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Police seek cyclist who attacked horse and rider with brick

Police have a detailed description - do you know this man?

Police in Scotland are hunting for a cyclist who threw his bike and a brick at a horse and rider, causing the equestrian to fall off.

Police say the incident, amounts to an assault and are calling for witnesses.

The cyclist in Gorebridge, Midlothian, who was riding with a‘poodle-like’ dog, assaulted the rider and horse by throwing his bike at them, which caused the rider to fall.

The cyclist then hurled a brick at the rider before leaving.

The offender was described as being in his 50s, dressed in a yellow high-viz cycling jacket, black lycra leggings or shorts, and a white cycling helmet.

Anyone with any information, or who witnessed the incident close to the junction between Ladybrae and Barleyknowe Road, should contact Sergeant Michele Lindsay on 101 at Penicuik Police Station.

 

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40 comments

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fullupandslowingdown | 7 years ago
0 likes

Whilst thoroughly condemning the wanted miscreant's alleged criminal behaviour which is inexcusable in any circumstance, one general point raised does have validity. For some strange reason horses despite in all but very few cases not used for either A to B transportation, or utility such as carrying goods etc, do they enjoy this revered, protected status. If a cyclist was inexperienced and wobbled badly because another road user approached them at more than 5 mph, the cyclist would be blamed and called stupid.

What were they doing out on the road if they are so incompetent. So why are horses that are afraid of traffic allowed on the road when lets be honest, they are there solely for pleasure purposes, i.e. the rider is going out for a hack. A sizable number of cyclists cycle for utility rather than pleasure. Shouldn’t horse owners and riders accept greater responsibility for their own safety and apply common sense about using roads.

When I got lightly clipped by some idiot doing about 90mph on a dual carriage, the police didn’t hesitate to say that I shouldn’t have been cycling on dual carriage way. Never mind about what the idiot was doing in the inside lane, if I had wobbled outwards by just an inch, I would have been taken away in bits.

In another news story we hear how some MPs and taxi drivers think that cyclists cause congestion by cycling at 12 to 20 mph. Horses typically walk at about 4mph and need considerably more space to pass at a slow pace, not 30mph. And, if the horse rider wasn’t riding then they wouldn’t be doing the same journey in their car unlike a cyclist.

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Carton | 7 years ago
0 likes

I have a slight quibble with the headline. Someone attacking a horse with a brick could be any bog-standard despicable hothead. The newsworthy bit, IMHO, is someone attacking a horse with a bike. You have to be either the dullest knife in the drawer, completely out of your mind, or mightily worried for your safety, to throw your bike at anything while out riding. Particularly if you're wearing road shoes.

And finally, not to make light of a serious allegation, but good luck finding a middle-aged man wearing high-vis 10 miles from Edinburgh.

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FluffyKittenofT... | 7 years ago
2 likes

Dog-walker and brick-user attempts to damage bicycle by throwing it at horse.

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Jimmy Ray Will | 7 years ago
5 likes

Its an interesting questions isn't it... why would someone just throw a bike adn a brick at a horse and rider? 

What would it take to justify that in someone's mind as being reasoned and acceptable actions? 

I mean, your bike, what would it take to throw your bike at anything? 

The point is, there is no justification, its crazy, the action of a lunatic.

But... why is it that my first thought is... 'what happened to make this dude do this... it had to be something pretty significant'?

Why is it important to gain that perspective?

Is it because as a fellow cyclist, I don't want others to view cyclists as acting this way, so trying to justify it?

Is it because the term 'cyclist' is being used specifically because the writer is wanting to develop the association of cycling with psychopathic behaviour?

Maybe its just curiosity, and from the viewpoint that no sane person would act that way unless extremely provoked, are we looking at a nutter here, or a situation that is only being half reported? either way, itneresting!

 

 

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Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
2 likes

A cyclist with a dog isn't a cyclist. I'm not sure what they become, but they're not cyclists.

But still he had lycra and hi-viz. Such confusion. Such is the modern world.

 

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beezus fufoon replied to Yorkshire wallet | 7 years ago
2 likes

Yorkshire wallet wrote:

A cyclist with a dog isn't a cyclist. I'm not sure what they become, but they're not cyclists.

But still he had lycra and hi-viz. Such confusion. Such is the modern world.

 

doggist? dogger... erm...?

