Devon TRF Group Forum

mike · Clubman A

horse ?????????

jt · Powermonger!!

No one hurt apart from her dignity and perhaps yours, forget it and enjoy the memorys of soulless Trev on angel steps wink I have the same issue as her if my bike sees a sheep, it often turns and scampers off - the bike that is not the sheep biggrin

peteBLUEttr · Novice

Bit of a overreaction then! With some horse riders nothing we do will ever be right, in their mind they don't want our noisy bikes within 1 mile of them. Most are o.k because of the good relationship we have built up with them with the marshaling and stuff but there are still some haters out there. Picturing you're number plate wont solve anything. Shame that had to happen. Hope your mates feet are o.k!! smile

gaschef · Devon's Best

Having served my apprenticeship nailing bits of metal to the bottom of mindless eating machines legs, the one thing worse than the horse was the owner. Most farriers will tell you tie 20 ramdom horses to a fence, and keep the owners out of sight, within 10 mins they will tell you who owns what. If the horse is neurotic they have probably got it from the owner, sounds very much like this is what you came across. Remember the vast majority of riders do not know how to train or control a horse correctly. However there are many well trained horses trained by stable very knowledgeable horse persons. Police horses have a pistol fired close to them and they don't flinch, Royal horse artillery fire off 21 rounds of a 4 pound field gun and the horses don't twitch, Whitbreads to this day still deliver beer around the streets of London, and have no problems. A well trained team of shires is a joy to watch

Falling off your bike is a bit of an embarresment, the horse owner should be ashamed that she was bringing such a poorly trained animal onto the public highway. You could also try telling the person that since the early 80's animals no longer have the right of way on the public highway, they must give way to you. THat came from my HGV test in 82 when I slowed down for a horse, I got a warning from the examiner that whilst he understood why I slowed down, should I do it again I would fail the test for not making normal progress. It is the animals controller to keep them clear of traffic

ITs not that I am against horses, some are superb animals, however having worked in Holland the horse I like the best comes on a plate, medium rare and served with hollandaise sauce

There are however some horses with a sense of the dramatic, I remember once at the Honiton Hill Rally someone was leading a shire along and a prat in a mini van was tooting his horn trying to get by, the shire didn't flinch and kept on plodding, the mini van finally overtook and when it was alongside the good old shire cow kicked (rear foot straight out 90 degrees to the body) once with a foot the size of a manhole cover, caught the van just behind the passengers door pillar, minivan bent in two total write off, and the old shire just kept plodding. Much applause and laughter I think someone then got the horse a gallon of cider.

mike · Clubman A

starting to feel a bit easier about it

Thanks

Mike

doug9270 · Powermonger!!

Poorly trained rider, should be aware that her horse spooks easily and should anticipate it spinning. She was just embarrassed by her lack of ability. I have over the years whilst out laning passed many horses some do spin but the rider know this and there is no fuss.
You could not help the small off, lucky for her you actually all stopped when you did or all hell might have broke loose.

Mike Wright · Clubman A

Did what you could and tried your best theres nothing else I can think of you could have done (except falling off biggrin ). I know loads of horse riders around here and we all get on well plus they have the horses under control even the lively ones! Of course it could be both of you fell off and it was just unlucky on both sides as accidents happen. Theres a lady around here who rides a horse and it likes bikes she said as her husband runs a bike adventure travel company.

My horse riding skills are worse than my off road bike ones for sure as I found out when I tried a so called ex race horse. (never again)

gaschef · Devon's Best

Mike Wright wrote:
My horse riding skills are worse than my off road bike ones for sure as I found out when I tried a so called ex race horse. (never again)

THey bloody things are the exception to the rule, they are born brain dead, quickly become even more neurotic and just get worse, until such time they try to run at full tilt into something hard or fast, as they break a leg and are turned into salami. Yippee I like salami

Andyxt · Clubman B

In complete contrast to the memorable encounters on our rideout, today

-- Edited by Andyxt on Saturday 13th of June 2015 06:57:08 PM

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

Andys right every horse rider we met today was very happy and all controlled their horses perfectly, plus the first rider we met left an image in my mind all day :) I couldn't concentrate :)

grouty · Expert

This is what really winds me up.

If we take an un-road worthy bike out on the lanes we risk prosecution. If a horse rider takes an un-road worthy horse out on the lanes (public road) then who is at risk of prosecution ???
I think it is totally irresponsible to even think of venturing out on an animal that potentially can cause so much damage to themselves or others. I speak from the fact that I used to ride horses a great deal many years ago. The horse rider in this case sounds to be completely at fault for having an animal that is unsuitable for passage on a public highway.

I even stop for horses on the tarmac lanes (even in the car). Turn my engine off and wait for the rider to signal whether they are coming past me, or that it is safe for me to pass them.

Rant over .......

Forestcat · Clubman B

I'll second that we need to see more horse riders like her !!

Forestcat · Clubman B

russell11031967 wrote:
Andys right every horse rider we met today was very happy and all controlled their horses perfectly, plus the first rider we met left an image in my mind all day :) I couldn't concentrate :)

I'll second that !

mike · Clubman A

in fairness the horse didnt seem too bad afterwards. it was lead past us and along the lane without too much trouble. It was the rider that was histerical.

