal with steel hooves getting spooked isn't likely to take the hint. I have seen drivers deliberately try and spook a horse stupid people are everywhere.
Riding a horse on a public road
I'm not sure our whippet, if asked, would describe her pampered existence as slavery. She has more privileges than I do. In fact I would say we are slaves to her whims and needs. The pay off is, at least, boundless affection. It's a relationship I treasure.
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Riding a horse on a public road
You do realize there's an entire wolf hidden in there, I hope. A huge great pack-leading alpha matriarch with blood-drenched fangs and snarly tendencies capable of tearing bears apart?
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Riding a horse on a public road
When I watched the video the cars didn't seem to be going excessively fast. However, the horse did seem to be out of control. Surely if a horse is liable to be startled by such things, then it should be blinkered and/or trained to interact with traffic. No doubt there will be those who say that this is not possible, but you only need to look at Police mounts to see that it is. Horses are extremely intelligent & can be trained to a very high degree. If they are to be ridden on the public highway, then they should be trained to be able to safely cope with the potential conditions to be encountered there.
Perhaps riders should have to take the equivalent of a motorbike CBT & have to wear 'L' Plates until they pass a horse riding test.
Perhaps riders should have to take the equivalent of a motorbike CBT & have to wear 'L' Plates until they pass a horse riding test.
Riding a horse on a public road
FourPart;1493123 wrote: Horses are extremely intelligent & can be trained to a very high degree.
Some people said the same of West Indian house slaves in the 18th century. I'm distressed that anyone can still write in that manner today with no sense of moral guilt.
Some people said the same of West Indian house slaves in the 18th century. I'm distressed that anyone can still write in that manner today with no sense of moral guilt.
Nullius in verba ... ☎||||||||||| ... To Fate I sue, of other means bereft, the only refuge for the wretched left.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
When flower power came along I stood for Human Rights, marched around for peace and freedom, had some nooky every night - we took it serious.
Who has a spare two minutes to play in this month's FG Trivia game! ... My other OS is Slackware.
Riding a horse on a public road
FourPart;1493123 wrote: When I watched the video the cars didn't seem to be going excessively fast. However, the horse did seem to be out of control. Surely if a horse is liable to be startled by such things, then it should be blinkered and/or trained to interact with traffic. No doubt there will be those who say that this is not possible, but you only need to look at Police mounts to see that it is. Horses are extremely intelligent & can be trained to a very high degree. If they are to be ridden on the public highway, then they should be trained to be able to safely cope with the potential conditions to be encountered there.
Perhaps riders should have to take the equivalent of a motorbike CBT & have to wear 'L' Plates until they pass a horse riding test.
Unfortunately the riding schools take young children out on the public roads very early in their training - OK, they're supervised but some of them are *very* young. The first time that my youngest daughter went out on the roads they turned off onto a bridleway and the pony bolted - it was used to galloping on that stretch and my daughter had no control over it. She ended up in a ditch, shaken but not stirred as she was still holding onto the reins - she was about eight at the time.
Perhaps riders should have to take the equivalent of a motorbike CBT & have to wear 'L' Plates until they pass a horse riding test.
Unfortunately the riding schools take young children out on the public roads very early in their training - OK, they're supervised but some of them are *very* young. The first time that my youngest daughter went out on the roads they turned off onto a bridleway and the pony bolted - it was used to galloping on that stretch and my daughter had no control over it. She ended up in a ditch, shaken but not stirred as she was still holding onto the reins - she was about eight at the time.
Riding a horse on a public road
spot;1493116 wrote: You do realize there's an entire wolf hidden in there, I hope. A huge great pack-leading alpha matriarch with blood-drenched fangs and snarly tendencies capable of tearing bears apart?
Ever since she's been capable of carrying one, we toss her the odd buffalo hind leg to stave off any blood cravings, lest we become the object of hereditary wolf like tendencies. Other times, she just likes to cuddle.
Ever since she's been capable of carrying one, we toss her the odd buffalo hind leg to stave off any blood cravings, lest we become the object of hereditary wolf like tendencies. Other times, she just likes to cuddle.
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire."
Winston Churchill
Winston Churchill
Riding a horse on a public road
Just thinking today as I picked up the dog's crap if they know they are slaves or have I got them fooled?
