Different Steed but Strangely Familiar Arguments

Just been reading a local news article about horses being killed on our roads.

I picked it up via Facebook and foolishly read the comments below it.
Quite a lot of them seemed strangely familiar:

“the amount of times you come across idiots riding them is increasing”
“..without any high visability clothing”
” the roads are far too busy dangerous these days for horses”
“Shouldn’t be on the roads”
“slowing the traffic down on busy roads”
“Should stay In the fields where they belong”
“Make the buggers pay road tax, and there should be mandatory insurance for them. Five deaths isn’t enough”

More at https://www.facebook.com/NewcastleChronicle/posts/825675884191686

I hate human beings sometimes 🙁

“Shouldn’t be on the roads”

They shouldn’t be, though.

Okay, I’ll bite. Why is that then?

bongohoohaa

They shouldn’t be, though.

Why?

They shouldn’t be, though.

You realise why we have roads, yes?

Oh, I can’t be bothered. Obvious troll is obvious.

They’re a half ton mode of transport that the rider is not in full control of.
It’s akin to me going for a spin in a Caterfield after four or five pints.

Okay, I’ll bite. Why is that then?

It’s the poop.

You realise why we have roads, yes?

No.

I grew up riding horses (but haven’t ridden in 15yrs) and whilst I find drivers are worse to me when I’m on a bike, it would still be pretty bad when you’re on a horse.
Feeling the animal tense under you when you hear a revving engine can be a horrible experience. Not knowing if it’s going to bolt, throw you off or just tense up then relax is made even more worse when you’re on an unfamiliar horse.

They shouldn’t be, though.

given the comprehensive bridlepath network we have in this country there’s no need 🙄

You realise why we have roads, yes?

Ooh ooh, I know this one!

.. It’s The Romans isn’t it ?

Cougar – Moderator

You realise why we have roads, yes?

This is a poor argument.
The reason why we had roads was for horse based transport.
The reason why we have roads is for wheeled transport.

Or are you going to try and tell me that the bypass that has just opened with two lanes in each direction, cat’s eyes and armco was specifically built with horses in mind?

Ooh ooh, I know this one!

.. It’s The Romans isn’t it ?

sbob – the majority of road users are in wheeled transportation, doesn’t mean that they are the only ones who have rights to use the roads

Well I know the A66 was invented for the Appleby Horse Fair. Can’t wait.

It’s akin to me going for a spin in a Caterfield after four or five pints.

REALLLLLLLLLY? Can you honestly not see the difference there?

It’s the poop.

I’d rather have the horse poop on the roads than on my path to work 🙂

given the comprehensive bridlepath network we have in this country there’s no need 🙄

Exactly. As a society we’ve built roads straight through (or sometimes on top of) existing bridleways and then complained when riders using the bridleways need to use the roads to link them up.

Well done us.

spawnofyorkshire – Member

sbob – the majority of road users are in wheeled transportation, doesn’t mean that they are the only ones who have rights to use the roads

I’m well aware that horses are legally allowed on the road, and treat them with care and caution when I encounter them (frequently, there are loads of horses around where I work).

One has to treat them with care and caution as by the admission of your previous post, they are dangerous and unpredictable.

Or are you going to try and tell me that the bypass that has just opened with two lanes in each direction, cat’s eyes and armco was specifically built with horses in mind?

So presumably you agree that bikes shouldn’t be on the road either?

njee20 – Member

REALLLLLLLLLY? Can you honestly not see the difference there?

Of course there are differences, a horse has internal organs and legs, a car has an engine and wheels.

My point remains though, in both circumstances you have a pilot who is not in full control of their vehicle.

If you want to take the alcohol out of the equation, then just change the car for one that can accelerate, brake and or change direction without the driver being able to stop it.

GrahamS – Member

So presumably you agree that bikes shouldn’t be on the road either?

I don’t think bikes should be on some roads, and the law agrees with me.

Personally I think it daft to mix it up with the 60/70mph traffic on the bypass when I can now use the pretty winding old route with little to no traffic, other than the occasional horse. 😆

One has to treat them with care and caution as by the admission of your previous post, they are dangerous and unpredictable

The horses I rode were only unpredictable when they were spooked, and they were spooked by idiot drivers
Getting a good connection with a horse is an amazing feeling, giving the tiniest command through your reigns and stirrups and the horse knowing what to do. Even the most docile and connected horse can be upset by a turd in a corsa driving too closely/quickly near it though.

