HORSES!!!!! Argghhhhhhhh!!!!!!!
Discussion
Right.....I really want to make this point because it's really beginning to pee me off especially now that the roads are wet.
We are always told to respect horses and make sure we give them a wide berth while overtaking and also slow down to a nice slow speed. I do just this and as I ride a Buell with a race silencer, I usually pull my clutch in too so I don't scare the horse but in my opinion this kind of respect has to go two ways.
Riders simply let their horses crap all over the road and to those who've never been over any horse crap, it's not very nice and it's even worse in the wet.
It's a little like pouring diesel or oil on the road and then riding over it at 30-40mph. Around a corner, you try staying on your bike.....very dangerous and potentially lethal.
My little plan is to not bother with the slow down courtesy until horse owners actually do something about their horse crap on the road. Dog owners have to pick it up so why shouldn't horse owners. Another solution would be to get them to try cornering over some horse crap at 40mph and see what they think of the hedgerows or maybe a broken leg.
I know this sounds a little crass but I don't think they realise the danger they are putting bikers in so I'd like to hear comments from both bikers and horse riders about my views, their views and of course my little plan.
We are always told to respect horses and make sure we give them a wide berth while overtaking and also slow down to a nice slow speed. I do just this and as I ride a Buell with a race silencer, I usually pull my clutch in too so I don't scare the horse but in my opinion this kind of respect has to go two ways.
Riders simply let their horses crap all over the road and to those who've never been over any horse crap, it's not very nice and it's even worse in the wet.
It's a little like pouring diesel or oil on the road and then riding over it at 30-40mph. Around a corner, you try staying on your bike.....very dangerous and potentially lethal.
My little plan is to not bother with the slow down courtesy until horse owners actually do something about their horse crap on the road. Dog owners have to pick it up so why shouldn't horse owners. Another solution would be to get them to try cornering over some horse crap at 40mph and see what they think of the hedgerows or maybe a broken leg.
I know this sounds a little crass but I don't think they realise the danger they are putting bikers in so I'd like to hear comments from both bikers and horse riders about my views, their views and of course my little plan.
Or you come round a corner to find the stupid thicko's riding 3 abreast 
.I just had to let the kwack pop and fart which made one dobbin do a wheelie .
Remember your bike has an engine therefor you are an evil speeding hooligan , and the horse rider is always right ....
might be worth airing your views on horse and hound ???? 
.I just had to let the kwack pop and fart which made one dobbin do a wheelie . Remember your bike has an engine therefor you are an evil speeding hooligan , and the horse rider is always right ....
might be worth airing your views on horse and hound ???? nrennie said:
We are always told to respect horses and make sure we give them a wide berth while overtaking and also slow down to a nice slow speed. I do just this and as I ride a Buell with a race silencer, I usually pull my clutch in too so I don't scare the horse but in my opinion this kind of respect has to go two ways.
Riders simply let their horses crap all over the road and to those who've never been over any horse crap, it's not very nice and it's even worse in the wet.
My little plan is to not bother with the slow down courtesy until horse owners actually do something about their horse crap on the road.
Firstly, thank you loads for being so considerate when passing horses - I really appreciate it as mine is scared of anything on 2 wheels be it motor or mountain bikes, and will quite happily spin bum out into the road just at hearing a 'noise' behind her, and take off at a gallop for a few metres until I can get hold of her again. I always look behind me whilst on the road, and warn/stop bikes coming towards and behind me.
Also, riding in Epping Forest - a great place for bikes, especially at the weekend, I can honestly say that I've never had any problems with bikers when I've asked for their assistance on the road - I wish I could say the same for car/van/transit drivers - again - I'm really appreciative of this, and always thank people - even if it's just a nod as I've got my hands full trying to control the horse.