Never mind cars passing horses I wish it was a criminal offence for runners to use the main road at night unless they are wearing flourescent clothing. There's a club that goes running along the road near me I've had a few near misses, clearly not the onmly one now they put out warning signs. There's no pavement you just don't expect them to be so bloody stupid as to cross in front of you from the left at a junction when anyone with half a brain would assume the car was going to pull out or at least opause to make sure they had been seen. I would also fine cyclists that don't use cycle paths when there's one available to them.
Never mind cars passing horses I wish it was a criminal offence for runners to use the main road at night unless they are wearing flourescent clothing. There's a club that goes running along the road near me I've had a few near misses, clearly not the onmly one now they put out warning signs. There's no pavement you just don't expect them to be so bloody stupid as to cross in front of you from the left at a junction when anyone with half a brain would assume the car was going to pull out or at least opause to make sure they had been seen. I would also fine cyclists that don't use cycle paths when there's one available to them.
Riding a horse on a public road
G#Gill;1493075 wrote: I'm really not sure if a person has more control over a horse they are leading than a person actually riding.
They don't. I'd far rather stay on top than be where the horse can end up knocking me down or over and stepping on me.
My position is this: No animal is 100% 100% of the time. Here in the Sates we tend to refer to horses as "bomb proof" but no
matter how much you train an animal, they can always surprise you. I remember not too long ago hearing a story of an
exceptionally trained animal, ridden around gunshots, crowds, you name it... and lost his mind when a paper plate blew
across the arena!
The difference between bicycles and horses is of course that the horse weighs much more and has a mind of his own.
Here is a video of me testing out my exceptional boy, Leland:
https://goo.gl/4LXwrO
Edited to add: I say keep horses off/away from roads as much as possible. Bummer but it simply must be.
They don't. I'd far rather stay on top than be where the horse can end up knocking me down or over and stepping on me.
My position is this: No animal is 100% 100% of the time. Here in the Sates we tend to refer to horses as "bomb proof" but no
matter how much you train an animal, they can always surprise you. I remember not too long ago hearing a story of an
exceptionally trained animal, ridden around gunshots, crowds, you name it... and lost his mind when a paper plate blew
across the arena!
The difference between bicycles and horses is of course that the horse weighs much more and has a mind of his own.
Here is a video of me testing out my exceptional boy, Leland:
https://goo.gl/4LXwrO
Edited to add: I say keep horses off/away from roads as much as possible. Bummer but it simply must be.
Riding a horse on a public road
Apart from anything else it can't bemuch fun. Park near me has signs asking horse riders to stick to the tarmac paths one or two obviously ignore the request and some of the woodland paths have been destroyed (lots of raion soft ground). Pity really they will, end up being banned if they don't showe a bit more consideration but it only takes on or two incconsiderate ones.
Riding a horse on a public road
Val, what a gorgeous horse ! He does you proud !
I have seen a 'horse whisperer' at work on a documentary film some time ago. Quite fascinating and most enlightening. It was showing the horse as quite a handful for its owner, and how the horse was gradually coaxed into accepting the trainer, which took quite a while. Over time that horse was quite different in it's attitude and behaviour, and I thought how rewarding that sort of ability must be for somebody to calm a horse down with kindness and quiet talking and be able to hand over a perfectly manageable animal to it's owner.
I can remember when I was a teenager, and I went riding regularly, I always carefully took hold of the horse's muzzle in both hands and gently blew into it's nostrils before I got into the saddle. Not sure where I read that, but at the time I thought it was a good idea, after all a horse gently blows at another horse, nose to nose ! One time the stable owner said "You'll be neighing and pawing at the ground next !" He was smiling, so it was OK ! :wah:
Horse riding is something that I can no longer do, unfortunately, but I fondly remember the wonderful feeling of sitting astride a saddle and walking the horse on along the bridlepath, listening to the gentle squeaking of leather on leather and smiling as I watched the horse's head rhythmically nod in time to it's foot-falls, its long main also flowing in time to the steps he was taking. Lovely memories.
