Cycling past horses

[Sharky]

Quite a horsey area round here, so used to passing horses carefully and when the riders are ready for me to pass.

Also cover up my flashing front light as soon as I see a horse and rider approaching.

 

[T4tomo]

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".

"Bike coming through big arse"
"Cheeky"
"I was talking to the horse"

 

[T4tomo]

Never understood why they aren't required to clean up their shite, particularly in villages.

Dont worry dear, some old chap from the "growing of improbably large vegetables for country shows" society nips out to pick it up sharpish

 

[Psamathe]

Do all the stuff others above have raised (calling out, etc.) I'll often chat with the rider and often interesting. eg I'm often on a recumbent and more than one horse rider has pointed out that the riding position is scarier for horses in that legs out front and moving around has similarities to a house rearing up and waving front legs around out in front (apparently not a "friendly" gesture).

On occasions to help the horse learn rider has asked me to stand-up so horse can appreciate what it was. On one occasion rider asked me to stand walk to horse and give it a food treat (she passed me the food treat when I got to the horse - not a problem except for a slobbery hand ... But happy to help horses acclimatise to strange things they encounter.

Hi-viz flashing around can be worse eg on upright I'll occasionally wear a hi-viz vest but never do it up and it flaps around which can apparently startle some horses. On recumbent flag can startle some horses.

Ian

 

[wafter]

I can see why these things should be glue



View: https://youtu.be/Q5qSHXvqXDg?si=63x6U_yqbZCslR-i&t=158

Not watched the video, but anything that tries to kill or maim Clarkson is alright in my book 👍

 

[Regular.Cyclist]

I came across two horses being ridden along a shared use path on my commute home on my folding bike a couple of weeks ago. From about 50 meters away I could see that the lead horse looked a little nervous on seeing me on a bike so I dismounted and moved well over to the side.

That horse eventually passed without any trouble. The second horse appeared even more uptight so I moved behind a wall but it still refused to pass. I consulted with the rider who asked if I would move, slowly, past her and the horse whilst she moved as far as she could to the other side and tried to distract her horse.

All went off without major incident but it reminded me of how nervous some horses can get about things like that.

 

[All uphill]

I like horses so long as there is at least one county between them and me.

 

[MontyVeda]

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.

unlike dog muck its benign and people can put it on their rose beds

 

[Webbo2]

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+.

It’s because only the peasants ride bikes.😉

 

[lazybloke]

Never understood why they aren't required to clean up their shite, particularly in villages

Probably because horse eggs are almost pleasant in comparison to dog eggs (to pick an example).

 

[Punkawallah]

Do all the stuff others above have raised (calling out, etc.) I'll often chat with the rider and often interesting. eg I'm often on a recumbent and more than one horse rider has pointed out that the riding position is scarier for horses in that legs out front and moving around has similarities to a house rearing up and waving front legs around out in front (apparently not a "friendly" gesture).

On occasions to help the horse learn rider has asked me to stand-up so horse can appreciate what it was. On one occasion rider asked me to stand walk to horse and give it a food treat (she passed me the food treat when I got to the horse - not a problem except for a slobbery hand ... But happy to help horses acclimatise to strange things they encounter.

Hi-viz flashing around can be worse eg on upright I'll occasionally wear a hi-viz vest but never do it up and it flaps around which can apparently startle some horses. On recumbent flag can startle some horses.

Ian

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

 

[Dogtrousers]

Horses are very common where I ride. Meeting head on I switch off my light if I have one on. From behind, as others have said, I just call "bike behind" and wait to be called past. If they don't call me I double check that it's OK then pass. 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.

 

[Andy in Germany]

We get a few on shared use routes. I ping early and keep going. Riders have said they appreciate the early ping.

The expectation here seems to be that a horse on a shared use path should be kept under control and not freak out when a bike/pedestrian/child approaches.

 

[markharry66]

We get a few pony and traps here in abbey wood but mostly donkeys there are the morons in the cars with bad attitudes.

 

[mjr]

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!

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.