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???

Not a great ask is it?

I'd say they need to get their horses used to being around traffic etc, not having to be out in a field, just because it inconveniences people like you to have to stop for less than a minute to pass them!!! Entitled much!

Ultimately, whether you're a pedestrian, a cyclist, a horse-rider or a driver, you're responsible for playing your part in making the road safe. And part of that involves being aware that other people, vehicles, animals etc aren't going to be faultless and perform perfectly at all times. A horse can spook, just as a car can malfunction and a person can make a mistake. That doesn't mean they should all be banned from roads. It means we should all be attentive, courteous and careful and make allowances when there is something we need to be extra-aware of.

If you unintentionally spooked one of the horses, the rider, the horse and others could be seriously injured. Stop your Garmin. Walk past. Be respectful of animals. Then restart your Garmin and carry on. No run is worth a serious injury to self or others.

YABU
and if you ‘used to ride’ you’d know it’s certainly not a case of ‘if it’s that skittish it should stay on private land’
their 1/2 a ton of animal with the brain of a small bird, a flight animal who was a meal for a number of 4 legged predators. Sadly that fear has never left them, their stupid and unpredictable and move a hell of a lot faster, forwards, backwards, sideways and upwards than the majority of people think they can.

But surely many things could unintentionally spook a horse? It's the rider who takes the risk of this (and ensuring others nearby aren't injured), not those round about, so long as they're not doing anything out of the ordinary.

When out running I slow to a walk past all horses and also some dogs, based on the dog and owner’s demeanour after a friend of mine was savaged by a dog while out running, in Hyde Park of all places. Animals are easily spooked and some like to chase and hunt, plus not all riders/owners are in control so best err on the safe side.

Not read the thread, but yes, if you are running you walk past the horse!

And if you are cycling, you slow to walking pace and take it wide. Same for cars.

Hope that helps.

You are being unreasonable. You sound very entitled and not particularly nice. If you have any friends, see what they think after a glass of wine as you'll get an honest opinion.

Most riders seem very grateful if you slow down, take a wide berth or pull over. I've had to fuck one or two off when they shouted after me for some reason, but riders sound as though they think they are entitled.

The most important thing to remember is that horses are fucking idiots.

I run and often there can be from one to four horses being walked down the road. Always on the wrong side, read the Highway Code! Never get thanked. I always move to the wrong side as I could get hurt by trying to prove a point but it is so annoying. Have some bloody manners. Thank someone who has gone out of their way when you are on the wrong side!! I don't stop though. I move.

Keep running, and tell them to clean up the huge piles of sh1t they leave all over the road while you’re at it. The entitlement of horse riders these days is unbelievable.

What an unpleasant post

I also used to ride. And I wouldn't come running past any of the horses I knew unexpectedly, whether they were known to be bomb proof or not. Never mind ones I don't know.

I consider myself "not skittish". But someone suddenly appearing when I don't expect it can make me jump. Same as the majority of animals.

But, you carry on, run by the half tonne animal, spook it. See if you feel better about running rather than walking for 30s.

Well no one runs to get anywhere anymore so running is just for a leisure purpose and so also non-essential.

They are obviously telling you for a reason, maybe their horse isn’t generally skittish but would go into flight mode having someone run towards them, they are a prey animal after all. Or maybe they’ve had a bad previous experience, or maybe they don’t see runner very often? The pony my daughter rides freaks out over a pile of hay that’s been left near a gate on the road but is absolutely fine with cars, bikes, Lorry’s etc.

it’s about showing consideration to other road users.

The person in charge of the thing that can cause harm to others surely should be the one to change their behaviour, be it a horse, car, bike, dog - runners present very little danger to others

The person in charge of the thing that can cause harm to others surely should be the one to change their behaviour, be it a horse, car, bike, dog - runners present very little danger to others

Following that line of thinking perhaps horses shouldn't be ridden in public at all. Get rid. For the sake of a few seconds walking from the runner.

You good with that @Allfur ?

I’ve always pulled out wide and slowed right down when passing a horse in my car . I certainly wouldn’t carry on at 20 to 30 miles per hour .

Sunglasses, that's a wee bit extreme

Or maybe people should realise that they don't exist in a bubble, and that sometimes they need to change their behaviour to help others too

If you use a public highway with an object or animal that can do harm to others, surely you should be the one to adjust behaviour, pedestrian is king in my eyes

Sunglasses, that's a wee bit extreme

Yep course it is. But it's applying that logic.

To save the runner checking their pace for a few seconds, what exactly should the rider do, to be sure the horse isn't going to react?

During the late Queen's funeral procession even some of those incredibly highly bred and trained horses skittered. That's because they DO sometimes.

The only " behaviour change" would be not to allow horses out in public. 🤷‍♀️

Would you mind elaborating as to how a rider can adjust their behaviour to account for the fact that a person running up behind a horse has a high chance in resulting in an accident for the runner, the rider, the horse or all three.

Halting the horse is unlikely to help and could well make the horse more anxious.