Running directly behind a Horse 😱😱!

[StephieSlade]

AIBU to think that even non horsey people should know not to run up directly behind a horse? I came off on Sunday after my mare spooked and stumbled after a small child, and her dog ran up behind her. Child's parents were slightly further back along the bridle path. Thankfully my horse doesn't kick, and I'm not blaming the child for my fall, as I'd have sat the scuttle forward, if she hadn't tripped. However, I'm cringing at the thought of that, or another child running up behind another horse on the street that possibly might kick😣😣😣.

I was walking my horse in hand round the village. Noticed a group of runners, all in high viz, just about to set off on a run from the nearby pub. There was easily 20 of them. They were going to run down the road I intending walking down so I stopped, moved to one side and turned my horse to face them, so she could see they were only people. The first few walked past, then started running. The rest of them started running immediately. Towards me and my horse! Can you imagine what my horse was thinking when a big group of people in hi viz started running at her? She span round, pulled me off my feet and basically trampled me in a bid to get away from them. Luckily I kept hold of her and the owner of the pub, who happened to be outside at the time, came to rescue me. ONE of the runners stooped to see if I was ok and apologised. I was bruised from hip to knee and elbow to wrist.
Total and utter idiots.

Yanbu, parents need to teach their children safe behaviour. No different to not letting them run on the road or grab strange dogs.

If you spook a horse by messing about behind it and it kicks you, that's not the rider's fault.

I once saw a video of a child walking up behind a horse who was eatign and the horse cow-kicked him, lifting the child off his feet and throwing him through the air. Luckily, the child was OK as he had a body protector on and landed in a heap of hay, but even so, he was very, very lucky. It made my blood run cold. I do wonder if we are losing touch with animals, as more of the poulation leaves in urban areas? Too many adults seem to think that animals like horses are basically big toys, that would never, ever hurt. Problem is, they are so big, they can hurt somone without intending to.

Well yes, everyone should know this.

I don't like horses at all, really. I used to live in a village where racing horses were kept and trained and they were always being trotted past my house. My car was parked outside - in its space - and one of these horses kicked it so hard that it was a financial write off.

@sirfredfredgeorge

a horse has its own mind

We put down dogs who bite people simply because they "spook them", why is different with a horse?

I'm staggered that you even need to ask.

The difference between a dog and a horse is that one is a predator decended from wolves (which hunt and kill humans), and the other is a prey animal which can run away in fear, or kick to defend itself from a perceived attack.

Predators attack large prey animals from the rear, which is why a horse is likely to be startled and kick out if something unfamiliar approaches it at speed from behind. As in the OP.

@sirfredfredgeorge How's the view underneath the bridge,Mr.Troll?

People are stupid around horses. Doesn't matter how much you educate them, or how much hivis you cover you and your horse in, people always drive and cycle too close. It's frightening.

YANBU. But I know a number of people who don't know anything about livestock, or their behaviour. It shocks me every time when they, for example, try and pet a New Forest pony or don't slow down near riders despite there being signs, and common sense. Unfortunately some people won't get it until they see the injuries that can be inflicted from a kick. It isn't the rider's fault in any case. You can't teach good sense.

I used to work with horses and agree with you but not every child would know about horses. My younger kids have never actually been close to a horse so I'd never have had to tell them not to get too close. They know about cows because we live next to them. A city child possibly wouldn't know about horses or cows, they'd have been told how to be around dogs though!

I wonder if petting zoos and urban fans are partly to blame for some people's lack of understanding of animals in general

So after that incident I carried a hunting whip. So if anyone got too close. And I mean like that. I would tap the roof of the car in a warning. Because of the side. It didn’t damage the car at all. But did make a sound. It worked like a dream
If I'm trying to figure out about managing driving near a horse and you tap my car I'm likely to get a fright and an accident could happen surely?

@stayathomer don't be close enough to touch then

Don’t ride a horse that kicks around public spaces that have small children?

