ridecamp@endurance.net: traffic/conditioning alongside roads

traffic/conditioning alongside roads

Flemmer, Linda (LFlemmer@CHKD.com)
Thu, 13 Feb 1997 13:20:08 -0500

We condition alongside roads for very short lengths. We always ride
against traffic to be able to see oncoming vehicles. We also ride on
the OUTSIDE of CURVES so that we are most visible to traffic coming from
either direction. Here's why:

Our older horse was almost hit by a speeding semi on a 1 lane dirt
country road several years ago because the driver didn't see us around
the curve. (No where for us to get off, either way - deep ditches on
either side of the road. This was a 1/4 mile section we had to ride to
get to a trail.) The driver hit air brakes, Major shied sideways and
then side passed furiously to keep from getting run over. They ended up
with the bumper kissing the rider's foot and Major wide eyed and
snorting. (The driver was a little wide-eyed, too.)

Later that afternoon, 2 dirtbikes almost ran Major over racing around a
curve on a "horses only" trail. He saved himself & rider by leaping
over another ditch into some brush & thorns. This horse still trusts
us, but HE has decided that the outside of turns is a good place to be.
He also prefers to go down the middle of the road (?maybe so he can shy
away from traffic in either direction without having to jump sideways
over a ditch?) It's hard to get him to stay on a side.

Several thousand ride & training miles later, the horse still refuses to
ride with traffic, only facing it! He swings to the outside of curves,
and slow down and collects himself when he sees traffic approaching. He
seems to be more sensible than some of the riders have been!

Linda Flemmer
Blue Wolf Ranch
Chesapeake, VA
soon to be from Hazelton, WV
Linda Flemmer

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