Coming back from a lovely hack on Josh today with Jon riding his bike. To get back we have to come down a steep hill, round a sharp bend, under a canal bridge and back round another sharp bend. Generally, Jon goes through first and I wait for the all clear - Josh is as good as gold, but people hoot on the way in and on the way through and while inside and its a bit un-nerving.

Well, tonight, we were just coming down the hill when I heard a speeding car flying through the bridge, leaning on the horn . This idiot flies through the other side, and doesn't slow down. I shouted at him to slow down and he told me to eff off!! He was going way way too fast, its a dangerous bridge at the best of times

Now, he was in an RAC van, and Jon has had a couple of experiences with him previously through the same bridge. I'm itching to report him, but it could make things awkward if I meet him again. I should point out that I did end up screaming at him "no, you eff off you w******" (very ladylike).

My point is that I could have been killed, and I'm savage, what would YOU do?

Too right Chloe! Hardly a good representative for the RAC, I reported a lorry driver once, company were very apologetic, and the driver was given a warning - he was driving up my backside for about 10 miles - until my Mum waved her old fashioned passport out the window, must have looked like a police pass! He had one of those signs on the back of his lorry "Am I driving well?!, or something like that. Go for it, someone else might not be so lucky!

I once reported a van driver who was up my backside one and who also followed me into my works car park just to scare me. I got out my pen took his reg. no down and his works no. off the van, boy did he go white! Don't know what happened but hopefully it made him think again

Tell them. They will want to know.

RAC Head Office:
1 Forest Road
Feltham
Middlesex
TW13 7RR

Tel: 020 8917 2500
Call charges Local rate
Operating hours Mon-Fri 9am - 5pm
Or email via their site: www.rac.co.uk

If you can get a vehicle registration number even better.

Report him. He's a lunatic who deserves to lose his job. These prats who think that if they blast their horn as they approach a bridge, and then go flying over in the middle of the road drive me mad. They do that outside our house and the number of near-accidents with horses is scary.

Get him off the road. He's an accident waiting to happen.

Thanks All - I really appreciate it - you have made my mind up.

Thanks Admin for that address. I shall call them tomorrow and follow it with a letter making a formal complaint. I will get his registration number too - he's clearly local which is why he thinks he can get away with driving like that.

Thats the reason I carry a whip - I've never used it on my horse, its self defence against these idiots.

A Whip - sooooo many uses ................................... :D

Sad to think there are still prats like that around.

Luckily that's never happened to me, but I dread to think how I,or Tango, my horse would react.

Good on you for making the decision to report this idiot. You never know, next time, it might be a young/inexperienced horse or rider.
Sounds like Josh is very well behaved though...know where I can get one like that?!! Tango is a pig!

Take care
Lisa

Thats what worried me - if I had been leading out my daughter on our other pony it could have turned out a lot different!

Josh is lovely - he's rock solid. He's given me all my confidence back, and more. He's a real gent. He comes to call, loves a fuss, my 4 year old sits on him, he's great in traffic and responds to voice commands. I feel really lucky to have found him. The only problem is his cribbing, in that it worries me, but it doesn't seem to affect him, and he loves living out here - its just one of those things. No such thing as the perfect horse eh! :)

Chloe

Report him. Idiots like that need to be taught a lesson. I know what it is like. You are lucky if you have a steady horse but if you are riding one that is not 100%, it can be a nightmare.

Let us know how you get on.

Lucy
xx

Thanks Lucy

I spoke to them this morning and they really need the reg number - which I will get as I have seen him before around here. I won't let this go now. However, to make sure they know I am taking this seriously I will be writing to them asking them to lodge the complaint regardless, as I am holding THEM responsible until we identify the driver. And, if I don't get his number in two weeks I shall be asking the police to help me identify him. The point is that I couldn't get his reg number, 1. I was on a horse and 2. he was driving too fast :rolleyes:.

Most of the people I meet on the roads are great, and I always raise my hand and thank them, even if they don't slow down that much....but this idiot deserves everything he gets. I'm lucky, someone else could easily have been killed if their horse had gone up :(

Hi CHloe
I wouldn't hesitate in reporting him either....and I'm glad to see you did. Whilst he's in that van, he's representing the company. ANd obviously driving like that is a total liability !! The A**e-wipe !!
I'm like a dog with a bone when anything like that happens to me...won't let it drop until it's resolved. But then again, I always compliment good service :)
Keep us informed of your developments please...hope he gets his cumuppance

Good for you Chloe. During my horsey years I knew two horses which were killed on the road, and one race horse which was very seriously injured and never raced again. The man's a fool - if he insists on behaving like one then he needs a short sharp shock before anything irreversible happens.

Good luck

Jo

I agree too, report him

I have only ridden on the road occasionally (a few years ago now too), and with considerate drivers, but that was bad enough, and i have read the most horrible accounts of horses and riders being killed by idiot drivers. It makes me so angry, all it takes is a little forethought and consideration. Supposing you had been a minute or two earlier? I dread to think what may have happened :(

Lindsay

non horsey person here--so had to ask, is cribbing where they sway back and forth in the stable, /?? or did you mean crabbing ?????

