What is it about horse riders?

rick_chasey

I find the notion that you must be slow and gentle when passing them because the rider ' may lose control of the animal' a little frightening.

Surely if you're not able to control your mode of transport in standard road conditions you shouldn't use it?

Then again, I'm not a big fan of animals.

sampras38

I don't see enough for it to worry me, and when I do the view is often quite nice to look at and the riders are always very appreciative when you slow down..;-)

Pross

How many other 'modes of transport'* have a mind of their own on the potential to get frightened by other people's poor road manners? Also, remember that the horse was a mode of transport before anything else you will see today so surely it is up to the newcomers to adapt their behaviour?

* Very few people are using a horse as a mode of transport, it is a leisure activity (although I do know a woman who commutes to work by horse a few days a week!)

LittleB0b

spinndrift wrote:

Can't believe no one has mentioned young fillies jodphurs yet.

Pedophile beastiality - no really, that's a great direction to be taking the thread in

bianchimoon

Rick Chasey wrote:

I find the notion that you must be slow and gentle when passing them because the rider ' may lose control of the animal' a little frightening.

Surely if you're not able to control your mode of transport in standard road conditions you shouldn't use it?

Then again, I'm not a big fan of animals.

Horse can be unpredictable beasts, but as far as i'm concerned they were means of transport long before cars and cyclists. It's no big deal for me to slow down in a car or on a bike for them, cyclists who get annoyed by horses for no reason are no different to car drivers that get annoyed by cyclists for no reason!

spen666

LittleB0b wrote:

spinndrift wrote:

Can't believe no one has mentioned young fillies jodphurs yet.

Pedophile beastiality - no really, that's a great direction to be taking the thread in

Who said the young filieswere underage?

i'd be more concerned about flogging a dead horse

spen666

LittleB0b wrote:

spinndrift wrote:

Can't believe no one has mentioned young fillies jodphurs yet.

Pedophile beastiality - no really, that's a great direction to be taking the thread in

Who said the young filieswere underage?

i'd be more concerned about flogging a dead horse

Pokerface

Barely into 2011 and already the forum is going downhill.

daviesee

shm_uk wrote:

daviesee wrote:

Whether you agree with it or not, the following question/stereotype may well explain drivers differing attitude.

How many horse riders jump red lights?

And how often do you hear anyone complain that horse-riders "don't pay road tax"?
Or should be licenced/insured?

...

The world's a daft place and humans are fundamentally pretty daft too.
Once you accept that, things don't tend to get on your nerves so much :-)

+1

Life gets so much less stressful when you assume that others are fools and not to take everything as a personal attack. This works especially well when it IS a personal attack :twisted:

Tom Butcher

bianchimoon wrote:

Horse can be unpredictable beasts, but as far as i'm concerned they were means of transport long before cars and cyclists. It's no big deal for me to slow down in a car or on a bike for them, cyclists who get annoyed by horses for no reason are no different to car drivers that get annoyed by cyclists for no reason!

+1

There aren't that many horses on the roads that I can say I've ever thought you know what - life would be so much more convenient if I didn't keep getting held up behind those damn horses.

I dare say the odd horse rider doesn't like cyclists and lets them know it but I've never encountered anything like that. They can be a pain for road racing as horses and bunches of 80 riders don't mix but ultimately it's the horse riders who are far more likely to get hurt than the cyclists if an animal bolts.

Stewie Griffin

The only Horses I ever see are at "gypsy" weddings and funerals and at the football. Police Horses are impressive things, 30,000 of us and they dont do anything that their rider hasnt told them to do.

Bobbinogs

I just don't see the problem. I live in/near the countryside and consider myself blessed because cycling along undulating country lanes is one of the most fantastic things that I am able to do. I like the countryside and see horses and other animals/people as part of the scene that have every right to be there, like me.

I meet quite a few horseriders whilst I am out and have found them to be just like normal people (including cyclists)! The majority are a pleasure to meet, the minority are grumpy gits.

bartimaeus

Bobbinogs wrote:

I meet quite a few horseriders whilst I am out and have found them to be just like normal people (including cyclists)! The majority are a pleasure to meet, the minority are grumpy gits.

nickwill

jellybellywmb wrote:

I dont mind horses its some of the stuck up idiots that ride them i dont like.
Just recently at the top of a long grind of a hill i came across two horses on a wide grass verge, I moved to the centre of the road and passed very slowly only for a stuck up cow to say " dont you know your meant to announce your presence when approaching a horse from the rear" Had I not been sruggling to breath let alone produce a reply i would have taken time out to put her right!!

Having said that it probably is again the minority like in any sport, most give a cheery wave and thanks you.

You were at fault! When approaching horses, I always call out a greeting so that horse and rider know I'm coming. I nearly always get a thankyou and in many cases, a lovely smile from an attractive female rider. It's enough to make my day!

