HOrses and Bicycles on the Road

[Geonz]

We have some rural roads. I've been asked to say something about how cyclists can/should respond when there are horses sharing them. I found info on multi-user trails... but they don't quite fit and frankly, I just don't imagine a paceline stopping, dismounting, and yielding to horses.
In fact, our little group came across horses on yesterday's century. Having talked to the person who asked me to say something in the newsletter, I suggested we slow down and I called out so the horses would know we were humans; the horse folks got off the road. I'm thankful that that was during the into-the-brutal-wind time so they honestly had plenty of time.
I know there are horse lovers here... what do you say?

[mimitabby]

Horses are like 1500 pound rabbits. They are timid and able to leap in several directions.
Treat them with more caution than you would a car. At least cars don't TRY to overpower their drivers.
A horse can leap sideways, dump a rider and kick too faster than you can ring your bell.

They are afraid of things they don't understand, things they are not familiar with, and even tiny pieces of paper on the ground. So no matter what you think horseback riders SHOULD do; you need to be aware of the personality and strength of a horse before you just blow by them and expect them to yield.

[Geonz]

I love the metaphor: it's something even a dumb cyclist can understand and conveys that we don't need "rules"... but we need to understand what's going on.

[MillieNZ]

As a horse owner as well as a cyclist, I've found that both my horses never hear bikes coming up behind them when out on a ride..... one minute we'll be wandering on, the next minute they've swung round as they've been suprised to suddenly hear the 'wistling' sound coming up behind them......since horses natural instinct is to run from danger, that's generally what they do ! the art is to stay with them when they swing round or gallop off.....

I think that both horses and cycles should be able to manage to share tracks and trails etc... From my personal point of view i'd rather a cyclist make themselves aware to me before they are right behind me & pass me with caution, so that I can get prepared to at least show my horse what's coming up behind her and to get out of the way so the cyclist can get passed safely without the potential of being squashed by my horse................. In return for being made aware that a cyclist is coming , i'd always get of their track /road to allow them to pass and to allow myself space if my horse decides to take off.......

Just my humble opinion........

although I know plenty of horse riders & cyclist who think that niether should be on their track !

[MomOnBike]

Also, don't forget that a horse can see behind as well as in front. Eyes on the side of the head confer that advantage.

Now, I have never claimed to know exactly what is going on in a horse's mind, but I would guess that a peleton would look a lot like a pack of something carnivorous coming up far too fast. To a horse, that means it is Get Out Of Here Time. Better to be safe than dinner, and all that.

Neither are horses the smartest creatures God made.

Oh, and one other thing, paved roads don't have good traction for steel-shod hooves.

The Rule, if there is one, is to be very respectful of a horse's space. To do otherwise is to invite a real wreck.

IMIHO (In My Insufficiently Humble Opinion)

[singletrackmind]

I'm going to continue to approach slowly, talking to the horse/rider then either ride slowly by or dismount and walk depending on instructions from the rider/signs from the horse. I'll even remove the helmet/glasses (if dismounted) and keep talking when that's what it takes.

Share the road does not only apply to cars, it means us, too, to cars, horses, joggers, whatever. Not stopping a paceline because of the inconvenience sounds familiar...only insert 'car' for paceline and make the inconvenience 'bike' instead of 'horse'.

I wouldn't want to be responsible for another being's misfortune.






(1500 pound rabbit....I love it....If I'm ever fortunate enough to have a horse I'll have to call him Harvey!)

[Chile Pepper]

We have a lot of horses around here. I've also ridden a fair amount, so I know they can be spooky, although the ones I see on the road are generally working horses that are used to traffic. I usually try to call out when I'm two or three lengths behind, and I slow down and pull way out into the other lane of traffic to pass.

[TsPoet]

(1500 pound rabbit....I love it....If I'm ever fortunate enough to have a horse I'll have to call him Harvey!)

But, won't he have to be invisible?

[ibcycling]

I'll chime in as a long time horse rider and short time cycler.

I would never dream of taking a horse out on the road unless I was sure he and I could handle whatever strange thing came down the road. I also make sure I have and "exit" from the road if my horse does spook. Unfortunately not everyone has common sense so be prepared and alert. As a rider I would move off the road so that both me and the cyclist could remain safe.

Definitely speak out and let the rider and horse know you are approaching them. Err on the side of caution, slow down, and if possible move to the middle or other side of the road. I don't feel that you need to get off and walk your bike unless the horse is losing it. Would the rider expect a motorcycle gang to stop and walk their choppers? If the rider is having a hard time controlling the horse as you ride up on them stopping may be the safest option until the horse is under control and out of the way. I love the rabbit theory but remember this rabbit may fight because the rider has removed the flight option so staying out of kicking range is the only smart thing to do.

It's a huge pet peeve of mine when people take their horses somewhere they cannot safely handle them. A horse on the road should be able to handle all sorts of strange things.

