Horses

2

Comments

  • Mike67
    Mike67 Posts: 585
    Having ridden both at various points in my life I always give horses (and some cyclists) a wide berth.

    Their basic instinct is to run and is never totally trained out of them. Anything that can take flight at the sight of a paper bag must want to run a mile when a brighly lycra clad 'object' appears behind it.

    I didn't like riding them on a road for that reason and packed it in in preference to two wheeled transport.

    I guess there are good and bad, considerate/inconsiderate riders as with any sport...it's a much longer way down though if you're thrown off one (and yes it did hurt :cry: )
    Mike B

    Cannondale CAAD9
    Kinesis Pro 5 cross bike
    Lots of bits
  • Stone Glider
    Stone Glider Posts: 1,227
    Try to call out, rather than shout, in a re-assuring tone of voice. Not easy when wheezing up a hill :oops: Generally riders are in need of confirmation that you can see them and recognize the special needs of a horse in the situation. Move gently, slow pedalling if any, give as much room as possible, keep up a conversation with horse and rider until out of range. Fast, sudden movements will spook even the most 'bomb-proof' of horses.
    The older I get the faster I was
  • briantrumpet
    briantrumpet Posts: 20,328
    andrewjoseph wrote:
    shout something like 'coming up behind!'.
    You might get yourself a reputation for doing that.
    https://www.facebook.com/unanglaisendiois
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Stone Glider wrote:
    Try to call out, rather than shout, in a re-assuring tone of voice. Not easy when wheezing up a hill :oops: Generally riders are in need of confirmation that you can see them and recognize the special needs of a horse in the situation. Move gently, slow pedalling if any, give as much room as possible, keep up a conversation with horse and rider until out of range. Fast, sudden movements will spook even the most 'bomb-proof' of horses.

    I understand what you're saying, but anything that has special needs, has a mind of it's own, has a tendancy for panic and is strong enough to do what ever it wants, when ever it wants, shouldn't be on the road.

    I've seen so me very well behaved horses around my way, but I've also seen some which (even when i was stationary some 30m away) were prancing around in the road and giving me concern for my safety. If they can't be fully controlled, they have no place on the road.
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • rake
    rake Posts: 3,204
    racingcondor wrote:
    I've had it once. Horse spooked while we were still 50+ feet down the road. The problem is apparently that since we're quiet and fast (and horses not very bright) that we're potential predators.

    I slow a long way back, call to the rider if the horse starts trying to look over its shoulder (or walking at an angle) and pass as far away as possible. If you approach slowly you can generally see the signs.
    horses have monocular vision, there eyes are on the side of their heads, they can see nearly 360 degrees which is why the see anything moving, but the monocular vision (because their two eyes cant see the same image slightly apart but two different sides of the head) they cant determine distance. the horse doesnt know if your 50 feet or 5 feet away so tries to scarper if not laid back. its nothing to do with its intelligence. itl only attack if it feels trapped usually.
  • cyco2
    cyco2 Posts: 593
    During a road race the bunch passed a girl on a horse and it spooked it a bit. Then when we came on the horse again it threw the rider off and ran on to the road and made its way through the middle of the bunch. We slowed to take a corner and the horse ran straight on, never to be seen again.
    Very scary with this thing running along side and any thought of stopping it was over shadowed by the thought of the carnage that would have prevailed.
    ...................................................................................................

    If you want to be a strong rider you have to do strong things.
    However if you train like a cart horse you'll race like one.
  • andrewjoseph
    andrewjoseph Posts: 2,165
    briantrumpet wrote:
    andrewjoseph wrote:
    shout something like 'coming up behind!'.
    You might get yourself a reputation for doing that.

    Neighbours are used to it now.
    --
    Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails
  • andrewjoseph
    andrewjoseph Posts: 2,165
    MattC59 wrote:
    ...

    I understand what you're saying, but anything that has special needs, has a mind of it's own, has a tendancy for panic and is strong enough to do what ever it wants, when ever it wants, shouldn't be on the road.

    I've seen so me very well behaved horses around my way, but I've also seen some which (even when i was stationary some 30m away) were prancing around in the road and giving me concern for my safety. If they can't be fully controlled, they have no place on the road.

    Be careful what you wish for. The reason we cyclists can use the road (and bridle paths) without a licence is due to the old laws regarding pedestrians and horses. Horses and people have a right to be on the road (as do cyclists now), cars and stuff need a licence.