I understand that their poo must be a nuisance to you - and it would be impossible for me to get off the horse and clear it away whilst on a road. I always ride in single file on roads, and on a grass verge where possible. Consequently, any poo that she does ends up in the gutter at the side of the road or on the verge, rather than in the riding line of a bike. You should easily be able to avoid where mine poos - unless she's been scared by something and stuck her bum out - and literally poo'd herself. (then I apologise but it's not the norm and there were reasons for it)
It's much easier to clear up dog poo - you're on foot anyway, and can scoop it up into an inside-out carrier - unfortunatley, horse poo's not quite that easy.
DennisTheMenace said:
Or you come round a corner to find the stupid thicko's riding 3 abreast
Remember your bike has an engine therefor you are an evil speeding hooligan , and the horse rider is always right ....
Just to clarify a couple of points - yes some people are stupid, and ride three abreast - please don't tarnish us all in that tone. I NEVER do - I always ride in single file.
You aren't an evil speeding hooligan at all - I love bikes and their speed element (we've had 2 ourselves), however I also own a very skittish and spooky horse - and being on a 'dobbin doing a wheelie' (whilst the description made me lol) isn't really a laughing matter...
We have 13 horses and my daughter regularly goes out...... and legaly horses have right of way.
So I'm very grateful to those who do slow down to help not frighten them......
However the road is for all and whilst I'm not into getting them to clear up poo... I definatelly think sometimes a little two way consideration is needed, like bikers there are a few that are not considerate and give the rest a bad name.
BTW they hate my Duke with it Termis... and the Ultima wasn't appreciated much either
So I'm very grateful to those who do slow down to help not frighten them......
However the road is for all and whilst I'm not into getting them to clear up poo... I definatelly think sometimes a little two way consideration is needed, like bikers there are a few that are not considerate and give the rest a bad name.
BTW they hate my Duke with it Termis... and the Ultima wasn't appreciated much either
Tango2 said:
It's much easier to clear up dog poo - you're on foot anyway, and can scoop it up into an inside-out carrier - unfortunatley, horse poo's not quite that easy.
My heart felt response to this having spent many a long hour cleaning baked in horse shit out of my radiator with a tooth brush so the bloody cooling system works properly again and my bike doesn't smell like a horses arse is that you should ride the
thing in a bloody field if you can't be arsed to clean up after the thing then. Nothing personal you understand
Mark
>> Edited by dern on Monday 9th August 22:46
Tango2 said:
It's much easier to clear up dog poo - you're on foot anyway, and can scoop it up into an inside-out carrier - unfortunatley, horse poo's not quite that easy.
This is probably the single issue that alienate bikers from horse riders. What some might see as sheer arrogance. That it is perfectly ok to leave behind a potential deathtrap in the road because it’s too much bother to clean up.
In this day and age and given that riding is a leisure activity. Responsible riders could make an effort by retracing their route after the ride. Or nominating somebody to follow behind on the road sections.
I invited a mate from Sweden over in May and it scared him to death to come round a corner and find a nice covering of horse excrement on his chosen line. When the back end of his bike stepped out he was lucky that it gripped again when he regained the contact with tarmac. This was a lesson to all of us out that day.
I have lived in a very dobbin infected area in the past and always clutched in when faced with these muck spreading monsters. I don't want that big stupid thing with no brakes kicking me!
It would be interesting to know what the BiB think about the Dobbin excrement being liberally spread across there path when riding a BMW trying to chase some drug dealers!!!!
I have lived in a very dobbin infected area in the past and always clutched in when faced with these muck spreading monsters. I don't want that big stupid thing with no brakes kicking me!
It would be interesting to know what the BiB think about the Dobbin excrement being liberally spread across there path when riding a BMW trying to chase some drug dealers!!!!
Tango2 said:
It's much easier to clear up dog poo - you're on foot anyway, and can scoop it up into an inside-out carrier - unfortunatley, horse poo's not quite that easy.
This means that there's an untapped market for Dobbie nappies or arse bags (Like a nose bag but the other end) for those on road riding occasions 
to protect the bikers!!Incorrigible said:We just have the moaning sanctimonious gas bags on top of the horses.