Five deaths isn’t enough

Someone seriously wrote this?

spawnofyorkshire – Member

Getting a good connection with a horse is an amazing feeling, giving the tiniest command through your reigns and stirrups and the horse knowing what to do

I’d rather not hear the specifics of your perverse interspecies relationships, thank you!
😯 😆

Feeling the animal tense under you when you hear a revving engine

There was no info on this in the driving test (there needs to be and cycle info too actually people should just ride a bike).

I presume you should slow down for horse’s but then to pass you need to rev your engine to get past ?

I dont want to be spending all day on the other side of the road when over taking surely that is dangerous ?

I dont want to be spending all day on the other side of the road when over taking

That’s one **** big horse! 😆

They’re a half ton mode of transport that the rider is not in full control of.

vs this:

Driven by the usual halfwit?

I don’t see the issue TBH.

I’m well aware that horses other drivers are legally allowed on the road, and treat them with care and caution when I encounter them (frequently, there are loads of horses other drivers around where I work).

One has to treat them with care and caution as… they are dangerous and unpredictable.

FTFY.

There was no info on this in the driving test (there needs to be and cycle info too actually people should just ride a bike).

The Highway Code covers it, but knowledge of that doesn’t seem to be required these days sadly. If it doesn’t come up in the test questions then you are good to go.

4. Other road users (214 to 218)
214: Animals.
When passing animals, drive slowly. Give them plenty of room and be ready to stop. Do not scare animals by sounding your horn, revving your engine or accelerating rapidly once you have passed them. Look out for animals being led, driven or ridden on the road and take extra care. Keep your speed down at bends and on narrow country roads. If a road is blocked by a herd of animals, stop and switch off your engine until they have left the road. Watch out for animals on unfenced roads.

215: Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles.
Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. Look out for horse riders’ and horse drivers’ signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard.

From https://www.gov.uk/road-users-requiring-extra-care-204-to-225/other-road-users-214-to-218

Of course there are differences, a horse has internal organs and legs, a car has an engine and wheels.

My point remains though, in both circumstances you have a pilot who is not in full control of their vehicle.

If you want to take the alcohol out of the equation, then just change the car for one that can accelerate, brake and or change direction without the driver being able to stop it.

I could be wrong, but I’m guessing the common factor in horse related deaths is motor vehicles, not the horse rider. Ie I doubt many pedestrians are being killed. As with cyclists it’s the motorists doing the killing. So the “diminished responsbility” the horse riders have is getting them killed, not causing them to kill. In the the drunk driver example the odds are significantly higher than they will kill other people.

I dont want to be spending all day on the other side of the road when over taking surely that is dangerous ?

Only if you decide to overtake where it is dangerous!

There was no info on this in the driving test (there needs to be and cycle info too actually people should just ride a bike).

I presume you should slow down for horse’s but then to pass you need to rev your engine to get past ?

I dont want to be spending all day on the other side of the road when over taking surely that is dangerous ?

I’ll bite. If there isn’t enough room to slowly increase the revs to overtake the horse (giving it a wide berth) then there isn’t enough room to overtake. It’s sudden movements and unexpected noises that spook horses (and riders)

vs this

I’ve never seen an Audi throw its driver onto the bonnet of another car before bolting across fields/through fences finally concussing itself on a garage door.
YMMV, but then I do encounter a lot more horses than Audi Q7s.

Cougar – Moderator

FTFY.

Not really Cougar, I do give more consideration to horses than your average motorist.

You must have a higher opinion of the “average” motorist than I do.

njee20 – Member

I could be wrong, but I’m guessing the common factor in horse related deaths is motor vehicles, not the horse rider. Ie I doubt many pedestrians are being killed. As with cyclists it’s the motorists doing the killing. So the “diminished responsbility” the horse riders have is getting them killed, not causing them to kill. In the the drunk driver example the odds are significantly higher than they will kill other people.

My point was that it is not ok to be on the roads if you’re not in full control of your vehicle.
Are you actually opposing this view?

Cougar – Moderator

You must have a higher opinion of the “average” motorist than I do.

Somewhere between inbred horse and feral badger.

My point was that it is not ok to be on the roads if you’re not in full control of your vehicle.

But the horse is in full control of the vehicle (to wit, itself). The bloke on its back is just the navigator.

My point was that it is not ok to be on the roads if you’re not in full control of your vehicle.
Are you actually opposing this view?

I take issue with your opinion that riding a horse is akin to drink driving.

Should riding one handed also be outlawed?

Somewhere between inbred horse and feral badger.

Gotta say, I don’t fancy Tesco’s new range of sandwiches.