Spooking horses - urban legend?

[m.eliza]

I've heard in the past that when you are crossing an equestrian's path on a bike, you should get off the bike and walk. I guess the theory is that the horse may not recognize that you are human when on a bike and could get spooked and buck their rider off. Well I encountered two people on horses for the first time the other day. I was in the middle of a relatively steep climb and really didn't want to stop, but I braked anyway and started to slow down, just as the woman on the first horse gave me an encouraging smile that seemed to say, "It's okay, keep riding!" I stayed on the bike and neither horse seemed to notice me. I'm wondering now if the whole spooking horses thing is just a myth or if the horses around here are just so used to seeing cyclists that they never bat an eyelash. Has anyone else had any unusual experiences when bikes and horses cross paths?

[roguedog]

All depends on the horse and how urbanize they are, that is, how used to urban "things" they are.

Horses are herd animals and they are are always on the look out for predators or anything that might be a predator. Some horses are just more skittish than others.

When in doubt, it'd better to assume that since you are moving up on them quickly you may be considered a predator which could cause the horse to fly or freak out in some way. When in doubt, it's safer for all to appear "safe" and either stop or at the very least move slowly.

Just my 2 cents

[shootingstar]

I've followed similar advice like rogue's, from my dearie. He used to have several horses --once upon a time before cycling bug bit him.

And it cheeses off dearie when horse riders use the same path as cyclists. He actually thinks alot of horses don't really belong on multi-purpose paths.

Except for police horses.

[zoom-zoom]

I rode by a pasture maybe a week ago and a horse was all excited to race me alongside the fence. I think we were both bummed when the fence at the end of the pasture prevented him from continuing. I may go back there and do some back-and-forth intervals if he shows interest in a race, again.

I ride by a lot of farms with horses. They either ignore me completely or look intrigued. None have ever expressed any obvious fear or apprehension.

[ny biker]

I don't think it's worth the risk of learning the hard way. Horses are big.

[mudmucker]

I come across horses in the woods when I mt bike sometimes or if I'm in a state forest. Each horse will be different. If in close quarters like the woods, when I do come across one coming in the opposite direction I come to a complete stop no questions asked. I sit on my bike and wait until the rider lets me know that either this horse is ok with it or not. I yell out and make the rider tell me. I don't want to be guessing what the facial expression of the rider might be at distance or guess what the horse might do. If come up behind them suddenly I slow down and call out to them with enough distance in between warning them there is a bike rider behind them and if it is ok to pass. Same if out on pavement. I've done this and a few times and they yell back saying the horse is skittish so I let them stop the horse and prepare, then I slowly ride by without any sudden moves. I've ridden a lot and I've been on horses that freak when a silly little plastic bag or tumbleweed grass blows by and on some riding near roads where big roaring motorcycles go by and they aren't fazed a bit.

[m.eliza]

I rode by a pasture maybe a week ago and a horse was all excited to race me alongside the fence. I think we were both bummed when the fence at the end of the pasture prevented him from continuing. I may go back there and do some back-and-forth intervals if he shows interest in a race, again.

Awesome! Sounds like a great training opportunity

[pumpkinpony]

I usually ask if the rider would like me on or off the bike. I've had both responses. Some riders will get off the path and tell us to go by, others will ask for us to stay put as they ride by. The last few I've encountered asked that we talk to the horses so they would recognize us as people. I'm never in such a rush on the trails that I can't stop for a few minutes and admire the horseflesh.

[withm]

A couple of years ago I read about a horrific bike accident involving a horse and buggy in an Amish neighborhood. The cyclists suffered serious injuries - I'm thinking broken legs, hips etc. - and I think the occupants of the buggy were seriously injured as well. So no, I do not think this is urban legend. I would approach horses the same way I do dogs. With extreme caution.

[Irulan]

Not an urban legend at all. Whoever told you that is an idiot.

I don't know about road biking, but the trail ettiquette standards as advised for mountain biking by IMBA, is that horses always have the right of way. It is recommended to announce yourself, dismount, move off the trail and let the horse go by. OR, stop the bike and ask the rider what he wants you to do. Bikes never have the right of way, unless a horseback riders tells you to go ahead.

Depending on your community, and the nature of most horses ( ie, good stable trail horses or high-strung expensive pets) may factor in how you deal with it.

It's okay, keep riding!" I stayed on the bike and neither horse seemed to notice me. I'm wondering now if the whole spooking horses thing is just a myth or if the horses around here are just so used to seeing cyclists that they never bat an eyelash. Has anyone else had any unusual experiences when bikes and horses cross paths?

In this case the horse person knew that her horse was solid around things like cyclists, which is NOT always the case. I've seen horses shy from bicyclists who are standing, helmets in hand, because they were spooky and not accustomed to the site.