Devon TRF Group Forum

FBF · Clubman A

Horses and bikes...

gaschef · Devon's Best

Having spent a fair bit of my apprenticship nailing bits of metal to their feet you learn on thing they are mindless eating machines just slightly more inteligent than the thing or their back

Belgiums have the right idea "Salami"

-- Edited by gaschef on Friday 4th of May 2012 10:12:55 PM

Gas Gas Guy · Clubman B

I was a horse guard in London, our horses were so use to cars busses taxis ect but I must say once my horse farted and very funny, spooked itself n off I went bucking and farting through central London lol

-- Edited by Gas Gas Guy on Friday 4th of May 2012 11:18:21 PM

John Leah · Clubman A

It seems we're assumed to be in the wrong:

http://www.horseandhound.co.uk/news/397/312511.html

It's bollocks of course but dangerous precedent setting bollocks cry

I've even had a horse being walked by a mature lady rear as they passed me and I was stationary, stood alongside my bike with helmet removed and on a tarmac road. Such animals should be expected to behave in traffic and, if they can't, leave them in the stable!

Cheers,

John

danno82 · Clubman B

Horses often react to the sudden stoppage of sound... If that makes sense? I was out the other week on the DRZ and came across a rather nice horse rider. As ya do, I cut off the engine, the horse reacted slightly. I waited for her to pass by. As she passed, she said thanks and mentioned that the horses can be a bit temperamental to the sudden stoppage/muting of sound.

She was very thankful and we carried on our ways.

Just thought I'd share that little yarn... wink

Danny

Cubber · Expert

It makes you think, does this horse malarkey!!! wink

Before a motorist drives freely on the road he has to tax, insure, MoT as necessary, by law, minimum. furious

Similarly a motorcyclist. furious

If you want to propel a push bike there are no strings to pull or hoops to jump through. disbelief

Similarly a nag.

A nag has a mind of its own, has hang-ups, tensions, unpredictability and yet is allowed on the road with no restrictions (other than on motorways) with a human on its back who needs no qualification at all. confuse

Even a nag pulling a cart has little restriction. hmm

Where's the logic in this?? confuse

Martyn

jt · Powermonger!!

Never had a problem, always stop and shut off and wear open face lid. Never met an unfrendly rider, most pass the time of day and a few have even asked us to start the bikes and have the the horses have a good sniff at the bikes etc to get them to them smile

I know little about them but with regards to insurance etc but do wonder how it it my lad at on his 30 mph 60 kg 50cc has to have had CBT, tax, insurance, mot etc etc and yet my 13 year old daughter could I guess go out on the public road tomorrow on a 3/4 ton horse with no insurance, no training, no tax, no MoH (ministry of horse wink ) test etc.....

If a horse bolts/rears up and flattens me and my bike would they be insured?

danno82 · Clubman B

jt wrote:
no MoH (ministry of horse ) test

LMAO biggrin biggrin biggrin biggrin

L'orange · Devon's Best

There might just be something in this, besides the fact that yes they should be insured. Think of a safari park or a roe buck grazing on the side of the road, they are happy whilst cars keep moving but stop or get out and they run off PDQ. I guess it depends on the horse but I've stopped and took me lid off before now and it didn't have the calming effect I expected.

FBF · Clubman A

Actually when in South Africa in Kruger they said that what spooks the animals is not the car as they are used to them moving around but the change in shape when you open a car door.

Spooking a horse with your face Steve might be one thing, but to the horse as far as he is concerned you have just taken your head off.

They are pretty stupid when all said and done

doh ! · Clubman A

Do you reckon the judges are part of the Horsey brigade ?

danno82 · Clubman B

Nai!

wink

KronreifTrunkenpolzMattighofen · Devon's Best

When I was a wee lad growing up in St Just, I had a DT50MX to ride the moors on, (I was 8) and my sister had a horse or 2. The horses had 3rd party insurance, but not the DT!

RichT4 · Champion

danno82 wrote:
Horses often react to the sudden stoppage of sound... If that makes sense? I was out the other week on the DRZ and came across a rather nice horse rider. As ya do, I cut off the engine, the horse reacted slightly. I waited for her to pass by. As she passed, she said thanks and mentioned that the horses can be a bit temperamental to the sudden stoppage/muting of sound.

I have to agree as my mrs rides and has often told me that we are doing it wrong...

It feels like we are being respectful by turning our engines off but that might not be the best thing to do, it's what I do though but TBH I don't trust horses so I'm half ready to jump off my bike (and head for high ground) as the horse walks by.

I'm told that just pulling in and leaving the engine running would be best as the horse can then track you audiably as it passes you. To turn your engine off and then restart it once the horse has passed is likley to spoke the horse.

