Passing horses

[KnittyNorah]

I'll also point out that when singing or speaking - whether for the horse's 'benefit' or to warn/ acknowledge its rider, the speaker/singer also benefits as their breathing and indeed whole body does not - physically cannot - tense up to the extent that it might if they were not speaking or singing, so if the cyclist passing is nervous of horses, speaking or singing as they pass will be of benefit to the cyclist.

 

[PK99]

You'd have to be a real moron to close pass a horse.

A cheery Good Morning is essential too. You don't want to surprise a horse.

Clearly, from my observation, a disturbingly high proportion of cyclists are real morons.

 

[FishFright]

Riding a recumbent trike, I find that horses are really nervous around me. meeting a rider I stop, sit up and chat to the rider, But even then, sometimes dobbin really won't go past me. Then I leave it up to the rider to work out a solution.
Passing them from behind I toot my bulb horn from way back and, at the top of my voice (needed due to distance I'm still away) ask if I'm OK to pass. On the affirmative I use the entire width of the road, with my right wheel in the gutter to go past.
I'm no horse lover, and would rather they were off the road altogether, but they have a right to be there and 1/2 a tonne of horse in my lap would seriously ruin my day.

I find same thing on my recumbent trikes , if I stop and stand up it tends to calm them down . I give horse and rider a ding on the bell and call out from further away than on an upright nowadays.

 

[Mr Celine]

If the rider appears to be ignoring you, it might well be because she (it's usually a she!) doesn't want the horse to think there's anything going on out of the usual by responding in any way.

IME it's because the rider is updating their facebook page or has headphones on and the volume up high.

 

[alex_cycles]

Clearly, from my observation, a disturbingly high proportion of cyclists are real morons.

From my observation a disturbingly high proportion of all people are real morons, and some of them ride bikes

 

[lazybloke]

As much as I don't want to spook a horse or get a rider thrown (especially a kid) the main reason I pass wide and slow is selfish, I don't want a hoof in the face.

I won't take that as an admission of selfishness, but the phrasing did make me a little sad.

Obviously it's vital that cyclists have a sense of self-preservation before venturing out on the roads.
But there's plenty of room for courtesy and consideration to others. Make the world a better place!

 

[Arrowfoot]

Really...? What on earth do you keep talking about??

I don't shout 'cyclist' or whatever when I'm approaching a horse. I slow down early, go wide early and say 'ey up or 'ello as I pass. It's never spooked a horse.

Are you referring to a different post? Where does "shout" come in. I say call and keep talking if you come from behind.

 

[Fredo76]

I once passed a trotting buffalo on my motorcycle. As we drew abreast I began to regret my poor decision, as you might imagine.

Luckily the buffalo was as cool with us as it was with the car in front, whose driver I sure wished would quit dallying.

I decided then that next time I'll wait until the buffalo are done using the road. If I'm lucky enough to have a next time!

 

[PaulSB]

I would always slow and give the horse as much room as possible. If approaching from the rear I would call out as I'm well aware horses respond well to this.

Several posters have referred to waiting for an acknowledgement the rider is aware of the cyclist before passing. I'd still be there today! I've never encountered this but now its been mentioned think it something all horseriders should be taught.

While it is improving there are still too many horseriders who don't acknowledge the courtesy shown by cyclists. It's far better than it used to be but those who don't do this are noticeable.

 

[steveindenmark]

Ex horse owner here.

Unlike cars, horses do not have brakes, the steering can be decidley dodgy and they have a mind of their own. They can kick forward, backward and sideways at an amazing speed.

If I am approaching a horse and rider from any angle, I make sure the rider knows I am there. I slow down and am prepared to stop and get off if needed. I ride on the other side of the road if I can but am as far away as possible. I am then safe and the rider appreciates the consideration.

 

[Johnno260]

If I'm passing I go wide and slow, I don't call out as people have gotten angry when I did that in the past, so I keep silent.

If they're oncoming to me, I stop and cover my lights as again I get a mixed bag from horse riders on what to do, it seems to hinge on how the horse responds and I have no idea on each horses reaction to a bike, it seems easier and less stressful for all if I just wait.

 

[Dogtrousers]

I met a chap riding a horse on a bridleway last year. I pulled over off the path and he stopped for a chat. He said he'd just taken his horse "to see the pigs".

I thought I'd fallen into a children's story. "Hello horse" said the pigs. "Hello pigs" said the horse "it's nice to see you".

It turned out that the horse was afraid of pigs, so he was letting the horse see them, little by little, in order to get used to them.

 

[Mo1959]

It turned out that the horse was afraid of pigs, so he was letting the horse see them, little by little, in order to get used to them.

Quite common I believe. My first horse didn't like them either. Not sure if it's the smell. Who knows.

Occasionally come upon horses here and I usually just call out when I'm maybe around 15 yards back and let them know I'm there and ask if it's ok if I come past.

 

[Arrowfoot]

I met a chap riding a horse on a bridleway last year. I pulled over off the path and he stopped for a chat. He said he'd just taken his horse "to see the pigs".

I thought I'd fallen into a children's story. "Hello horse" said the pigs. "Hello pigs" said the horse "it's nice to see you".

It turned out that the horse was afraid of pigs, so he was letting the horse see them, little by little, in order to get used to them.

Its bizarre how a horse can react to somethings. I know one case when a horse dumped the rider and took off after seeing sheep in a field for the first time. Police Horses are trained to handle Zebra crossings as they known to stop and not go further due to the markings.

Same creature can gallop for miles in hilly, rocky and uncertain terrain with speed, sure-footedness and confidence.

 

[figbat]

Quite common I believe. My first horse didn't like them either. Not sure if it's the smell. Who knows.

Yep, I had a horse that used to mess around at the same point on a ride, every time. There was no obvious reason for it until we later learned that the barn we passed at that point had previously housed pigs, but never since we had ridden past it. I rode past is innumerable times and the horse never got over it.

Another horse I rode (not mine) was terrified of tractors. This horse was the most docile, easy-going thing normally - you'd usually struggle to get her going at all, but put a tractor within 1/4 of a mile and she was like a racehorse; even the sound of them at a distance would set her off. Cars, trucks, bicycles, whatever - no issue, just tractors.