    Stop horses from using roads and people and bikes won't be far behind.
    --
    Burls Ti Tourer for Tarmac, Saracen aluminium full suss for trails
  • Giraffoto
    Giraffoto Posts: 2,078
    Nothing wrong with horses per se - it's entirely down to the way they're trained. I've been to parts of the world where the horse plods happily along, cars passing them without slowing down, and the horse doesn't panic. They're brought up to it. In the UK? Unless they're police horses they spend 166 hours a week on a quiet farm, and then they're taken out for a couple of hours at the weekend and expected to mix with traffic. They get trained to jump over tiny little obstacles or run round in a circle and no one even thinks of getting them used to encounters with plastic bags, sign posts and cyclists, all of which I've seen them get spooked by. Even worse, they're increasingly being stuck in a horsebox and driven for an hour or two to the place where they'll be ridden - fine to treat a bike that way, but bikes don't get disorientated and wonder what the hell's going on when you take them somewhere they've never been before.

    To summarize - horses on the road may be in the same state of mind as you'd be in if you were dragged out of bed and led down the road by someone who only spoke to you in Maori. You might want to give them a wide berth
    Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
    XM-057 rigid 29er
  • cje
    cje Posts: 148
    RPD Steve wrote:
    That said their piles of poo do p**s me off! Ypu wouldnt let your dog crap on the road and cary on would you!?

    In fairness, horse manure is nowhere near as toxic or as unpleasant as dog muck. And it is quite impractical to expect horse riders to shovel up huge piles of dung wherever they go.
  • keef66
    keef66 Posts: 13,123
    In fairness, our dog tries to redress the balance by eating any horse poo she encounters.
  • king_jeffers
    king_jeffers Posts: 694
    keef66 wrote:
    In fairness, our dog tries to redress the balance by eating any horse poo she encounters.

    Ahh the circle of life :lol:
  • ste_
    ste_ Posts: 124
    I live in rural West Sussex, so often encounter horses while out on a ride. I slow down, give them plenty of time and pass with a wide berth. On Saturday while out for a ride I came up behind a horse been ridden by a girl. I slowed down, as did the car coming the other way. The horse was taking up a strange angle trotting along obliviously to the approaching traffic. I decided to stop at a safe distance behind and the approaching car stopped too. The horse trotted on, the rider still seemingly oblivious to the other road users making space for her. After a period of time a car came up behind me and another car joined the car stopped on the other side of the road. Soon, we had a small queue each side of the road with this horse and rider still ambling obliviously down the road. I decided to pass, slowly and very widely. As I drew alongside I realised she was completely unaware of the traffic around her and she was chatting away on her mobile...
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    Funny that quite a few have said "if they cant be controlled, they shouldnt be on the road" eh? similar to what alot of car drivers say about cyclists then?
    RE Horses - talk to them as you approach/pass, this calms the rider and maybe even the horse.
    and as for dog xxxx, leaving it where it lays is exactly what the majority of dog owners do that or picking it up and then leaving the xxxx filled bag tied to a fence or tree.
  • cje
    cje Posts: 148
    mamba80 wrote:
    and as for dog xxxx, leaving it where it lays is exactly what the majority of dog owners do that or picking it up and then leaving the xxxx filled bag tied to a fence or tree.

    I think in reality the majority of dog owners clear up after their pets.
  • bompington
    bompington Posts: 7,674
    mamba80 wrote:
    Funny that quite a few have said "if they cant be controlled, they shouldnt be on the road" eh? similar to what alot of car drivers say about cyclists then?
    Quite right, bikes suddenly throwing off their riders at random and crashing through car windscreens, happens all the time, doesn't it? :roll:
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    mamba80 wrote:
    Funny that quite a few have said "if they cant be controlled, they shouldnt be on the road" eh? similar to what alot of car drivers say about cyclists then?

    Horse sh1t !!
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    cje wrote:
    RPD Steve wrote:
    That said their piles of poo do p**s me off! Ypu wouldnt let your dog crap on the road and cary on would you!?

    In fairness, horse manure is nowhere near as toxic or as unpleasant as dog muck. And it is quite impractical to expect horse riders to shovel up huge piles of dung wherever they go.

    Irrelevant. Why should I have to put up with horse sh1t getting sprayed up the side of my car as I have to drive through it, and worse still, why should I have to put up with it getting sprayed of my bike tyre onto me and/or my mates when one of us inadvertantly rides through it ?
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • Pross
    Pross Posts: 43,462
    Move to the city if you don't like the "joys" of the countryside ;)

    Are you one of those people that moans about church bells and cockerels waking you up early?
  • slowondefy2
    slowondefy2 Posts: 348
    MattC59 wrote:
    cje wrote:
    RPD Steve wrote:
    That said their piles of poo do p**s me off! Ypu wouldnt let your dog crap on the road and cary on would you!?

    In fairness, horse manure is nowhere near as toxic or as unpleasant as dog muck. And it is quite impractical to expect horse riders to shovel up huge piles of dung wherever they go.