RichT4 · Champion

however.....
Some horses are different and will be spooked more by a running engine, or are maybe just having a bad day as it's a bit windy, so turning off the engine will be best - seems we can't really win, but what the horsey folk aren't so keen to admit is that it's not our fault that their form of transport is very tall, heavy and at times un-predictable!

If it was up to me all horses & riders would be registered, have a wearable number plate for either (or both) and have to have & carry insurance to use the public highways.

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

Most horses riders are insured, my better half is as i know the damage one can cause

kingmarty · Sportsman

Horses are unpredictable! ive grow up around them on a farm with tons of them and never met one thats not yet!

They are too dangerous for that reason to ride around on roads in my opinion as they are too easliy spooked by everything, and the riders are always thinking its eveyone else's fault the horse is scared of them?

They crap on the roads, paths beaches which is apparantly OK to leave as its acceptable although its 20 times larger than a dogs which is illegal to leave? is that me or does that seem wrong?

Yes i know its a rant.... but with good cause though! my best mates mum had the most trust worthy horse with no issues ever which she had from a foul, got spooked on the farm when i was working there and it lashed out and kicked me in the chest braking a good few ribs when i was 14!

French have the best idea:

http://www.metro.ca/recettes/46/horse-meat.en.html

philsil · Clubman B

Spooking the horse is one thing, hitting it is another. And as the bloke is denying the collision then it seems to be he said, she said.
I had a conversation with a young lady about me being on a green lane when she was on her horse.
She blamed motorcycles for producing the large ruts along the way.
"You cannot get a decent gallop on because of the ruts", she said.
I explained that motorcyclists hate ruts too and that they are caused, usually, by tractors.
I also pointed out that this is a public road and you should not gallop along roads.
Like countless times before poor old Joanna Public is totally unaware of the differences, tracks:paths:lanes.

Clayton · Clubman A

An intersting comment from the last contributer though, and he seems to know what he is taliking about.

Martin Taylor · Director at Grandisson Fireplaces

After living of a farm for all of my child hood and teen age years and being around horses, I still to this day find 90% of horses too un predictable!
they are eaisly spooked by cars, dogs, motorbikes, noise basically most things, for that reason I strongly belive that they should be kept away from roads where things can spook them.
there are 1000's of events, fields, bridleways where they can be roam without needing road use! (yes I do realise acsess to bridle ways are from roads).

I know all horse riders will dis agree but if you truly look at the case you can not honestly say I'm 100% wrong!

If something is unstable in an envoroment, you remove it!
you wouldn't leave a baby in a room with a dog.. Just in case" smae thory applies in my eyes!

FBF · Clubman A

Its wise to remember that horses were around a long time before bikes and cars but also wise to realise that we have moved on from eating raw meat and swinging though the trees (well most have)

I can understand why people are attracted to horses and do understand the pitfalls and dangers and the need to train horses well on the roads and be mindful of the riders ability. I have even have ridden a couple of neddies myself and I get it, no honestly I do!

I do however question the sensibility of a certain large stable around these parts that seem to turn a blind eye to children approx 11 years old riding horses at busy times of the early evening three abreast on a busy winding country lane at dusk with no lights or reflective equipment, sat astride horses clearly too large for them, with little more than a sweat shirt and thin jodphers and trainers on their feet and a skull cap on their nod which probably wouldn't be worn except they are legally obligued to wear one.

Surely no-one could be that stupid?

But it seems they are

Being in a village location I know a fair few horse riders around here, some do the hunt as well. By and large they are real nice people not the snobby wannabe lady of the manor types but hard working ordinary folk and I would never would want to see any of them hurt or loose their right to ride either. There are a few bridleways around but not as many as you would think and without exception all are accessed by road and often use greenlanes as part of the route because they have to.

They are all experienced seasoned riders that have proper road skills, they go to great lengths to ensure their own and their horses safety with proper equipment, hi vis vests and hi vis trims to the horse and they ride in good visibilty and not two abreast around blind bends.

These people get my thumbs up, they know the risks, are safety aware have good riding skills, have very good solid horses, and they have road skills mostly aquired because they drive or ride a motorised vehicle.

Like us greenlaners they too are victims of a bad image often portrayed by the wannabe set and young crabby girls that look down their noses at you as if you have no right to be in the same county, let alone the same road.

Fortunately we have the laws which require us to be old enough, experienced, legal, licensed, insured, and to comply with road laws and the highway code as well as our own code of conduct.

What does the law require of a horse rider, erm? under 14 have to wear a helmet and er...not much else really

Simmo · Expert

Horses are one of God's creatures and are therefore protected by tree huggers. Motorcycles were invented by humans and are therefore an inferior mode of transport in some people's eyes. Must have bloody big eyes to fit a horse in them but anyway....

There is an argument for the licensing of all human beings. I know some who could be classed as distilleries.

Why not have a horse class at Weston Beach Race?

Phaedrus · Sportsman

Dufftown races ?