To think I shouldn’t have to stop my run to walk past a horse?

[Famousperson2023]

This has happened twice now. Out for a run and the horse riders have asked me to stop running while I go past their horse!!

I’ll put this in context- daughter rides, I used to ride. When passing a horse or pony I’ll go wide and slow, or stop and wait at a passing place on narrow roads (often while the riders amble up at a slow walk deep in conversation with their fellow riders, 3 abreast….and without a hint of thank you). When I’m out with our dog I’ll make sure she is on the lead while we pass. but being asked to stop and walk???

Tough. If you're running in public you need to accommodate lots of things. Pedestrians, street furniture, errant children and dogs and so on.

If you don't want to stop, go to a track.

I'm a life long rider and am out on the roads most days (no choice no private land to ride on and no bridleways round here) my mare is very good and I don't expect the world to stop for us. The majority of other people we encounter are kind and friendly. In turn I get out of people's way where possible (by trotting to next track of passing place so people can get by etc) and thank anyone who inconvenienced themselves for us. I wouldn't expect a runner to walk if passing from the front I appreciate a warning if they are approaching from behind as can appear from nowhere and make me jump more than the horse! If it was a very narrow path I might politely ask you to walk past and would thank you profusely if you did. Horses can't see well along their sides (where the riders legs are) they can see something is there but not what it is. It's also where a predator would attack from. Horses wouldn't kick someone in the head (they are flight animals and would rather get the hell out of Dodge) but can startle and either shoot forwards/sideways or turn their heads to see what it is and I wouldn't want you to get knocked in the process. As someone else mentioned even quiet ones can be upset by something genuinely upsetting (once had a hot air balloon land virtually on top of us) and it takes them a while to calm down so if we met you ten minutes later they might be upset on that occasion when they would normally not give a runner a second glance.

I am embarrassed by the shouty entitled riders someone mentioned and won't ride with people like that, it usually is because they are terrified but still not acceptable. I also hate the "Polite" hi-vis tabards which look like they say Police. That sort of thing just pisses people off. Generally I meet the same people every day and I hope that if I usually cause them as little disruption as possible then the time I need to say "would you mind awfully slowing down/giving us a bit of space she's a bit upset today thank you so much" that they take it in good grace and don't just think I'm a twat! Hopefully will also extend to when I start to take my baby horse out next year she is very level headed but will inevitably be encountering lots of things for the first time. In 15 years of being out 3 to 4 times a week there's not much the old mare and I haven't seen.

Hooray! Another runner bashing thread.

Can’t work out where we are in the hierarchy of dogs and cyclists as the most hated group who dare to venture into public.

Gosh you are a selfish and entitled person.

Common decency would say that to walk for 30/60 seconds past a horse and rider, that had asked for you and their safety would be the normal thing to do.

I wouldn’t even need to be asked.

I have a recumbent bike with a flag on it which horses hate. I always stop and take my flag down without being asked when I see a horse.

on one trip on a bridleway there was some horse endurance event and I must have met at least 100 horses coming in the opposite direction. All spread out. I stopped every time. Everyone said thanks. I wasn’t seething. Yes I’d have had a better ride without it but one of those things.

I do think horse riders can be very arrogant. When I was out for a walk once, a couple of riders asked me to open a gate and close it behind them so they didn’t have to dismount. They didn’t even say please. They just assumed I would do it. I didn’t.

How utterly selfish!
Im sure if it was Ops DD on her pony that got spooked by a runner it’d be a whole different story.
Honestly slowing down for a few seconds isn’t going to spoil your run and the fact that you’re behaving as a decent member of society and possibly preventing an accident should make you feel good rather than angry.
Everyone has a right to use a public highway……just be considerate of each other.

But the argument is that people shouldn't have to modify their behaviour. You should be able to keep the children safe around your horse however they choose to approach it and if you can't then you shouldn't have the horse out in public. So even if the child runs straight up to the horses rear end screaming, your horse should not react and you should not expect them.to behave differently.

I get that you are aware of your responsibility but by telling them what they are doing isn't safe and asking them to change their behaviour you are doing exactly the same thing as the riders asking people not to run past. They are also acknowledging the risks and informing people how to keep safe.

Of course you should slow down, horses are naturally quite sensitive creatures regardless of their size, they can be easily triggered. It only takes a few seconds to slow down and pass them. What's the big deal?

I'd call out to the riders if coming from behind, or make eye contact if coming from front. Give them a chance to assess & I'd walk if they asked. I don't understand runners who find it difficult to stop for a moment, though.

I'm same if on a bike.

I grew up with horses although I stopped riding more than 40 years ago.

Respect the horse. Some owners and riders are disrespectful to others, including the horses.. That is not the fault of the horse.

bicker bicker bicker

A public space is a public space. The riders have a right to be there, the runners have a right to be there, as does everyone else passing on foot, bicycles etc. Regardless of our 'right' to do as we please, for public spaces to function we all just have to show each other consideration, make allowances and slowing down to go past someone seems a small sacrifice regardless of whether you should 'have to'.

Also, to the people saying riders should get off momentarily, you have far less control off a horse than on it.

I'd be interested to know if all those agreeing with the OP would ignore the riders request if it was a police horse and officer? Are they allowed on the roads? Just show consideration and everyone can be safe.

Well said.
I use the Trans Pennine Trail a lot to walk or cycle. Horse riders also use the trail. There are notices at a lot of entry points reminding all users to be considerate of each other.

What if it isn't that simple?

