Cycling past horses

[Binky]

It was on the news recently about how so many incidents are occurring with cars and other motor vehicles going too close and too fast past horses.

Yesterday on my spin around the roads here I came up behind a couple of horse riders so I did what I always do which was hang back and call out to alert them and ask if OK to pass.
They waved me past and as I slowly went alongside they were very grateful which was nice but more pertinently they said how rare it was for a cyclist to do so which was very disappointing to hear. Apparently majority of cyclists they've encountered don't slow down or let the riders know they are passing which startles them and horses.

I'm bringing this up just a reminder to always let horse riders aware of your presence and be prepared to wait if necessary. This should be blindingly obvious but it seems it's not.

 

[Dorset Boy]

From about 50 m away I call out 'Bike Behind' and as I get closer check it is safe to pass and that the horse isn't a nut job. It's not difficult. Horses aparently feel more comfortable if they hear a human voice from the cyclist.

You still get the odd snooty entitled horse rider though, usually female and 50+.

 

[Binky]

You still get the odd snooty entitled horse rider though, usually female and 50+.

Yep this is also true, I've literally gone out of my way to be helpful but for some it's never enough. However, my concern is mainly not upsetting the horse rather than the rider.

 

[Gwylan]

From about 50 m away I call out 'Bike Behind' and as I get closer check it is safe to pass and that the horse isn't a nut job. It's not difficult. Horses aparently feel more comfortable if they hear a human voice from the cyclist.

You still get the odd snooty entitled horse rider though, usually female and 50+.

with a good seat!

 

[fossyant]

From about 50 m away I call out 'Bike Behind' and as I get closer check it is safe to pass and that the horse isn't a nut job. It's not difficult. Horses aparently feel more comfortable if they hear a human voice from the cyclist.

You still get the odd snooty entitled horse rider though, usually female and 50+.

Same here. Only once had an issue and it was an older woman. She saw me approaching from behind from some distance, I rode on the opposite lane and just as I was passing, she swerved the horse across the road and onto grass on the right. She got an earful. This was a super quiet wide lane in North Wales

 

[Gwylan]

Like most of us horses don't like surprises.

Just a gentle, slow, calm, wide pass at a modest speed.

I reserve the referee's whistle for dozy dog walkers, twerps with headphones on and biddy ramblers.
They are the worst lost in prattling and quite put out that anyone else should think of using their walk route.

 

[BrumJim]

I always talk to the horse rather than the rider, and trained my son to give a cheery "hello" on seeing a horse. And yes, goes on the principal that the horse is going to be very scared of something that is quiet, fast and low (like a predator), but not something with a human voice (horse is not going to be out on the road if it is scared of humans).

Just makes sense. Startling a horse maybe bad for the rider, but not going to be great for the cyclist either.

 

[BrumJim]

Like most of us horses don't like surprises.

Just a gentle, slow, calm, wide pass at a modest speed.

I reserve the referee's whistle for dozy dog walkers, twerps with headphones on and biddy ramblers.
They are the worst lost in prattling and quite put out that anyone else should think of using their walk route.

Other than ducks and geese?

 

[Binky]

Like most of us horses don't like surprises.

Just a gentle, slow, calm, wide pass at a modest speed.

I reserve the referee's whistle for dozy dog walkers, twerps with headphones on and biddy ramblers.
They are the worst lost in prattling and quite put out that anyone else should think of using their walk route.

Yes a wide slow calm pass is needed but before that you should alert rider as they may not be aware of you until you go past. Some horses are very skittery and can be startled by the slightest movement which does beg the question of why a horse like that is on the road but it happens.

 

[figbat]

It is most important that the horse knows you are there, and not suddenly. Often they notice you long before the rider does, but it’s still a good idea to alert the rider with a call or bell (from a distance).

I’ve had a situation where I slowly approached a horse from behind, I can see that the horse knew I was there but called out anyway. The rider remained oblivious until I was alongside when they said “oh, you startled me!” Your horse had been telling you for some time I was there!

 

[Dorset Boy]

I'm always tempted to tell the rider that they have dropped something a while back that they should pick up - namely their horse has dumped its load on the road!
Never understood why they aren't required to clean up their shite, particularly in villages.

 

[Dogtrousers]

Like most of us horses don't like surprises.

Not even on their birthday?

 

[Ian H]

Speaking is important, because the horse will recognise a human voice and likely be less alarmed by a strange silent thing on wheels.

My favourite conversation was in Shropshire, passing a huge, hairy-hoofed thing with a rider perched high up. I called good morning, she (the rider) replied in kind. "That's a big one", I said as I passed. Her reply was, "Only one horse-power, but one hell of a chassis".

 

[Punkawallah]

I always talk to the horse rather than the rider, and trained my son to give a cheery "hello" on seeing a horse. And yes, goes on the principal that the horse is going to be very scared of something that is quiet, fast and low (like a predator), but not something with a human voice (horse is not going to be out on the road if it is scared of humans).

Just makes sense. Startling a horse maybe bad for the rider, but not going to be great for the cyclist either.

Half a ton of skitters is always enough to give me pause.

 

[wiggydiggy]

I can see why these things should be glue



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