In the country

[Ladytrucker]

Most of my cycling is on country roads and lanes with the occasional car. Today I came face to face with a woman on a horse. Not knowing what to do and not wanting to scare the horse I just slowed down until we passed each other. She smiled and nodded at me so I thought that was the correct thing to do.

I was just wondering what I should do if I come upon a horse and we are both traveling in the same direction. (I wasn't sure how to word that so no rude jokes please). Some say I should shout or use my bell. But surely this would frighten the horse. I've not looked at the highway code as it's on my desk in work.

 

[ianrauk]

I just usually say cyclist behind.
That seems to suffice.

 

[mattobrien]

A cheery warning that you are coming past well in advance works well. As much for the horse as the rider.

Also I give them a pretty wide berth.

 

[deptfordmarmoset]

A call to the rider - ''bike behind'' or ''passing'' - to alert the rider should do the trick. Pass wide and slowly so you can say good morning to the rider and not take the horse by surprise.

 

[Typhon]

As above, pass wide and slow and call out a warning. Personally I try and freewheel in case the motion of the pedals spooks them.

Be prepared for the horse to be spooked regardless though. As they say, there are only two things that spook a horse -things that move and things that don't. In the past 2 weeks I have probably passed 10 horses and one went all skittish when I called out from behind and another coming the other way actually reared up as we passed. Even though I was completely on the other side of the road, going about 10mph and freewheeling. It was a narrow road so it's hooves were not far from my face as I passed. Not far enough anyway. It was actually quite scary.

I don't know whether to get off the bike if I meet a horse down a narrow road like that again. Or whether I would be safer just cycling on. For my own safety I think I'd be happier pedalling like hell and flying past the thing but I wouldn't want to endanger the rider.

 

[Alan Frame]

I usually say a cheery greeting to the hoss and ignore the toff atop.

 

[simmi]

The last horse I passed was on my Sunday club ride, I was last in the line and the horse got spooked as the line passed so I had a choice of hitting the horses rear end or bailing out into a hedge, with discretion being the better part of valour I chose the hedge. Only my pride hurt. Horses are unpredictable things so not sure there is a right or a wrong way with each and every horse, just give them the widest berth you can.

 

[coffeejo]

I always slow down and ask if the horse is ok with bikes or if they'd rather I stopped. Most say to carry on and I take it slow and keep talking so the horse knows it's a person. One woman asked if I could turn round and go past again as her horse was young and she wanted him to get used to bikes.

 

[Nigelnaturist]

What would you do in a car. I just give as wide a berth as possible, most riders around are seem visually aware.

 

[Nigel-YZ1]

I've seen quite a few horses in my Trans Pennine Trail travels.
Approaching from behind just go really wide so the horse can see you (it will certainly already be aware of you) and say a cheery hello. I've heard that talking will put the critter at ease, so I usually just engage in some small talk with the rider as I pass.

 

[on the road]

I just slow down and keep my distance until it's safe enough to pass, then I move as far over to the right as possible and overtake, I've never felt the need to say cyclist behind or anything like that and the horse has never been spooked when I went past.

 

[themosquitoking]

I, as an occupational hazard of being married to who i am, occasionally have to handle horses. They are all complete bastards, do everything you can to put the willies up them but keep at 2 least leg lengths away.

 

[Black Country Ste]

http://www.pushbikes.org.uk/advice/horses.html

 

[Rapples]

http://www.pushbikes.org.uk/advice/horses.html

If you did get to read all the way through some good advice, if a bit long winded.

The most important things are to make noise* so the horse knows you're there before he sees you. The only blind spot on a horse is directly behind it, so stay out of that area and always if possible to the right of it. Think of a horses eyes as HGV mirrors, if you can't see them he can't see you. A good rider will always encourage his horse to look slightly right when on the road anyway, so if the horse does shy it will be into the verge. If you are approaching from the front, DON'T STOP unless asked, you stand up and appear bigger and confrontational to a horse, better to slow and pass, that's what the horse is expecting you to do.


*1. I usually say "Good Morning" it usually gets a polite response, a campag freewheel is an advantage
2. Disk wheels and deep profile wheels can make a noise at speed that sounds exactly like a whip about to hit their ass at speed and great force. Take care if you are in possession of such evil trickery.

 

[Supersuperleeds]

I pass a fair few horses as part of my commute is on the main bridleway for the stables around our way. One horse on Thursday did not like the ice tyres at all.

Normally the rider has turned and seen me before I am ready to go by, a cheery hello and a slow wide berth is what I do.