Out hacking today. Went through the “quarry” round the back of the village. A large grass field with 3 or so tracks round it that people use. Then a track up through some trees to the back of a boarding school. The track is quite narrow at one point and there were an elderly couple on it with a dog. I realise my horse is big, the track is narrow and this may be intimidating to some people. So I had him right off the track, under the trees and I was leaning on his neck to do this. As I always do I said hello and smilied. The couple barely took a side step but never mind.
Gentleman “oh this is the horse who makes the mess”. I thought he meant he was making a mess at that time, looked round and he wasn’t. So I said “oh not us my horse hasn’t made a mess”. “Well the horses are making a real mess”. “I’m really sorry but unfortunately yes they sometimes do”. At this point the chap waved a plastic bag in my horses face. He spooked slightly but only by taking a couple of hurried paces forward. But he kept walking and we are still under the trees in an attempt to make space.
“anyway horses should not be down here”. By this time I was passed so I turned over my shoulder “actually, this is a public right of way. I have checked and we are allowed to ride down here”. This is not a lie. I specifically looked in to it and we are just are allowed to ride down there as they are to walk their dog down there. So he sort of grumbled on then “we’ll make sure you clear up after your horse” so I said a cheery “luckily my horse has not made a mess” and carried on.
I could understand if I was charging about. I was walking. Or if the track was being trashed by horses feet. The track was dry and not churned up, not a spec of mud. There were no poos on the track either. I’m not entirely sure what shaking plastic bag in my horses face was meant to do. Thankfully he just carried on going.
I think the lady and the dog live at the bottom of the farm road. If it was her then she refuses to move to the side of the road or get her dog out of the middle of the road when you are trying to drive past. So I have to wait behind her or climb up a verge to get past. However I still smile and thank her for “moving”.
I’m not sure why some people are so anti people riding their horses in places they are perfectly entitled too.
Gentleman “oh this is the horse who makes the mess”. I thought he meant he was making a mess at that time, looked round and he wasn’t. So I said “oh not us my horse hasn’t made a mess”. “Well the horses are making a real mess”. “I’m really sorry but unfortunately yes they sometimes do”. At this point the chap waved a plastic bag in my horses face. He spooked slightly but only by taking a couple of hurried paces forward. But he kept walking and we are still under the trees in an attempt to make space.
“anyway horses should not be down here”. By this time I was passed so I turned over my shoulder “actually, this is a public right of way. I have checked and we are allowed to ride down here”. This is not a lie. I specifically looked in to it and we are just are allowed to ride down there as they are to walk their dog down there. So he sort of grumbled on then “we’ll make sure you clear up after your horse” so I said a cheery “luckily my horse has not made a mess” and carried on.
I could understand if I was charging about. I was walking. Or if the track was being trashed by horses feet. The track was dry and not churned up, not a spec of mud. There were no poos on the track either. I’m not entirely sure what shaking plastic bag in my horses face was meant to do. Thankfully he just carried on going.
I think the lady and the dog live at the bottom of the farm road. If it was her then she refuses to move to the side of the road or get her dog out of the middle of the road when you are trying to drive past. So I have to wait behind her or climb up a verge to get past. However I still smile and thank her for “moving”.
I’m not sure why some people are so anti people riding their horses in places they are perfectly entitled too.