@stayathomer

So after that incident I carried a hunting whip. So if anyone got too close. And I mean like that. I would tap the roof of the car in a warning. Because of the side. It didn’t damage the car at all. But did make a sound. It worked like a dream If I'm trying to figure out about managing driving near a horse and you tap my car I'm likely to get a fright and an accident could happen surely?

You shouldn’t be that close to the horse in the first place.

If you’re close enough that a rider can tap the roof of your car with a whip, you are already at serious risk of causing an accident

@stayathomer

So after that incident I carried a hunting whip. So if anyone got too close. And I mean like that. I would tap the roof of the car in a warning. Because of the side. It didn’t damage the car at all. But did make a sound. It worked like a dream If I'm trying to figure out about managing driving near a horse and you tap my car I'm likely to get a fright and an accident could happen surely?

Rule 215 Horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles. Be particularly careful of horse riders and horse-drawn vehicles especially when overtaking. Always pass wide and slowly. Horse riders are often children, so take extra care and remember riders may ride in double file when escorting a young or inexperienced horse or rider. Look out for horse riders’ and horse drivers’ signals and heed a request to slow down or stop. Take great care and treat all horses as a potential hazard; they can be unpredictable, despite the efforts of their rider/driver.

Taken from the highway code.
If you're close enough to be hit by a whip then you're too close.

Stupid parents. Hope you told them your fall was their fault.

YANBU but many people aren't generally well-informed on behaviour around horses, or the countryside in general I find.

I wonder if petting zoos and urban fans are partly to blame for some people's lack of understanding of animals in general
I've wondered this. There seems to be a group of parents who think any animal is a cute play thing for their child to touch.
On the other hand, we've had students on outdoor education who have been terrified at the sight of a sheep or a cow in a field minding its own business.

@BigGreenOlives

What should you do if you’re running on a bridge path & are faster than two walking horses? Asking with no malice.

You wouldn't run into the back of people walking on the bridge - hopefully - so you wouldn't do that to a horse either. You call out to warn the rider, but if there isn't room to pass you fucking wait.

@Franklyfrost

Don’t ride a horse that kicks around public spaces that have small children?

Or, don’t take your small child into public spaces where you are highly likely to encounter horses if you can’t/won’t control their behaviour around them

@Franklyfrost it was a BRIDLE path. You know, an ancient public way for horses and riders.

@Leaninghouse

I wonder if petting zoos and urban fans are partly to blame for some people's lack of understanding of animals in general

Quite the opposite - choice comments I've heard at a city farm include "wow, cows are quite big animals aren't they" (he was an Oxbridge graduate ffs) and "is the goose pregnant?" (also from an adult)

City farms and suchlike cannot possibly pretend to give everyone a full working knowledge of all livestock, but when you're dealing with that level of ignorance, they can only improve matters.

Taken from the highway code.
If you're close enough to be hit by a whip then you're too close.
That's true!

I know this but I regularly walk on the canal path near my house with my pram and people ride horses along there too. It does worry me that one will kick back. I try to stay as far away as I can but the path is narrow

TBH it sounds like neither you (with a pram) nor the horses should be on the canal tow path if it is that narrow. When out walking I try to give horses a very wide berth or stop until they have gone past. But on a narrow canal tow path that could be tricky.

@ShortBacknSides

But …

I’m intrigued - and a bit horrified - at the 12% who think YABU. Are they just voting that to be silly?

I didn't vote, but I can understand why people think she's BU. It was a small child. You can't always expect them to be sensible or know how to behave around horses.

Without knowing anything about the child and family you can' know for sure. As a PP has already said if the family has no experience of coming across a horse while out walking then the need to warn the child won't have come up. And people who aren't rural regulars won't necessarily even know what a bridle path is or make any connection with the fact that they might come across horses or know they are walking on one. Maybe my area is different to others but the signs designating bridle ways don't have big neon letters, you'd have to know what you were looking for

We can't cover every single possible situation that might arise.

I'd like to know what the reaction of the parents was before making a judgement