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Schweiz | 7 years ago
1 like

Love horses. Got a friend who got one and likes to ride it fast. When temp is really cold she has a JACKET for the horse!! Funny to see.

 

Going round horses leave 1.5meter space. Everyone happy. 

 

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Scenicroute79 | 7 years ago
0 likes

"cyclist" or just some nugget that happens own and ride a bike?

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Scenicroute79 | 7 years ago
0 likes

"cyclist" or just some nugget that happens own and ride a bike?

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brooksby replied to Scenicroute79 | 7 years ago
2 likes

Scenicroute79 wrote:

"cyclist" or just some nugget that happens own and ride a bike?

And there we go! Congratulations: you win the prize!

 

(disclaimer: you haven't won a prize)

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ken skuse | 7 years ago
1 like

So who makes the best Horse Shoes then, Shimano, Sidi, North Wave.  Mostly gravel and off road, bridlepaths etc. Are there any reviews?

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ken skuse | 7 years ago
1 like

So who makes the best Horse Shoes then, Shimano, Sidi, North Wave.  Mostly gravel and off road, bridlepaths etc. Are there any reviews?

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ConcordeCX replied to ken skuse | 7 years ago
1 like

ken skuse wrote:

So who makes the best Horse Shoes then, Shimano, Sidi, North Wave.  Mostly gravel and off road, bridlepaths etc. Are there any reviews?

http://myhorseforum.com/threads/razor-horseshoes.502118/

substitute a few words of subject-related vocabulary and all internet forums are the same.

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1961BikiE | 7 years ago
2 likes

If coming from behind equestrians I always announce my presence and pass as wide and slowly as possible. Never ever had anything but polite thanks & greetings up here in Stoke & environs. A couple of horses have been nervous in that situation but never overly out of control. Lesson to be learned there.

Treat others as you would like to be treated.

Story sounds rather bizarre. Bloke sounds unstable attacking a horse. He's lucky he got away in one piece.

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davel replied to 1961BikiE | 7 years ago
7 likes
1961BikiE wrote:

Bloke sounds unstable attacking a horse.

Mongo just pawn in game of life.

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pablo | 7 years ago
4 likes

Horse riders only get angry when you don't give them a bit of notice because a horse can 'spack out' in the same way you would if someone snuck up behind you.  Just be considerate to others especially as we are nearly silent and a horse weighs far more than you.

has to be more to this you don't generally start assaulting random people unless something happened.  That said violence is never the answer. 

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ken skuse | 7 years ago
5 likes

Horses must have tail lights.

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drosco | 7 years ago
9 likes

For me, most horse riders are fine, however some view cyclists like something thats fallen out of the back of the horse no matter how polite or considerate you are.

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handlebarcam replied to drosco | 7 years ago
2 likes

drosco wrote:

...however some view cyclists like something thats fallen out of the back of the horse...

I assume you don't mean they view them as something to scoop up and put somewhere they won't inconvenience others?

Other than what they leave behind, my experience with horsey-folk's attitude is, on the whole, better than with certain other groups of road users. Which is why I think it is more likely that the trigger for this incident was the interaction between the "poodle-like" dog and the horse. Sometimes the smallest dogs are the most aggressive, and the least often trained properly by their owners. So I could well believe it could have taken on the horse and got what it deserved, precipitating a reaction on the part of the "cyclist". After all, the first thing he threw at them was his bike before looking around for a brick. But, whatever the reality of the situation, I doubt we'll see this reported anywhere under the headline "Police seek dog-owner who attacked horse and rider with brick".

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Shades | 7 years ago
3 likes

The irony of these stories is that if it went "Police seek motorist who deliberately drove too close to a cyclist and hurled abuse at him", the internet would probably crash.  Not a brick, but had the remains of a take-away thrown at me once.

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ken skuse | 7 years ago
9 likes

Horses should be encouraged to wear Hi-Viz vests and helmets from now on.

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Housecathst | 7 years ago
13 likes

It's be interesting to hear how this situation occurred.

My general experience of horse riders in Hampshire is that even if you get of your bike and crawl passed them on your hands and knees and offer them your first born child it still is good enough for them and their horse still spacks out. 

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bigblue replied to Housecathst | 7 years ago
15 likes

Housecathst wrote:

My general experience of horse riders in Hampshire is that even if you get of your bike and crawl passed them on your hands and knees and offer them your first born child it still is good enough for them and their horse still spacks out. 

