Overtaking horses - etiquette

deptfordmarmoset

The other day I came up behind a horse and rider in a Kent country lane and I realised that I didn't know what the best way of passing it without risking surprising the horse and, with it, endangering the rider. In the event I drew up alongside and spoke to the rider who seemed pretty confident that her horse was unlikely to get spooked. But others horses might not be so sedate.

So I was wondering whether there was a set way of overtaking horses courteously and safely. It occurs to me that neither the horse nor rider are likely to have heard the bike approach from behind and the horse will only get a sudden sight of a brightly-coloured object once the bike is in front. Should I ting-ting to alert the rider? Should I simply pass with a wide berth in my normal non-furious way? I guess the James Martin débâcle illustrates the possibility of arriving unannounced and giving fright. And I really don't want to do anything remotely Martinesque.

Anonymous

Slow up, move to opposite side of the road and freewheel, so the clicking can be heard and a "hello" as you pass usually suffices.

simple_salmon

I usually call 'bike behind' as I get within shouting distance. I worry that this could frighten a horse but so far I've only ever received smiles and thanks from the riders.

mingmong

There's nothing worse that a frightened 3/4 ton of muscle.

Always engage with the rider before you go past.

voxegam

I heard that one should never freewheel past a horse as they have something innate that tells them the sound is a rattlesnake and so it could spook them.....could be made up though.

stage_fright

I think sailing past at speed from behind with no warning is a no-no - my daughter rides and horses are the most highly strung animals I have ever encountered.

I usually slow and if the rider has heard the freewheel then just ask if it is ok to go past, failing that say hi - and then ask usually works. I have once when on a bike had a horse get spooked - this was after checking with the rider - and spin round and try to get me in range of its rear legs, not a nice experience. Horses are big, and rider is a long way off the ground if anything happens..

disgruntledgoat

I sneak up behind them using my Tesla Roadster's silent electric engine then.... Just kidding folks.

I shout "On yer right" about 50m before I pass, just to let horse and rider know i'm there.

rolf_f

Cycle up behind the horse as quietly as possible and then give a good long blast on your air horn.

Ooops, sorry, I thought I was James Martin there for a moment!

bompington

+1 for a cheerful call & go past carefully & wide. I don't know about the rattlesnake thing, correct me if I'm wrong but horses are from Asia & rattlesnakes from America, aren't they?

But I have to say that the expectation of some riders that they can take their highly-strung, big, powerful beast out on the road and then expect everyone else to tiptoe around them, is maybe just a bit unreasonable. Most riders around here seem fine, but I've come across a few who seem to think that the only safe overtaking speed is slower than the horse. If you're that worried about the horse's reaction to traffic, why not keep it off the road, even if only for your own safety?

deptfordmarmoset

Thanks guys, much appreciated. It seems that I wasn't going too far wrong. I'll try the ''bike behind'' option to engage the rider: that way at least one of the pair will be prepared. I won't agonise about the freewheeling - my freewheel is so quiet it's more damp grasshopper than rattlesnake.

LittleB0b

having been a horse rider for most of my youth i would say use your voice to warn the horse and rider of your presence.

It doesn't have to be shouting - it can even just be talking amonst yourselves. A freindly "good morning. bike behind" would probably surfice.

Most horses are pretty happy around humans, and if it recognises that that's whats coming past it it probably wont be bothered.

And yes a wide berth is good, and a slow stready speed.

If it's a young or nervous horse you will probably be able tell - give a wider slower birth, but try not to loiter and get ok of the way reasonably shapish (nothing worse than the thing your horse is scared of stalking it for half a mile)

DavidBelcher

dmclite wrote:

Slow up, move to opposite side of the road and freewheel, so the clicking can be heard and a "hello" as you pass usually suffices.

+1, 'slow & wide' was the rule I was always taught on club runs.

David

bobtbuilder

I always ask the rider(s) whether their horse(s) are OK with bikes, before passing slow & wide.

Even so, I still had one experience when a racehorse reared up as I passed. The rider had the temerity to tell me that this was my fault as the horse didn't like the colour red (of my tyres!).

freehub

Is 16-17mph ok going past horses?

bompington

freehub wrote:

Is 16-17mph ok going past horses?

If you can manage 30+ then hopefully you're past them before there's any trouble

Crapaud

LittleB0b wrote:

having been a horse rider for most of my youth i would say use your voice to warn the horse and rider of your presence. ...

This is the advice I remember from an old C+ article. The first time I used it I shouted, "Good Morning ......lovely day, isn't it.", so that the horse can detect that you're moving. The horse was fine, but the rider got a hell of a fright, jumped, and nearly came off.

