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the OP isn't about the rights of horses on roads. Its about the majority of ones I come across looking uneasy and questionably unhappy about being ridden on them.
what should we shout and how loud?good [s]whatever time of[/s] day ![s]it is?[/s]
In the manner befitting out old fashioned conveyances.
the OP isn't about the rights of horses on roads. Its about the majority of ones I come across looking uneasy and questionably unhappy about being ridden on them.
They need a more up to date horse, something with a slacker head angle.
and brought the consumables for affordable cycle manufacture into the industrial heartlandscycling only became possible when the railways appeared [s]because prior to that the roads were too congested with horses [/s]
I'm considerate unless they have a top on with (still hunting) written on it, they can **** off! Dip the clutch and drive like a ****.
Dirty boy, you deserve to have half a ton of horse come straight through your windscreen, for being such a complete dick.
If on a bike say hello and let them know you are passing.
Yup, I always just call out hello, that's all you need to do. I did once spook a horse doing that; the rider was away with the fairies, and when I called out, I made her jump so badly she jerked the reins, and startled the horse! I said sorry, but she apologised to me for being off in a world of her own.
Only time I've ever had any issue at all, and never when driving.
Horse riders are very similar to us lot - after all they're just people out doing something they enjoy. I'll also bet there are plenty of us on here who spend as much on bikes as riders do on horses!
Horse riders also have to put up with bad driving and folks who don't know their highway code. No one is going to choose a busy road if they can possibly avoid it - it's extremely stressful for horse and rider.
They have just as much right to be on the road, at ANY time of day, as you or I in a car or on a bike. There are FAR fewer options of routes for horses than there are bikes, so road riding is inevitable.
Bear in mind that even the best horse and rider can be spooked by cars or freehubs or plastic bags. Pass with caution, say hello, and chill out!
Bear in mind that even the best horse and rider can be spooked by cars or freehubs or plastic bags.
on bridleways I always stay behind until I see the horses ears twitch or head turn to signal that he/she knows I am there - I don't care if I spook the rider, just the horse after seeing one rear up and jump on its rear legs back into my mate who just got out from under his bike as the horse stamped on it and through the back wheel, unfortunately stabbing his leg with a spoke he broke :-{ We had stopped and pulled to the side on a bridleway to let the horse pass but the rider did the same and signaled us past, and then spooked as I past it.
I have a suspicion about horses and bikes: On the bike I see horses behind fences barely notice a bike passing a few feet from them. This is often the case when riding through a field containing a horse, too. However, stick a rider on them and they can get nervous. It seems to me like they are picking up that nervousness from the rider...I think bikers should certainly be courteous to horses but since they are an everyday part of riding on roads and bridleways then it would make sense for horseriders to train themselves and their animals with some exposure to bikes and cars.
Every week I pass a big troupe of what must be professional jockeys on horses along a busy road. The riders are totally confident and it looks to me like the horses pick up on that too.
Incidentally, I slow right down and give notice when passing walking horses but had a horserider yell at me to slow down on Saturday. She was at full gallop towards me on a very wide bridleway, which seemed a bit rich really...