2Phat4Rapha

" dont you know your meant to announce your presence when approaching a horse from the rear"

So how does one do so?

Hail ye, hail ye, hail ye.
Hail ye equestrian fellows.
I beseech thee safe passage?

rogerthecat

Also horse boxes are great for drafting so a thumbs up for Horses...

.....

Bobbinogs

I always shout "coming through", which given the strain required to get up some of the hills around here is probably (and somewhat regrettably) accurate :oops:

rogerthecat

You could always carry one of these;

Pross

I shout bike up - tends to startle the rider but not the horse. Horses rely on sound and as long as the sound isn't excessive or violent they (generally) don't get spooked. What they really hate is for unexpected movement which is what they get when a quiet bike with brightly coloured lycra clad rider suddenly appears in their peripheral vision.

keef66

"There aren't that many horses on the roads that I can say I've ever thought you know what - life would be so much more convenient if I didn't keep getting held up behind those damn horses"

You might if you lived here. And being racehorses rather than placid dobbin types, they need overtaking with great caution.

MrChuck

Stanley222 wrote:

jellybellywmb wrote:

I dont mind horses its some of the stuck up idiots that ride them i dont like.
Just recently at the top of a long grind of a hill i came across two horses on a wide grass verge, I moved to the centre of the road and passed very slowly only for a stuck up cow to say " dont you know your meant to announce your presence when approaching a horse from the rear" Had I not been sruggling to breath let alone produce a reply i would have taken time out to put her right!!

Having said that it probably is again the minority like in any sport, most give a cheery wave and thanks you.

How are you supposed to announce your presence without startling the horse?!!

I've wondered this too. Generally they see/hear me coming but on the odd occasion they don't I'm never sure what the best thing to do is.

snailracer

Ring bell?

Smokin Joe

What annoys me are aircraft carriers.

They shouldn't be allowed on narrow country lanes.

dodgy

If you see horses regularly on your rides, you know you're riding somewhere really quite nice probably. I love seeing horses, I like the noise they make as they clip clop along, I mostly like their riders - but they aren't all ultra attractive females, which frankly is a bit of an unrealistic stereotype.

We have lots of horses on Wirral, reputably one of the highest concentrations of horse to human in the country I am told though can't back it up with any facts. Regardless, I see horses on every single ride so I know to call out "cyclist" when about 50 yards back, and 80% of the time it's appreciated (you notice I didnt' say 99%).

I can't believe horses and their riders are getting such a hard time on a cycling forum, you need to stop and think for a bit before posting this shit.

1892

rogerthecat wrote:

Also horse boxes are great for drafting so a thumbs up for Horses...

.....

Fire engines are better!!!! :shock:

1892

I usually slow down for horses, never had a problem with them, sheep tend to get in the way!

Lucky Douglas

Smokin Joe wrote:

What annoys me are aircraft carriers.

They shouldn't be allowed on narrow country lanes.

Bloody French!!!

da goose

All horse riders are normally insured 3rd partyy etc how many cyclists are?...gone very quiet...?

Lets be sensible, as you approach horses you need a shout of "cyclist" hello, or whatever, given way in advance as you need to allow for your (hopefully) greater speed.
Always watch the horses head/ears as normally if they have heard you then they will turn, and any good rider will acknowledge this movement and hopefully the cyclist.
I have had really good response from horse riders I would say 95% are happy to share the roads with cyclists who behave as above with respect.

Dont forget most horse owners are drivers/motorists and have many near miss situations or worse with cars...think about the simularities both bikes/horses are vunerable to the metal cages.
A few of the replies really do worry me.....

Tom Butcher

da goose wrote:

All horse riders are normally insured 3rd partyy etc how many cyclists are?...gone very quiet...?

Anyone with gold or silver membership of British Cycling for starters, so that's pretty much anyone that races, then I think CTC membership gives you 3rd party, so I'm guessing quite a few on here will have.

chunkytfg

Tom Butcher wrote:

da goose wrote:

All horse riders are normally insured 3rd partyy etc how many cyclists are?...gone very quiet...?

Anyone with gold or silver membership of British Cycling for starters, so that's pretty much anyone that races, then I think CTC membership gives you 3rd party, so I'm guessing quite a few on here will have.

Do you really think that many have it?

Okay so those that race will have it yes and quite a few on here will do so but do you really think this forum is a realistic view of cyclists as a whole? There are a considerable number of MAMIL's etc who just go for a ride out once or twice a week for a bit of exercise who would never dream of coming on a forum like this.

I would bet the above will far outweigh the sensible ones like many on here. Personally I dont actually know if I have cover myself. 'I think' my home insurance may cover me but I doubt it! I take my chances like many others and ride defensively where appropriate.