Cycling past horses

[Dogtrousers]

Some time ago I was out riding when we came across a lone horse in the road. I was rather alarmed by this wild beast. My riding companion at the time, who was female and no more than 5' tall, marched up to the monster and did something with it. Put it into a field, or a headlock or something. I'm not sure because I was hiding round the corner at the time, in fear for my life.

 

[Alex321]

And now you are being offensive and insulting. Nice.

No insult intended. You asked what was absurd about your posts, and I told you.

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.

Well I didn't find the posts unclear at all.

I honestly couldn't understand how you thought he was referring to the same person wearing earbuds as the one who should be calling out, and therefore accused him of contradicting himself.

 

[Binky]

No insult intended. You asked what was absurd about your posts, and I told you.


Well I didn't find the posts unclear at all.

I honestly couldn't understand how you thought he was referring to the same person wearing earbuds as the one who should be calling out, and therefore accused him of contradicting himself.

Nope you got that wrong. I knew he was referring to the horse rider wearing earbuds. My point was if said horse rider was wearing earbuds and listening to loud music which infers horse rider couldn't hear then why does he bother to call out. THAT was the contradiction I was referring to.

Anyway, as it happens I came across a rider this morning on my ride. No earphones in and I held back as he went onto bridleway on left of photo. This is a snapshot from video footage (I record rides as sick of close passes from motorists).

 

[Profpointy]

The list of things that can startle horses is considerably longer than the list of things that will not.

As I understand it, the list of things that can startle horses is a superset including the set of things that didn't startle horses on the previous 20 encounters.

My ex-Mrs' horse was mostly unflappable: motor vehicles, no-problem; barky dogs, no problem albeit a sign of some exciting fun; but a crisp packet or scary looking dock leaf and he could well get spooked

 

[figbat]

Horses can also alter their behaviour dependent on which other horses they are with, or if they are solo, or who is riding them. As herd animals their behaviour takes a lot of cues from reading other animals around them, which is why a nervous rider can set off a horse. And why a horse that was placid one day is manic the next.

I used to ride a horse that was the definition of ‘bombproof’….. until she saw a tractor.

And another that would refuse to pass a particular barn on our rides despite it being empty.