We were out for a walk recently on a local trail. It's a shared space for walkers and cyclists and it is also a bridleway so you get the occasional horse rider. We saw a woman coming towards us on a horse and our usual approach would be to give the horse as wide a berth as possible. Unfortunately at the point we were meeting we couldn't move very far over as there are streams at either side. The horse seemed a bit skittish, not out of control exactly but side stepping a lot and obviously unhappy about something. We stopped, unsure what to do because we didn't want to startle it and sure as hell didn't want to get kicked or anything. Eventually the rider indicated for us to go past her so we slipped by giving as much room as we could.

There was also a woman running towards us and she also stopped and waited until it was appropriate to pass.

It is surely just common sense. I don't really know anything about horses hut they are not machines, they presumably have off days or can get bothered by things. And I also assume that they need practice before they are steady in all situations.

I live in the South Downs national park, a 15 minute walk (on bridleways) from the South Downs Way national trail, and in an area that is also crisscrossed by many public footpaths.

I see far more cyclists illegally using footpaths than I do riders, probably because they can pick up their bikes and chuck them over stiles or kissing gates (pretty hard to do with a horse, and there's usually not enough space either side for a horse to jump). One of my dogs was hit by a cyclist haring down a hill as we came out of some woods and joined the downhill path. Said cyclist had a right foul-mouthed rant at me, despite him being entirely in the wrong.

There are a couple of large fields immediately next to where I live that were bought by local groups for the "use and enjoyment of the people of X town". It's permitted to ride and cycle anywhere in these two fields. The grass is mostly left long, for ground nesting birds, with paths mown through it. The riders are considerate and the horses walk, but the cyclists are a fucking nightmare. They seem to think their balls will drop off if they slow down (it always seems to be men, women cyclists seem far more sensible and considerate), and will just shout at walkers ahead to get out of the way, which involves stepping into grass that comes higher than your knees.

If you’re in a car you have to slow down for bike riders, horse riders dog walkers, runners etc. It’s just part of sharing a lane to keep everyone using it safe.

@Iscreamtea im pretty sure a human being if someone would be screaming behind us and we didn’t know they was there you’d jump? It’s a natural instinct, my horse is great when out in public, but yes going to the rear of a horse isn’t safe, as I’ve said a lot of people are completely understanding of this, I’ve never experienced someone with your attitude I have to be honest😅

as I’ve said I try my best to stick to riding paths, as others have said sometimes they lead to public areas, I’m more than aware there may be members of the public around, I’ve also said I have jumped off the horse before so I can steer the horse away if needed so no I don’t expect the whole responsibility to be on the person coming near the horse, as I’ve said tho majority of people are friendly and more then happy to cooperate tbh, I’ve never experienced anyone with your attitude and a lot of the time there children or the people stand and stroke my horse, we have a nice chat and we’re both on our way🤷‍♀️

yes if an adult is running, the decent thing to do is to walk past the horse just as a car would need to slow down going past aswell.. it takes two seconds out of someone’s life.. if someone wasn’t going to do this I’d know and I’d jump off to ensure the horse won’t get spooked/distract them with a treat.

there is safety with both sides.

Well, they’re usually trained within an inch of their lives to be literally bombproof. There’s also a point to a police horse vs being someone’s hobby.

OP you are being unreasonable because if the horse spooks and kicks you’re the one who will come off worst. Just walk for a few seconds. I live in an area with loads of stables and when out jogging or walking with the buggy I’m very very careful as it’s not worth the risk.

We have loads of bridle paths in our area yet the local riders insist on ambling along the street. They will use our busy single lane road in preference to the parallel bridle path 20’ away on the other side of the fence. Nowt as queer as horse people.

Unless someone is attempting to ride their horse along the parkrun route, you're being unreasonable.

Really, you shouldn't even need to be asked to slow down and be considerate around any horse, you should just do it. Otherwise, you could cause it or the rider to be injured, and for what...a few seconds lost off of your time?

We share this world with other people, everyone benefits if we appreciate and accommodate each other. Little courtesies and thanks for giving them, combined with enough thoughtfulness not to do things reasonably objectionable to others, oil the wheels of life.
Some people seem to create and want friction / resent anyone else's activities affecting them in any small way. Thankfully not everyone.

I think the whole thread sums up just how selfish & self absorbed the whole society has become. Its not a game of trumps to see who has the biggest rights. Courtesy, safety & common sense on rural ROWs is everyone's responsibility.
Horse riders and cyclists should not be on footpaths & should be slowing down & being considerate to others on bridleways/BOAT/permissive horse rides etc .
Anyone with a dog or child needs to take care & responsibility. Let the dog/child run ahead on a footpath if safe & be aware of where they are but keep them under closer control on a bridleway where you are likely to come across horse riders.
Joggers need to be aware of surroundings & not airpods in & oblivious to everyone else. Yes absolutely run on footpaths & bridleways but be prepared to slow or stop to allow others to recall their dog, make sure their horse or child is safe to pass.
Most important and above everything else is the nature & wildlife to the sides of the ROWS, be aware of the countryside code, EVERYONE should be sticking to the paths. A bombproof dog with perfect recall could still devastate a ground nesting birds nest. The alternative is to fence them off as nature reserves & dogs & kids can stay in parks & playgrounds, joggers in gyms and horse riders in arenas?!

I agree with you

Very sensible.

In the scheme of things OP those few seconds of walking make very little difference. Riders know their horses and being cautious is a good idea given the damage that can be done by a spooked one.