Horse riders

[rugby bloke]

I come across quite a few horses on my rides and it is almost always a positive interaction. Act appropriately, take it steady, chuck in a cheery greeting and everything is fine. I find we tend to be united in our disdain for the idiot motorist fringe and their antics in trying to get past us.

Once had a close pass by a car pulling a horse box ... which I found quite ironic ...

 

[PhilDawson8270]

I come across quite a few horses on my rides and it is almost always a positive interaction. Act appropriately, take it steady, chuck in a cheery greeting and everything is fine. I find we tend to be united in our disdain for the idiot motorist fringe and their antics in trying to get past us.

Once had a close pass by a car pulling a horse box ... which I found quite ironic ...

I used to carry race motorcycles in a horse box. Unless of course the horse had it's head sticking out, it could have been used by other stuff.

 

[Deleted member 35268]

I approached a horse very slowly last week, we were going in opposite directions on either side of the road, plenty of space - however, when I stopped pedalling and coasted, my chainring made that noisy clicking noise that we all love, but the horsey did not like it at all. I should have kept pedalling in hind sight.

 

[Bollo]

Once had a close pass by a car pulling a horse box ... which I found quite ironic ...

Top trumps! A few years ago I was nearly offed in the New Forest by a trailer-full of mountain bikes being towed by one of the larger bike-hire firms in the area.

 

[rugby bloke]

I used to carry race motorcycles in a horse box. Unless of course the horse had it's head sticking out, it could have been used by other stuff.

Good point, it was going too bl00dy quick to tell !!

 

[Dogtrousers]

Generally good. I always slow right down and announce my presence, and if I'm illuminated (normally only happens in winter/fog) I switch my front light off or point it vertically down. I normally get a thank you from the rider. I did get politely told off once for announcing "bike coming past" a bit late, which was fair enough as I had left it a bit last minute.com.

Actually that's "generally good, while they are riding their horses". When they are towing them around in horse boxes they have a tendency to forget that they are towing, so pull in too soon after overtaking and leave very little room. (As other posters have noted).

IMO horses are bonkers and I am quite afraid of them.

 

[Oldfentiger]

I suppose it doesn't help that they are sat so high that it often seems they are looking down their nose at us, the peasants.

Which reminded me of this......

https://www.google.co.uk/?ion=1&espv=2#q=blaster bates the hunt

 

[kiriyama]

It can't be much fun riding a horse along a busy road, not sure why they do it? I meet a lot of them on the quieter country lanes and to be honest find them an irritation and a disruption to my ride.BUT I'm courteous to them and pass slow and wide, even say hello so they know I'm there. I recognise they have every right to be there... its a shame drivers who hate us cyclists can't be so understanding.

never been a fan of giant nervous creatures that had the power to kick me to death! But each to their own!

 

[nickyboy]

Don't meet that many of them in the Peak District, maybe it's a bit too hilly?

Anyway, never had any issue at all. When I'm going to overtake I give them a "cyclist" shout so I don't scare the horse. They always appreciate this and say thanks. Coming the other way I just slow down and pass as wide as I can.

There is an element of self preservation in the above. I suspect I'd come off badly in an altercation with a spooked horse

 

[Origamist]

I can’t say I have ever had an issue with a horse rider. Quite the opposite, they seem to be some of the friendliest people I come across.

I think the OP should consider turning his light off on shared paths.

 

[John the Monkey]

I can’t say I have ever had an issue with a horse rider. Quite the opposite, they seem to be some of the friendliest people I come across.

I think the OP should consider turning his light off on shared paths.

I suspect you may be encountering the same folk I do, Origamist, at least if you're riding the bits of the Cheshire Cycleway going between Crewe Green and Barthomley...

 

[ColinJ]

Most of the horse riders and horses that I encounter are no problem but I did have a problem with one particular horse ...

I was riding down a local bridleway when I spotted someone riding a horse towards me. I slowed right down and realised that the rider was someone I knew. He's a very tall man and he had a huge horse to fit him!

He shouted STOP!!!!, so I did. He called out that his horse was extremely nervous near cyclists. My immediate reaction was that this was a public bridleway on which horses and cyclists would often meet, so bringing a beast of that size and temperament into conflict with them was not a brilliant idea ...

As horse and rider started to pass me I made the criminally stupid mistake of moving a few inches to the side to make room. The pawls in my MTB's freehub clicked a couple of times and the horse freaked completely! It went up on its hind legs and its front hooves were flailing about above my head. The rider was struggling to stay on the saddle and get the horse under control.

Finally, he quietened it down and started to move on past. He leaned down and whispered "See - I told you not to move!"

Absolutely bloody marvellous!


PS Oh, and there was also once an incident worthy of a helmet debate - 'Which helmet for insertion up a horse's anus?' That one was all my fault. I was bombing down Height Road on the hillside above Mytholmroyd and came to a blind bend out of some woods. I should have slowed down but didn't. So, I hurtled round the bend and discovered a horse's rear end directly in front of me ... (Still attached to the rest of the horse!). After emergency braking, I stopped, but rather closer to the horse than I would have liked. The horse slowly looked round and gave me a look which told me that another couple of inches closer and I would have got a good kicking!

 

[Nortones2]

I've ridden a horse, mostly off-road. Had to accompany daughter, who could ride properly. My horse was taking no notice of me. Exhilarating going uphill on moorland. The power is extraordinary. Coming back onto roads at the end of the ride made me a bit nervous: it's a long way down!

 

[GrumpyGregry]

on road - positive... I am of the "morning rider may I/we pass please?" school of overtaking.

off road - mixed. Very mixed. Surrey worse than Sussex and East Sussex worse that West. But they probably do own the place!

 

[Deleted member 26715]

It was chucking it down today, so I rode with front and rear lights illuminated.

If it was a shared path, was this actually necessary? Was it static or flashing?