Photoshoot Day:

LIGHTS, CAMERA...ACTION:

Well, off we go, into the unknown.

What a funny day I have just had... I said to John, if it wasn't for HORSE magazine coming I'd have left the horses grazing because they're bonkers when it's windy, and I don't ride them for self-preservation reasons, and just come indoors and practice on my drums. But I had agreed to do it, I had worked myself up about it, I had brushed the boys to within an inch of their lives and cleaned their tack (that's serious commitment to the cause), I was ready, the boys were ready and wind wasn't getting in our way today!

fully prepared, even my tack was clean!

 

Lemmy was looking out for the Photographer.

Always be courteous to drivers, you might find you need them on your side the next time and they'd be more inclined to be helpful if they like you.

When the Editor of a magazine calls me and asks me to do something, that request is met with trepidation, because it usually means my photo being taken after a swift blow-dry and me talking about denim and it all ends up being a bit cheesy.  This of course is work related.


...but when the Editor of a HORSE magazine called me, I got quite beside myself with excitement, then that wore off, and I got nervous, and then I just had to get the job done.


I have been blogging about road safety for what seems like forever, and finally someone is taking me seriously.


A few horsey-types have been working with HORSE magazine on a safety feature, which is great, because I have learned so much in the process, and that's part of what life's about isn't it?

Jayne, she lives on a yacht, mends horse rugs an boat sails from the back of her van (yes, van), she skates, cycles, writes, takes photos, welds....and she's taking her yacht around the British Isles single handed...just for fun...she is a real-life action woman!

So at 10am this windy, oh so windy, sunny morning, they send Jayne the photographer, her brief? to capture me riding my boys around the village, and hopefully get some great shots to support the story of safety on the roads....on a windy day when I didn't feel safe at all.

please look after me Henry, you're so gorgeous, and we'll get lots of pictures of your bum!

Now like most horses, mine are extra nutty in the wind, did I mention it was windy already? So the morning was going to be mental, I asked all my neighbours to drive down the lane past me to get the job done so the crazy equines could be turned back out again...phew! luckily a few 'real' villagers happened past too, so it's not all fake!

You can see what I mean about Henry's arse, it's just incredibly gorgeous!

First I rode Henry - head to toe in Hi-Viz of course, Jayne took lots of photos from behind as suggested by me because Henry has an incredible arse.

I just never get tired of looking at that bottom....

 We went down the lane and back, Henry was more puzzled by the stranger following him about and crouching in the lane with a huge camera to pay much attention to the weather thankfully!

This is me riding Henry and demonstrating how brilliant he is on the roads with cyclists: our model is Sam Carter riding his new bike.

Riding out of a shady part of the lane you can clearly see my hi-viz, wear as much as you can manage, it's not cool to be without it.

Up next Tom, I had readied the willing drivers, and they performed brilliantly - thank you to all those involved: Lisa & Lee with Sam on his new bike, John of course, and Jeffrey in his old banger. I had instructed Jayne that Toms neck and head were his best features, although he has a great bottom too!

Tom and I are ready

I'll add pictures of Tom being ridden once i get some from Jayne, John was busy being a model at the time. but i'll keep this one here, it's a nice picture.

John is the model on the bike, he also has a nice arse!

It was a little surreal, looking briefly at some of her pictures I appear to be laughing the whole time, but it was like I'd been involved in some sort of prank.  But the message will be a clear one of safety.

 Tom and I meeting Lisa 'boob-tube' Carter.

Me, wondering what I got myself into!

Riders: please make every effort you can to be safe on the roads, start by having the right equipment, and that means:  good boots, phone, safe hat, and as much Hi-viz as you can manage - you can never have too much. 

easy to use ands wipe clean of mud, these velcro'd leg bandages are actually designed for runners.  dont just stick to tack shops to buy this stuff.  John sourced most of my best hi-viz from cycling and running sites.

It takes me a good 20 minutes to tack up because I kit out with Hi-viz:  me and my horses wear it.  

Here John has customised my hi-viz neck strap with a simple flashing thing he bought from Amazon, designed for runners.

Even if you are off-road riding, the chances of walkers with dogs, farmers in tractors, or even hunters seeing you, mean they can alter their trajectory to avoid you if necessary - you don't want to sneak up on a camouflaged man hiding in a hedge with a big gun!  Let everyone know you're there. 

Hi-viz is so important, dont leave home without it.

And if like me, you part company with your steed out riding, he'll gallop home and everyone will be able to spot him, and you running after him with his bridle in your hand (how did that happen?) and grass in your bra...or is that just me?

A small posse, notice how even in a shady part of the lane, when you can't even see Henry, you can see my Hi-viz.

Speaking to Jayne I learn that she's a cyclist too, so was able to learn some top tips, and she from me:

I have learned today that large groups of cyclists have difficulty stopping, because of course when they do, if the one directly behind doesn't notice the signal to slow down or stop, they crash into each other and fall like dominos.  Of course that is tricky, but I would suggest to those clubs cycling around little villages, that there's every likelihood there'll be horses about: ride further apart. ride slower, and have a look-out in the front.  So when a horse is sighted, a timely and perfectly choreographed slow-down and possible stoppage can be achieved.  thank you.

be safe out there people.

I really think we can all learn so much from each other if only we took the time to stop and listen.

Tom has a large 'swing' to his stride...did I tell you about the time I fell asleep...rocked by his movement?

