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!)

[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