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I've been out on my Govt approved daily exercise, although being indoors on my own for 22-23hrs the rest of the time is hard I'm finding. Met a few of the regulars I tend to see on my pre-covid riding days, and we've stopped to chat (at a safe 2m you'll all be pleased to hear) One is a horse rider and she was also having guilt trips about riding, and mentioned the same things as above (horses get bored, fat and lazy when not ridden) and another fella with 5 standard poodles who had got it in the neck for driving to a closed NT car park with them in the back of his car by another dog walker doing the same thing but with only one dog...His dilemma was should he go out 5 times with one dog or one time with 5...
I think most folk are looking at the restrictions and trying their best to comply, as others have mentioned, they're designed with the idea that you won't get 100% compliance, but most folk will tend to do what they think is best, I think largely, most folk are managing.
horses get bored, fat and lazy when not ridden
Not a dig but so what, people get dead when they catch cv19. Who cares if some nag needs to go on a diet in a few months, if it’s in a paddock that’s enough, if it’s solely in a stall then fair enough a short walk. I thought the natural state of a horse was not having someone on its back.
Not a dig but so what, people get dead when they catch cv19
Same as selfish bastard dog owners, walking their pooches numerous times a day. Walk it in your garden, you enormous bellend. And just don't feed it as much.
Horses being exercised two at a time around here, second horse on a lead rope. Seems a wise way to reduce excursions, and keep ‘em ticking over. There are health risks to horses, beyond them just getting a bit porky, if left to do nothing for weeks (months?).
Of course, if horse owners have the land to exercise their horses away from the public, that’s best, but don’t assume they all do.
i could have seen her face when the ID badge and scrubs came out!!
I doubt the scrubs bit happened did it?
And horses do need exercising, they get easily bored and they also tend not to actually do a lot unless they’re being ridden.
Thats patent bollocks, how do all the ones not saddle broken survive?
Horses being exercised two at a time around here, second horse on a lead rope
Same around here.
Not a dig but so what, people get dead when they catch cv19. Who cares if some nag needs to go on a diet in a few months
Because animals, like humans, develop all sorts of related ailments if they're not looked after properly. Leaving a horse in a field, even if you're still doing the basics of feeding it, is basically animal cruelty, it needs looking after like you'd look after any other pet.
It's just a bit bigger, more unwieldy and more expensive than most pets!
If a horse needs some special care that needs to be done, fair enough (seems a bit Darwinian that they can’t survive without input from another species). My cat seems to manage just fine with me supplying food and being left to it’s own devices 😉
Going riding on it seems more like a selfish excuse to just keep doing what one fancies doing. YMMV
To be honest I'm mainly not driving to local spots because I know they will be rammed by other people doing the same, not because I think there is anything inherently wrong with driving a short distance to then get some exercise.
I'm fairly lucky, within about 2 minutes from my door I can get to some really quiet green* spaces with some easy trails that at least put some dirt under my tyres.
If it was the other way round and everything nearby was rammed and I had to drive 10 minutes to get some "isolation" then I wouldn't have an issue with it. It makes no logical sense to me to see it otherwise.
*Its a remediated landfill site so "green" is a stretch, but there are some trees
seems a bit Darwinian that they can’t survive without input from another species
Uh-huh...
I've met a few horse riders while out riding over the last week, we have exchanged friendly hellos - and I assumed they were making the same kind of risk assessment as me before I ventured out for my Government-sanctioned exercise.
Thats patent bollocks, how do all the ones not saddle broken survive?
seems a bit Darwinian that they can’t survive without input from another species
Generally by living wild on somewhere like Dartmoor and being able to run/wander arroudn and eat fresh grass, rather than in a small 1/4 acre electric fenced pen that get's muddy and needs topping up with hay every day.
You wouldn't put a dog in a crate for 3 months and blame it for dying would you?
How about the average modern human, could you survive in your house for the next 3 months without outside assistance? I'm including things like gas water electricity and shopping as outside assistance, you're only allowed to eat and drink the contents of your garden.
(seems a bit Darwinian that they can’t survive without input from another species).