They have big bags that attach to a horses arse in other countries I've no idea why we don't follow suit
The vast majority of bike riders slow down for horses either out of consideration or self-preservation. We live in a horsey area and the vast majority of horse riders allow their horses to shit on the road without doing anything about it. We actively change our behaviour in order to safe guard horse riders safety while they don't give a toss and reciprocate resulting in potentially dangerous situations on country roads.
Where the hell is the give and take in that?
Mark
H&H anyone? 
No, please don't...
Whilst horseshit is lethal for a biker its damn unpleasant for a car driver too. You don't always have access to a pressure washer to get the pernicious stuff off the underside of the car and, all too often, there is no way to avoid it...after all there may be cars coming the other way and so on.
I have a lasting horrid memory of scraping the stuff off of the underside of the Chimaera *by hand* ugh!
I too am very careful around horses and give them a wide berth and slow down to barely any more speed than they are doing - and I'm glad to say its appreciated by the vast majority of riders who wave thank you and often call out "Swap You!"
.
But the poo is a different matter.
I'm all for horse nappies for use on public roads...
I don't care if riders don't like the idea. This is a matter of public safety.
No, please don't...
Whilst horseshit is lethal for a biker its damn unpleasant for a car driver too. You don't always have access to a pressure washer to get the pernicious stuff off the underside of the car and, all too often, there is no way to avoid it...after all there may be cars coming the other way and so on.
I have a lasting horrid memory of scraping the stuff off of the underside of the Chimaera *by hand* ugh!
I too am very careful around horses and give them a wide berth and slow down to barely any more speed than they are doing - and I'm glad to say its appreciated by the vast majority of riders who wave thank you and often call out "Swap You!"
. But the poo is a different matter.
I'm all for horse nappies for use on public roads...
I don't care if riders don't like the idea. This is a matter of public safety.
Don said:
I'm all for horse nappies for use on public roads...
I don't care if riders don't like the idea. This is a matter of public safety.
The roads are there for all of us to use for leisure and business... considerate use is the key in this discussion I think.
Regards,
Mark
>> Edited by dern on Tuesday 10th August 11:36
DustyC said:
Do horses pay road tax?
No - but like myself, I'm sure the vast majority have insurance (everyone at my yard does), and I pay a fee to ride in Epping Forest. Unfortunately I have about 600m of road between the forest and the stables and that's the ony bit of road I ride on, other than having to cross them.
The only horse 'nappies' that I've ever seen have been on horse drawn carriages - like the ones in Central Park, NY, or Dublin, where the poo is caught in a section of the harness, rather than in something wrapped around it's bum!
I remember an incident some years ago, teenage girl taking two horses across the A60 from the inside of a long sweeping bend, walking between the heads of the horses, motorcyclist rounded the corner, struck one horse, was killed, as was horse. I arrived on the scene just after the impact. Not a pretty sight.
At the inquest, if I remember the reports, the girl should have taken the horses one at a time.
Never mind, eh?
At the inquest, if I remember the reports, the girl should have taken the horses one at a time.
Never mind, eh?
Despite the horse shit problem, I always slow down for them and, if the horse looks a bit panicky, I stop.
Have seen one rider fall off, lose helmet and fracture skull so I'll tolerate the shit and continue to slow down.
Horses have minds of their own and, if they decide to panic (or shit), then there's not much you can do about it.
Have seen one rider fall off, lose helmet and fracture skull so I'll tolerate the shit and continue to slow down.
Horses have minds of their own and, if they decide to panic (or shit), then there's not much you can do about it.
Tango2 said:
Do horses pay road tax?
No - but like myself, I'm sure the vast majority have insurance (everyone at my yard does), and I pay a fee to ride in Epping Forest. Unfortunately I have about 600m of road between the forest and the stables and that's the ony bit of road I ride on, other than having to cross them.
The only horse 'nappies' that I've ever seen have been on horse drawn carriages - like the ones in Central Park, NY, or Dublin, where the poo is caught in a section of the harness, rather than in something wrapped around it's bum!
Sounds like a business opportunity to me...
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