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???

@Serencwtch - completely agree. The people most likely to think their rights trump those of others when I'm out walking are most runners and some cyclists. They behave as though everyone else is in their way rather than we are sharing the same space and are equals.

It's really not a big deal to walk for 30 seconds. You're being unreasonable. If your daughter rides you should know all horses are different.

You're literally posting the same circumstance from a different angle 😂

When you're in public you have to accommodate other people. This is basic politeness (and also when a horse is involved, basic self-preservation).

I've hardly ever been told to stop running by a horse rider. Usually giving the horse a wide berth and slowing to a jog is enough. Once that I can remember, the rider signalled for me to stop running - I assumed that the horse was particularly skittish so did so. It was a non-issue.

You can usually see a horse ahead of you from quite a way off - they're hard to miss - so I always adjust my pace and am prepared for potentially having to slow down or stop. It's a question of just being aware of what's around you.

I run. What you've posted is nonsense. Unless you have a completely deserted area there's all kinds of things you might have to modify your run for. Badly parked vehicle, people walking two abreast, person walking with pushchair, large puddle etc. Think this thread just shows lots of people have main character syndrome at the moment.

I’m exactly the same. I also slow down or call out if I ever come across a person walking in front who hasn’t realised that I’m approaching so I don’t startle them. It’s a bit of a pain if I’ve hit my stride but nothing more than slightly inconvenient in the scheme of things and I’d feel terrible if I caused a rider to be thrown.

For those of you saying: "The rider is the one presenting the risk, it is her responsibility to prevent danger, not mine" -- Exactly so, that is why she is perfectly entitled to call out some guidelines to runners etc, to manage any potential risk. You might just as well complain about the reversing beep that lorries make, which provides you with an instruction intended to keep you safe.

For those of you saying that 'skittish' horses shouldn't be out in public, all horses are on the skittish spectrum. They are prey animals; spotting danger and dodging/running away like fuck is their thing. Given that horses are a thing in our society, and have been for thousands of years, it feels like it should be quite natural to make the small modifications that are in our power to help them feel safe.

Given the fact that op is talking about country roads and passing places I’d wager there are far more horses out on these lanes than runners.

Well, you could argue that.... But you'd be ignoring the actual rules of using a Bridleway, so it would be a very, very silly argument.

I run in all sorts of places, when I run in the country, there is about equal runners to horse riders. If I see a horse I just run on the other side of the road, horse riders always seem v happy with that. When I started running, I would have hated to stop, purely because I thought i wouldn't be able to start up again!

I live in the middle of nowhere - I always slow my car down when going past horses; and, if I were able to run!, I would walk past if asked. Is it such a big deal? It is simple courtesy - they know their horse and what it might react to.

And they also leave shit everywhere.

get off your horses and walk you lazy posh entitled wankers.

What you have to remember is a) horses are flight animals so they'd run if startled and b) they're herd animals so if one runs they all run. So if you are running then a horse may decide you're running from danger and want to join in and run away from the danger too.
IMO far more important than walking past the horse is to call ahead, 'Runner* passing on your right' That allows the rider to hear you and know you're going to appear - as well as the horse - so your bobbing up quickly on the right isn't going to startle. I'd slow my run to a slow jog but not necessarily walk, depends on the horse, if it looks like it may take off I would walk.

• ditto cyclist, they are even quieter on approach

If someone asked me to walk, I'd walk. It means running might get me a hoof to the head. I'd rather have my run interrupted.

If I'm cycling past a horse on a bridleway I slow right down near it. If I was running I'd slow down going past it.

I think most people, on either side in this debate, can agree you just lost any relevancy. What a heavy chip to be carrying around!

Why would this even bother you?

Honestly, your run isn't that precious or important. It costs you nothing to comply for the sake of a bit of community harmony.

These people who go around with a "but why should I?!?" mentality... Just... calm down.

Well, exactly.

I do wonder if all these people saying the runners should run past anyway have ever seen a horse spook and bolt. It's terrifying and they can do damage to themselves and their riders very easily.

Horses are live animals, they may have been fine their entire lives and have a bad day.
For the sake of stopping for 30 seconds, is it really a big deal??

We all share the roads, we should all be considerate of each other.

Does that not work both ways? The horse and horse rider should be able to go about their usual activities without being put at risk?

And there's the real issue really. That people are convinced you have to be a multi millionaire with a plum in your mouth and a braying laugh to be within 5 feet of a horse.
Most are just normal people, enjoying something.

But the posh, entitled stereotype gives a really good excuse to be angry and therefore deliberately inconsiderate because it's thought you're sticking it to a character in a Jilly Cooper novel, rather than a nmw care assistant, a hairdresser, nurse or teacher just doing something they enjoy.

I once jogged past a driveway where a horse and rider were walking out (20-30m back so I didn’t see them). The horse threw the rider.
It was caused by me so my fault in a sense, but I’m not going to stop at every driveway just in case a horse is there. The onus must be on the rider to ensure the horse is under control and won’t be spooked.
Having said that, I’m always pleased by any excuse for a short walk on my run.

Horses are a bit like dogs if you train them and get them accustomed to things they wouldn’t bat an eyelid. My partner rides and has said some horses will get spooked by anything.

these people obviously haven’t or they are new riders.

YABU. If it were a car and you need to slow to let it past or cross a road would you ignore that too?

If this were the other way round and your daughter was flung from her horse because a runner refused to slow down you would be complaining. It's possible that the horse had already been spooked by something - a car, bike, farm machinery - and the rider is literally just keeping the horse under control. To try and dismount might be more dangerous at that point.