I think it's mostly that they're often too tall to get into supermarkets, plus banks are reluctant to allow them to open accounts, hence a lack of bank cards etc, which can be problematic - handling cash with a hoof is hard, I'm told. But hey, don't let the real world interfere with your prejudices 🙂
There’s been a couple of posts on my local FB page from horsey types justifying driving their horses to go for a ride.
Apparently the horses get bored in the field and need a proper ride….hmmmm, nothing at all to do with you wanting to ride out Mrs Horsey lady?
Sorry if this post came across as anti-horse/rider, wasn't meant to be, only that round me they really don't need to be driving anywhere. Loads of bridleways and roads are dead-as.
I think it’s mostly that they’re often too tall to get into supermarkets, plus banks are reluctant to allow them to open accounts, hence a lack of bank cards etc, which can be problematic – handling cash with a hoof is hard, I’m told.
Oh so thaaat explains the long faces!
Wild and feral horses would clock up around 30 miles a day, a horse in a 12' by 12' stable or an acre paddock doesn't have the opportunity to do that and needs exercised. Have you ever seen a horse come out of box rest? It feels like you are water skiing on land and the captain has baled. You can't ride if there are other horses in the field, it often ends in carnage or pornographic, and if space is limited it damages an essential food source. If you don't ride frequently the horse can develop behavioral issues, psychological problems akin to rocking in a corner staring blankly at wall. Physiologically, as with humans there are diseases associated with inactivity such as laminitis; where the pedal bone rotates an can protrude through the sole of the foot, even just short periods can have life threatening results.
What's the worst that can happen to your bike if it's in the shed for a couple of months? Mine is in the kitchen whilst I service and upgrade, I'd love to go out on it but there's more people on the local trails (it's only a short drive from town) I've started running instead, I'm knackered by the time I get to the end of my drive never mind sight of the trails.
As I quite clearly said aspects which are vital to the care of a horse fine, no issues but nobody has explained why taking dobbin for a slow walk down a BP with someone sat on it for a few is vital for its welfare and the same results can’t be achieved by exercising it in a paddock in a time of pandemic. More so given the skittiness of the things.
Feel free to educate me with some facts rather than the usual Horsey folks over reacting.
As Faerie has attempted - if it could end up as pornographic wouldn’t the horses prefer that to a slow trot?
wife rides occasionally, her granny had horses, rode to hounds etc - I prefer donkeys myself- much more intelligent creatures
Wild and feral horses would clock up around 30 miles a day, a horse in a 12′ by 12′ stable or an acre paddock doesn’t have the opportunity to do that and needs exercised. Have you ever seen a horse come out of box rest? It feels like you are water skiing on land and the captain has baled. You can’t ride if there are other horses in the field, it often ends in carnage or pornographic, and if space is limited it damages an essential food source. If you don’t ride frequently the horse can develop behavioral issues, psychological problems akin to rocking in a corner staring blankly at wall. Physiologically, as with humans there are diseases associated with inactivity such as laminitis; where the pedal bone rotates an can protrude through the sole of the foot, even just short periods can have life threatening results.
So from this am I to presume that being a horsist and a vegan (moral-reasons) are mutually exclusive?
there is zero overlap between any kind of pet owner (horsists included) and those people interested in animal welfare.So from this am I to presume that being a horsist and a vegan (moral-reasons) are mutually exclusive?
there is zero overlap between any kind of pet owner (horsists included) and those people interested in animal welfare.
You must be fun at parties.
😀
not the sort of animal parties you enjoy, no. 😂You must be fun at parties.
I’m so conflicted.
Having been well and soundly flayed for my belief that i should drive a short distance to somewhere quiet to walk the dog. I’ve had a stern word with myself, convinced myself that as 99.9% of people think I’m a dick I must be wrong, and I should just walk from the house instead
I took the dog out just now.