I can no longer sit astride a horse, which is a bummer ! My iffy hips won't allow me to even sit astride a motorbike ! I used to love motorcycling, my hubby and I had one each when we were first married ! I remember him buying a 500 cc Triumph and I had a go on it, but I couldn't get up to the ton - even though I was lying low over the petrol tank, I was still being blown back along the seat and onto the pillion and I realised that if I didn't slow up I'd be blown off the back of the bike ! I remember being quite angry about that, as I knew the bike was well capable of doing over 100 mph with ease, but I was not going to be able to say I'd done a ton !!! :-5 I had to ease off at 95 mph as it was getting a bit hairy !!!
I have seen a 'horse whisperer' at work on a documentary film some time ago. Quite fascinating and most enlightening. It was showing the horse as quite a handful for its owner, and how the horse was gradually coaxed into accepting the trainer, which took quite a while. Over time that horse was quite different in it's attitude and behaviour, and I thought how rewarding that sort of ability must be for somebody to calm a horse down with kindness and quiet talking and be able to hand over a perfectly manageable animal to it's owner.
I can remember when I was a teenager, and I went riding regularly, I always carefully took hold of the horse's muzzle in both hands and gently blew into it's nostrils before I got into the saddle. Not sure where I read that, but at the time I thought it was a good idea, after all a horse gently blows at another horse, nose to nose ! One time the stable owner said "You'll be neighing and pawing at the ground next !" He was smiling, so it was OK ! :wah:
Horse riding is something that I can no longer do, unfortunately, but I fondly remember the wonderful feeling of sitting astride a saddle and walking the horse on along the bridlepath, listening to the gentle squeaking of leather on leather and smiling as I watched the horse's head rhythmically nod in time to it's foot-falls, its long main also flowing in time to the steps he was taking. Lovely memories.
I can no longer sit astride a horse, which is a bummer ! My iffy hips won't allow me to even sit astride a motorbike ! I used to love motorcycling, my hubby and I had one each when we were first married ! I remember him buying a 500 cc Triumph and I had a go on it, but I couldn't get up to the ton - even though I was lying low over the petrol tank, I was still being blown back along the seat and onto the pillion and I realised that if I didn't slow up I'd be blown off the back of the bike ! I remember being quite angry about that, as I knew the bike was well capable of doing over 100 mph with ease, but I was not going to be able to say I'd done a ton !!! :-5 I had to ease off at 95 mph as it was getting a bit hairy !!!
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Riding a horse on a public road
Val, I have never seen a horse that well-trained. Leland is a wonder!
Riding a horse on a public road
Leland is absolutely gorgeous ! I could just steal him away and cuddle him to pieces !
He looks in such fine condition Val, how old is he ?
He looks in such fine condition Val, how old is he ?
I'm a Saga-lout, growing old disgracefully
Riding a horse on a public road
Ha-ha Gill, I admit to a bit of the blowing gently in the nostrils from
time to time, and also don't know where I heard it. (But it was likely
over 50 years ago!)
Thanks Zap, he is very, very good, I have been so proud of him so
many times. Like when we were waiting for a parade to start, a float
nearby had balloons blowing all over and a few of them popped. He
whipped his head up and LOOKED, but didn't move his feet. He is
a good boy but yes, even Leland has spooked a couple of times.
The thing with him is though he trusts his rider (me) and can be
brought back down in a couple of strides. Not bolting to the next
county like some do.
He is 11 sometime this spring Gill. This video was taken a couple of
springs back, and he was all nicely shed out. He is at an elevation
where they sometimes get winter snow, so grows a really good winter
coat and we call him Scruffy Pony. But cute to me either way!
time to time, and also don't know where I heard it. (But it was likely
over 50 years ago!)
Thanks Zap, he is very, very good, I have been so proud of him so
many times. Like when we were waiting for a parade to start, a float
nearby had balloons blowing all over and a few of them popped. He
whipped his head up and LOOKED, but didn't move his feet. He is
a good boy but yes, even Leland has spooked a couple of times.
The thing with him is though he trusts his rider (me) and can be
brought back down in a couple of strides. Not bolting to the next
county like some do.
He is 11 sometime this spring Gill. This video was taken a couple of
springs back, and he was all nicely shed out. He is at an elevation
where they sometimes get winter snow, so grows a really good winter
coat and we call him Scruffy Pony. But cute to me either way!