Hey ho

Mike

Mike Wright · Clubman A

mike wrote:
in fairness the horse didnt seem too bad afterwards. it was lead past us and along the lane without too much trouble. It was the rider that was histerical.

Hey ho

Mike

You need to take off that Dukes of Hazard air horn than may help biggrin

RichT4 · Champion

My Mrs is mighty riled up about this thread.

She is keen to point out that not all riders/horses are like this, and that she also agrees that bad riders and untrained horses have no business being out on the highways.
She mentioned something about a proposal in the horsey community to bring in compulsory testing of riders & horses. This would no doubt result in each rider or horse having a registration number which must be displayed.

If this were to happen it would be excellent, at last they would then be as accountable as we are.

ttr steve · Devon's Best

Hi Mike

Not your fault! And all of the horse riders I have met are happy to share lanes with us. I remember talking to a horse rider at bicton, where I was helping out at event for jacki. I said to the rider I was surprised about the horses being so good with us, ie motorbikes, and she said if a horse is not happy with other traffic it should not be on the road.

All the horse riders I have met have been really nice, you just met a numpty Well done for your behaviour, we all need to act responsibly in the lanes.

russell11031967 · Devon's Best

RichT4 wrote:
My Mrs is mighty riled up about this thread.

She is keen to point out that not all riders/horses are like this, and that she also agrees that bad riders and untrained horses have no business being out on the highways.
She mentioned something about a proposal in the horsey community to bring in compulsory testing of riders & horses. This would no doubt result in each rider or horse having a registration number which must be displayed.

If this were to happen it would be excellent, at last they would then be as accountable as we are.

This should definitely be brought in anyone whatever they are riding should be able to be held accountable

gaschef · Devon's Best

russell11031967 wrote:
RichT4 wrote:
My Mrs is mighty riled up about this thread.

She is keen to point out that not all riders/horses are like this, and that she also agrees that bad riders and untrained horses have no business being out on the highways.
She mentioned something about a proposal in the horsey community to bring in compulsory testing of riders & horses. This would no doubt result in each rider or horse having a registration number which must be displayed.

If this were to happen it would be excellent, at last they would then be as accountable as we are.
This should definitely be brought in anyone whatever they are riding should be able to be held accountable

Damm good idea, just needs to include cyclists and mobility scooter riders as well, oh and tachograph regulations for white van man. Still nice to see you missus agrees with bad riders and untrained horses, and at the end of the day its not the horses fault that is not correctly trained or operated by a bad rider. The mind boggles however as where you attach a numberplate to a horse, on the other hand they are required to have lights during the hours of darkness (Stirrup Lamps)

Dom1 · Clubman B

A mate of mine makes stencils for clipping designs into horses mainly for shows/racing, sure he could diversify in to number plates.

No branding or distress to the animal required.

RichT4 · Champion

gaschef wrote:
The mind boggles however as where you attach a numberplate to a horse, on the other hand they are required to have lights during the hours of darkness (Stirrup Lamps)

I think a registration plate could easily be added to the rear/sides of the saddle - kind of like the race numbers on an MX bike.

Could maybe hang something across the horses chest, though would probably scare the horse every now & then and make it jump into a ditch. biggrin

I'd no idea idea about the requirement for stirrup lights, the Mrs used to ride early mornings and would be kitted out with an LED vest, LED hat band & a head torch, I'm not sure the horse wore anything though..

gaschef · Devon's Best

RichT4 wrote:
gaschef wrote:
The mind boggles however as where you attach a numberplate to a horse, on the other hand they are required to have lights during the hours of darkness (Stirrup Lamps)
I think a registration plate could easily be added to the rear/sides of the saddle - kind of like the race numbers on an MX bike.
Could maybe hang something across the horses chest, though would probably scare the horse every now & then and make it jump into a ditch.
I'd no idea idea about the requirement for stirrup lights, the Mrs used to ride early mornings and would be kitted out with an LED vest, LED hat band & a head torch, I'm not sure the horse wore anything though..

Rich no doubt your creative mind will find a way of knitting a couple of plastic drums and a spare lighting unit into a full DVLA approved lighting unit with indicators , dip and full beam number plate holding device and possibly one of those rotating flashing lights automatically operated when said mindless eating machine starts to spin, probably powered by the methane given off in great quantities as a result of digesting vast quantities of grass

peteBLUEttr · Novice

They definitely should have some sort of screening to see whether the horse is skittish, If it is then they shouldn't in my mind be allowed out onto byways, orpa, or metalled roads. These animals can kill people after all...

Albert · Clubman A

When i first started riding green lanes, I was quite offended by all the "moody" horse riders i met and imagined they were annoyed to have to share the lanes. Now a few years on i realise they are often just tense, rather than judgmental about bikes, as they don't know in advance that you are courteous and experienced in these situations. I guess a horse rider getting roosted by a "tosser on a crosser" once in their life is going to have them nervy every time they hear an engine coming, and im sure the horses pick up on the riders emotional state.

Maybe TRF should be offering a motorbike desensitization service to horse riders, to help them get used to our bikes in a relaxed atmosphere. You might even get to have a chat with those really distracting ones wink

-- Edited by Albert on Monday 15th of June 2015 06:55:26 PM

RichT4 · Champion

I believe that happened a few years ago, a lady approached the group and asked if riders could call by their stables so their new horse could start getting use to seeing & hearing motorcycles.