I had to stand aside on the path 15-20 times to avoid coming within 2m of people. Some of them seemed to make no attempt to stand aside themselves, which is odd because being one of the 99.9% that are doing the right thing I thought they’d know what to do. I did my best though, even though it’s harder with a dog on a lead trying to stand against a wall and keep the dog out of their way too. I hope no-one else touched the walls of the alleyways I have to walk down to get to the open space before me…..
And finally, stepping into a bramble patch to avoid a runner coming towards me I have now put a neat series of bramble gashes on my shin. Still, I was doing the right thing, so if they get infected I’m sure the health service will welcome me with open arms.
I feel so smug for not being a dick and driving a short distance even if it would have avoided all those hazards.
I see you're issue, the last couple of evenings I've been out on the road bike for local loops on quiet roads.
I've stuck to rural road riding, even though we have tow paths and offroad sustrans cycle routes galore on our doorstep as I know they'll be chock full of walkers/runners/dog walkers all waiting to cough on me.
The roads have been pretty quiet, with minimal traffic and when I'm rolling past the more remote woodland bits I've seen the odd single car, parked up with dogwalkers nearby clearly going/returing from a walk.
And TBH I'd say they're managing to better observe the separation/distancing request than most people plodding around the local towns and parks that I've seen.
I think the real thing here is that some people just want rigid rules, and to feel secure if they abide by them (and also use them to "shame" others to some extent) while others actually understand the principle of "social separation" and are perhaps thinking a bit more laterally about how best to achieve it given total shut-in existence isn't desirable or actually necessary.
If you have,/em> to drive keep it minimal, I can't foresee any circumstances requiring me to travel more than about 5 miles in any direction (I live in a busy SE town though).
But 40 miles to Shred Gnarr? That is some epic missing of the point. There is no form of cycling/running you could do from your doorstep?
As it is my car has sat idle on the drive for the last 10 days or so and I'm just fine with that. I have the means to get out for socially separated, outdoor or indoor exercise and don't have a dog, horse or velociraptor's welfare to worry about.
Everyone has different personal circumstances to deal with...
Seems clear to me that if you need exercise, your dog needs to be walked, your kids need to play and run around then your horse would also need exercise and stimulation.
Seems clear to me that if you need exercise, your dog needs to be walked, your kids need to play and run around then your horse would also need exercise and stimulation.
Seems clear to me riding a horse somewhere is not essential travel. Stick it in a field it'll be fine.
Seems clear to me riding a horse somewhere is not essential travel. Stick it in a field it’ll be fine.
You've literally not read ANY of the previous posts explaining why it's not fine, have you?
I think most folk are looking at the restrictions and trying their best to comply, as others have mentioned, they’re designed with the idea that you won’t get 100% compliance, but most folk will tend to do what they think is best, I think largely, most folk are managing.
Yes and I think that's where the current advice/legislation is targeted. As has been quoted previously it's Rule #1. Not that we can agree what that means!
I've seen very few horses being ridden lately. One or two on Middlewood Way and no I don't need to drive there and neither do the horse riders. I know some owners and liveries are walking theirs.
Oh I went for a run yesterday for a change, for the first time in years. This morning I'm fully aware of why I prefer the bike.
You’ve literally not read ANY of the previous posts explaining why it’s not fine, have you?
You've literally not understood that the way we debate on here is by simply shouting our opinions into a void and not listening or reacting to anyone else's except to use them to illustrate why it's different from ours and therefore they are a dick/racist/muppet.
Those of you moaning about horses, please consider that if you are continuing to ride your bike outside then others will probably be making similar judgements about you.
I don't think the comparison between bike and horse stands up to scrutiny though.
One is an inanimate object that the human can choose to use for exercise from their door, they control how it behaves and fundamentally can minimise the risks, by riding trails for exercise way below competence level.
Horses it seems from the above are kept in situations as pets that make them fundamentally unhappy/unhealthy and can't exist in their fields without exercise-intervention onto either roads or bridalways. Riding doesn't physical exercise to the human - mental well being is benefited I'm sure though. Most importantly where an innocuous interaction with other humans, cars, dogs, flies etc can (however well trained) can cause a flighty reaction and potential serious accident.