Lora

[Susan126]

Believe me horses can be very unpredictable. My daughter owns two. One mature and calm (14 year old Buck) nothing can phase him and the second one, Buster (4 year old), young and used to be very skittish at times. I remember one time at the stables Jackie was leading Buster to his stall for the night and someone was pushing a squeaky wheelbarrow outside and the noise scared him. He bolted and Jackie immediately dropped his lead rope and let him go. If she would have held on he would have dragged her out the barn with him. Or ripped her arm off! It took us 20 minutes to get him calmed down and back into his stall. We know a bike would have set him off too. But that was 2 years ago. Jackie has been working with him and along with her patience and Bucks maturity and influence Buster is becoming a calmer and more pleasant horse.

Whenever Joe and I approach horses while we are out mountain biking we always stop and speak to the approaching riders and horses. We never take any chances of harming ourselves, the horses and their riders as we know from experience how skittish some horses can be around things they are not sure about.

Here are Jackie's two horses, aren't they cuties?!

This is Buck the mature one (smart and cool as a cucumber!)



and this is Buster (young and more calm this year and always into mischief with the older horses!)

[lph]

aaaww, I'm missing my horses I haven't had a horse for 15 years, but still I get a pang for them sometimes.

I pass horses sometimes on my bike. Based on my own knowledge of horse psychology, I try to be visible, slow down to a speed horse can understand, and make a steady noise which will signal that I am approaching, if that makes sense. Steady gentle braking, for example, rather than a sudden squeal, or gradually clicking through my gears, or I start speaking gently. "Hiya, horse, I'm coming up beside you, everything's fine, who's a lovely horsie then" .

Horses out on the road should be able to handle a bike approaching, but they do spook at things that startle them. And when they do they can plunge off with the rider, (which isn't necessarily that dangerous) or worse, kick you. If the horse starts to act up it might be best just to get past it quickly if you think you can.

I think they react more to sound and movement (and smell) than to the sight of you, so I don't think removing helmet or glasses will make much of a difference. PS. And I'd only use a bell at a good distance.

btw, Buck is a beaut!

[mimitabby]

me too LPH,
i had horses as well, and I really loved everything about them (except for all the hay they required)

when i have the opportunity to "meet" a friend's horse these days; the first thing i do is rub them, to get the horse smell on my hands.

[OakLeaf]

Speaking as someone who rides motorcycles in Amish country - public roads have completely different issues from unpaved shared use trails. Someone who rides a horse on or near a public road has a responsibility to make sure the horse can tolerate the situation, IMVHO. The Amish all use blinders so the horses aren't spooked by the vehicles approaching rapidly from behind. We give them LOTS of room - slow down and keep the engines quiet - if there's oncoming traffic, stay behind the buggy until there's room to pass them - and stay alert for those little low-traction gifts the horses leave us. The same applies to bicycles. Essentially, on a public road, two-wheelers pass horses in the same way that we bicyclists expect motorized traffic to pass us.

When you're on a shared use trail, it's a whole 'nother thing. The trail may not be wide enough to give the horses much room, for one thing. For another, bicycles are the fastest traffic on the trail, and neither horse *nor* rider may be prepared for those closing speeds. Having no actual experience with this, I would be inclined to give a holler so the rider can prepare themself and their horse for the cyclist's approach well ahead of time.

[ginny]

Alrighty, I see both sides of the coin, for I have had horses most of my life, and have ridden both mtn and road bikes. Now, when I was a lass... read stupid and young, I would go galloping down roads blindly and nearly killed a few bikers... similarly, bikes are quiet and super fast, and, to a prey animal, they are potential monsters. Horses do see nearly behind their heads, but they haven't evolved to deal with things like bikes, and their genes tell them that if something coming up fast and quiet behind them, it is probably to eat them. Horses, are big and we need to remember that they can move in all directions very quickly. Non-horsey people frequently fail to recognize this and get within strike range very readily. This makes the riders (of the horses) understandably nervous. If my horse kicks you even if you invaded her space and scared the #$%^ out of her, I am liable. For this reason, horse riders tend to come across as grumpy with bicyclists. Aside from crazy teenager equestrians (there's no helping them), most horse riders and cognizant of what is going on and they want to avoid dangerous situations. Trail ettiquete is to dismount or just stop so a horse can go by. Even if you are in a pack. This is just how it goes... sorry. Though, I as a rider, if I am riding a solid mount, will either move off of the trail or to the side so a bicyclist can calmy and quietly go by. It's good if the bicyclist talks to the horse so the animal can understand that it is a human on the bike. It's just a difference in language... we can all get along if we all try

[singletrackmind]

But, won't he have to be invisible?

Oh yeah, there's that......in that case I'm pretty sure I already have a horse somewhere in the back yard. Now, if I could only find him......