My experience of horse riders  in Hampshire is that if you pass them slowly they're quite grateful and offer a cheery "morning !" or thanks.

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medic_ollie replied to bigblue | 7 years ago
5 likes

bigblue wrote:

Housecathst wrote:

My general experience of horse riders in Hampshire is that even if you get of your bike and crawl passed them on your hands and knees and offer them your first born child it still is good enough for them and their horse still spacks out. 

My experience of horse riders  in Hampshire is that if you pass them slowly they're quite grateful and offer a cheery "morning !" or thanks.

 

I have to agree with you and say that that is my exact experience as well. Having lived in rural Suffolk and now Southampton but cycling plenty in the Hampshire countryside, I have never had a horse "spack out" as I passed them.

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burtthebike replied to medic_ollie | 7 years ago
4 likes

medic_ollie wrote:

I have to agree with you and say that that is my exact experience as well. Having lived in rural Suffolk and now Southampton but cycling plenty in the Hampshire countryside, I have never had a horse "spack out" as I passed them.

Mostly.  Most horses and most riders are fine, and appreciate warnings and being passed slowly and carefully. Most.

Out riding my bent trike one day when I come across a horse and rider approaching me from the front.   I approach slowly and carefully but the horse gets extremely agitated, while the rider, a young lady, swears long and hard at me, telling me to back up into the driveway I'd just passed.  I pointed out that I didn't have a reverse gear and if she can't control her horse, perhaps she shouldn't be on the road.  Cue more swearing.

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Mungecrundle replied to bigblue | 7 years ago
6 likes
bigblue wrote:

Housecathst wrote:

My general experience of horse riders in Hampshire is that even if you get of your bike and crawl passed them on your hands and knees and offer them your first born child it still is good enough for them and their horse still spacks out. 

My experience of horse riders  in Hampshire is that if you pass them slowly they're quite grateful and offer a cheery "morning !" or thanks.

As above. Without exception the horse riders around my part of rural Hertfordshire are grateful for some consideration and I'm pleased to see them out on the roads as rolling road blocks to slow down the cars. After all if you hit a cyclist it's bad luck but if you hit a horse then no-one will give you sympathy.

Hope they catch the dangerous individual involved in this assault.

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PapaSmurf replied to bigblue | 7 years ago
4 likes

bigblue]</p>

<p>[quote=Housecathst wrote:

My general experience of horse riders in Hampshire is that even if you get of your bike and crawl passed them on your hands and knees and offer them your first born child it still is good enough for them and their horse still spacks out. 

My experience of horse riders  in Hampshire is that if you pass them slowly they're quite grateful and offer a cheery "morning !" or thanks.

Same here, mutual respect for the great outdoors. 

Avatar
Dnnnnnn replied to PapaSmurf | 7 years ago
0 likes

PapaSmurf]</p>

<p>[quote=bigblue wrote:

Housecathst wrote:

My general experience of horse riders in Hampshire is that even if you get of your bike and crawl passed them on your hands and knees and offer them your first born child it still is good enough for them and their horse still spacks out. 

My experience of horse riders  in Hampshire is that if you pass them slowly they're quite grateful and offer a cheery "morning !" or thanks.

Same here, mutual respect for the great outdoors. 

Same. I usually whistle a merry tune as soon as I think I'll be within earshot, so there's least surprise.

Avatar
PapaSmurf replied to bigblue | 7 years ago
3 likes

bigblue]</p>

<p>[quote=Housecathst wrote:

My general experience of horse riders in Hampshire is that even if you get of your bike and crawl passed them on your hands and knees and offer them your first born child it still is good enough for them and their horse still spacks out. 

My experience of horse riders  in Hampshire is that if you pass them slowly they're quite grateful and offer a cheery "morning !" or thanks.

Same here, mutual respect for the great outdoors. 

Avatar
Bluebug replied to Housecathst | 7 years ago
1 like
Housecathst wrote:

It's be interesting to hear how this situation occurred.

My general experience of horse riders in Hampshire is that even if you get of your bike and crawl passed them on your hands and knees and offer them your first born child it still is good enough for them and their horse still spacks out. 

I live near 4 stables so frequently have to pass horses on the road. They have no problems with cyclists as long as you give them plenty of room when you over take. It's simply self preservation to. However if you are in a car it's tough luck you just have to wait, as the last two horses that have bolted were spooked by regular traffic not cyclists.

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