Just feels like horse riding isn't very compatible with the current guidance, but I appreciate that owners maybe don't have any choice if they want to keep their horse healthy?
If they're not creating any significant increase in the risk of spreading the virus vs. cycling, running, whatever - then what does it matter?
Being a dick about other people's hobbies just isn't helpful.
Can't believe weve gone to arguing about Horses, roll on next weeks installment
I'm not being a dick and definitely not anti-horse. I enjoy seeing people having pleasure out riding. You suggested judgements made by people about horse riders and MTBers would be similar.
I was a bit surprised that posters who seem to know about these things suggested that horses aren't happy/healthy to be left alone in their fields and therefore riding at this time is compulsory requirement.
My point was not about viral spread, but is that I'd suggest there's far more risk to the NHS workload per 1000 horse riders than 1000 experienced MTB riders on v easy rides. Accidents will still happen in both groups though - just the MTBers can reduce risks - the horse riders can't as it's a living thing.
@mehr - - eh?
MTBers can reduce risks – the horse riders can’t
They definitely can. Not jumping would be an example. Avoiding traffic would be another.
I’d suggest there’s far more risk to the NHS workload per 1000 horse riders than 1000 experienced MTB riders on v easy rides.
Is that with the horse riders on v easy rides too?
Is that with the horse riders on v easy rides too?
As I understand it, the problem is that if you fall from a horse, it's usually quite a long way down. In the same way that it's more dangerous to high-side a motorcycle where you're flicked into the air, then come slamming down into the ground with added G-force than it is to low-side (crash in a corner) even at a higher speed (depends on other stuff like street furniture, but on a race track, high-siding usually ends up worse. Same principle with horses, you tend to fall a long way.
there is zero overlap between any kind of pet owner (horsists included) and those people interested in animal welfare.
Apart from those pet owners who eat meat, or feed their pets meat, or wear leather, or eat jelly, you mean?
MTBers can reduce risks – the horse riders can’t
They definitely can. Not jumping would be an example. Avoiding traffic would be another.
Tbf, jumping traffic is fairly dangerous no matter how good your bike skills, so definitely don't try it now!
As I understand it, the problem is that if you fall from a horse, it’s usually quite a long way down.
But usually at lower speed than falling off a bike.
All the horse riders where I live are still out and about on their horses in same way I am out and about on my bike or walking around with the dogs.
Doesn't seem to be causing a problem and no risk of spreading anything as nobody is getting close to each other and nobody is touching anything.
I do live in a small village though and can't say I have noticed anything different - if feels just like it has for the last 20 years.
You’ve literally not read ANY of the previous posts explaining why it’s not fine, have you?
I have, I just know its bollocks, the thorough bred race horses I used to look after on the farm I worked on hadnt been ridden in years and they were very healthy as were the welsh cobs on our friends stud, only two or three were broken to ride, they were fine.
Now you maybe correct that horses kept cooped up in stables need exercising but that only means riding out in public if you havent the space to look after the poor nags in the first place.
Well a little bit of good news - as there is no form of exercise permitted here, I've been stuck on the turbo for two weeks, with another two - at least - to go. Rubbish.
The govt allowed self employed workers to commute to their place of work on Tuesday so with the form printed off and a receipt from my last NI payment I can at least do the 20k round trip a few times a week. Add some fat knobbies and a back pack full of laptop and books, it'll be worthwhile exercise.
I haven’t seen any horses being exercised on my usual run or bikes routes, but my dogs are making a concerted effort to wolf down any tasty horse shit that’s been left behind. Nom nom.
Seems clear to me riding a horse somewhere is not essential travel. Stick it in a field it’ll be fine.
I'm sure I've seen exercising a horse by riding on a road / bridleway as being non essential, with the advice being use the stable's facilities.
"As I understand it, the problem is that if you fall from a horse, it’s usually quite a long way down."
Yes but you the chance of falling from a horse is very low when you're not doing anything exciting (like jumping) and there are few idiot motorists about. Rather like cycling.
I have, I just know its bollocks
I wish we'd have known that at the start, it would have saved an awful lot of discussion.