    Irrelevant. Why should I have to put up with horse sh1t getting sprayed up the side of my car as I have to drive through it, and worse still, why should I have to put up with it getting sprayed of my bike tyre onto me and/or my mates when one of us inadvertantly rides through it ?

    I find that looking where you're going helps avoid the problem.
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    Pross wrote:
    Move to the city if you don't like the "joys" of the countryside ;)

    Are you one of those people that moans about church bells and cockerels waking you up early?

    Nope, but seagulls to tend to f*ck me off a bit :lol:
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    slowondefy2 wrote:
    MattC59 wrote:
    cje wrote:
    RPD Steve wrote:
    That said their piles of poo do p**s me off! Ypu wouldnt let your dog crap on the road and cary on would you!?

    In fairness, horse manure is nowhere near as toxic or as unpleasant as dog muck. And it is quite impractical to expect horse riders to shovel up huge piles of dung wherever they go.

    Irrelevant. Why should I have to put up with horse sh1t getting sprayed up the side of my car as I have to drive through it, and worse still, why should I have to put up with it getting sprayed of my bike tyre onto me and/or my mates when one of us inadvertantly rides through it ?

    I find that looking where you're going helps avoid the problem.

    hence the word inadvertantly :roll:
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • slowondefy2
    slowondefy2 Posts: 348
    Sorry for being sarcy. I just don't see it as a problem. I can't say I've ever hit something stationary in the road inadvertently and it to have been someone else's fault. I hit it, it's my problem.
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    slowondefy2 wrote:
    Sorry for being sarcy. I just don't see it as a problem. I can't say I've ever hit something stationary in the road inadvertently and it to have been someone else's fault. I hit it, it's my problem.

    If you like.
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    cje wrote:
    mamba80 wrote:
    and as for dog xxxx, leaving it where it lays is exactly what the majority of dog owners do that or picking it up and then leaving the xxxx filled bag tied to a fence or tree.

    I think in reality the majority of dog owners clear up after their pets.


    No they dont, we ve just had a local permissive walk closed 'cause the amount of dog xxxx left, its abnormal to see anyone pick it up.
    You may be that rare breed who is a responsible "pet" owner but the majority see no harm in fido emtying its bowels where ever it sees fit.

    Piles of Horse shxt? great for practising bunny hops, cracks my daughter up, as does her attempts :lol:
    Cockerels? the only place they should be is in a casserole, we no longer live in the middle ages and you dont need them if you wish to have a few fresh eggs.
  • citrus_
    citrus_ Posts: 60
    In with cje on this one, as a dog owner, knowing lots of dog owners, it really is just a minority who dont clean up after their dog, but this really is beside the point
  • MattC59
    MattC59 Posts: 5,408
    mamba80 wrote:
    No they dont, we ve just had a local permissive walk closed 'cause the amount of dog xxxx left, its abnormal to see anyone pick it up.
    You may be that rare breed who is a responsible "pet" owner but the majority see no harm in fido emtying its bowels where ever it sees fit.

    You must live in a sh1te area then, 99% of dog owners around my way are very considerate.
    (Except the one that lets it's dog sh1t on my front lawn, but I'm going ot boot that b*stard when I catch it !)
    Science adjusts it’s beliefs based on what’s observed.
    Faith is the denial of observation so that Belief can be preserved
  • mamba80
    mamba80 Posts: 5,032
    If only that were true.... rural Devon now .... hence all the horses! a popular form of horse riding here is for the horse rider/s to have there dogs run along side them and as you ve stated they ll know doubt be getting off and cleaning up after Rover wont they?
  • Giraffoto
    Giraffoto Posts: 2,078
    citrus wrote:
    . . . it really is just a minority who dont clean up after their dog . . .

    . . . but they leave enough of it around for everyone. In Ashridge they've got so frustrated with the morons who bag it up and then chuck it in the bushes as soon as the witnesses have gone out of sight that there are now signs around telling people who aren't going to do it properly to just leave it there. The combination of them and the ones who let their 4LSM off the leash to chase the deer means that it's no longer a good place to take children.

    Watch anyone with a dog - the first thing they do when it cr@ps on the floor is to look around and see if anyone's spotted them
    Specialized Roubaix Elite 2015
    XM-057 rigid 29er
  • cje
    cje Posts: 148
    MattC59 wrote:
    Irrelevant. Why should I have to put up with horse sh1t getting sprayed up the side of my car as I have to drive through it, and worse still, why should I have to put up with it getting sprayed of my bike tyre onto me and/or my mates when one of us inadvertantly rides through it ?

    Horse sh1t is a fact of life in the countryside. Either accept it or blow a fuse - it makes no difference either way.

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