If the rider's female, hot and wearing jodpurs try inviting them to 'do Smokey Bacon Pot Noodle with you'.*

*Couldn't find the relevant ad on You Tube.

freehub

Most people can manage 30+, cars can reach 70, but they don't do 70 past a horse.

simple_salmon

I've just spoken to a horse rider; she said that if you use your voice to indicate that you're there then she can help to control the horse as you go past.

She also re-iterated the 'slow and wide' advice.

disgruntledgoat

Crapaud wrote:

LittleB0b wrote:

having been a horse rider for most of my youth i would say use your voice to warn the horse and rider of your presence. ...

This is the advice I remember from an old C+ article. The first time I used it I shouted, "Good Morning ......lovely day, isn't it.", so that the horse can detect that you're moving. The horse was fine, but the rider got a hell of a fright, jumped, and nearly came off.

If the rider's female, hot and wearing jodpurs try inviting them to 'do Smokey Bacon Pot Noodle with you'.*

*Couldn't find the relevant ad on You Tube.

Yeah... why ARE horsey girls always so hot?

Wooliferkins

There was a very good letter from a horse rider in The Comic earlier this year which I cant find in the pile of old mags in the foyer. When approaching a rider from behind usually you are not noticed so a polite call is appreciated. High, wide and handsome is always a good call.

whyamihere

Always talk to the rider. They're normally female, and horse riding females - Oh yes.

NWLondoner

Passing the Household Cavalry always leaves me a little twitchy.

Imagine spooking one of their horses and having them chase you down :shock:

TommyEss

freehub wrote:

Is 16-17mph ok going past horses?

Just a tad fast mate...

When we're out with the club we get the call to us to ease off before we get within talking range with the rider, then our ride leader calls out to the horse rider, and we pass slowly and with a wide berth, pedalling all the time to remove the freewheel ticking.

I do the same when I'm on my tod.

I'll generally be going less than 10 mph - jogging speed...

Nuggs

If the rider is suitably hot and jodhpur-shod, then why bother overtaking?


If Mrs Nuggs is reading this, I'll never be let out again...

NWLondoner

Nuggs wrote:

If the rider is suitably hot and jodhpur-shod, then why bother overtaking?


If Mrs Nuggs is reading this, I'll never be let out again...

Because no matter how hot the female rider is i do not want to ride through all the horse s*it

TommyEss

NWLondoner wrote:

Nuggs wrote:

If the rider is suitably hot and jodhpur-shod, then why bother overtaking?


If Mrs Nuggs is reading this, I'll never be let out again...

Because no matter how hot the female rider is i do not want to ride through all the horse s*it

Prefering instead to pick out only the choicest chunks of horse shit for your pedalling enjoyment!

da goose

As stated...
Ease off the gas early verbal warning e.g "CYCLIST" note any instructions from rider then wide and slow past.
Remember the horse can`t see well behind and if the rider hasn`t heard/seen you...very likely as listening more for demon car drivers, the horse is most likely moving forwards, amazingly they sense from rider input movement weight shifting ( sorry wifey???)
that runner/cyclist etc is behind.
Only natural for horse wanting to turn around and into you thus a good idea to ease off the speed......having said that I passed the misses the other day at 28mph opposite direction it really wasnt bothered......but it did see the lycra fool approaching I guess.
Biggest issue horses verses riders/runners is sillently approaching and spooking.
Passed a real cutie the other day as I was on a hill I wished I`d bluffed it and sat behind for a bit....."sculptured" is the word I would describe her....horse wasn`t bad either.....

mfin

I live in an area with lots of stables, grew up driving and riding lanes with horses around most days... of course you have to pass wide and slow, I would have thought most people would, plus talking does help BUT... past that, not a lot will make a difference, the horse is either a chilled out one or one of those complete idiot versions.

It is strange how some people obviously know a particular horse is a complete dick around cars and still take it out on the road instead of driving it to the vets and having it put down.

sloboy

I'm pretty careful around horses, but I have to say there's not much that annoys me more than:

- passing the horse and getting no ack from the rider cos they're on their mobile

- getting steam rollered by inconsiderately driven horseboxes.

I'm disappointed that some horsey types seem to demand consideration but don't return it.

mask of sanity

sloboy wrote:

I'm disappointed that some horsey types seem to demand consideration but don't return it.

Sadly, this is probably true of cyclists as well!

Infamous

Approach the horse as quietly as possible, get as close to it's tail as you can for full drafting effect, then using QuadPower sprint past it as fast as you can, screaming loudly.