Am I the only one who warns horse riders?

jouxplan

I have always made a point of slowing and then calling out a friendly 'hello' when approaching horse riders from behind - so I don't spook the horse and cause a panic.........even though horse riders invariably congregate at the approach to a hill so I have to lose all my momentum

I remember some years ago taking a bunch of friends out on my local roads. I was horrified when, on a very quiet road, they all swooped past a horse and rider with no warning whatsoever. They thought it hilarious. The horse reared up and the rider very nearly fell off. I stopped and apologised profusely - it was mortifying.

Anyway, yesterday when I called out my friendly warning, the rider turned and said a friendly 'thank you for saying something!'. It got me to thinking that perhaps she was used to being spooked by cyclists who either do not care, do not think or worse, do it on purpose.

Am I alone? Or do most of you warn horse riders of your approach?

cougie

Any sensible rider lets the horserider know that they're passing. Who wants to spook a heavy animal like that ?

supermurph09

I was faced with the same scenario yesterday, about 7-8 horses going up the road. I was actually unsure whether calling out would do more harm than just pulling into the oncoming lane as far as I could go and gliding by slowly. Luckily I could see there was no traffic so I had the option.

Cleat Eastwood

I alwaus say hello; even if you're too shy or in strava capturing mode if you slow down they rider can normally hear the bike approaching.

Mind you I also say hello to horses in the field and moocows and sheepses.

danlikesbikes

Its always good to let horse riders know as the horse can get easily spooked. I know I always make a point of saying hello or letting them know if I am about to overtake.

flasher

No, we always slow and shout a "morning/hello".

chrisaonabike

A horde of bikes hurtling past me at high speed (and often a lot closer than the cars) sometimes almost causes me to rear up and nearly fall off.

Maybe that's why people call their bikes a steed.

themekon

I have a small bell on all of my bikes and ring it a fair way off, then slow down and shout "bike coming through". It's the least you can do considering all the moaning that cyclists do about other road users not giving them space etc.
I was in the new forest last year when one of the Wiggle sportives was taking place. Now considering that cattle and ponies have a legal right to roam. That people were riding horses in that neck of the woods before the bicycle was invented the standard of riding I witnessed ( I was walking )was disgraceful.
We really are our own worst enemies.

clickrumble

I always shout out a "hello" or "bike!" and make sure the rider has acknowledged my presence before going past. I would n't like to pass with the possibility that I may frighten a large animal on a narrow road.

graeme_s-2

I always call out.

One of my bike's has quite a noisy freehub (Planet X Model Cs). I once rode up behind a pair of horse riders and began to freewheel so I could give them a yell to let them know I was there. As soon as I stopped pedalling one of the horses heard my freewheel, jumped a foot sideways and head butted the horse next to him!

I apologised profusely but the rider said he was a bit spooked by bikes and it wasn't my fault.

navrig

Crazy not to call out and slow down.

The first person might sweep past safely but after him everyone is at risk of a tonne of Tesco lasagne landing on them.

Bobbinogs

I was out on a ride on Saturday with a small group and we got caught behind the local hunt. Several of the horses were spooked about something and the slippery road surface was not helping to calm the situation. It was a narrow lane and coming that close up to big strong horses with a wild look in their eye was about as frightening as it gets...we just stayed right back until it was safe to go on.

I also always shout a "hello" out when approaching, or a "coming around the right", etc. It's nice when the riders return the greeting with a smile but I figure I am warning the horse more than the rider. Doesn't always work though. I shouted a greeting yesterday to one horse and rider and the horse just took off. I did apologise when I passed (horse obviously having slowed, I am not that fast ). The lady looked particularly non-plussed but I figure that she must accept some risk of riding a 'flight' type animal on British roads.

chris_bass

I always slow down, i think we should change this to does anyone not slow down?!

also, if they look in a bad mood its best not to ask "what's your beef?" has a whole new meaning these days!!

marcusww

I always slow down and give a wide berth but even after this I got a load of abuse from a Horse rider asking where my Bell was - I just waved - this time. Someone I know shouts (in his best yorkshire accent he can muster) AYE UPP!
This generally works.

lawrences

I'll always slow even if the horses are going the other way.

Only time I say hello to horses is when they have their head sticking over the fence in the field and there's no one around.

On a slightly related note never start a staring competition with a sheep.

giant_man

I always call out when passing horses, cos you never know what the damn things will do if you surprise them. It's just road courtesy.

ShutUpLegs

Creep up on them in stealth mode and sprint past at the last second.

Garry H

I carry a large air horn in my back pocket for the very purpose!

bianchimoon

I always call well back, horses are usually fine if they know somethings about to pass it's when you catch 'em unawaresor sleepwalking. A few years back when i had a westfield with a rather loud pop and bang exhast I stopped as a horse was walking towards me, normally they just walk past, this one was very nervous and spooked as it got right next to me. It reared and started hopping towards me, thought sheet i'm gonna get crushed or a scratched bonnet, into gear foot down wheelspin and out of the way. :oops:

Bozman

Horses should stick to fields, I've had far too many near misses riding round country lanes, you get the standard - " this is not a race track!), true but if I'd been a car you'd have a dead horse or a huge vets bill.
A car ran in to a couple of horses near my house, the horses were two a breast(sounds familiar) on a windy country lane, a car comes the other way and there was nothing the car could do, I'd guess that the Findus truck turned up within 30 mins.

bianchimoon

horses were modes of transport, there long before bikes cars and findus trucks

themekon

Bozman wrote:

Horses should stick to fields, I've had far too many near misses riding round country lanes, you get the standard - " this is not a race track!), true but if I'd been a car you'd have a dead horse or a huge vets bill.
A car ran in to a couple of horses near my house, the horses were two a breast(sounds familiar) on a windy country lane, a car comes the other way and there was nothing the car could do, I'd guess that the Findus truck turned up within 30 mins.

