Cycling past horses

Page may contain affiliate links. Please see terms for details.
OP
OP
B

Binky

Senior Member
Yep, an increasing number of riders (mostly younger) have earbuds or earplugs in and seem unable to hear anything quieter than a car, so I take the comment in the opening post about cyclists not calling out before passing with a bucket of salt. Why wouldn't they call to an animal that can kill them by accident? Be serious.

Well I am merely reporting what the riders said to me, you can take it with whatever condiment you prefer but it happened and I suspect it happens elsewhere.
You also contradict yourself in saying that the riders wouldn't be able to hear due to earbuds yet then say why wouldn't they call out?

Think only one who needs to be serious is you.
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
On one occasion, years ago, a woman was a bit snotty with me. Of course that one occasion I remember very well. All the other occasions have merged together. Bloody snotty horse riders, think they own the road. ;)
I remember vividly the time when an idiot rider waved following cars to overtake as I approached in the opposite direction, requiring me to detour onto the verge abruptly and shout to the rider exactly what I thought the horse should do to her, but I don't blame all other riders for it.
 
OP
OP
B

Binky

Senior Member
The horse riders have the ear buds. The cyclists are probably calling but the horsists can't hear them over the banging toonz. No contradiction.

Yep I was referring to the horse riders so if they have said earbuds in listening to "banging toonz" why then would cyclists call out? Hence contradiction. No point calling out if the horse riders cant hear.

Seems you are determined to offer a counter argument to any post I make, not the first time.
 

mjr

Comfy armchair to one person & a plank to the next
Yep I was referring to the horse riders so if they have said earbuds in listening to "banging toonz" why then would cyclists call out? Hence contradiction. No point calling out if the horse riders cant hear.
Do you not call out until you can see that their ears are empty? That's leaving it too late IMO.

Seems you are determined to offer a counter argument to any post I make, not the first time.
I don't remember the other times, but if your other posts were as absurd, that's not surprising.
 
OP
OP
B

Binky

Senior Member
Do you not call out until you can see that their ears are empty? That's leaving it too late IMO.


I don't remember the other times, but if your other posts were as absurd, that's not surprising.

I call out every time, I don't know if riders have earbuds in or not. I think it's a sensible course of action.

Love to know which part of my original post or any other is absurd.
 

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales
Yep I was referring to the horse riders so if they have said earbuds in listening to "banging toonz" why then would cyclists call out? Hence contradiction. No point calling out if the horse riders cant hear.

Seems you are determined to offer a counter argument to any post I make, not the first time.

Whe, exactly, have you been able to tell somebody has earbuds in from the sort of distance you should be calling out to them?

I certainly never have.
 
OP
OP
B

Binky

Senior Member
Whe, exactly, have you been able to tell somebody has earbuds in from the sort of distance you should be calling out to them?

I certainly never have.

As I said above I can't tell if horse riders have earbuds in or not. The earbuds thing was brought up my mjr, not me. I was pointing out the contradiction in he/she said the horse riders have earbuds in so couldn't hear anyway so if that was case why then call out.

I call out every time, I don't know if riders have earbuds in or not. I think it's a sensible course of action.
 
Last edited:

Alex321

Guru
Location
South Wales
I call out every time, I don't know if riders have earbuds in or not. I think it's a sensible course of action.

Which is basically what mjr is saying most cyclists will be doing, but he is suggesting those horse riders with earbuds in may not hear this, and so (wrongly) think the cyclist hasn't called out.

Love to know which part of my original post or any other is absurd.

Your interpretations of what he wrote were basically ridiculous.
 
OP
OP
B

Binky

Senior Member
Which is basically what mjr is saying most cyclists will be doing, but he is suggesting those horse riders with earbuds in may not hear this, and so (wrongly) think the cyclist hasn't called out.



Your interpretations of what he wrote were basically ridiculous.

And now you are being offensive and insulting. Nice.

I don't know what's wrong with some on this forum but anything about cycling safety seems to badly trigger some.

I make a genuine request for cyclists to be careful when approaching horses and it descends into insults and accusations of being absurd and ridiculous.

If I misinterpretated any post maybe it's because said post was unclear, I certainly do NOT do it from a point of view to cause confrontation which is seems some definitely do.
 
Last edited:

Baldy

Veteran
Location
ALVA
When I was a teenager, a very long time ago. Two friends had car accident's with horses within a month of each other. In both incidents young lads and speed was a factor. One horse was killed out right the other had to be put down. Both riders ended up in hospital, both drivers and a passenger end up in hospital. both cars were total right off's. I never go anywhere near a horse, whether in a car, on a bike or in a truck until I'm sure horse and rider knows I'm there. Once I even stopped my truck, got out and lead the horse past. When those things start up they can do a hell of a lot of damage. Never stand behind one.
 

Psamathe

Senior Member
Yep, an increasing number of riders (mostly younger) have earbuds or earplugs in and seem unable to hear anything quieter than a car
Bit off-topic but I find joggers are the worst for use of headphones/earbuds and being oblivious to the world around them. My experience is France is worst where the Voie Verts can be used by a lot of joggers, most wearing ear buds and ablivious to bells, should hand claps from even a couple of feet behind them. In UK my riding doesn't seem to encounter many joggers so I've no appreciation is the same issues in UK.

Ian
 

Dogtrousers

Kilometre nibbler
I remember vividly the time when an idiot rider waved following cars to overtake as I approached in the opposite direction, requiring me to detour onto the verge abruptly and shout to the rider exactly what I thought the horse should do to her, but I don't blame all other riders for it.
Congratulations on your superior judgement. I would suggest that you get off your high horse, but that would open me to accusations of contriving a terrible joke, so I won't.
 
WHen I was a teenager I knew some people who had horses

one girl rode her horse on roads a lot and he was fine

except with Crosville busses - no-one knew why but he went crazy if he saw one of them
even other green busses were fine!!

another experience
I was stopped by a bench on the towpath of an elevated section of the canal and there was a field of horses down behind me

a woman was leading one of the horses out of the field - and teh gate was just by the slope to the canal
when they got close the horse just refused to go further

the woman called up to me and asked if I could take my hi-vis jacket off
apparently the horse panicked if he saw hi-vis


and - to the point

horses are weird
they are programmed by evolution and breeding to look for threats
and they are not all that clever

but the rider should know the horse and what they need

and cyclists are in a position to talk to them so you can check what is best

I have been told calling is better than a bell
but every rider seems to have different "wisdom that is always right"
(unlike cyclists - of course - what lube should I use anyway??)
 
Top Bottom