No Dizzy, Cribbing is when they basically chew/nibble of their stable door/ field posts etc and is normally combined with windsucking (gulping in air at the same time) Sawying about in the stable is weaving and again can be habitual or just associated with feed times.

I think Car drivers need more education as to the reasons why they should slow down as the majority seem to think they do it for the horses or riders benefit whereas they should do it for their own. God forbid they ever hit a horse but should the worse happen half a ton of horse going through their windscreen leaves the driver little chance of survival.

I always hack out with a long schooling whip even though my horse doesn't need it and I hold it out wide almost at a right angle. It's amazing the number of people who then slow down as they don't want the whip touching the car. Last resort we have been known to carry some gravel in our pockets and if a car gets a little too close very discreetly scatter some at the car. On the one occasion someone did get out we just replied "That proves you were going too fast if you are spraying gravel from the road over your car ;) Naughty I know but hey it worked!

Most important rule though is too always smile and thank people who do slow down as they hopefully will appreciate it and endevour to slow down again whenever they some accross horses out hacking.

Lisa is spot on - Josh cribs but windsucks as opposed to chews the wood. He hooks his front teeth over the fence and gulps down air. Its clearly a habit, but its also now thought to be down to gastric ulcers and the fact the horses need to gulp down air to aid digestion. He does it periodically during the day and after his feed.

He is kept at grass and has the most natural lifestyle (its thought that the majority of cribbing is caused by boredom in the stable), with Josh I think its a bit of both. He now gets indigestion tablets after his feed and that seems to help a bit, but the rest I take with a pinch of salt. I don't put a cribbing collar on him because I think that would just make him stressed. He seems happy enough and certainly not thin! ;)

I am just about to move him to one of the side paddocks with his new friend...... :) I am getting a golden oldie via Equine Market Watch, from one of the horse sales (Southall or similar). One of the poor ones who have served their owners all their lives, and then find themselves at auction facing the meat man. I'll keep you all posted ;)

Chloe my TB has gastric ulcers thought to be a result of the high energy foods given when he was on a racing yard. He now has a probiotic supplement (horsey equiv of Yakult) with every feed which does wonders controlling the ulcers and helps digestion. Your lucky if your boy lives out as that is the best thing for them having the ability to constantly forage. Fortunately even though Massey has the ulcers he doesn't crib or windsuck. I know there is also another excellant supplement which my yard owners has been using on her pony to control cribbing and wind sucking. Beleive it or not is has almost stopped her pony. Will get the name and post it for you.

Hi Lisa

Thats really interesting...I've heard of Settlex for Horses, but I understand it is expensive (although worth it if it works). Would be interesting to know if this is whats helped your YO's pony. I have also been told that Bicarb of Soda can work well. I have upped the fibre levels of his feed and cut down on the cereals, which seems to have helped a bit...but even though he lives out, and will live out all winter, he still does it... it does worry me...so any suggestions you have send em through for me please!!

Keep us posted on the golden oldie :)

Lindsay

firstly....REPORT HIM....DO NOT HESITATE.
secondly...equine gastric ulcers...there is an article on it in current Horse & rider magazine!

Have done - am waiting now to get his reg number.

Will pick it up tomorrow - should make interesting reading.

Chloe, what breed is Josh?

He really sounds perfect.

Sadly, I'm thinking of selling my Irish TB, he's lovely, but not the horse for me. I've ridden for most of my life, but had a nasty fall on the road (Idiot driver..need I say more?) and lost my confidence.
As I said, Tango is great, but being a TB, he can be quite flighty. He's excellent when hubby is on his back, I think he knows that he's more confident, but he plays up when I'm on him. It's a real shame because I love the horse to bits.
I was thinking of a cobby type to help me get my confidence back. Any thoughts?

Take care
Lisa

OOps!!

Meant to say, good on you for deciding to report the idiot. He deserves everything he gets.

Lisa

Hi

Josh is an Irish Draught x TB. He is gorgeous. I stayed away from true cobby types as I have found they can be too smart for their own good, and can be very strong... I wanted an ID as they are docile by nature and he is perfect. He is grey, 16.2hh, Middleweight and he is so well mannered and genuine. I can read him like a book, and he is solid as a rock. For example, we have had a couple of mini-spooks, but only on his first couple of times out when pheasants have run out of the bushes right under his nose, but he only jumps...I know he won't take off because its not in his nature. He feels responsible for me as much as I feel responsible for him.

He has his quirks, he hates flies, cribs, and likes to knock water buckets over when I am washing him. He would have a heart attack if I used a whip because he has never been hit with one and sulks if you tell him off, and he likes a little buck when he first canters if he's feeling especially fresh...but I only ride him out twice a week and he hasn't done it with me.

I would definitely go for another ID or ID X in future... I have completely fallen in love with their laid back character...although I do have my eye on a very nice liver chestnut of "mixed" breeding thats up for sale (has some hanovarian <sp> in I think) ;) [email carla@hodgkins.com]email me[/email] and I'll send you pics if you like :)

Grey, my favourite.

mine too - have always ridden calm greys ;)

Hi Chloe,

Thanks..Have e.mailed you :)

Have also sent a couple of pics of my horses....hope thats ok. :)

Take care,
Thanks again
Lisa

Dont be fooled by the breed.....I have known several ID crosses that were sheer hell!!!