Rude drivers
There’s nothing more frustrating for a rider than a driver who doesn’t understand that your horse isn’t just another car. But inconsiderate drivers are, unfortunately, a given out hacking. “When we ride out we’re wearing big fluorescent police jackets,” says Ian, “but people still take the polish off the side of your boot by driving too quickly past your horses or too close.” While it’s mighty tempting to leap out of your saddle and begin a tirade at the driver who beeped his horn, losing your cool will only upset your horse. Your mood and reactions translate down the reins, which means that when you get in a flap, you’ll tense up – and so will your horse. To prevent this, focus on keeping your own reactions cool and steady when the traffic gets frustrating. “if the opportunity presents itself, then we’ll speak to the drivers and tell them what they should take into account when riding past horses. But we do it in the right manner,” says Ian. It’s not your job to educate rude drivers like Ian and Kim, but it’s worth taking note of an inconsiderate driver’s registration number so you can report the incident to the police after your ride. If you have a stretch of road that attracts speedy drivers, then you could even get in touch with your local police branch and have a conversation about arranging a mobile speed camera visit to the area that’s causing problems for horse riders.