And they say cycling is dangerous...

[ScotiaLass]

My 18yr old is an experienced horse rider, having ridden and competed since she was 8.

Today she was hacking out and part of the ride was along a quiet country road.
Her horse suddenly spooked and took off at a gallop. She couldn't turn it around in the road as there was oncoming traffic, which thankfully saw there was a problem and stopped for her.
She finally managed to turn the horse and get it into a local pub car park where it calmed down.
She dismounted and walked it back to the yard, which was nearby.

She's fine...my nerves are shot!

 

[Mo1959]

My 18yr old is an experienced horse rider, having ridden and competed since she was 8.

Today she was hacking out and part of the ride was along a quiet country road.
Her horse suddenly spooked and took off at a gallop. She couldn't turn it around in the road as there was oncoming traffic, which thankfully saw there was a problem and stopped for her.
She finally managed to turn the horse and get it into a local pub car park where it calmed down.
She dismounted and walked it back to the yard, which was nearby.

She's fine...my nerves are shot!

Did a bit in my younger days when I was working........couldn't afford it now.....an expensive hobby! I remember mine being spooked by a low flying jet and taking off with me. Fortunately not on the road. Glad she is ok and the drivers were sensible.

 

[MikeW-71]

Scary! Horses can be a bit unpredictable, I'm always careful around them.

I had some horse riding lessons when I was very young, first on a pony called Hanibal. He was lovely, got on well with him. Then they put me on a white one called Polo. He threw me off

 

[buggi]

phew. Glad she's ok. My mate rides. Something as simple as an open gate, that is normally closed, can make a horse nervous. At least bikes don't get spooked!

 

[vernon]

At least bikes don't get spooked!

They get spoked though....

 

[swee'pea99]

Back in the old days it was quite a popular way for the wealthy to pop off.

 

[ScotiaLass]

I do worry about her riding....they say it's one of the most dangerous hobbies!
Funny, I never worried about my other daughter riding huge 18hh Army horses...should have seen the mess of her during riding school training though - I was sending tubes of Arnica every other week!

 

[ScotiaLass]

Me and my girl at her pass off from riding school

 

[MikeW-71]

Splendid!

 

[MikeG]

My wife and I were out cycling the other day, and we went down a particular hill even more slowly than she normally goes down hills. I made some comment about wobbling off if we go any slower...........and it turned out to be the hill where a horse threw her off after bolting across a field, some 8 or 10 years ago. I vividly remember picking the gravel out of her forehead with tweezers. Worst of all was that she had to go and catch the horse, then ride it 3 or 4 miles back to the yard with blood running constantly into her eyes and no skin on her hands.

I've never understood how something so big could be so frightened of anything and everything. I mean, a plastic bag flapping in the wind is enough to set off a stampede. I'm really cautious when approaching horse-and-rider when out on my bike. Bright colours and movement seem to cause issues for them, but then they do have a brain the size of a pea. Well, you know what I mean......

Glad this turned out OK, SL.

 

[young Ed]

have ridden horses for many years and plan to work them in the future so always liked them and been good with them and as i wear a very bright coloured jersey i have on several occasions dismounted the bike given rider and horse warning whilst approaching and walked past and a slowish pace and then mounted again and kept pedalling
Cheers Ed

 

[Pale Rider]

, but then they do have a brain the size of a pea..

I recall a mounted copper in the Met saying he had to tell the horse to stop as it approached a bus, otherwise it would walk into the back of it.

 

[Saluki]

Horses are a bit like that. I had one who had no problems with passing lorries, busses etc but would go mental if he saw a toffee wrapper blowing along the road. have been carted more times than I care to remember.

Glad your daughter is ok

 

[ScotiaLass]

They can be very skittish for sure!
I always give them a slow wide pass, whether in the car or cycling

 

[Accy cyclist]

Last Sunday i saw a cyclist who went up behind some nervy horses(and their dismounted riders) in the road. He kept ringing his bell as if to get out of the way! He was in kicking distance as well!