Do you not think that on a windy country lane the idiot should have been driving with the unexpected in mind. It could have been a bloody tractor and trailer parked round the bend. Cos that is what happens on windy country lanes.
If you have had too many near misses on windy country lanes does that not tell you something about your riding/driving skills. Or lack of.

Bobbinogs

Bozman wrote:

A car ran in to a couple of horses near my house, the horses were two a breast(sounds familiar) on a windy country lane, a car comes the other way and there was nothing the car could do...

The car was clearly driving too fast if it could not stop to avoid an unforeseen hazard. I was hit by a van last year (or so) and the driver used the same excuse (as in it was a very narrow lane and he could not see me/stop in time when he could). As I bounced off the front of his van to end up unconscious in a ditch, I remember thinking that I clearly only had myself to blame for riding on the road...

What the car could have done is slow down to ensure his braking distance matched his visibility.

EDIT: Same point as the mekon, apols

Guanajuato

You're no the only one. My sister takes groups out on hacks. Some horses are fine with cars but hate bikes, others hate both. I'll always slow and give a warning when coming up behind, and slow if I'm approaching the other direction. They can be easily spooked. Flashing lights are quite likely to spook them too. I'm concerned for the rider's safety as much as my own. Usually get an appreciative thanks.

cougie

Bozman wrote:

Horses should stick to fields, I've had far too many near misses riding round country lanes, you get the standard - " this is not a race track!), true but if I'd been a car you'd have a dead horse or a huge vets bill.
A car ran in to a couple of horses near my house, the horses were two a breast(sounds familiar) on a windy country lane, a car comes the other way and there was nothing the car could do, I'd guess that the Findus truck turned up within 30 mins.

Sounds like you're making the same arguments that car drivers make about cyclists. Car was driving too fast for the conditions - don't make excuses for poor drivers.

Marcryan206

I was going up a hill, with two horses coming down towards me. I slow to a crawling pace and say good morning as they approach and the horse got spooked and jumped up. Lucky she kept control of her horse. And they didn't even say morning back. Ill still be polite of course but could say hi back!!!

Bozman

The car wasn't going too fast at all, the horses were riding in to oncoming traffic, the car came around a left hand corner with a high hedge and was faced with two horses on their side of the road.
Someone mentioned cyclists, and the horse issue is similar to some cyclists, if you ride in a pack 2 or 3 across around country lanes you're going to get hit, it's common sense to ride single file on tight winding country lanes, a dickhead driving a saxo at speed around a country lane will eventually meet his maker too, you just need to use your noggin whether you're on a horse, bike or drive a car.

metronome

Cleat Eastwood wrote:

Mind you I also say hello to horses in the field and moocows and sheepses.

Haha, It's good to know that I'm not the only one who does this. I get the ducks, too

priory

''The car wasn't going too fast at all''

incredible, you just do not seem to understand that if a car runs into a horse or two then it was going too fast or the driver was not ready to hit the brakes. There is no excuse . It could have been a woman pushing a pram along a country road or a parked vehicle or the scouts band or a fallen tree . If you go round a corner and hit something it is entirely your fault, whether on a bike or driving a vehicle, and you should be ashamed and will be liable for the damages and personal injury claims. Prison if you kill, we hope.
You need to join british cycling or ctc to get third party insurance, but don't tell them I sent you!

priory

on the subject posted,
me and the wife went for 20miles on the high peak trail yesterday. We were embarrassed and irritated by the behaviour of some (most) of the cyclists. Not one announced their approach to us or any peds that we could tell, and most did not adjust their speed as they scorched past. Consequently i found myself the object of some irritable and defensive remarks and behaviour by walkers and horse riders , which was perfectly understandable. On one occasion we were cycling abreast when a rider came up at about 20mph and cut between us with no warning.
I thought there should be signs up saying ' cyclists please tell people you are coming and slow down '.

Bozman

priory wrote:

''The car wasn't going too fast at all''

incredible, you just do not seem to understand that if a car runs into a horse or two then it was going too fast or the driver was not ready to hit the brakes. There is no excuse . It could have been a woman pushing a pram along a country road or a parked vehicle or the scouts band or a fallen tree . If you go round a corner and hit something it is entirely your fault, whether on a bike or driving a vehicle, and you should be ashamed and will be liable for the damages and personal injury claims. Prison if you kill, we hope.
You need to join british cycling or ctc to get third party insurance, but don't tell them I sent you!

Accidents happen but It's down to prevention and changing the odds in your favour, liability shouldn't be an issue, it's using common sense in the first place so that you don't have to argue liability.