Village News:

Last year an accident happened between some horses and a cyclist going way too fast down a narrow bridleway in our village.  He could not possibly see what was coming around the corner, but still he raced on. 

All effort was made by the riders to attract his attention, but he was wearing headphones, listening to music so couldn't hear the cries of warning from the riders and he was just too busy going as fast as he could. 

I wonder what the appeal is for these people: going too fast to possibly enjoy the surrounding countryside, wearing headphones so they can't hear the birds.....they might just as well be going around the M25 in my view, and we'd all be a lot safer.

Please read the email to the Parish Council below, where you'll learn that the horse thankfully only suffered some cuts and the bike was completely ruined - that could so easily have been the cyclist himself:

the lesson here is: SLOW DOWN

August Update:

I appealed to my Local Council and Parish Council to put 'Caution Horse' signs around our village, and this is the response:

The September Edition has my story, thank you Claire Robinson.

I wanted to thank my Local Villagers for being so supportive out on the roads, always being kind and courteous and slowing down for me - thank you Woodham Walter.

The September Update:

The September issue of HORSE magazine:

While of course like everything and everyone in this world, there are wonderful things and people and not such nice ones.  The cycle club referenced in the letter above is lucky enough to have as it's member a person who at the very least buys and reads HORSE magazine (which suggests to me a person of extreme good taste and judgement!) and possibly has their own horse and rides on the roads, and one might guess comes across groups of fast moving cyclists too? This club then has access to 'horse' related know-how, enough information to build a strategy for meeting horses whilst out cycling - and this is great, perhaps they could help spread that good work to other clubs? 


For those of us not so lucky, we have to try the best we can to 'survive' out there on the roads!


But there is some good news! Most people are wonderful, and you only have to ask, and you'll get help: Bob Brayshaw: Inspector at West Yorkshire Police, has been appointed to the newly-created role of ACPO Liaison to British Cycling, and his daughter is horsey too! He is also trying to get cycling associations involved in this safety issue by spreading the word, thank you Bob.


My next posting will be my story in the Parish News, this is the text:

Living in a lovely village like Woodham Walter you can understand why we get so many visitors, why wouldn’t they?  It’s beautiful old country charm, farming and fruit growing history and a wonderful sense of community. 

A recent phenomenon has rocked this calm, our once sublime scene from Agatha Christie’s ‘St. Mary Mead’:  where horseriders wander through the village amongst villagers on foot, walking dogs or cycling is no longer the reality.  The scene wouldn’t be real now without large groups of speedy club cyclists charging through en-masse without a care for anything or anyone around them, least of all safety where horses are concerned. 

They ride in large groups, 4 or 5 abreast sometimes, at speed, with an attitude not conducive to road safety or care and courtesy to fellow man...or horse in my experience.  But just because the effects on a horse are so obvious and large, it must also be terrifying for walkers and children too?

I have brought up 2 young horses in Woodham Walter, and riding on the roads of course is necessary since we don’t live in a National Park.  The local people are brilliant when I meet them, my 2 wouldn’t be as confident on the roads if it weren’t for the support of the local traffic: slowing down and stopping as necessary, and always being kind and thoughtful, – thank you all who’ve met me riding out and about.   

We must remember horses are thinking and feeling creatures, they aren’t able to ignore things that terrify them.  Please give a horse room to move and think. 

Cyclists and vehicles: ‘please pass slow and wide’

When cyclists/traffic come upon a horse; top tips:

• Slow down, and stop if necessary
• Remember the horse has blind spots directly behind and in front, he might not see you coming
• Remember bicycles are essentially silent; make some noise to let him know you’re there: ring a bell or say ‘good morning’ before you get within 10 metres.
• Don’t approach an agitated horse, if he is scared, please wait for direction from the rider; she will make very clear the safest thing to do, because she is on board. Horses need an average of seven seconds to adapt and make a decision that could affect their safety, be prepared to wait; it’s the safe thing to do for everyone. Horses need safety as a priority every bone in their body is built for flight so they don’t get eaten.
• be courteous to the rider, especially if she’s riding a scared horse – she will not need the extra stress of abuse from impatient cyclists, think of others and remember any tactics she is employing are there for your safety too, horses can react in surprising ways to perceived foe, horses are living thinking creatures.
• Give the horse a chance to accept your presence
• Once a horse has accepted the threat level is acceptable he will clam, but no one can force a living creature to behave contrary to their natural instincts where there is a perceived threat to their own personal safety
• Pass very wide and slowly and keep a constant eye on the horse’s reaction, and stop if necessary – try to imagine what it would feel like if a lorry squeezed past your bike, narrowly missing you handlebars, and you have nowhere to go? Scary eh? And bikes don’t get scared.
• Please don’t insist you stay in a group, when passing a horse do so in single file, and break up large groups into small pockets, giving the horse some respite from the stress of prolonged perceived danger.
• Passing the horse please stay quiet and ride slow, and the horse should be fine

I have written a blog horseandcycle.blogspot.com where there are some useful guidelines to promote safety.

Sustrans: National Cycle Network whose connecting web of routes WW is part of span the country, have clear guidelines to cyclists on how they should behave, and a local club: Essex Roads Cycling Club even have more detailed advice to their members written in response to my campaign of safety.  Horse magazine July and August editions cover this story too and it appears from the response to my initial letter this is a countrywide problem so let’s all slow down and be nice to each other.  Most people are wonderful and will always want to do the right thing. 

Thank you, Shelley.